BLESSED BY GODS FAVOR

Lesson from 01-27-17

BLESSED BY GODS FAVOR

When Gods blessings are released and the windows of heaven are open over you, Gods blessings begin to pour out on you that you cannot contain. They will be overflowing

Malachi 3:10   ¹⁰ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

These blessings are more than spiritual bumps on your arms, and feeling good about your relationship with God. When God manifests his blessings, it is a visible sign of favor to those observing your life.

If you intend to follow Christ Jesus and serve him, I believe it is the will of God that you walk in the favor of the Lord. Divine favor is the ability to walk under an open window of heaven.

Having a window open and keeping a window open are two different things. Getting a window opened happens because of Gods redemptive grace, but keeping it open is a result of Gods covenant favor.

It may surprise you to know that the same word translated and used for grace is the same word for favor in Hebrew text, spelled favour.

While Greek and Hebrew meanings are the same, there is one major difference between grace and favor. Grace is unearned and a free Gift from God: But favor may be deserved or gained.

Romans 3:23-24   ²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

We have all sinned and fell short of Gods glory, but Gods mercy and his grace, through the redemption in Christ Jesus we’re justified by his amazing grace.

Romans 5:19-21   ¹⁹ For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

²⁰ Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

²¹ That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

By Adams disobedience, we were made sinners, but because grace reigns through Christ our Lord we are made righteous unto eternal life.

Romans 6:14   ¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Sin has no dominion over the believers, for we are not under the law but under grace.

The basic meaning of grace of God is: Gods free gift of mercy and salvation given to believers. God is indicated when grace is multiplied or added and called “more grace” or highly favored.

James 4:6   ⁶ But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

The difference between simple grace and multifield grace or favor is this, saving and redemptive grace is unearned. Favor can be earned by obedience to God.

Both are free gifts of God, Grace is the reward for believing upon Christ Jesus and believing his word. Favor is a reward for acting upon the promises of God.

The question of favor often baffles ministers in the ministry. Some build larger congregations than others, yet the smaller ministries are just as effective.

Some teachers have a gift of communication and knowledge. I don’t believe God randomly selects favorites, maybe it’s because some may not be tapping into Gods favor.

Favor can be obtained from God though acts of kindness and obedience and following Gods will for your life.

God selects people who will use every gift they have for the kingdom of God.

Mathew 6:33   ³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Job 42:10   ¹⁰ And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Job’s blessing was lost by a battle, but regained by divine favor. In fact, the increases after the battle came in the form of a double portion.

Luke 6:38   ³⁸ Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Favor can be obtained with God and man, God’s word speaks of it.

1 Samuel 2:26   ²⁶ And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men.

Luke 2:52   ⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Why is it important to obtain favor with God, and with man? Your entire life revolves around dealing with people. God uses men to give unto your bosom.

Therefore, favor with God and man is important. Favor can open the door you need to see the works of your hand blessed. The bible is filled with promises of favor for the believer.

It is just as important to understand what favor is not, as it is to understand what favor is. Favor does not involve good looks or physical attraction.

Your physical beauty, for, or appearance do not determine your level of favor with God. Favor is not charisma or polished personality.

In the secular world, people use their charm or personality as a plus. Real favor does not involve either. Favor is a supernatural action from God that enables Him to receive the glory, when he works on our behalf.

If it was our gift, ability or personality, then we would accept the praise of men, and think our personal gifts obtained the favor.

Favor doesn’t exempt you from trials. People feel that if they are in Gods will they are exempt from problems. Others believe that if they have the favor of God, everything will always go right.

This is not true, sometimes, even with favor we will experience troubles. The reason I know believers are blesses is not because they are exempt from trouble, but because they keep making it through the storms.

Favor is the assurance that God is with you and will see you through, in spite of these attacks. When things seem to fall apart and trouble surrounds you, don’t believe the lie of Satan, that God has forsaken you and His favor can’t be found.

Favor does not exempt you from tribulation. However favor will enable you to always come out on the other side with the victory.

