The Benefits of Favour: Why a Seed of Nothing Reaps Nothing
Dr RJ Sing, 40 min, Part 6 of Favor: The Road to Success
Originally preached as “Favor: The Road to Success, Part 6”
Sermon outline
Favour is a revelation you must not let slip: declare it, feed on God's faithfulness, sow the seed God has already put in your hand, and walk through the door into favour.
Main text
- Psalm 5:12
- Psalm 30:5
- 2 Corinthians 4:1
Opening
He welcomes church members he is missing and cannot hug or greet face to face, trusting that this time will soon pass, and viewers in other places. He prays for anointing on his voice and mind and that viewers would be strengthened with might in the inner man, then, as he did last week, gives Part 6 a subtitle: The Benefits of Favour in Your Life.
A lifetime of favour: do not become discouraged
God surrounds the righteous with goodwill, pleasure and favour as with a shield, and his favour is for a lifetime. Because God's mercy grants us favour, benefits and opportunities, we must not become spiritless, despondent or exhausted; if you are on that road, pick up your strength and hope, because God is in your boat. He thanks the men and women of God whose teaching on favour changed his life.
“As believers, this lifetime of favor is one of the biggest assets we have.”
- Psalm 5:12
- Psalm 30:5
- 2 Corinthians 4:1
Do not let the revelation slip
We must give more earnest heed to what we have heard, lest we let it slip, so that favour becomes part of our consciousness. When we consistently declare God's favour, he opens doors no man can shut and changes rules and policies for us. Don't become problem-focused: Israel took the land by God's favour, not their own sword, and a delay in prayer does not mean it is not being answered, because God has a timing.
Illustration: When he meets local children he asks, "Where is Jesus?" and tells them Jesus is in their heart; the next time he asks, they laugh and answer that Jesus is in their heart. That child has caught the revelation.
“Problems are overwhelming but do not become problem focused.”
- Hebrews 2:1
- Revelation 3:8
- Psalm 44:3
What is the favour of God?
Favour is granted out of goodwill: it is not bought and not earned, but Christ paid the price, and his mercy entitles us to it. It is a gift God gives out of kindness when we don't deserve it. Jesus's promise to do whatever we ask in his name, and God's promise to withhold no good thing from the upright, give us assurance.
“When you feed on the faithfulness and favor of God, you will begin to experience it more and more.”
- Psalm 37:3-4
- John 14:13-14
- Psalm 84:11
Favour with God and with man
Constantly declare the favour of God and walk conscious of it; it gives you advantages, so that when something doesn't seem to work, a solution appears. Everything God does is motivated by love, so we need not cower but can come boldly before the throne of grace. Jesus grew in favour with God and man, and since we meet so many people every day, we need favour with them too.
“Favor can be obtained with God in the invisible world and with man in the visible world.”
- John 3:16
- Hebrews 4:16
- Luke 2:52
- Proverbs 13:15
- Proverbs 14:19
Your seed is the tool God has given you to create your future
Whatever a man sows he reaps, so when you receive favour, understanding and kindness, give them back. God always gives you something to begin your future: David had a sling, and the poor widow had the discernment to listen to and obey the man of God, and a meal to invest in him. If you keep what you have, that is all it will ever be, but sowing it releases it as the evidence of your faith.
“A seed of nothing guarantees you a harvest and a season of nothing.”
- Galatians 6:7
- 1 Kings 17:8-16
- 1 Samuel 17:49-50
Favour can show up in strange places
Favour showed up in prison for Joseph, brought Ruth the right companion, brought Israel unexpected income from the Egyptians, can stop disasters and can bring a miracle birth even when a doctor says no. He testifies that he has seen miracle upon miracle in his years of serving the Lord. Remember the miracles God has done for you, because in battle-weary times the God who gave you victory before will do it again.
Illustration: The night before, he had been studying the wedding at Cana, where Mary told the servants to do whatever Jesus said, and the water they drew became better wine than was first served.
“If God gave you victory in the past he'll do it again.”
- Genesis 39:21
- Exodus 12:36
- John 2:1-11
A door out of trouble and a door into favour
In tragedy, retrenchment, failed exams, serious accidents or the loss of loved ones, God is always with you. Recalling last week's message, he says the tree thrown into the bitter water pictures the cross, which takes the sting out of life and brings in favour. Like Joseph you will prosper wherever you go; walk in integrity and wisdom, and know that the Lord takes pleasure in your prosperity.
“There is a door out of trouble and there's a door into favor.”
- Exodus 15:23-25
- Proverbs 11:27
- Psalm 35:27
Putting it into practice
- Refuse discouragement: pick up your strength and hope, knowing God is in your boat.
- Confess, meditate on, speak and expect God's favour everywhere you go.
- Remember and recount the miracles God has already done for you.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the seed you already have, and sow it.
- Find a faith-based church when you can, get a Bible, and study it.
Closing
He prays for viewers with a point of contact, commanding financial mountains to be removed and sickness, disease and foul spirits to go, because Jesus came to give abundant life. He leads a prayer of salvation, then gives three closing instructions: find a faith-based church when the social dynamics change, get a Bible and study it, and sow a seed so the ministry can reach more people.
Declarations he led
- Dear Lord Jesus, I receive you now as my Lord and my Savior. I know, Lord God, that as I receive you my sins are washed away. I'm now a child of God. I now walk in this new consciousness of being a child of God. I walk away today knowing, Lord, I'm set free from enslavement from the devil. In the name of Jesus, I'm absolutely free.
In his words
- “Favor can be obtained with God in the invisible world and with man in the visible world.”
- “There will never be a day in your life that you will have nothing.”
- “If you keep what you presently have that is what it will always ever end up just being.”
- “A seed of nothing guarantees you a harvest and a season of nothing.”
- “There is a door out of trouble and there's a door into favor.”
Every scripture in this message
- Ephesians 3:16
- Psalm 5:12
- Psalm 30:5
- 2 Corinthians 4:1
- Hebrews 2:1
- Revelation 3:8
- Psalm 44:3
- Psalm 37:3-4
- John 14:13-14
- Psalm 84:11
- John 3:16
- Hebrews 4:16
- Luke 2:52
- Proverbs 13:15
- Proverbs 14:19
- Galatians 6:7
- 1 Kings 17:8-16
- 1 Samuel 17:49-50
- Genesis 39:21
- Exodus 12:36
- John 2:1-11
- Exodus 15:23-25
- Proverbs 11:27
- Psalm 35:27
- John 10:10
