How Can One Increase “Favor”?

16 July 2017 (11.30am service, New Creation Church at The Star Vista)

- Sermon delivered by Pastor Joseph Prince

Sermon Notes (Note: These are personal notes and not a transcription of the sermon.)

I.           Grace Revolution

God is restoring the gospel of grace. There is a grace revolution going on all over the world.

Grace is not a subject, it is the person of Jesus Christ.

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Moses was born when Israel was in slavery. That was the time where babies were thrown into the River Nile by the Pharaoh. However, when the world seemed to be at its darkest period, a deliverer of Israel was born.

When Christ was born, King Herod instructed his men to kill all infants below two years old in Bethlehem. However, among the darkness, the Saviour was born.

II. How Favor Can Be Increased In Your Life

God has favor in your life but the favor can be enhanced.

There are things you do that could frustrate the favor of God.

Grace is undeserved favor; unmerited favor.

When God puts favor in your life, your enemies and critics cannot overcome it.

If you are in business and people feel that they trust you and want to work with you, it is favor from the Lord. There are diligent and trustworthy people who may not be smooth in their businesses.  

You want the favor of God to be increased in your life, whether you are a businessman or a homemaker.

Mothers deal with life, precious lives. They are guiding them not just in life but towards eternity.

The first favor that we need is favor with our family.

So, what frustrates the favor of God in your life?

The answer is not sin.

“where sin increased, grace super-abounded”

Romans 5:20

And the Law came-in-beside that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace super-abounded,

  

When Paul preached the above, there was a misunderstanding that “only where there is sin that grace can be super-abounded”:

Romans 6:1-2

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

It is impossible for us to continue to live in sin once you are saved.

If you are truly born again, you do not live in sin.

  

Romans 5:20-6:1

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

“entered” – come in from the side, it is alongside. Thus, it is not the main agenda.

“offense might abound”- law, like a spoon, stirs up the residues within the water in a glass.

The law points you to the need for Christ.

When people sin, most people respond with shame. That response cannot help people to receive grace. With shame and guilt, you cannot receive grace. For instance, a man with alcohol problems cannot receive grace and gradually free from alcoholism if he is filled with guilt all the time.

Grace is not natural. If you think naturally, you cannot appreciate grace.

Romans 11:6

And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

Grace is the opposite of work.

Grace is unmerited, unearned favor.

God expects to see faith from you, then you can see the result. You walk by faith, then you will see the result.

When Nahshon stepped into the red sea, God spilt the red sea open.

Matthew 1:1-6

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. 

Four women were mentioned in the genealogy. They are: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the wife of Uriah (Bathsheba).

They were mentioned to demonstrate God's grace. God can take unlikely people (prostitutes, a gentile and an adulteress) and use them in great ways.

God is telling you that while you may fall into sin, that is not the end.

However, it does not mean that you have to sin in order for grace to be super-abounded.

Because of Jesus, sin does not define us finally.

Grace does not increase by doing more but by resting more.

III.      Rest on Jesus

Pastor spoke about “the law of first mention”.  When the subject is mentioned for the first time, it is very significant.

Genesis 6:8

But Noah (Hebrew: rest) found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

“Grace” was found here for the first time.

Noah (Hebrew): rest

How to find grace in your life? By resting more.

Water, when it flows, it always goes to the lowest places. This is humility. It is a position of rest.

We are frustrating the grace of God without realizing it— with pride, with the thinking that we are in control of things.

Speaking is not Pastor Prince’s gift but this is where grace super abounds.

Thus, Pastor is not proud of his ability to preach.

Just say, “God, I rest in you.”

Rest, and you will achieve.

When Pastor was 8 and not yet a believer, he read the bible and realized how rested Jesus was. He has accomplished many more in the 3.5 years than many people, in a restful way.

Pastor had a very hectic schedule in the recent trip to USA. Though tiring, the trip was fun and fruitful. They had one day of rest during the trip and he watched Spider-Man with the other pastors.

In the movie, there was a segment where the ship is breaking apart. Without watching the movie before, Pastor instinctively told another pastor that Spider-Man is going to perform the gesture of the cross. True enough, he is holding the ship together in the gesture of a cross.

Our Lord saved the whole world at the cross. He was stuck at the cross and saved the whole world. And He exists.

In Superman, the father sends the son who has special power to the Earth. However, the son lives like a common man. He will be supernatural at certain moments in life. Towards the end, he dies to save the world. What’s next? There is the resurrection of Superman.

