God's Scandalous Favor, “Our Supernatural Advantage!”
There are very few things in life that give humanity an advantage. Speaking for only myself, when I have come across anything good that gave me an advantage in life, I have both clung to and respected whomever, or whatever was willing to help me out or give me a hand up to better myself!
I can honestly say that God the Father, Jesus His Son and the Amazing Holy Spirit, are the only ones I have ever found who have truly really ever cared about me, never one time abandoned me, and were willing to consistently help me at every juncture of my life!
I would hope by now you have come to realize what makes every one of God's promises so scandalous, especially His Favor is, His willingness to make them so readily available!
This next scripture, shows God's willingness and how He is willing to invest in His Children, when they are willing to take on His same Godlike attributes towards others!
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 MSG
6 Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop.
7 I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over,
and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.
8 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done.
9 As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out.
10 This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, 11 wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God. 12 Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. 13 This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone.
14 Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they'll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need.
15 Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!
Is God's Favor on a person's life to be considered advantageous? I would hope by now that you would clearly recognize a rhetorical question, but I think you are probably aware the answer is undeniably, "YES!" Only the accuser would disagree, as to the importance of having God's favor on a person's life.
If you were to ask almost anyone, who has a personal relationship with God, by accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they would say a thousand times yes! They would begin to tell you and keep on telling you, how God's Favor had opened doors for them.
How His Favor had miraculously given them opportunities, and how He had caused and continues to make things happen, that are beyond their wildest belief.
However, there are always seems to be a certain percentage in every demographic, if asked the same question you might not get the same response. Most times I've found, "what you obtain from a relationship is ALWAYS determined by how much you pursue, the intimacy of the relationship!"
I wonder, what the percentage is of believers, that live up to their God given potential? Would 10% be a scandalous guess? While 10% is somewhat to be considered a low number, I would venture to guess the number is significantly less.
While I don't have data for this, I do know the sad fact is, far to many Christians are Spiritually living in poverty!
In my research for this chapter, I wondered if what I had heard most of my life, was true? The fact that most people only use 10% of their brains capacity. I was somewhat surprised, by an article I discovered.
Illus. Article from wonderopolis.org
“So how much of your brain do you actually use? If you've ever believed in the 10% brain myth, you might be surprised to learn that human beings use virtually every part of their brains. Moreover, over the course of an average day, humans use nearly 100% of their brains.
Researchers who have studied the brain with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology have found that there are no dormant partsof the brain. In fact, most of your brain is active almost all of the time.
This all makes sense when you consider the importance of the brain to human life. Even though the brain only makes up 3-5% of the body's weight, it uses up an incredible 20% of the body's resources in terms of oxygen and glucose.”
I guess this eliminates the chance, for those of us who thought we could still use the other 90% unused portion of our brains to be a Genius! Lol!
This study does suggest, that we use our brains and they are active almost all the time. Lets say for the sake of argument, 99% of the time. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I agree! I say that because, the term almost, leaves a tiny (mustard seed) amount of time (say 1% of the time) we're not using all of our brain.
So I want to ask a question of you, "how big is a mustard seed?" Would you say in agreement with me, that a mustard seed is pretty tiny? That's good, because a mustard seed is one of the smallest as far as the size of seeds go.
Some versions of the Bible also refer to a poppyseed (which is even a smaller seed) to describe what God was saying, concerning (remember) the faith to move a mountain!
MRI's which are used everyday, to save lives by doctors all over the world, attest to the mental capacity God gave us. To me, an MRI exhibits proof, that we all have the capacity to use the measure of faith that God has given to each and every one of us!
The question is, if we have the capacity to activate and exercise our faith, why aren't we using our faith to do the amazing miracles, God says we can do?
Are you ready? Because, we're not willing to pursue the intimacy of the relationship of Grace, we have been given! Thus, we lose sight and awareness of God's Favor, which is constantly looking for every opportunity possible, to do ongoing acts of God's unending kindness towards us!
In general, those in Society get cozy in life with their daily and weekly routines, they can almost set their clock by what event happens through out the week. You know, like it must be Tuesday because were having leftover Monday meatloaf for lunch.
The status quo, its not like mediocrity happens on purpose, it just kind of creeps in and sets up a cot in the corner for most people, only for the weekend and then never ever leaves.
