Enjoying the Favor of God

I want to let somebody know that you may be feeling and significant because you're comparing yourself with other people is not a good idea to look around another poking number of reasons. Number one because God made you who you are. You were born in original widely like a copy hello and welcome to Destin for victory with pastor Paul Sheppard said before, right here in this program.

If all of us were like only one of us would be necessary. I encourage you to take that message to heart today should listen to Pastor Paul talk about the dangers of comparing ourselves to others as long as you're trying to become something or not you won't be all that God designed you to be right here or visit Pastor Paul.net any time to listen to Destin for victory on demand. You can also subscribe to the podcast that Google podcast or wherever you get yours must join Pastor Paul for today's Destin for victory message enjoying the favor of God. Revelation chapter 3, beginning with verse seven the angel of the church in Philadelphia write. These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have a little strain yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars.

I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I'm coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it.

I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God and I will also write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches in this message I want to talk about enjoying the favor of God enjoying the favor of God. We have taken a look at five letters written to churches in Asia minor and we come out to the six letter written to the church in Philadelphia not my hometown but Philadelphia the city that was some 25 miles southeast of Sardis in Asia minor. Modern-day Turkey. This was a church that in a lot of ways seemed to itself, and perhaps to others rather insignificant. It wasn't one of those popular churches. It was in a church that that had a lot of fanfare surrounding it.

It was just a band of believers in the city of Philadelphia who were in the midst of people who are God bless and and people who did not serve the Lord and there they were being alive in a dark place. Not a lot of fanfare.

Not a lot of splash not a lot of popularity. Not a lot of clout but nonetheless you see by this letter. They are on God's radar.

It was a rather small church in number they didn't have much in the way of resources and they didn't have much in the way of clout.

The mayor didn't stop by and visit them. They want on the news. It was just the band of believers who love the Lord and who were standing true to his word, but I want you to notice that while they were particularly popular among men. They were what church that was in the you of God, and God sends a letter to them through John to say I want you to know that you seem rather small and you may feel rather insignificant. I want you to understand that I am looking at you and I want you to know that I like what I preach this word for people who might have a little bit of the Philadelphia complex going on in your old walk with God. You seem rather insignificant, not necessarily in the popular bonds your you're not in anybody who's who list you don't have a lot of clout you don't know a lot of high-powered people may not have a whole lot of money may not live in the greatest of neighborhoods and what have you, but you do love the Lord with all of your heart and you are seeking to please him. I came to let you know that while other people might get the attention of line God has you in his side and he likes what he see you know we've got to make sure that we understand what biblical values really are versus the world's value in the world seems to be better in the world of things that get attention in the people that get attention are those things that are high profile and what have you.

The people who make the biggest blasters tend to get the most attention, and in the world in general. It's about who you are and where you live and what you have and you know and all that but I want to let you know that in God's worldview. Bigger is not necessarily better and God's worldview, popularity is not necessarily a good thing because after all, when we stand before the Lord one day is not going to ask any of us who we knew what clinic we will ask you how many significant people knew your name.

What neighborhood you live there know what is your portfolio was or any of that God is going to want to know what to do with my son Jesus and his name were you when it's all said and done. It's not about anything on this. It is about you being a sin. Listen of the kingdom of heaven. And when you're a child of God when you sin of the kingdom of heaven. You already have the clout that matters. Jesus knows you by name. In fact, he said to discharge.

If you make sure that my name is written on you that you are known to be a child of the most high God. I want to let somebody know that you may be feeling insignificant because you're comparing yourself with other people. That's always a mistake by the way, we compare ourselves. Among ourselves is a scripture that says that is not why it's not a good idea to look around another poking compare yourself with them for number of reasons. Number one because God made you who you are and what he wanted to you when he brought you to the planet and he gave you whatever you needed in order to please him. And so it's always a mistake when we compare ourselves to others because we are unique you are an original. God doesn't want you to become a copy will spend your time trying to be like other full time trying to a certain bunch and and that sort of thing. Just be who God made you. Don't worry about it.