Does it sound familiar?

Our Lord is the superman of supermen

Jesus is “complete man and complete God”.

The Lord lives in the rhythm of grace. He always has time.

He has been performing miracles, traveling to different places to help people in the 3.5 years.

In one incident, Jesus was crossing the Lake of Galilee just to deliver one man from demonic possession. The demon-possessed man cut himself with stones. The devil tried to bring a storm to stop Jesus from getting to the man.

Jesus was very tired after a long day, and he fell asleep in the boat despite violent storms. His disciples were panic throughout the stormy trip while Jesus was peacefully asleep. They eventually woke Him. He arose and rebuked the wind demonic possession, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" (Mark 4:39). But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" (Mark 4:40).

Upon landing, He went to the man and cast the demon out of him.

The man was seated, clothed, and in his right mind. He went and became an evangelist in ten cities. And all the people were amazed.

We need more of this in this world today.

How grace can be increased, the number one way:

2 Peter 1:2

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

It is our natural tendency to want to do more. Learn to rest.

Do so is not according to nature. It is according to God. Learn the God’s way.

John 5:19-20

Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

If you know Jesus, you will know the Father.

Jesus rose from the dead. On the same day, two depressed disciples were walking to a village called Emmaus. Jesus asked them why they were sad (Luke 24:13-35).

 

Jesus restrained their eyes from seeing who He is.

Pastor Prince had been asking himself last time—why did Jesus want to restrain their eyes?

Eventually, he received a revelation: Jesus opened the Book of Moses and showed them things concerning Himself.

They did not know who He was but He brought them out of depression.

Do point others to Jesus when they face problems.

Many of us “use” Jesus during times of difficulty, for salvation, and then forget about him.

The two disciples told Him- they thought that Jesus was the person who was going to redeem Israel.

What they focused on was Israel, not Jesus. However, if you focus on Jesus, your life will be blessed.

Pastor said—you should see more of Jesus, not Pastor Prince.

2 Peter 1:2 (AMP)

My grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Pastor said to the husbands—if you know how much Christ loves you, you can pour the same love to your wife.

God made all kinds of animals to come before Adam. God created animals in twos— male and female, then man realized he was alone. God created the latest creation— the woman, and the last creation should be the most beautiful creation after many practices. God put man to sleep to create the most beautiful thing while the man was sleeping/resting.

If Jesus came before the law, men will not see that they need a savior. Thus, God gave law first, so that men will see the need for a savior.

 “God, I give up” are the best words to God.

The first area that we should ask for favor is our family.

At the deathbed, you will not regret not earning another million dollars. You will regret not spending enough time with the family. Time will not come back.

There is no word for husband or wife in the bible.

There are only man or woman. You need to read the context to know what the “man” or “woman” is referring to.

In Hebrew, there is no word for husband or wife.

This is another wisdom of God: When husbands look at women, they differentiate— this is my wife, that is a woman.

Man must realise that “this is your woman”, and not a “wife” that he can take her for granted.

IV. God Will Never leave You

God will never leave you. We have God’s constant presence.

Solomon wrote 1500 songs. Among all the song, God taught so much about one song, the Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) because it deals with the greatest theme of all- the love of Jesus.

Song of Solomon 5:2-6

The Shulamite I sleep, but my heart is awake; It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, "Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night."

I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?

My beloved put his hand By the latch of the door, And my heart yearned for him.

I arose to open for my beloved, And my hands dripped with myrrh, My fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock.

I opened for my beloved, But my beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

She did respond to His love. She saw the nail-pierced hands.

When He was gone, the woman looked and sought for Jesus.

Song of Solomon 5:9-12

The Daughters of Jerusalem What is your beloved More than another beloved, O fairest among women? What is your beloved More than another beloved, That you so charge us?

The Shulamite My beloved is white and ruddy, Chief among ten thousand.

His head is like the finest gold; His locks are wavy, And black as a raven.

His eyes are like doves By the rivers of waters, Washed with milk, And fitly set.

Song of Solomon 5:9-12 gives the description of Jesus.

When she described Him, He appeared.

When we talk to others about Jesus, we sense the presence of Jesus again

  

Children, when they are smaller, they want you to do things for them. However, when they are older, they are frustrated when you do too much for them. Sometimes, it is because we are anxious, and thus we are not at rest.

Similarly, we should rest in receiving grace.