But what if circumstances could be different? I said; “WHAT IF OUR SITUATIONS, COULD BE DIFFERENT!”
You know, we have the ability and the faith (because God has generously given us a measured faith, right?) to live life above the norm! To live life daring to believe to the point of scandalous if necessary, to not only believe God's promises are true,
but also the faith, to be willing to ask for God's Favor to bring everyone of them to fruition in our lives! We must never forget, how well equipped we are!
Are you asking for God's Favor in your life? Do you ask God to Bless your life and what you do everyday? If your not looking for an advantage in life, you should be!
We should not only be willing, but we should make a point to use every advantage God has given to us on a daily basis!
I liken it too, If the best pastry chef in the world was making a cake and left out one of the main ingredients, no amount of icing, would ever be able to make the cake taste, the best it could be! God has given each and everyone of us, all the ingredients necessary to live the Abundant Life He has promised, He thought of everything and left nothing to want for!
His Unmerited Favor, is the final ingredient needed to walk in and enjoy, the abundant life He has for you! His Favor, is His willingness to go before you, open doors for you, and do whatever necessary to bring about the fantastic plans, He has for you to be the success your were always meant to be!
Like any part of any relationship though, failure to acknowledge all the individual facets, to cultivate and appreciate the value each one collectively brings to the relationship, sadly renders there beneficial qualities from being enjoyed completely.
There are some, who consider Favor minded thinking, to be wrong or selfish, to daily ask for God's Favor and His supernatural abilities to Bless His Children!
In case you have forgotten let me remind you, we need to make use of every spiritual advantage God has designed and is willing to daily give us, for our benefit!!
1 Peter 5:8 NKJ
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
John 10:10 NKJ
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Abundant Life, sounds like the ultimate life. That’s because God created His best plans for our lives, and has made His very best amenities and benefits available on a nonstop basis, for us to enjoy on the journey in the relationship we have with Him!
Did you know that you can be a Part of the family of God, and still not totally live the abundant life that God has created for you?
It's true, for every great man or woman of faith we read about in the Bible, there were lots of other men and women all around them that could've been,
the one God used, but for some reason weren't the one! I believe they believed, but they didn't believe God's Favor and willingness could accomplish for them, what He accomplished for those who said, yes Lord!
Take the story of Jabez for example, found in 1st Chronicles, chapter 4. Its the genealogy of the family of Judah. There are lots and lots of names, lots of lots of opportunities God had made available along the journey, and heritage of Judah's family.
But only Jabez, had the faith to speak up and step out to believe, God's Favor would accomplish his request to be Blessed!
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 MSG
Jabez was a better man than his brothers, a man of honor. His mother had named him Jabez (Oh, the pain!), saying, “A painful birth! I bore him in great pain!” Jabez prayed to the God of Israel: “Bless me, O bless me! Give me land, large tracts of land. And provide your personal protection—don’t let evil hurt me.” God gave him what he asked.
I want you to notice something, in the way God answered Jabez request. The Word says; “ God gave him what he asked for.”
What do you see there, in the way of giving concerning God's Favor? Do you see what I'm seeing?, let's break it down and discuss God's attitude towards giving a little further.
Out of all the gifts and promises God has given to us, has even one of them…ever stopped giving? I'll save you the trouble of looking and tell you; "Not one of God's gifts or promises, has ever stopped doing the assignments, they were instructed to do!"
They still to this day, continue to give and have never stopped giving either! His Word, never returns void!
Everyone of God's promises are willing to give beyond the point of scandalous, especially His Favor and by that I mean His absolute willingness, to go out of His way to make them, “ Happen In Your Life!”
Jabez asked for a lot, he said; "give me land, give me tracts of land!" He didn't say give me the lot at the end of the street, so I can build me a little house!
No, he said; "give me tracts of land, in other words give me the whole territory, give me territories!" He left the request open ended! A pretty scandalous request I would think, by anyone's standards, wouldn't you agree?
And what did God do? I can only surmise, that someone is thinking right now, if I made that bold of a request the roof would fall in, only after I was first struck by lightening! Lol! But that's not what happened,
TBS; "that God gave him what he asked for!" Doesn't say when God blessed him, or how God blessed him, the main thing it says loud and clear, “GOD BLESSED HIM!”
