You Don't Have to Earn It: 10 Things God's Favour Produces
Dr RJ Sing, 47 min
Originally preached as “How God's Favor Changes Your Life”
Sermon outline
Every believer already carries God's favour as a gift of grace, and by faith you can walk in all that favour produces instead of striving to earn it.
Main text
- Ephesians 2:8
- Psalm 5:12
Opening
He leads communion, reminding the church that believers are a royal priesthood grafted into the family of Jesus and that their sins are forgiven, past, present and future. Asking to sit while he teaches, he thanks God for bringing every family through a year of loss and financial fires, urges people to stay teachable and to run in their own lane, and gives the church favour as its theme for the month.
You already have God's favour
Salvation itself is proof of favour: we are saved by grace through faith, not by our own effort, so no one has to earn God's favour. Favour surrounds the righteous like a shield and covers every area of life, family and workplace. It is multiplied, not merely added, but it must be received and acted on by faith.
Illustration: Things that could have taken you out along the way did not, because God's favour covered you.
“You must understand that you already have God's favor.”
- Ephesians 2:8
- Psalm 5:12
- 2 Peter 1:2
- Romans 10:17
1. Favour produces honour in the midst of your adversaries
He refuses to fight or defend himself because God is his defence. God gave Israel favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so stop chasing people's approval; if they reject you, they are the ones who have lost out.
“I have found that when I try to be God, I make a bad job of it.”
- Exodus 11:3
2. Favour produces increased assets, property, especially real estate
Some who have no house yet will soon have houses of their own. The world leans on government and on people, but believers must not lean on the arm of flesh; they lean on God.
Illustration: Pastor Zubeda reminded him of the verse about the man who leans on the arm of flesh.
“Listen, ladies and gentlemen, don't lean on the arm of flesh.”
- Jeremiah 17:5
3. Favour produces battles won which you don't have to fight
God is your shield and protector, and He fights for you, vindicates you and opens doors. Israel did not take Canaan by their own sword but by God's favour towards them. Teach your children that God will fight for them.
Illustration: A huge door swings on two tiny hinges; God will open big doors for you.
“I don't have to fight this fight. God will fight this fight for me.”
- Psalm 44:3
4. Favour produces supernatural increase and promotion
People may wonder why you are promoted when you lack the credentials or are not the right colour, but God is lifting you up. The Lord was with Joseph and gave him favour even in prison, so do not put yourself down. Whatever little you start with is only the beginning.
Illustration: Joseph found favour with the warden even in prison.
“Even in hard circumstances, you will experience favor.”
- Genesis 39:21
- Exodus 3:21
5. Favour produces restoration of everything that you have lost
Many in the church started with nothing and now have much, because favour brought them there. What was lost will come back multiplied.
“Favor produces restoration of everything that you have lost.”
6. Favour produces great victories in the midst of impossibilities
Study, finish matric and go to university, but on top of natural knowledge believers have supernatural insight and favour. Money is not everything; prayer, confession and praise open doors, and no one functions without favour and mercy.
Illustration: Brother Prem told him he lacked the engineers' degrees but still had the answer. On a trip, he met people from Europe who saw no reason to say grace because their money had bought the food.
“The highest form of power on the earth is prayer, not money.”
- Joshua 11:20
- 2 Timothy 2:15
7. Favour produces recognition even when you seem the least likely to receive it
You don't have to prove yourself; it is not by sweat and toil. Just as Saul asked for David to stay because he pleased him, even unsaved bosses will favour you without knowing why. Never forget where you came from, be thankful rather than a complainer, and use your tongue to speak blessing over your work and future.
Illustration: He plans to give everyone a long pencil and a short pencil in the new year, so they never have a short memory. He recalls that God had His hand on him from a little boy, while he was still in a pagan religion.
“Never forget where you come from.”
- 1 Samuel 16:22
- Esther 4:14
- Proverbs 18:21
- Psalm 45:1
- Proverbs 4:23
8. Favour produces prominence and preferential treatment
The king loved Esther above all the other women and set the royal crown on her head. It was favour, not effort, that lifted her, and believers will experience the same.
“It was favor that elevated Esther.”
- Esther 2:17
9. Favour produces petitions granted by ungodly civil authorities
If rules and laws must change for you, they will, because believers are seated with Christ in heavenly places. Jesus never prayed for His miracles; He spoke them, so speak your future into existence and pray for people wherever you are.
Illustration: The church began small at Matron Road with only four cars in the car park and a picture of a large church stuck on the pulpit; later the hall was so full he had to park his 4x4 on the bank. A woman at the hairdresser whose son could not find work asked him to pray after a witch doctor failed, and her son got a job.
“Know that you're not going to stay where you are.”
- Ephesians 2:6
- John 2:1-11
- John 4:46-53
10. His last point: favour produces battles won, because God will fight them for you
He closes where point three began: every battle you face, God will fight and give you the victory. Everything he taught is Bible based, not a folk tale.
“Every battle that you will be confronted with, God will fight for you and give you the victory.”
Putting it into practice
- Stop trying to earn favour and receive it by faith as a gift.
- Run your own race and stay in your own lane.
- Stop seeking people's approval and let God defend you.
- Be thankful and never forget where God brought you from.
- Use your tongue to speak blessing over your work, family and future.
Closing
He tells the church that everything he said is biblical, not a story: they have a good God who grants favour and blessings upon blessings whatever the challenges. He hands over to Pastor Adrian and has everyone stand to praise God.
Declarations he led
- I have God's favor.
In his words
- “God doesn't expect you to run another man's race.”
- “Favor surrounds you like a shield.”
- “I have found that when I try to be God, I make a bad job of it.”
- “The highest form of power on the earth is prayer, not money.”
- “Know that you're not going to stay where you are.”
Every scripture in this message
- 1 Peter 2:9
- Romans 11:17
- Matthew 26:26-28
- 1 Corinthians 6:19
- Psalm 47:1
- Ephesians 2:8
- Psalm 5:12
- 2 Peter 1:2
- Romans 10:17
- Exodus 11:3
- Jeremiah 17:5
- Psalm 44:3
- Genesis 39:21
- Exodus 3:21
- Joshua 11:20
- 2 Timothy 2:15
- Psalm 75:7
- 1 Samuel 16:22
- Esther 4:14
- Proverbs 18:21
- Psalm 45:1
- Proverbs 4:23
- Esther 2:17
- Ephesians 2:6
- John 2:1-11
- John 4:46-53