Trouble, disaster, and difficulty are not signs of lack of favor. They are only signs that you are still alive and living on Earth. That you are not exempt from difficulty; always remember, when it comes to favor, if God is for us, who can be against us.

Pride the Arrogance of Destruction

FROM OUR FRIDAY JANUARY 20, 2017 MEETING

Pride the Arrogance of Destruction

2 Chronicles 7:14   ¹⁴ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

First of all, God is speaking to the Jewish people regarding a prayer of Solomon. In Chapter 6 Solomon ask God to make provisions for the people when they sinned. God answered with four conditions for forgiveness.

1.   Humble yourself by admitting your sins.

2.   Pray to God asking for forgiveness.

3.   Seek God continually.

4.   Turn from sinful behavior.

True repentance is more than talk. It is a changed behavior. Follow these steps and God will answer our earnest prayers.

When you ask god for forgiveness of sin you are showing humility toward God. Sin causes the fellowship between God and man to create a lacking of God’s presence. We must stay humble before our God.

Jeremiah 10:23   ²³ O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

Gods ability to direct our life is far superior to our ability. Don’t be afraid to let God correct your plans. He will give you wisdom if you are willing.

Psalms 37:23-24   ²³ The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

The steps of a righteous man or Godly man, are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives, even though we are human and are likely to stumble and make mistakes, we will not fall. For the Lord holds us by the hand.

James 4:10   ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on Him, He will lift you up and give you honor. This is humbling yourself.

Bowing before the Lord, means recognizing that our worth comes from God alone. To be humble involves leaning on His power and guidance and not going our own independent way.

Let God know we need Him. Have confidence in what has already been done. Then God can work for you in your life.

When we don’t humble ourselves, and have confidence in our own abilities and not in God, it means we are getting over into arrogance and pride.

Psalms 10:4   ⁴ The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Wicked people are too proud to seek God, they seem to think God is dead, some people succeed in everything they do, and brag about and say nothing is going to keep them down. Bragging is prideful.

Pride! A higher opinion of oneself, conceit, exaggerated self-esteem, haughtiness and arrogance.

Psalms 11:2   ² For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

When pride shows up, it leads to disgrace, then causes shame. Pride is self-centeredness. A humble person is God centered, a prideful person is self-centered. 

Being self-centered will maintain pride. When that happens, Grace is not with you. Pride is a deceptive state of arrogance which will rob you of the blessings. It puts you in a negative position to where God’s grace cannot keep you.

Pride is saying I can do it my way better than Gods way. That kind of thinking will deceive you and let you down. Gods way will lift you up.

1 Peter 5:5-6   ⁵ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Both young and old can benefit Peters instruction. Pride often keeps older people from trying to understand young people and keeps younger people from listening to those who are older. Peter told both young and old to be humble and to serve each other.

Young men should follow the leadership of older men, who should lead by example. They should be humble enough to admit that you can learn from others.

We must learn to be humble. If you will move to gods dependence you are humble.

Proverbs 15:32-33   ³² He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

³³ The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

If you reject criticism you will only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you will grow in understanding. Fear of the Lord teaches a person to be wise, humility precedes honor.

Proverbs 18:12   ¹² Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.

Before destruction the heart of man/woman is haughty, and before honor is humble.

It is not in us to know our way to be able to give direction to self. That is getting over into self-centeredness which is nothing more than pride. This takes us away from being dependent on God.

When we move from being dependent on God, we move towards being dependent on ourselves. That takes us from humility and ushers us into pride.

Proverbs 29:23   ²³ A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.

This means you have fallen from grace, the issue is when you fall from humility to pride, you’re not going to flow where grace is. This will put you under the law.

Galatians 5:4    ⁴ Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

When we go back under the Law, Christ and what he made available for us through grace becomes of no effect. Stop trying to figure things on your own. That is under the law.

Galatians 2:16   ¹⁶ Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

You cannot be justified by the works of the law. Only through Jesus Christ by faith, that we might be justified.

