Greetings to you all on this beautiful day! I pray that God’s grace will touch you today in a very special way!
We have been talking about righteousness as the foundation for God’s favour, and today we will continue with that theme.
“Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” (2 Tim.2:19)
Practical righteousness is the solid foundation on which to build your Christian life and ensure that you receive God’s favour. If as a Christian you still continue to live in sin and make it part of your lifestyle, then you are eliminating yourself from God’s favour.
“Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.” (Proverbs 14:9)
“A good man obtains favour from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a crafty man. A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.” (Proverbs 12:2-3)
“Good understanding wins favour, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.” (Proverbs 13:15)
The above scriptures point out the necessity of living in righteousness in order to become established and enjoy favour from God.
Let’s take a look at the lives of some heroes in the Bible who walked in the favour of God, and you will see that it was righteousness that lifted those people up. Righteousness can raise or lift up anyone.
The example of Abraham’s life:
Abraham pursued righteousness, sought the Lord with all his heart and followed God’s will; that was why God blessed and multiplied him.
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was but one and I blessed him and made him many. The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.” (Isaiah 51:1-3)
The example of the life of Joseph:
Joseph hated sin, honoured God, and lived a God-fearing life; he too could enjoy and receive God’s favour as a result of that.
“No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Gen.39:9)
“On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God.” (Gen.42:18)
The example of the life of Job:
Job was a rich and prosperous man because he had found favour in God’s eyes. The reason for this was his upright life of fearing God and shunning evil.
“In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.” (Job 1:1-3)
The example of Daniel:
Daniel found special favour in God’s eyes because he made a firm decision to live for God instead of defiling himself with sin. Righteousness was a priority in his life.
“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favour and sympathy to Daniel” (Dan.1:8-9)
“At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.” (Dan.6:4)
And finally, the perfect example of our Lord Jesus Himself:
Jesus loved righteousness and hated wickedness-this is the basis for favour in a person’s life. Jesus is our perfect example of righteousness.
“The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” (John 8:29)
“You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (Hebrews 1:9)
Cut out sin from your life because sin blocks the way for God’s blessings to flow and it takes away the power of God’s favour.
If our blessings and favour are based on righteousness, then it is wise to extract sin from our lives. Make a firm decision from today on that sin will not take away your heritage and the favour that belongs to you through Jesus Christ.
May God bless you!
Pastor Rufus Ajiboye
