Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer PhD Family Worship Center Our Journey Continues… Finding Favor Part 1 Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer PhD Family Worship Center

Proverbs 3:5-6 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.

Part One: Defining Favor

Defining Favor The biblical definition of “Finding favor means gaining approval, acceptance, or special benefits or blessings” Wouldn’t you like approval and acceptance? Wouldn’t you love to have “special benefits” or “preferential treatment”? How would you like extra “blessings”?

Examples of finding favor. Genesis 6:8 “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” Luke 1:30 “But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.” Are your thinking… but I’m not a Noah or Mary?

Examples of finding favor. Psalm 84:11 “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”

Examples of finding favor. Psalm 84:11 “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” Blameless doesn’t mean perfect as no one can be this side of heaven. Blameless from the Hebrew means in sincerity and truth. Sincerely trying to live for God according to His Word, the Bible.

Examples of finding favor. Psalm 84:11 “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” If you are sincerely trying to live for God according to His Word, He will bestow favor and honor on you and not withhold any good thing from you.

Examples of finding favor. Psalm 84:11 “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” So how do you get more of this preferential treatment or favor from God?

Part Two: Finding Favor

Proverbs 3:5-6 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.

Proverbs 3:3-4 “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.”

Proverbs 3:3-4 “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.”

Proverbs 3:3-4 “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.”

Proverbs 3:3-4 “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.”

Make them your outward exhibition and inward motivation. Proverbs 3:3-4 “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.” Make them your outward exhibition and inward motivation. This is what people should see when they look at you and how you should look at people.

Proverbs 3:3-4 “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.” Mercy and Truth - Other versions “Love and faithfulness” NIV, “Love and loyalty” The Message, “Kindness and truth” NASB, (Using different English words to try and describe the depth in the Hebrew which reads we·’ĕ·meṯ ḥe·seḏ (from right to left).).

Part Three: Hesed Brings Favor

Mercy- Hesed ḥe·seḏ Is one of the richest and most meaningful words in the Old Testament. The simple meaning is “favor”. It is lovingkindness in action. But it is ever so much more. Hesed is said to be the quality of life that should characterize those in relationship with God.

Mercy- Hesed “What “grace” is to the New Testament, “Hesed” is to the Old Testament. Hesed is covenant loyalty – it is what the Old Testament was supposed to be about. Although it was the foundation of theology and ethics, it was too often lost in ritualism and rules. It was too often forsaken in the pursuit of self and cast aside in the life of sin.” Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer

Mercy- Hesed Hesed is translated as mercy, unfailing love, covenant loyalty, steadfast love, lovingkindness, grace, compassion. Hesed is more than a characteristic, it is an active way of life to “Tikkun olam” or repair the world.

To Love Mercy is to Love Hesed Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? To Love Mercy is to Love Hesed

Mercy- Hesed Paying it forward- Sowing and reaping Hesed favor reaps favor of God and man. Repair the world by being the kind of godly person who brings God’s love into your everyday living.