You may not feel as pretty or as handsome as some person you look at, you may not have as much money as some other person you know you may not live in a minute that you wish one day you'll be able to afford to live in. But if you stay true to God. I want you to know that when you have him as the one who was pleased with your life. You are far ahead of the game when it's all said and done, it really is about pleasing the Lord is not about a book because they really are going to determine my destiny whatsoever and so he writes to set is feeling rather small and insignificant and he lets them know I am pleased with you. As we look at these letters to the churches in Asia minor. We have seen that most of the letters had all the word of commendation, something that God wanted to affirm them about and words of admonition and then we also saw one church had no words of commendation. The only thing you can say about that church will you have a few people were still true to me and faithful to me, but as a charge. They had no commendation only admonition, but I want you to note that here when he writes the church of Philadelphia. He has no rebuke for them. The only thing he wants to do is tell them I like what I see in you and I want you to remain faithful and because you have pleased me. There are some things that I'm going to do in your life.

I am going to bless you with my favor.

I want to tell somebody in this message that if you have the favor of God, man, I'll tell you something you got something worth being excited about think you want to be more prettier, more beautiful, more popular or more wealthy or whatever it is more recognized.

But let me tell you something. What you really need is the favor of God the favor of God. God bless you with anything and more importantly, when you have the favor of God, even when you don't have certain things in the way of this well recognizes when you have the favor of God that was between you and me that he has purpose for your life coming up next. The rest of today's message enjoying the favor of God with pastor Paul Shepherd, senior pastor, destiny Christian Fellowship in Fremont California. If you've never stopped by our website Pastor Paul.net.

I invite you to do it when you have some time to find all of Pastor Paul's recent messages on demand plus a host of great resources or online store, including books and DVD messages from Pastor Paul Pastor Paul.net is also a great place to learn more about the ministry and all the great things friends like you are doing through your prayers and financial support and listening to destined for victory is as easy as asking Alexa to play today's program just enable the skill and say Alexa played today's destined for victory to get the program any time in the book of Revelation, the church of Philadelphia was far from popular members very little fanfare tiny like in a godless city, but this body believers had one thing that every Christian on earth would want this pastor Paul with the rest of today's message enjoying the favor of God. And so here is a church that he has no rebuke for he just wants to let them know because you have pleased me.

I'm going to bless you with my own favor. Get what we hear and just lift up a couple of things I want to know that he addresses them as the one who is holy and true different titles to describe himself throughout the early part of the letter of Revelation, and here he says I want who is holy and true God. The Scriptures is lifted up as the holy one, the one who is holy and true, please understand when living in days when people want to be very ambiguous about who God is and you talk shows and what have you when they're trying to talk about something spiritual.

They say God who ever it is you believe that to be bold being God is not curable this and I want to tell who are determined to live by the will of God as revealed in the word of God. I don't care how ambiguous the one around us to one who has revealed himself clearly in creation in conscience and in Christ, he lets us know.

I am only one, and the one who is true and true God you serve anybody other than him. I know people that way.

So we don't know because I just said that, while you nervous. I'm not. The Bible says he only wanted to be 117 now on to the King eternal mortal invisible to the only wise God be honor and glory forever and ever.

Amen. The only one I've got a God other than the one revealed in Scripture that one in God. I really think you said that your God is the only God. He said I did not go.

He's the boy and he is God has a perfect right to tell us who we and we all are believing is the holy one and true and he says he is the one who holds the key of David, the key of David. I love that because that simply harkens back to its metaphoric language back to the fact that just as David the king that God raised to the throne from being a little shepherd boy send all the way to the throne and he was king over God's people, just as he reigned with authority over an earthly kingdom. Here, God himself is the one who holds the key of David. David was just a type or shadow, but Jesus Christ is the one who came as a descendent of David, just laid over from the kingdom he reigns over heaven and earth.

In fact, what we call the great commission was preceded by a burst Matthew 28 and 18, where Jesus said all work in the heaven and earth is given unto me, that is all authority. King James use of the word power, but it's the Greek word, I do see you and it means all Red Sea has been given to me. My power in terms of dynamite power in terms of legal right and Jesus said, I have legal right over all things in heaven and in earth. I want to let you know. He holds the key of big when you hold a key you got some authority he has assembled means authority means right. It means entitlement and the owner of the property or the owner of a vehicle.

