God’s Protection 1. Intro a. Give the youth a round b. Thankful that God has me in this position with the youth and the team 2. Lauren a. Lauren should have been up here i. She told me last Sunday that due to her school requirements that she would not be able to make it. ii. About 3 weeks ago, I told Kalah that the HS told me to get a message ready iii. Cool how God works 3. Why this topic a. Not that long ago, I witnessed Gods protection on an individual that I had not witnessed before. There was a group of people who were going through a trial. One individual from the group was not affected at all during this trial, while the others were. Taking a closer look at the group, the one individual who was not affected, was a strong, bold, upright Christian, while the others were not. It was amazing to see. It captivated my thoughts for several weeks. And while I was watching this situation unfold, I had to know more about Gods protection. So, I started studying Gods protection, who falls under that umbrella, and why they do. How do I live a life where Gods protecting hand is upon me. b. What I want to talk about tonight is how some people are covered under Gods protection and others aren’t. The question I sought to understand is what keeps people protected and other not being protected, even if we are talking about Christians. 4. Two different types of protection: a. Individually standing upright with God, having favor with God and intercessory protection Favor of God b. Its starts here. c. A somewhat elementary theological answer to who God protects is those who God finds favor with. 5. Meaning of favor: a. Hebrew and Greek translation of favor is charis i. Both mean grace and kindness b. Favor is given to a person as an expression of Gods affection towards you. God is honoring the faithfulness in an individual to carry His presence to exalt Him, not you. It’s a means of encouragement. 6. Who around you do you seem to favor??? 7. Why would someone favor you? Why would someone want to be around you? You enjoy others because normally they enjoy you. Have you ever been around someone who thought you were really funny or they were being noticeably joyful after you said things? Is there anyone you know who thinks you hung the moon? If you can think of a person like that, I would bet that you would favor that individual more than others. 8. Delight a. God shows favor to the ones who delight in, connect with, and give honor to Him. i. Psalm 149:4 1. For the Lord takes delight in His people; he crowns the humble with victory. ii. Isaiah 66:2 says, “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” iii. Each thought 1. Word 2. Motive 3. … 9. It’s also for our environments. a. God uses the favor that He places in people to help build and establishes relationships. Look at the draw that the true presence of God has. The unexplainable presence make atheists ponder. The joy of the Lord in an individual will draw people in and want them desiring the origin of that joy. God is desirable when manifested in His unfiltered light, people can’t help but to stop and think about the presence they encountered. You could ask, but how will they know that the presence that they are encountering is God/ that our job. We will overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony! i. Favor with man.. I think it’s in here. Do u have favor with man? The presence of God is a draw to the world today who is in such disarray. Go anywhere and start praying for people. I see it time and time again, praying for people in messed up environments the presence of God will convict their hearts so much that it’s common for hardened individuals to weep. 10. Noah a. Genesis 6:5 i. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. b. Genesis 6:6 i. “And the Lord regretted that he made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. c. Genesis 6:7 i. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have mad them. d. Genesis 6:8 i. But Noah found grace (or favor) in the eyes of the Lord. e. Genesis 6:9 i. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God f. One man sways God i. Look how the righteousness of one man, swayed the decision of God. If we go in order through Genesis 6, God was about to wipe humanity off the face of the earth. But, Noah. God protected Noah and his family. ii. I believe that God is looking for any reason to NOT to lift His hand of protection out from over top of us to pour His judgement out upon an individual or individuals. It was and still is Gods design for us to walk in constant fellowship with God, being with God. He is looking for those who have the walk like Noah. g. Your trial i. Gods hand of protection was off the earth in Noah’s day and His judgement was about to be poured out. But Noah… ii. Think of a trial in your life… 1. Even though you might not be able to say this, God desires that you can assuredly say this with confidence. I know this, because that’s the design. 2. Prophesy a. Call it prophesy, but prophesy boiled down to its finest matter is proclaiming what God has already spoken over your life. God has spoken that you live blameless and righteous and that His hand of protection will be upon you. 11. Mary a. Luke 1:26-38 i. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. (side note is that the greek translation literally means, favored with grace) ii. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. iii. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. iv. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. v. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: vi. 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. vii. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? viii. 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. ix. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. x. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. xi. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. b. for thou hast found favour i. the greek word for this is heurisko (hugh-reese-ko) 1. the meaning is: to find, learn, discover, especially after searching. 2. To find by enquiry, thought, examination, scrutiny, observation. ii. To find something is the result of searching for something. You don’t find something that you are not looking for. 1. Kitchen sink a. Issac, I know where the kitchen sink is at my house. Never have I said “Kalah, come down here, I found it! The sink. There it is.” We both know where the kitchen sink is. iii. Second Chronicles 16:9 1. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.” a. To be “perfect” toward Him means we seek His favor more than we seek the favor of anyone else, even ourselves. 2. The scripture tells us that God is literally searching for people like this. God wants. 3. Sadly, if God is always looking for it, it’s not always present. iv. Is God finding favor with you? c. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. i. That’s the heart that God is searching for. That’s who God is looking for. ii. Not that he would, but if Gabriel had any reservations that this women was humble enough to carry the Son of God, he left with full confidence that she would fulfill the mission given to her.