Favor Forever: Faithfulness Pleases the Lord
Pastor Clay Ingram
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If you would like to learn more about our culture, how you connect with God, get plugged into community and begin your journey to encountering God daily, MC Connect is your next step!
Text CONNECT to 59090 or visit mercyculture.com/connect
Text CONNECT to 59090 or visit mercyculture.com/connect
Welcome to Mercy Culture Church!
We are so excited you're here.
Text NEW to 59090 so we can connect with you.
For everyone that texts NEW, we will donate $10 to The Justice Reform, an organization that is answering the cry for justice by bringing reformation from city to city.
We are so excited you're here.
Text NEW to 59090 so we can connect with you.
For everyone that texts NEW, we will donate $10 to The Justice Reform, an organization that is answering the cry for justice by bringing reformation from city to city.
MC Groups have launched across all campuses! 🥳
📲 Text GROUPS to 59090 to find a group that’s right for you. 🔥🏠
YOU SHOULD KNOW:
- Groups are for EVERYONE, whether you began attending last week or last year!
- Groups are one of the primary ways we find + build community here at Mercy Culture.
- You do not have to be a member to join any MC Group (aka, invite your friends! This is a GREAT way to introduce someone to Mercy Culture)!
- Anyone can attend any group, anywhere (ie; if you attend our East Fort Worth campus, you are welcome to join a Online/Fort Worth/Waco/etc group).
- It’s not too late to sign up to lead a group! If you’re feeling led to start a group, text GROUPS to 59090 and fill out the application form.
📲 Text GROUPS to 59090 to find a group that’s right for you. 🔥🏠
YOU SHOULD KNOW:
- Groups are for EVERYONE, whether you began attending last week or last year!
- Groups are one of the primary ways we find + build community here at Mercy Culture.
- You do not have to be a member to join any MC Group (aka, invite your friends! This is a GREAT way to introduce someone to Mercy Culture)!
- Anyone can attend any group, anywhere (ie; if you attend our East Fort Worth campus, you are welcome to join a Online/Fort Worth/Waco/etc group).
- It’s not too late to sign up to lead a group! If you’re feeling led to start a group, text GROUPS to 59090 and fill out the application form.
Interested in serving?
Text SERVE to 59090 or
Visit https://mercyculture.cls.co/hrgz
Text SERVE to 59090 or
Visit https://mercyculture.cls.co/hrgz
Text SERVE to 59090 to join our food bank serve team every Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm. Children are welcome; you can serve with the whole family!
Cards
Hebrews 11:6
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6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
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FAVOR
Hebrew: HEN – graciousness, i.e. subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty):—favour, grace(-ious), pleasant, precious, (well-) favoured.
Greek: CHARIS – grace, kindness
Hebrew: HEN – graciousness, i.e. subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty):—favour, grace(-ious), pleasant, precious, (well-) favoured.
Greek: CHARIS – grace, kindness
2 Samuel 1:6-7
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6 “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” he replied, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and the cavalry closing in on him.
7 When he turned around and saw me, he called out and I answered, ‘Here I am!’
7 When he turned around and saw me, he called out and I answered, ‘Here I am!’
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2 Samuel 1:9-10
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9 Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’
10 So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
10 So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
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2 Samuel 1:11-12
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11 Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same.
12 They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
12 They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
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2 Samuel 1:14-15
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14 So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
15 Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died.
15 Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died.
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2 Samuel 1:23-24
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23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
24 O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and luxury, who decked your garments with ornaments of gold.
24 O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and luxury, who decked your garments with ornaments of gold.
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We are called to remain faithful through every season.
Two Anointings:
1. 1 Sam 16 - David anointed king by the prophet Samuel
2. 2 Samuel 2:4 "And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah."
1. 1 Sam 16 - David anointed king by the prophet Samuel
2. 2 Samuel 2:4 "And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah."
There is an in-between from the promise to the fulfillment of the promise.
What are you doing in the in-between?
What are you doing in the in-between?
There will be opposition to your faith and you remaining faithful in the "in-between."
3 Things Tempting You To Be Unfaithful:
1. Your Plan / Your Ways
1. Your Plan / Your Ways
Proverbs 14:12
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12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
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1 Peter 5:6-7
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6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.
7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
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3 Things Tempting You To Be Unfaithful:
1. Your Plan / Your Ways
2. Problems and Challenges
1. Your Plan / Your Ways
2. Problems and Challenges
James 1:2-4
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2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
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The Lord is producing something in you. The Lord is preparing you for something.
3 Things Tempting You To Be Unfaithful:
1. Your Plan / Your Ways
2. Problems and Challenges
3. A Discontent Heart
1. Your Plan / Your Ways
2. Problems and Challenges
3. A Discontent Heart
Some of you desire favor but your continual discontentment in life constantly has you on the move. You uproot when challenges come. The Lord is not able to mature you because you leave the circumstances / place that you are supposed to be faithful to.
Two outcomes of continually uprooting and moving:
1. You're going to fail
2. You're going to succeed, because you are talented and gifted. However, you are going out in front of what you're able to handle.
WAIT ON GOD!!! Stay planted.
1. You're going to fail
2. You're going to succeed, because you are talented and gifted. However, you are going out in front of what you're able to handle.
WAIT ON GOD!!! Stay planted.
Psalms 92:13
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13 Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
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Faithfulness is the foundation to experiencing the FAVOR of God.
2 Samuel 2:1-4
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1 Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied the LORD.
2 So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.
4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”
2 So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.
4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”
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1 Peter 5:6-7
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6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.
7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
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Your called to be faithful!!!!
God’s Favor falls on the faithful.
Plant yourself in a church
Pray about the relationships in your life.
BE faithful to your church, your family, your relationships.
God’s Favor falls on the faithful.
Plant yourself in a church
Pray about the relationships in your life.
BE faithful to your church, your family, your relationships.
QUESTION: Are you looking for favor or are you looking to be faithful?
Take your eyes off of FAVOR and start to put your focus on his PLEASURE.
Take your eyes off of FAVOR and start to put your focus on his PLEASURE.
John 5:19
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19 So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
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John 12:49-50
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49 I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.
50 And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.”
50 And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.”
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John 8:28
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28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me.
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The Greek work for “taught” in John 8:28 means "to hold discourse (discussion/dialogue) with another in order to instruct them."
There are only 2 realities with everything in your life.
1. It’s something that God is doing
2. Or it’s not.
1. It’s something that God is doing
2. Or it’s not.
1 John 5:14-15
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14 And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.
15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.
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Matthew 6:10
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10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
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James 4:15
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15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
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Luke 22:42
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42 “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
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Romans 12:2
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2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
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Ephesians 5:8-10
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8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.
10 Test and prove what pleases the Lord.
9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.
10 Test and prove what pleases the Lord.
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Colossians 1:9-10
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9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
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Romans 12:1-2
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1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
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While you're looking for favor, He's looking for those who are faithful!!!
Take your eyes off of the favor and ask God what it means to be faithful.
Take your eyes off of the favor and ask God what it means to be faithful.
Matthew 25:21
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21 His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
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Matthew 16:24
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24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
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