Trust & FavorWalking in Wisdom & Grace

To Pastor the World with JesusRuss Fochler June 22, 2013

Why Talk About Trust & Favor?

From Ephesians 4, I accept that as a pastor, I have a part in helping equip the saints to be representatives of Jesus to the world.My desire is that this fellowship grows as a healthy family - and is able to bring the father and mother heart of God to all realms of society.

Understanding Trust and Favor

Are some of the keys to living whole-heartedand for growing in our call to “pastor the world”....

Trust...

Usually Takes Time To BuildIs Easily LostIs Difficult To RestoreIs Key to Healthy RelationshipsMakes Deep Transformation Possible

We’re Created to Learn to Trust Early in Our Life

But You are He who took Me out of the womb;You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts. Ps 22:9

Good Advice From a Father:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,And He shall direct your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Sometimes Trust or Faith

Looks impossible for us.Like this situation:

“Leap of Faith” Clip from “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”

Have You Ever Felt Like That?

Have you trusted in God’s goodness in scary times.And then seen Him take care of you/come through for you or a loved one?Its really good to remember those times - to “re-enter” into them with memory and emotion.

Exercise!

Ask the Holy Spirit to bring you back to a time when you trusted Jesus to save or protect or heal or free you.As you re-enter that memory, feel the emotional connection - and begin to thank Him.

Often Our Heart is Conflicted

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,And lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5 NKJV

So learning to connect with Jesus with our emotional heart as well as our cognitive and functional side - helps us become whole-hearted.

Trust me?

Really?Just being asked by someone to trust them....Raises questions and alarms for most of us.

Trust Challenges

Ourselves - Can I trust myself?LeadersGod

Trusting Ourselves

While we aren’t to just depend upon our own understanding: Can we trust ourselves?

To make good decisions?To discern what is true vs. what is not true?

Internal Discernment

To discern the internal voices:Is it me, or God, or the enemy?

“Who is “sponsoring” this Thought?”

Needless Distrust

Are the ways we “filter” impressions and Interpret the words and actions of othersFostering needless Dis-trust?

Vows like:“I can’t trust women” or

“I can’t trust men”

Making internal rules to try to protect ourselves.

Trusting Leaders

Many have deep issues in trusting people in authority - due to past hurts or betrayals from parents, teachers, bosses, and spiritual leaders.It’s hard to receive the trust of leaders if you aren’t able to trust

Long Term Leaders:

Generally:Either demand/force submission through fear and coercion orReceive authority and trust from others because of the grace and favor upon them.

Loving Confrontation

And good “fathers” and “mothers” lovingly confront and challenge those in their “family” to face difficult things.So people can grow into all they are created by God to be.

Growing in Favor

The Bible observes that both the prophet Samuel and Jesus grew in favor with God and with people:And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men. 1 Sam 2:26And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:52

Don’t despise where you are now.Believe that like Jesus - as a loved daughter or son - you can grow in wisdom and favor with God and men.

How do we grow into Leaders?

By embracing the growth process that Father God has for us.

Healthy Relationships Run on Trust

Be they friends, co-workers, family members, bosses, leaders, or simply people God wants to love through us....If we treat their trust in us as very valuable - and an honor; then....Our relationships will be healthier andThey will be more open to God’s influence through us.

Trust and Favor from Others

Comes from:A “track record” of doing what you say you’re going to do.Relationship: Valuing and protecting our heart connections with others.Keeping confidences

Growing Favor

Favor is also grows as we grow in our capabilities and capacities; And with those growing capabilities; we steward and multiply what we’ve been given (spiritual gifts, possessions, positions of influence, etc).

Trust Grows

Trust from others grows when we handle feedback well.Trust grows when we demonstrate that we value the well-being of the “family” or community more than personal gain or promotion.Trust grows when people see they are valued and protected.

Trust Grows

When we work through conflicts (!)When we communicate with kindness AND honesty.When we are authentic and vulnerable with each other.When people really know that their heart has been heard.Karena’s story....

Trust Grows

When we clean up our “messes”.

When love motivates us instead of fear.

Trust, Favor and Pastoring the World

How we treat city and county leadersHow we treat our neighbors, co-workers, the people we cross paths with in the marketplaceThey can tell if we’re looking to control their lives - or if we are truly for them.Examples: Joseph and Daniel

Trust came from the love and authenticity the leaders felt.Favor came from the supernatural capabilities that Joseph & Daniel developed with God.