Sharing Other People's Favor

 We can gain favor by how we treat other people who have the favor of God.  The favor of God is not just about prosperity.

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Scriptures:

• Genesis 12:1-3
• Genesis 37:3-5
• Genesis 39:1-6
• Genesis 30:27
• Psalm 105:17-19
• Genesis 39:20-23
• Genesis 41:37-42
• Luke 16:10-12

Story: Super Bowl Carolina Panthers vs Denver Broncos

• North Carolina fan didn't return to his seat

• He thought he cursed the team

Is this just folklore?

Is there any biblical truth to this?

Can we bring blessings or curses on others just based on our presence?

Bless Those Who Bless You

Genesis 12:1-3

     1Now the LORD said to Abram,
           “Go forth from your country,
           And from your relatives
           And from your father’s house,
           To the land which I will show you;
     2And I will make you a great nation,
           And I will bless you,
           And make your name great;
           And so you shall be a blessing;
     3And I will bless those who bless you,
           And the one who curses you I will curse.
           And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

• Favor brings you blessings
• God didn't say Abram will be blessed
• God said Abram will be a blessing
• Favor makes you a blessing to other people
• You want to get around those who have favor
• Would you rather receive a blessing, or be a blessing?

Bless Those Who Bless You

• God didn't say He will bless those who Abram blesses
• God will bless those who bless Abram
• Those who show favor and goodwill to Abram will be blessed

How would people treat you if they knew treating you good would benefit them?

Curse Those Who Curse You

• God will curse those who curse Abram
• Realize that this is a curse from God
• That's huge
• That’s disastrous

How would people treat you if they knew it could cause them to be cursed from God?

Review of Who Does God Favor - Part 2

• Favor means to give approval, support, or liking for someone or something
• Provide with advantages
• To show special privileges
• Everyone doesn’t have the same amount of favor
• Your thoughts, actions and behavior determine whether or not you receive favor from God
• Two things that bring favor are:
• Wisdom
• Doing Good Deeds
• Wisdom is the application of knowledge
• A fool may have knowledge but he can’t apply it correctly
• Wisdom is based on the ability to see differences and respond correctly to that difference
• 3 Ways to get wisdom are to:
• Pray for it
• Fear God
• Study the Bible
• If you sow good deeds you will reap good from God
• You may not reap in the same place or through the same people into which you sow
• The bible tells us that giving to the poor is like giving a loan to God
• God will owe you
• Not being happy when good things happen to other people can impact your ability to be blessed
• Being a hater can block your blessing
• Loving your neighbor means wanting for your neighbor the same thing you want for yourself

Joseph’s Favor at Home

Genesis 37:3-5

3Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. 4His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.   5Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.

• Joseph was the favored child of Jacob/Israel
• Joseph was the first child of Rachel
• Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many colors because he was his favorite
• His brothers were the patriarchs of the tribes of Israel

• Joseph has a dream that he will rule over his brothers and even his parents
• His brothers hated him because of it
• They stripped him of his robe and    threw him in a pit
• They sold him into slavery to the Ishmaelites

This favor was from Jacob.

• The Bible doesn't say that it was favor from God

Favor can cause jealousy, envy, and hostility towards you

Joseph’s Favor with Potiphar

Genesis 39:1-6

1Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.

• Potiphar was a high ranking officer in Pharaoh’s army

2The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.

• Wait...what?

3When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.

• Potiphar noticed that the Lord was upon Joseph
• Joseph had favor from God
• Joseph gained favor from Potiphar

5From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

• Initially Joseph's favor was from his father.
• Who is the source of his favor now?
• Potaphar?
• Jacob's Favor was from God

Why did Potiphar put Joseph in charge?

• Because he saw that Joseph was wise?
• Because he saw that Joseph was loyal?

No because he recognized that Joseph had the favor of the Lord

• Potiphar increased his own favor because he recognized Joseph's difference
• he recognized a difference in Joseph from the other slaves
• ...that’s wisdom
• Recognizing difference
• Responding correctly to the difference
• Notice how Potiphar’s reaction to favor differed from Joseph’s brother’s reaction to it
• He blessed the favor, so that he could be blessed
• Joseph was the top slave

The Source of Your Favor

• Potiphar increased his own favor because of Joseph’s favor
• Potiphar got favor from God because of Joseph
• You can get favor because of someone else’s favor

You want to make a point to identify the source of your favor.

