Discovering Your Destiny Series * Seven Sermons from the Book of Ruth
Two Keys Brings Seven Blessings
(Inspired from Perry Stone’s Book, Lay It On Me)
August 3, 2014 Chester FBC, Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction:
A Before Ruth would experience the breakthrough with Boaz, she asked for both GRACE & FAVOR.
1 Ruth 2:2 (NASB) 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter."
Ruth 2:10 (KJV) 10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
Ruth 2:13 (NASB) 13 Then she said, "I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants."
Ruth 2:19 (NASB) 19 Her mother-in-law then said to her, "Where did you glean today and where did you work? May he who took notice of you be blessed." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, "The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz."
a Grace is the unmerited, undeserved divine blessing that come from God to you.
b Favor is the unearned blessing given to you by men & women.
2 Closely examine where the flow of blessing comes from in Luke 6.38,
“Luke 6:38 (NASB) "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
a Unquestionably, the heart of God is the source of all blessing, yet the flow comes through the hands of men.
b With Ms. Ruth, we know she was blessed by YHWH because every time she turned around somebody was blessing her!
B It is possible for us to with both the favor of God and the favor of man.
1 Grace & Favor are linked together for the ones who love the Lord.
a Grace is the unmerited, undeserved divine blessing that come from God to you; Favor is the unearned blessing given to you by men & women.
b The are different, but they have a commonality that we need to explore.
aa They both mean we’re treated better than we deserve, regarded in higher standing than we’ve personally earned.
bb IL. Getting bumped up to First-Class from coach when Kayleih died.
2 When we think of favor we often think if we walk in the “favor” of men then we must be a poor witness . . . surely God can’t think highly of us if people think we’re alright. (That’s not true.)
a You can walk in God’s blessing and in people’s favor simultaneously. They don’t have to be mutually exclusive from one another.
b I believe grace & favor brings seven blessings.
I Favor can stop death.
A Daniel 2.24, Daniel got a word of interpretation about a king’s dream and saved the wise men in Babylon.
Daniel 2:24 (NASB) 24 Therefore, Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and spoke to him as follows: "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon! Take me into the king's presence, and I will declare the interpretation to the king."
1 Queen Ester (Purim) delivered the Hebrews in Persia become she confronted the king, made intercession for her people and exposed a Satanic plot against her Jewish kinsmen (Esther 5.2).
Esther 5:2 (NASB) 2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.
2 When Peter was about to get his head chopped off, the church prayed for Ol’Peter and 12 hours before he was scheduled to be beheaded, God spared his life from death (Acts 12).
a King Herrod had arrested James (John’s brother) and put him to death with a sword, Herod’s approval ratings spiked so he went out and found him another Apostle to kill, Peter (Acts 12.3.)
Acts 12:3 (NASB) 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
aa Herod put him in jail and decided to kill him after Passover.
bb That night Peter’s friend down at the church went to praying for him and while the church was praying, God sent two angels to the jailhouse to free Peter, give him a stay of execution (Acts 12.7).
Acts 12:7 (NASB) 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter's side and woke him up, saying, "Get up quickly." And his chains fell off his hands.
cc Peter couldn’t believe his eyes, thought he was dreaming (12.9), probably thinking “If this is a dream just let me keep on sleeping!”
Acts 12:9 (NASB) 9 And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
b He got far enough away from the jailhouse he came to his senses.
Acts 12:11-12 (NASB) 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting." 12 And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
aa When Peter knocked, a lil’girl named Rhoda came to the door, probably thinking, “Doesn’t this person know where trying to have a prayer meeting for brother Peter? How rude, insensitive to the spirit? Peter’s cell phone probably goes off as he’s getting ready to knock on the door? How do they expect God to work? She opens the door . . . and immediately slams the door in Peter’s face!!!”
bb Favor before God, stopped death from happening.
B When you have sought God’s favor, find yourself in the favor of people (Right place at the right time, surrounded by the right the people), you may find yourself in the perfect spot for blessing to flow.
1 Grace & Favor can disarm death; cancel terminal illness, expose Satanic trappings.
2 Well, I don’t know if I believe that, preacher. (Whiney voice)
a Okay, then stop asking people to pray for you and your family then.
b As a pastor I don’t only believe in miracles, I count on them!!!
aa I’ve seen families on their way to divorce get straightened out.
bb I’ve seen people on their death bed get up and walk.
cc Lost sinners that heaven didn’t want/hell wouldn’t take meet the beautiful Savior Jesus to become some of the most precious people in the Kingdom of God. (Death to life)
II Favor can bring Great Financial Blessing
A In 24 hours, Ruth went from being a single, poor, widow woman to being the most famous girl in the city; Favor with Boaz (image) brought blessing into her private life.
1 It is possible that if the right people who are favored with God enter your life, they may bring blessing into yours.
a When Jacob went to work for his Uncle Laben in Syria, financial blessing began to pour into Uncle Laben’s house.
aa Laben knew that the blessing/financial gain was coming all because of Jacob, a Jew that was working for him.
bb Genesis 30:27 (NASB) 27 But Laban said to him, "If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the LORD has blessed me on your account."
b Jacob replied, “
Genesis 30:30 (NASB) 30 "For you had little before I came and it has increased to a multitude, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. But now, when shall I provide for my own household also?"
2 I remind you, God is the source of all blessing and He uses people as the means to get to the blessing out.
B Maybe the company you work for has grown/increased because YOU have been connected with them.