Wow...does that ever give new meaning to James 4:2 KJ
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
You see, God simply says remove self effort from the equation, don't worry about your qualifications, because my Son Jesus and His message of Grace has already qualified you, simply rely only on Me and I will do what you ask!
I, like so many others have found this to be true in my life! I have prayed the prayer of Jabez, only I call it the prayer of Charlie. I made my prayer personal with God exactly like Jabez, and God gave me what I asked for. God blessed me like none other, completely beyond my comfort level, almost to the point of overwhelming!
Is that possible, let me tell you, “it's possible!”
I'm sorry to say, I had to stop praying the prayer of Charlie, until I could get a handle on God's unending willingness to pour out His Favor, Love, Grace and Goodness on my life!
Let me tell you, no one can Bless you, Like God's Love is willing to Bless you! It's an Amazing, Life Changing Revelation, when you come to understand the realization of the true extent, of How Much God Loves you!
Since, that first tidal wave of God's Goodness, I have personally come to have a better understanding, of God's Love and desire to Bless me Abundantly.
I have resumed and have never stopped praying daily for His Unmerited Grace and Favor in my life! Because I know and have come to realize, the same way I trust God to Bless me, I can trust Him to help me take care of the blessing, and not be afraid to freely share what He is trusting enough to give me!
The extent that God has gone to Bless, provide and show His Favor for His children and those who are willing to believe, "is indeed SCANDALOUS, in every shape, spelling and definition of the WORD," so far above and beyond our wildest comprehension!
Only God could be willing to Give so Much LOVE, for so little in return! Without any guarantee that we would ever love him back!
Ephesians 3:19-21 NKJ.
19. to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21. to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
The MSG Bible reads as if we need clarity;
"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."
Do you speak and ask for God's Favor over every area of your life? With all that we've talked about hanging in the balance, HOW COULD YOU NOT? Now and forevermore, there is nothing to fear because God's Love has already been there and conquered all fear!
May be the accuser is telling you, that you have something to lose? Let me tell you, you have nothing to lose, only everything to gain! Because God, has already been to your future and has seen, that your future with Him involved in the details, is Amazing!
Illus. “It's ok, because I know how it ends!”
A Pastor shared recently that he has a habit of taping football games and watching them again—and again and again, if the game turns out right. He said, “Super Bowl 32 is one of my favorites, the one where the Broncos defeated Green Bay 31-24” (he was a Bronco fan.)
“The first time I saw the game there were some tense moments: every turnover was nerve-wracking, every mistake was a potential disaster. Now the setbacks don’t bother me; because I know how it ends. With every play I savor the victory that I know is coming. (From sermon central)
That's how God, wants us to feel and take rest in the fact that it's ok, because He's already been there and He knows when the game is over, the scoreboard will always reflect you standing in the winners circle!
Who knows, maybe you’re the one, who's doing everything that we've talked about so far. And just maybe, what you've been doing up to this point is giving you everything you want out of your relationship, that you have with God in your life.
And if your comfortable at that level of your walk and relationship your at, then you certainly know how Good God is!
But child of God, if your tired of the way things have been going, and you are ready to begin and experience a deeper relationship with God, that some might even call scandalous and on the wild side, He's ready if you are!!
God stands ready, to bring you into a new place and level of understanding, to reveal the plans that will take you to places you could never imagine going on your own.
If that's you and your ready for more, if your ready to step into the abundant life God has for you, why not praywith me right now;
Just say I'm ready Lord, I'm ready to lay all my inhibitions down and rest in Your Ability and Your Ability alone, to completely cast aside what others think from this moment on! Right now, Lord fill me with Your Goodness, Your Love, Your Everything! Lord, I'm ready to have Your Plans become my plans, knowing as long as you know the plans, that's all I need to know! You are the potter Lord and I am the clay, mold me and make me into something beautiful, to be used for your Glory! I Trust You and I Thank You in advance, for Your Favor working in my life! Amen!
You've asked for God's favor in your life, now you need to walk favor minded each day, with the expectation and thanksgiving for the results, God's favor will bring you!
And I promise you, the results will not only be noticeable, God's favor on your life will be
AMAZING!!