• Is it from your actions or someone else's
• Joseph’s favor was from God
• Potiphar’s favor was because of Joseph

Potiphar promoted Joseph because Joseph was favored

• Potiphar was blessed because of it
• You want to recognize, honor and bless the source of your favor.

example: Laban recognized that Jacob brought him the favor of God

Genesis 30:27

27 But Laban said to him, "If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the LORD has blessed me on your account."

That wicked person you see prospering could have someone in their family or in their life who has the favor of God

Joseph had direct favor from God

• Potiphar had the residual favor of God
• He shared in Joseph’s favor

What happened Next

• Joseph was granted access to everything in the household except for Potiphar's wife
• Potiphar's wife came on to Joseph
• Joseph refused her
• He ran to escape her and and left his robe in order to get away
• Potiphar's wife accuses Joseph of trying to rape her
• Potiphar sent Joseph to jail

The Test of Purity

Joseph passed his test

Psalm 105:17-19

17 He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They afflicted his feet with fetters, He himself was laid in irons;
19 Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the LORD tested him.

• We saw that whenever someone has their destiny revealed they then get tested
• You will be tested when you have favor
• Joseph faced the purity/pleasure  test
• Joseph was tempted to obtain something pleasurable which he didn’t have the right to enjoy
• He was given access to something he didn’t deserve
• Joseph passed this test by refusing to sleep with Potiphar’s wife

We have all seen pastors who have been given favor fail the test of purity

Joseph’s Favor in Jail

Genesis 39:20-23

20 So Joseph's master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king's prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail.

21 But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.

22 The chief jailer committed to Joseph's charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it.
23 The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper.

• Joseph lost his worldly success, but he didn’t lose his favor

The Presence of God

• Being in jail doesn't match our definition of favor
• Being a slave doesn't match our definition of favor

Joseph was in jail...how is this favor?

• The favor of God was on Joseph even when he was not prospering
• That tells us that prosperity isn’t the distinguishing trait of favor
• Although this is what many Christians are taught to measure favor by
• God favored Joseph in unfavorable moments
• Joseph lost his prosperity, but what did he keep?
• God “was with” Joseph
• 21 But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him
• Being with God is a large part of what distinguishes “the favor of God”
• Favor is “The Presence of God”
• God “was with” everyone who was favored
• The Presence of God was with Moses
• The Presence of God was with Abraham

If you have prosperity without the presence of God then you don’t have the favor of God

• You may have the favor of man
• You may even receive blessings
• You can have the favor of man without the Presence of God

The favor of God comes with His presence

• “The Presence of God” is the defining characteristic of the favor of God

Others Notice

• Other people can see favor on you
• Others can see God’s favor on you and will keep you around because of it
• Other people can see the presence of the Lord on you
• Gen 39:3 says Potiphar put Joseph in charge because he noticed that the Lord was upon Joseph
• Gen 39:23 says that the chief jailer put Joseph in charge because he noticed that the Lord was with Joseph

• Non Christians can see that the Lord is upon you
• If they see God on you they assume you are godly
• Are representing God well?

Favor and Trials

• Joseph was sold into slavery
• Joseph was wrongly accused
• Joseph is now in jail

Favor doesn't mean you don't have trials

• It means you receive favor during your trials
• It means that God is with you during your trials

Even though Joseph was faithful he still suffered injustice

• Even though Joseph passed the test of purity he still suffered injustice
• Just because you are doing everything right doesn't mean you won't suffer injustice
• Just because you're favored doesn't mean that only good things will happen to you

What Joseph didn’t lose was the presence of the Lord

• The presence of the Lord is why we should want to obtain favor

Trials Build Faith  

• Joseph’s faith was strengthened during his trial
• God showed Joseph that his circumstance didn’t matter
• His worldly success didn’t matter

God showed Joseph that no matter how the circumstances looked He would use it for his good

• Joseph now understood that God was with him in good times and in bad times

What happened next:

• While in jail Joseph interpreted a dream for the Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and baker
• After the cupbearer was released,
• Pharaoh had a dream and no one could interpret the dream for him
• The cupbearer remember what Joseph had done for him and told Pharaoh
• Pharaoh summoned Joseph
• Joseph interpreted the king’s dream
• He told the king a plan of how to prosper during an upcoming famine

Joseph’s Favor in the Palace

Genesis 41:37-42

37The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God [elohim]?”