Whatever it is that key because they all want the key opens up to three we have a key. You have one of two things either have the key. By virtue of being the owner or you have delegated authority. The owner who had the keys, you know, when you buy a property or house or whatever or cars whatever they give you the keys to be the keys to the place and you get those at the point of closing the deal. Now, if you so desire. You can identify relatives or friends who have a key to that already is absolute authority. You can take your feedback when you want to because you all remember, as children do know that you were hitless on a rite of passage when your parents finally gave you a key to the house like I do.

I remember when I got my first key.

And that meant my mother said it happened not to behold I was old enough now I didn't have to be babysat what have you. And if you happen to not be home. You can let your self and so we all remember that the first key you got to put it on a string and put it around your neck all trouble. Somebody she was trust in you, but you lose things as he put it around your neck and you get off the school was just showing right that it is authority that means I trust you to let yourself get it out the property of mine, but I'm showering part of my authority with you.

I'm giving you a little bit of entitlement and I remember the day when I had the time my key back in a heartbreaking day that was me. My parents gave me the privilege of remaining in their home until I got married and I was so glad that their position was once I was in college and all that and now grown they said you know you're not mad, you're free to stay here. You just have to the money. We may even help out in the way that we need and you are free to stay here.

I've counted that a great privilege and only the move without them our own place when I can stay here and shape you know what I'm saying and so I really appreciated that. So I enjoyed having the key. I was already up in my 20s when I married I was 24 and so to that point.

I was glad to have my own key but I remember the day when having been married, I think, about a week or so I said let me pop back into the house and just visit my parents and and what have you. And so I went all over the house of McKee in the door. Walked on, and my father was sitting at the kitchen table and he looked up at dawn and we didn't yeah what have you.

And so we figure we just stand there and shoot the breeze as to married men can't stand the man we just talk and what have you and I went to the refrigerator got little apple juice out and went got a cup, poured myself some apple juice and I'm standing there drinking apple juice and talk into Monday feeling real grown minutes into the conversation. Something dawned on my father and a curious look came over his face and he says get in here what you know I still have McKee and so I just figured not to trouble you all just come on.

It is all all right when you leave. Leave your key right up on that led you all had this key reason why I had to turn it was because that was delegated authority that he had given me access and position very clearly now. I believe it was about about that.

He saw me going to write and get some apple juice one you think you are man you got yourself a little apartment and drink some little apple Joseph got busted up in my house and I don't know you, and then I got my feelings hurt a little while later a month later when I went back to the house. He wasn't home is doing something and I was there with my mom for wound wax nostalgic. Let me run up to the third floor where my living quarters were in my single day to just go back up and look around and just reminisce around back down the steps. She's all you got married your father called the contractor had taken what room and turned it into us, he was Made, but the owners they had absolute authority let you know when Jesus said I'm the one who holds the key of David say I have absolute blast.

I can just want a job can second-guess me turn my decision. This will open some dollars for you and nobody will be able to set them because I have absolute authority let somebody know God has some blessings with your name on and have met the devil can do about it. You haters can do about it.

I don't like you can do about it about feeling insignificant about feeling like you don't quite measure up and you're not in the clinic and in the gang that you got a key open some doors in your life. I'm going to bless you with me. Are you ready for God to open doors in your life put your faith not in your own strength in your ability to measure up. But in Christ and Christ alone, because in him, you are destined for victory. Today's message enjoying the favor of God as part of Pastor Paul Sheppard's teaching series you've got mail this seven part series offer some keen insight into the letters written to seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and three. That's you've got mail. Look for it online@pastorpaul.net in Psalm 107.

King David writes then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

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A book from Pastor Paul Sheppard called traits of a virtuous woman. This is a great companion guide to pastor Paul's messages from earlier this month, in praise of godly women that's traits of a virtuous woman, a book from Pastor Paul based on Proverbs 31 and it's our gift to you by request for your generous gift to Destin for victory. Call 855-339-5500 to give over the phone or mail your gift to Destin for victory PO Box 1767, Fremont, CA 94538. You can also make a safe and secure donation for my website. Pastor Paul.net thanks in advance for helping keep Destin for victory on the air. Let me use the word favor AV all are and just use each of those letters to let you know something about favor when God gives them favor. First of all, he is giving them fullness. That's tomorrow and Pastor Paul Sheppard's message enjoying the favor of God.

I hope you join us. Until then, remember he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. In Christ, you are destined for victory