Babes in Christ

Service from our Friday January 13, 2017 meeting

Babes in Christ

1 Thessalonians 5: 5-6   ⁵ Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.   ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober

Once you accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in your spirit.

At that time you become the children of the light.


Notice it stated Children… when you made Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Lord of your life, a new spirit was born in you.

This baby spirit has no knowledge, same as a natural born baby.


You and I know that the natural baby doesn’t know the things of the world and can not protect itself.


This new born natural baby needs parental support, training, feeding and protection from this evil and unsettled world.


You can’t produce a new born baby and expect it to have knowledge like a grown person.


The only thing a newborn knows is to cry when it is hungry and cry when it is in pain.

Your new born spirit is a baby same as a natural born baby. It too needs parental knowledge and training. Otherwise it will suffer the consequences of being unlearned and untrained same as a natural born baby.

If the natural newborn isn’t trained in the way it should grow it will have a disastrous life. It must be fed and nurtured so it can grow up to be strong and wise.


It is the same way with the spirit child; it will also have undeveloped wisdom and not have the necessary biblical skills it needs if you do not feed it the word.


Both babies have to be fed, nourished and have parental training to be used for life’s purposes and Gods purpose.


If you never spoke to your new born it could never speak itself, because it never heard the words to learn to speak.


If you never speak Gods word to your newborn spirit child it too will never develop in the word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.


It takes words to train both children. Words develop them for the world they must face each and every day.

They will need common language and spiritual language for the development of both natural and spiritual children.


You need to think about what you are feeding your spiritual child. Are you ignoring your inner spiritual child or are you feeding it the word of God, your spiritual child needs more than just one meal a week? Life is not about just having a one-time meal.

Your spiritual child needs to be fed often, just as you would feed a natural child.

Proverbs 4:20-23   ²⁰ My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.²¹ Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.²² For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.²³ Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

My son… we are his children.  He says, listen to what I am saying, open your ears to my words, and don’t lose sight of them.

Keep them deep within your heart, because your heart is this spirit child. The word is life to those who find it, and health to the physical body or inner child

Both children win when the word of God is applied to their daily lives.


Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die to get there. If you do not feed your natural baby it will die, if you don’t feed your spiritual baby it too will die.


You need Gods word daily to feed your inner spiritual child. If you don’t feed your inner spiritual child it will never mature in the word of God.

No one with common since would take their natural child to Disneyland and turn it loose and walk away without giving that child the proper training.

We must not turn our spiritual child out to the things of this world without the proper training.


What are we feeding our spiritual child today?


The word to the spirit child is like medicine to the natural child. If your natural child was sick you would take it to the doctor to get it healed.


If your spirit child is sick from lack of knowledge, just feed it the word… it will get well.



Taking care of both children is a daily thing, but it is something that is necessary to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil.

Hebrews 5:11-14   ¹¹ Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

¹² For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

¹³ For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

¹⁴ But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Paul is speaking to the Hebrew people. These Jewish Christias were very immature.

Some of them should have been teaching others. Instead they still needed someone to teach them.

Paul was saying, you still need milk, not solid food. They were reluctant to move beyond old traditions and doctrines.

If you are still living on milk you will never experience what is right for you. You are still spiritual babies in Christ.

Don’t be afraid to step out in faith and speak to people about your Christianity. Ask the Lord for wisdom and knowledge to increase in you.

SPIRITUAL CONFIDENCE “VS” HUMAN KNOWLEDGE

                               Service from our Friday meeting 1-6-17

SPIRITUAL CONFIDENCE “VS” HUMAN KNOWLEDGE

Deuteronomy 6:10-12   ¹⁰ And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,

¹¹ And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

¹² Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

God is saying, I will bring you into a land, that He promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and he will give to them great and goodly cities which they didn’t build.

And houses full of good things that they didn’t buy, and wells they didn’t dig, vineyards and olive trees that they didn’t plant, and all the food you can eat.

And when this takes place, beware lest thou forget the Lord.

How many times has God blessed people, and they have never given God praise for it? How many prayers have been answered, how many people have been healed, even our salvation and  have we ever given God praise?