• Pharaoh notice the Presence of God in Joseph

39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

41So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.

• Pharaoh recognize the difference in reacting properly to it

Palace Favor

• Joseph was now over Potiphar
• Joseph was over the whole country
• Ring, robe, and chain
• Ring - signing authority of the king - power
• He signed “in the name of” Pharaoh
• Robe of fine linen - the garment of the priests
• Golden Chain - was worn by the judge and prime minister
• Joseph had all authority:
• executive/governmental
• religious
• Legislative
• Joseph was equal to Pharaoh “except for the throne”
• In the whole country Joseph was only subject to Pharaoh
• Joseph outranked any judge, commanding soldier, priest

The Test of Prosperity / Authority

Joseph passed the test of prosperity

Luke 16:10-12

10 "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.
11 "Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?
12 "And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?

• Joseph showed that he was faithful with Potiphar’s wealth
• Now he has his own wealth
• Joseph didn't misuse his wealth or authority

Application

• If you're not faithful with little God won’t give you more
• You don't tithe making $50,000 why would God give you $50 million

How do you handle the resources of your employer

• Do you misuse them?
• Your computer, your phone, the office supplies?
• Your time?
• Do you work as unto God?
• If God can't trust you with the things of someone else then He won't give you your own

Joseph worked diligently for those whose authority he was under even when it seemed like there was no benefit to him

• Joseph was trustworthy in the test to lead a house before he was allowed to lead a  nation.
• Joseph was made second-in-command of a house before he was trustworthy in being second in command of a nation

Are you passing your test of prosperity?

• Are you faithful with little?

Conclusion

Joseph’s robes

• We see Joseph's story symbolized in his robes
• Joseph got a robe of many colors from his father symbolizing that he was the favored child
• When the  robe was taken by his brothers his season of favor in his household ended
• Potiphar gave Joseph a robe when he had  authority in his household
• When his wife took the robe Joseph’s favor was taken away
• Finally Pharaoh gave Joseph a robe of fine Egyptian linen symbolizing the ultimate authority over the nation

Each robe symbolized greater and greater authority

We look forward to receiving our white robes when we get to Heaven

We saw that you have to pass tests to receive and keep God's favor

• Joseph passed the tests of the purity, and  the test of prosperity
• You have to continually pass tests to keep your favor

True favor from God is not measured by your worldly prosperity

• true favor is measured by the presence of God in your life

So our list of 10 things that bring the favor of God can be seen as a list of 10 things that attract the presence of God:

1. Righteousness

2. Seeking Good for Others
3. Knowing God’s Ways
4. Being Humble
5. Fearing/Revering God
6. Behaving with Love and Kindness
7. Being Married
8. Obtaining Wisdom
9. Doing Good Deeds for Others
1. Giving to the poor
10. Being Around  Those With Favor
1. Showing Favor to  Those With Favor
2. Favoring those anointed by God

Potiphar, the chief jailer, and Pharaoh all noticed the presence of the Lord on Joseph

• They all realized that they would receive God’s favor by allowing Joseph to manage their affairs
• They knew that they could share in Joseph’s favor by showing him favor

If you have favor from God...those who you show you favor to will have the favor of God

• Potiphar received favor because of Joseph
• Pharaoh was blessed because of Joseph
• The tribes of Israel were blessed because of Joseph

Being associated with Joseph was a way to gain favor from God

This is a similar to grace

• The others received unmerited favor
• They didn’t do anything to earn favor
• It was because of their relationship with Joseph

So just as we receive eternal life based on the acts of Jesus, others can receive favor based upon our actions

