Favor in the Sight of God
August 24, 2014 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: Favor in the sight of God is an exciting and fruitful place to be.
Focus Passage: Genesis 6:5-8
Supplemental Passage: "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. (2 Chronicles 16:9a NASB)
Introduction: There are some people you are happy to see. You know they are going to be an encouragement, bring a smile, or just a good word. There are other people that bring dread to your day when you even hear the sound of their voice, for you know they bring complaints, gossip, or strife of some sort. Yet again, there are some who fall into that second category that other people think are the best thing since sliced bread. We all know about a parent/child relationship where the child can do no wrong, no matter how bad they actually are. They have become the apple of their mother’s eye and nothing they do can cloud that. What must we do to find favor in the eyes of God?
I. Endeavor for Righteousness
a. Noah wasn’t corrupt like the rest of the world
b. YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1 Peter 1:16 NASB)
c. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6 NASB)
II. Forsake the Ways of the World
a. And He said to them, "Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. (Mark 7:6 NASB)
b. "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. (Matthew 6:24a NASB)
c. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4 NASB)
III. Seek & Obey the Lord
a. How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. (Psalms 1:1-3 NASB)
b. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. (John 14:15 NASB)
c. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33 NASB)
d. and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB)
Application/Invitation: What is in your life that would keep you from gaining favor in the sight of God? What do you need to forsake? What do you need to obey?
[The audio of this sermon can be downloaded at: http://rboyne.sermon.net/20171661]
