A good person obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns everyone who schemes. (Prov 12:2) This connection between character and divine favor appears throughout Scripture. When mercy and truth are internalized and written on the heart, a person will find favor and much success in the sight of God and humanity. (Prov 3:3–4) Similarly, good sense brings favor, but the way of treacherous people is always the same. (Prov 13:15) Theologically, favor is often seen as an instrument of God’s promise—a means through which God executes his divine will and purpose in the lives of believers, serving not merely as a blessing but as a tool for accomplishing God’s greater plans. Importantly, it is common to mistakenly equate the by-products of favor—such as success, prosperity, or comfort—with favor itself, but favor is fundamentally about purpose rather than these material outcomes. The favor of God is both unexplainable and unmerited, representing preferential treatment that cannot be earned by human efforts but was earned by Jesus and bestowed upon believers through grace. The favor that human beings receive from God depends on his good pleasure and is often extended in response to prayer or righteous living. God blesses righteous people and surrounds them with his favor like a large shield. (Ps 5:12) God’s favor is His gracious, undeserved kindness that opens doors, protects, promotes, strengthens, and surrounds His people like a shield. Favor is not luck — it is God actively working for your good. Favor is given freely, but Scripture shows patterns God honors: Faith — trusting God when others don’t, obedience — walking in His ways, humility — God gives grace to the humble, righteousness — living with integrity, seeking God — drawing near to Him, purpose — aligning with His calling, These don’t earn favor — they position you to walk in what God already wants to give.
LET US POSITION OUR LIFE IN A WAY THAT WILL CAUSE GOD TO WANT TO BLESS US WITH HIS FAVOR.
Psalm 124:8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Isaiah 50:7 For the Lord God helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. Psalm 27:9 Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! Psalm 118:13 You pushed me violently so that I was falling, But the Lord helped me. Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 115:11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. GOD IS OUR HELPER. OUR HELP COMES FROM GOD. WHATEVER YOU ARE GOING THROUGH, HOLD ON TO YOUR FAITH GOD WILL HELP YOU. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Youtube.com/@andrahigginbotham8096 PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
3:5–6 calls you to “trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding,” promising that as you acknowledge him in all your ways, “he will make your paths smooth.” Psalm 37:5 encourages you to “entrust your ways to the LORD” and assures that “he will act on your behalf.” Philippians 4:19 promises that “God will richly fill your every need in a glorious way through Christ Jesus.” Matthew 6:25–34 instructs you to stop worrying about food, drink, and clothing, noting that your heavenly Father knows what you need, and directs you to “be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval,” after which “all these things will be provided for you.” Psalm 46:1 declares that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.” Isaiah 41:10 assures you that God is with you and will “strengthen you,” “help you,” and “support you with my victorious right hand.” In 2 Corinthians 12:9–10, Paul shares that God told him, “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” Isaiah 26:3–4 promises “perfect peace” to those whose minds trust in the Lord, describing him as “an everlasting rock.” Jeremiah 17:7–8 blesses those who trust the Lord, comparing them to a tree planted by water that “will not be afraid in the heat of summer,” “will not be anxious during droughts,” and “will not stop producing fruit.” Psalm 118:8–9 affirms that “it is better to depend on the LORD than to trust mortals” or “influential people.”
God hates racism because it violates His character, His creation design, and His command to love. Scripture is absolutely clear: racism is sin. God Created All People in His Image (No Superior Race) Genesis 1:27 — God created all people in His image. Racism attacks the image of God in another person. Acts 17:26 — “From one blood God made all nations.” The Bible teaches one human race with many ethnicities. Racism denies the truth that every human carries equal dignity, value, and worth before God. God Commands Love — Racism Violates the Greatest Command. Matthew 22:37–39 — Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. 1 John 4:20 — You cannot love God and hate your brother. Racism is the opposite of love. It is impossible to be racist and obey Jesus at the same time Jesus Died for Every Tribe, Nation, and People. Revelation 7:9 — Heaven is filled with people from every nation, tribe, people, and language. John 3:16 — God loved the world, not one group. Heaven is multiethnic. If God celebrates diversity in eternity, His people must reject racism now. God Condemns Partiality (Favoritism, Prejudice, Bias). The Bible uses the word partiality, which includes racial prejudice. James 2:1 — “Do not show favoritism.” James 2:9 — Showing partiality is sin. Acts 10:34 — “God shows no partiality.” If God doesn’t show partiality, His people must not either. God Judges Oppression and Injustice. Racism is not only hatred — it is injustice. God consistently judges injustice in Scripture. Isaiah 1:17 — “Seek justice… defend the oppressed.” Proverbs 14:31 — Oppressing others insults their Maker. Racism insults God Himself. In Christ, All Believers Are One Family Galatians 3:28 — In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek. Ephesians 2:14 — Jesus “broke down the wall of hostility.” The gospel destroys racial division. Racism rebuilds what Jesus tore down. THE BOTTOM LINE IS: How God Feels About Racism. It violates His image in people. It breaks His command to love. It contradicts the gospel. It destroys unity in the body of Christ. It is sin, and God opposes it. God hates racism. God heals racism. God judges racism. God unites people.
IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO DECIDE, ARE YOU A RACIST OR ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN. YOU CAN’T BE BOTH. IT’S YOUR CHOICE. MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.
The Bible says life is short, fragile, and like a vapor that appears for a moment and then disappears. Scripture consistently points us away from living for temporary things and toward investing our short lives in what is eternal. God does not tell us life is short to make us afraid. He tells us because He loves us too much to watch us waste the one life He gave us. Have you been living for yourself? If so, repent and start living for Christ. Life is all about Jesus. James 4:14 “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” A mist. A vapor. Something that exists briefly and then disappears. That is how Scripture describes human life. Not to depress you but to refocus you on what actually matters. 1 Peter 1:24 “For, all people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall.” Ephesians 5:15-16 “Be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Colossians 4:5 “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” Psalm 90:10 “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
ALLOW THIS QUICK REFRESHER TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
Psalm 3:3 (KJV) — “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Psalm 121:7–8 (KJV) — “The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil… thy going out and thy coming in.” Exodus 14:14 (KJV) — “The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” Deuteronomy 20:4 (KJV) — “For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you… to fight for you.” Isaiah 54:17 (KJV) — “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.” His protection is continuous—day and night. God doesn’t just defend—He takes action on your behalf. Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV) — “He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Psalm 23:4 (KJV) — “I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” Proverbs 30:5 (KJV) — “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
Psalm 32:10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him. Psalm 34:21Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will be condemned. Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life, But the years of the wicked will be shortened. Proverbs 3:33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. Psalm 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. Proverbs 15:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.
CONSEQUENCES COMES WITH A WICKED LIFESTYLE. HOW ARE YOU LIVING? THINK ABOUT IT.
Psalm 7:11 God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day. Psalm 106:3 Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! Proverbs 11:1-3 The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights. Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people. 2 Thessalonians 1:6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you Proverbs 31:9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Leviticus 25:17 Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the LORD your God. Colossians 3:24-25 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
ALLOW THIS QUICK REFRESHER TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
Turning Away Begins in the Heart. Proverbs 14:14 (KJV) “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.” Backsliding starts internally long before actions show it. Turning Away Is a Rejection of God’s Voice. Jeremiah 7:24 (KJV) “But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.” When people stop listening to God, they naturally drift backward. God Warns Repeatedly Before Judgment. 2 Chronicles 24:20 (KJV) “Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you.” Forsaking God leads to losing His protection. Turning Away Leads to Spiritual Blindness. Romans 1:21 (KJV) “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God… their foolish heart was darkened.” Rejecting God results in a darkened heart and confused thinking. God Gives People Over When They Persistently Reject Him. Romans 1:24 (KJV) “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts…” Romans 1:28 (KJV) “God gave them over to a reprobate mind…” Persistent rebellion leads to God letting people follow their chosen path. Turning Away Brings Destruction if Unrepented. Hosea 4:6 (KJV) “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Forgetting God leads to destruction. God Warns That Turning Away After Knowing the Truth Is Serious. 2 Peter 2:20–21 (KJV) “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world… they are again entangled therein… the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” Returning to sin after knowing Christ brings severe consequences. God Still Offers Restoration. Isaiah 55:7 (KJV) “Let the wicked forsake his way… and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him.” God’s mercy is always available to the repentant.
IT’S NOT GOOD TO TURN AWAY FROM GOD. LET US NOT TURN AWAY FROM GOD.
Proverbs 31:10 An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. Proverbs 31:12 She does him good and not evil. All the days of her life. 1 Corinthians 11:11 However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. Matthew 12:35 The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. Proverbs 20:7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity—How blessed are his sons after him. Genesis 2:22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 1 Corinthians 11:8 For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; 1 Corinthians 7:4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 1 Corinthians 7:3 The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. Mark 10:6 But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
GOD MADE MAN AND WOMAN. WE NEED EACH OTHER. LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