• The favor of God can be on your company because you work there
• The favor of God could be on your household because you live there
• Your family can be blessed because of you

Some people are  worried about the person in their family doing wrong bringing the whole family down

Instead you should be focused on being the person in your family with favor bringing blessings to the entire family

Presenter: Michael Leadon

Summary

• God told Abraham that He would bless those who blessed him
• And curse those who cursed him
• Therefore how you treat God’s favored can influence how God treats you
• We saw that Joseph’s life was symbolized with his robes
• Joseph was the favored son of his father Jacob
• Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many colors
• Joseph’s season of favor ended when his brothers stripped him of his robe and sold him to slavery
• Joseph found favor in the eyes of his master Potiphar
• Potiphar saw that the favor of the Lord was upon Joseph
• Potiphar took notice of God’s presence on Joseph
• Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph but he refused her
• Joseph’s season of favor ended when Potiphar’s wife grabbed his robe and accused him of making a sexual  advance
• Joseph was thrown into jail
• The scripture says that the Lord was with Joseph in jail and gave him favor
• This shows us that it’s not necessarily your worldly status or circumstances that determine if you have the favor of God
• Whether or not the Lord “is with you” is what determines your favor
• The “Presence of God” is one of the primary determining factor of whether someone has the favor of God
• Joseph was summoned to interpret Pharaoh’s dream
• Pharoah noticed that the Spirit of God was on Joseph
• Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of his whole kingdom and gave him a robe of white linen
• Joseph had to pass the test of purity, and the test of prosperity before he was put in charge of the palace
• You will need to pass tests to get favor
• you will need to pass test to keep your favor
• We saw that Potiphar, the chief jailer, and Pharaoh all prospered because they were associated with Joseph
• They all obtained the favor of God when they showed favor to Joseph
• You can be blessed because of your relationship with those who are favored by God

Other People's  Favor

Another example of people gaining blessings from being associated with someone favored by God came in the story of Noah

Genesis 6 :7-9

 7The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.       9These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.

• What did Noah do to deserve Favor?
• Righteous man
• Blameless in his time
• Walked with God
• What was the result of Noah's favor?
• He lived
• His family lived
• What did Joseph’s children do to deserve to be saved?
• Nothing
• They were Noah's family

They were allowed to live because they were related to Noah.

References

http://www.sermonnotebook.org/joseph/Joseph%2007%20-%20Genesis%2041_1-44.htm

Joseph: The favor of God in unfavorable times

– – crossroads.tv

Joseph and Potiohar’s Wife - David Wang

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42EvRhAVeIE

Barnes notes on the Bible for Genesis 41:42

Extra

Acts 7:9-10

9 "The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him,

10 and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household.

Forgiving Sins

John 20:22-23

22And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23“If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

Joseph's Gifts

Joseph’s favor corresponds with his other gifts and talents

• He was put in a position of leadership
• He needed leadership skills
• He could interpret dreams
• Like Daniel
• The gift of prophecy (interpretation of dreams) was the source of his favor with Pharaoh

Does God still speak through dreams?

Bless Those Who Bless You

Exodus 23:20-22

20“Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21“Be on your guard before him and obey his voice; do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your transgression, since My name is in him. 22“But if you truly obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.

• This was the angel of the Lord
• We saw that this was Christ
• If you obey Him God would be an adversary to your adversaries
• An enemy to your enemies

Job

Job 1:9-10

9“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.

• Job had a hedge of protection around him
• There was a hedge of protection around Job’s household because of him
• The residents of Job’s household received favor whether they deserved it or not
• Being around someone with favor can bring you favor

Some people are  worried about the one person doing wrong in your family bringing you down

You should be focused on the one person with favor in our family bringing you up

Pharaoh Noticed the Presence of God

38So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God [elohim]?”

Pharaoh saw the presence of God on Joseph

God got the glory for Joseph’s talents

• The result of the favor of God  is God getting the glory

If God gives you your miracle how much glory will He get?

• Have you made a commitment to honor God if He gives you your requests?
• Or would you want the credit if God gives others favor because of you?