Do You Have “FAVOR” With God & Does It Matter? (Part 4)

In this study I have proposed a few key attitudes and behaviors that gain favor with God. In the first article we learned that having favor with God is developed and acquired through choice and discipline. Proverbs 12:2 states that “A good man obtains favor from God.”  In other words, our choices and conduct affect our standing, either good or bad, with God.

In the second article we talked about the Lord’s prayer in Luke 11:2, and why some people don’t receive answers in prayer because they fail to build a healthy relationship with God before asking for his favor. From there we explored how many great leaders throughout scripture sought God’s favor above man’s approval. In article three we talked about how an incorrect concept of God’s grace often makes the idea of good works a negative concept, and therefore many in the body of Christ never develop good works or disciplines to gain favor with God. At the end of article three we talked about the importance of “Three Character Qualities” which are  essential to gain favor with God. These are the “Heart, Humility & Teachableness”. Please read the first three articles to gain full perspective on this subject before proceeding on with this forth and final article.

I would like to finish this subject on gaining favor from God by looking at our “ACTIONS.” Christian writers since the time of Christ have taught and written about the importance of disciplines that put us in good standing with God. If they had any importance in the body of Christ they understood that to gain favor with God one had to pay a price. Today we teach kids the wrong belief that everyone gets a ribbon and there are no winners and losers. However, reality tells us a different story. If you don’t get up and arrive at work on time more than likely you will be fired. If you don’t produce quality work, regardless of what type of work you do, you probably will be fired. In the real world what we do matters. When we teach that our attitudes and actions don’t matter to God violence happens, either to others or to ourselves. One of my favorite Proverbs that I learned after becoming a believer has helped me tremendously in my Christian walk. It’s a simple verse that is packed with a reality check for all of us.

Proverbs 12:1 

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.

Grace may be given freely, but it is not cheap. God gave his all by sending Jesus to be our sacrifice for sin. We are forgiven when we admit our sin and embrace Jesus as our Lord and savior, being conformed to his likeness. Isaiah says that God’s eyes are searching for such people to strengthen them. No attitude no favor.

2 Chronicles 16:9 

The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 

So, lets look at just a few important “ACTIONS” God is looking for in order to grant favor towards us. Let’s keep in mind that God wants to change our hearts first so that our actions become conformed to his will.  He desires that we would respond out of love and not just out of selfish desire to gain an advantage. Rewards are God’s idea for good behavior and attitudes.

1) OBEDIENCE – Jesus said if we love him we will obey him. Pretty simple! He didn’t say if you feel warm and fuzzy about him, he said “IF” we love him we will strive to follow his teachings, even the hard ones. Transformation is not about will power as much as it is in seeking the Lord’s strength. As we seek him he enables us. When we don’t seek him he leaves us to fend for ourselves.

John 14:15 

If If you love me, you will obey my commands. 

Moses gave a similar instruction when he brought the Israelites to the promised land. He said “Choose You This Day” whom you will serve, and along with those two choices he told them whether they would be blessed or cursed. Their choices made a difference with regards to the outcome of their lives. God’s blessing was contingent on Israel’s choices.

Deuteronomy 30:19 

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 

2) CONFESSION – If you had a catholic background you knew the importance of going to confession. If you were raised as a protestant were were told to go directly to god with your sin. At face value the protestant method of confession sounds more spiritual and yet in truth scripture admonishes us to confess our sin to both God and man depending on who we offended or violated. Many so called believers today think that God is pleased if they confess their sins to God alone and he is not. Loving your neighbor as yourself includes confession.

Psalms 66:18 

If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear. (“regard” is if I refuse to deal with)

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

James 5:16

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 

3) THANKFULNESS – A hallmark of a child of God is the sense of gratitude for forgiveness and being adopted by God. Although being thankful is a learned habit that needs to be developed, it should be an awareness of the goodness of God or one should question if they truly are born again.

Psalms 54:6 

Willingly I will sacrifice to You; I will give thanks to Your name, O LORD, for it is good.

Psalms 57:9-10 

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens and Your truth to the clouds.

4) GENEROSITY – A hallmark of the early church was the outpouring of generosity. 2 Corinthians 5:17 talks about when we come to Christ we begin a “metamorphosis,” or transformation. This willingness to give to others starts when we are born again, but unless it is encouraged by others it can become dormant.

Proverbs 22:9

He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

All these “ACTIONS” that believers should be engaged in can fall by the wayside if not encouraged by other Godly believers. Sometimes the Christian community can be stuck in human traditions rather than building our intimacy with Christ. If we are in a healthy community of God then these and other actions should be encouraged and developed, thus gaining us favor with God more and more as we develop. Let me leave you with this strong warning from Paul concerning bad influences of people that don’t encourage such traits.

1 Corinthians 15:33 

Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 

Questions:

1) Are you developing good motives and action in your Christian walk? If not why not?

2) Have you been waiting for God’s blessing without gaining favor? Start with confession.

Pastor Dale