Justification, sanctified made righteous, made holy before God.

These blessings and many more, are the houses you didn’t build, the wells you didn’t dig, the vineyards and olive trees you didn’t plant. How many times has God fed you with money that came from the Job that he blessed you with?

Could it be possible that God could give you something that you did nothing to get?

Hebrews 4:1-3   Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

² For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

³ For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Gods rest is there for the people to enter, the Jewish Christians have been on the verge of turning back from their rest in Christ Jesus, just as the people in Moses day had turned back.

When we trust in our own efforts instead of Christs power, we too are in danger of turning back: away from His rest: he says, any of you should seem to come short of it.

We must put our confidence in what has already been done. People who are confident in themselves only last for a short time, and end up in failure.

We need to let God know that we need Him; so, we won’t do something to come short of His rest, which is nothing more than trusting Him for the things he has already done, and the things He will do in the future.

Psalms 46:10   ¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Sometimes we get so busy until the last thing we need is someone telling us to be still. With a million different things facing us daily, but that is precisely what God is saying.

When you get too busy to rest in God, you’re too busy. Be still long enough to hear what God is saying to you. You may not know this, but God loves to fellowship with you.

James 4:14-16   ¹⁴ Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

¹⁵ For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

¹⁶ But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

It is good to make plans, but they will disappoint us if we leave God out of them. There is no point in making plans as though God does not exist. Because our future is in His hands.

What would you like to be doing ten years from now, one year from now, or even tomorrow? How will you react if God steps in and rearranges your plans? Plan ahead, but ask Gods guidance, seek Gods will in your planning. He will never disappoint you.

Life is short, no matter how many years we live. Never be deceived into thinking that you have lots of remaining time to live for Christ, or to enjoy your loved ones, or to do what you know you should.

If we continue to live for God today, then no matter when your life ends, or the rapture comes, you will have fulfilled Gods plan for your life.

Hebrews 10: 34-35   ³⁴ For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

³⁵ Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

The word says: you were thrown into jail, when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with Joy, for you knew you had better things waiting for you in eternity.

We are never to abandon our faith in times of persecution, but we are to show by our endurance that our faith is real. Faith, love and resting in Christ Jesus is trusting God for the manifestation of what has already been done and paid for, through the cross. Our health, prosperity, power over the flesh world and the devil.

Hebrews 10: 36-39   ³⁶ For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

³⁷ For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

³⁸ Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

³⁹ But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

We need to be patient, because after we have lived righteous before God, “which means you have done his will” then you might receive the promise.

The promise here is Gods unmerited favor upon your life, which means God is making things happen in your life supernaturally,

things you couldn’t make happen in the natural.

Another part of the promise made is “in a little while”, he that is promised to come, “which is Christ Jesus” will not tarry.

The just shall live by faith, because it is impossible to please God without faith, but if any man/woman draw back “or doubt and stop believing in the word” God says, my soul shall have no pleasure in him/her.

Proverbs 15: 31-33   ³¹ The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

³² He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

³³ The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

We must stay humble before God, we must remain wise and receive Godly instruction, the fear “or reverence of God” is his instruction of wisdom, and before honor from the Lord, is humility.

Proverbs 18:12   ¹² Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Learning to Lean on God

We need to continually lean on God. Renewing our minds with the word will cause us to draw closer to God. Life with God is always good. We don't have to go through life confused or lonely. God is waiting for you to draw near to Him. Study His word. Speak to Him as though He is as your earthly father.

He created Mankind, women and men, so that he could fellowship with us. He is waiting for you to choose Him...

Meaning of Christmas to me

Merry Christmas

First and foremost it is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I know that many have heard people say that He wasn't born in December, that doesn't matter to me at all. To me it is a day to celebrate the Savior.

I still put up my Christmas tree, It is like putting on the decorative bow for the package of praise for His birthday.

However you choose to celebrate this Holy day, I am hoping that you have a happy and blessed Christmas.

Love,
Mom