1 I’m nobody, preach. I’m the low-man at the bottom of a very tall totem pole.
a I’m suggesting to you that the reason why the place you work at is doing well is because you’re tithing/giving, there are other tithers/givers sitting in the offices, making decisions, directing matters of the company.
b Therefore God keeps the company financially strong so His people can give and tithe for the Kingdom’s work.
2 I believe with all my heart, the only reason some businesses stay in business is not because they have good management, business plan, synergy . . . but because the average Joe & Jane on the line/ in the truck/ in the tower are tithers & givers.
a Companies do well, facilities stay open, . . .
b Favor brings great financial blessing.
III Favor Can Bring a Double Blessing
A Job lost all of his possessions, property, people . . except a nagging wife (I’ve often wondered if Job prayed, “LORD, didn’t you forget somebody?, while giving a head nod in his wife’s direction.)
1 Yet, Job stayed close to God in the battle/loss and he saw the increase (Job 42.10), double what he had than we began with.
Job 42:10 (NASB) 10 The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold.
2 Elisha found favor because he chose to stay with the prophet Elijah until the very end. (2 Kings 2.7-10, 12,13)
2 Kings 2:7-10 (NASB) 7 Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." 10 He said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so."
2 Kings 2:12-13 (NASB) 12 Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan.
a Many sons of the prophets viewed Elijah from afar, Elisha followed Elijah until the very end . . . until God whooshed him up in a chariot of fire.
b Reward? Double blessing fell on him.
B Sticking with right people, right location through loss/tough times can bring you double blessing because you are in favor!!
IV Favor Can Speed Up Your Destiny
A Have you ever waited for years to see the promises of God come to pass in your life, then all of a sudden, with just one act of God’s favor . . . it’s like somebody through the dam up and blessings just started pouring towards you.
1 Ester was a good woman, doing the will of God . . . but then she stood before the King and saved her people and became the queen.
a Ruth was a widow woman, working in the corners of the field then she married a wealthy business man and became famous in Bethlehem . . . because of one night of favor.
b Life can change in a heart-beat, sometimes for the worse . . . but sometimes for the better.
aa Joseph went from the pit, to a prison, to a palace . . . because he found great favor.
bb God revealed Joseph’s future in a dream but the dream got him in trouble with his family. (He ended up in an Egyptian prison.)
cc Yet God used Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams to reach Pharaoh (The gift that brought so much grief with his brothers was instrumental, 17 years later, in making Joseph second-in-command over all of Egypt.)
2 In Billy Graham’s early tent revivals, he was preaching in LA when media mogal William Randolph Hearst sent a memo to his newspapers, telling his writers to “puff Graham.”
a The LA Times published an article favorable to Graham’s revival, the story hit the national wires . . . Billy Graham was recognized as a powerful evangelist overnight.
b Sometimes, what looks bad is turned around for our good when the favor of God is upon us.
aa In 1948, Oral Roberts embarked on his evangelistic fame during a tent revival in Oklahoma . . . one night a man fired a gun at Roberts, missing him by inches.
bb The local newspaper report of the incident spread across the nation and within 24 hours, the whole nation knew of a you man who prayed for the sick & got results . . the revival went on for 9 weeks.
B The favor of God can turn a curse into a blessing and speed up your destiny.
V Favor Can Cause the Impossible to Happen.
A In 1997, Ms. Pam and I didn’t have health insurance (the church we were at didn’t take care of us at that time like ya’ll always have done.)
1 We got pregnant and the church voted to get us health insurance.
a Most companies see pregnancy as a pre-conditioned illness... when Oshner HMO said we we’re covered . . . I called them back three times to make sure we were covered.
b We asked others people, and they never heard of such.
aa Without that insurance we would have been hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt . . . on top of losing the child.
bb It’s impossible for that to happen. . . not when you walk in favor.
2 Even in the pain, loss . . . in the face of being slain . . . the impossible can still happen to those who walk in favor.
a You lost your kid, preacher. You’re right, . . . but death hasn’t got the final word in that yet either!!!!
b 2 Samuel 12:22-23 (NASB) 22 He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.' 23 "But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."
B God sets us up with the right person at the right time and gave us favor . . . what He did for us, He’ll do for you.
VI Favor comes through prayer
A Just because you’re born again does not necessarily guarantee favor.
1 I think favor is like wisdom: you are not born with it, but it can be given to you by the Lord if you ask Him for it.
2 Before coming out here to preach I ask God to give me favor with you.
a The message I have to preach will be a blessing to you only if you receive what I’m saying.
b If the folks don’t like the preacher, they won’t hear a word the preachers saying.
B Before you make a major decision, speak, business meeting . . . ask God for favor.
1 God may move someone out of your path before the meeting and place the right person in your path . . . how? Because of FAVOR.
2 Have you ever known someone who can more accomplished in one trip than you could with 9 phone calls? How? Some folks with the favor of God. FAVOR COMES THROUGH PRAYER
VII Favor doesn’t exempt you from trouble
A It is in error that some believe that if they walk in favor they will be exempt from problems, everything will go right . . . simply not true.
1 Sometimes, even with favor, we will experience trouble/heartache/loss.
2 The reason I know I am blessed is not because I am exempt from trouble, but because I keep making it through the storms.
a My boat has been cracked, filled with water . . . but I have made it time after time to the other side!!
b Occasionally, I get beat up by people, slandered, libeled, called words I never read in the Bible . . . but I keep running the race.
aa I’m blessed; I have survived terrible attacks and still walk with victory.
bb Having favor is not a ticket of exemption from physical/spiritual attacks.
c It is the assurance that God, who is with you, will see you through in spite of these attacks!
B Are you ready to trust God and move forward to where you need to be?
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
