SPECIAL FAVOR

1. What does "special favor" mean?

a) It means exceptional (extraordinary) kind, obliging, friendly or generous act.

2. Who grants favor?

a) God grants favor.

i) 12You have granted me life and favor, and your care has preserved my spirit. (Job 10:12 NKJV)

@1. Job began to wallow in self-pity. When we are facing baffling affliction, our pain lures us to feeling sorry for ourselves.

@2. Job restated his position as both he and God knew it: he was innocent. What Job really wanted was to talk to God personally to plead his case and to have God explain the reasons for his suffering.

@3. In frustration, Job jumped to the false conclusion that God was out to get him. Wrong assumption lead to wrong conclusion. Sometimes, we want quick answer to our situation we are in.

@4. In his right mind, Job began to realize that God had granted him life and favor before this baffling affliction one after another.

@5. In the end what had happened to Job after he went through it victoriously. God gave back to him double of what he had lost.

3. What is God's favor for?

a) God's favor is for life.

i) 5 For his anger is but for a moment, his favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5 NKJV)

@1. Like a shot given by a doctor, the discomfort of God's anger lasts for a moment, but the good effects go on for a long time. Let God's anger be a sharp pain that warns us to turn away from sin.

@2. God's discipline is good for us.

4. How do we obtain favor from God?

a) 2 A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of wicked intentions He will condemn. (Proverbs 12:2 NKJV)

i) Learn to be good.

@1. If we don't want to learn, years of schooling will teach us very little. But if we want to be taught, there is no end to what we can learn. This includes being willing to accept discipline and correction and to learn for wisdom of others. A person who refuses constructive criticism has a problem with pride. Such a person is unlikely to learn very much.

@2. So, to be good, we need to learn from the wisdom that is found in God's Word and thus obtain favor from the Lord.

5. How do we have favor with God and men?

a) 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature (development, growth or level of attainment) and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:52 NKJV)

i) Do right.

@1. The Bible does not record any events of the next 18 years of Jesus' life, but Jesus undoubtedly was learning and maturing. As the oldest in a large family, he assisted Joseph in his carpentry work. Joseph may have died during this time, leaving Jesus to provide for the family. The normal routines of daily life gave Jesus a solid understanding of the Judean people.

ii) Balance growth in all aspects of life.

@1. The second chapter of Luke shows us that although Jesus was unique, he had a normal childhood and adolescence. In terms of development, he went through the same progression we do. He grew physically and mentally, he related to other people, and he was loved by God. A full human life is not unbalanced. It was important to Jesus - and it should be important to all believers - to develop fully and harmoniously in each of these key areas: physical, mental, social and spiritual.

6. Prayer focus

a) God has already opened the heavenly gates for us to receive special favors.

b) Pray that God will give us his special favors.