The Favor Factor

When we hear the word favor in the Christian arena we seem to automatically associate it with those people who appear to be walking in obvious financial advantage, or those who display an outward evidence of physical blessings. Many pastors, in today’s market of hunger seekers, have discovered how quickly they can gather a crowd if they will make the promise of undue favor their message of choice; after all, who doesn’t desire to be blessed beyond measure? It is this same hope of hitting it big in life that fills the vaults of lottery banking accounts across the country every week.

I must assure you that my purpose in writing this article is not to speak out against physical blessings but to bring clarity to what favor is all about. I truly believe that it is God’s desire for us to be blessed; however I feel that we have possibly mislabeled God’s favor as something simply intended to satisfy and meet our physical needs. We must learn to keep favor within proper context lest we cheapen God’s purpose for it to begin with and in doing so miss out on it all together.

Finding Favor

Let me ask you this question, if God never blessed you physically could you still be a recipient of favor? If your bank account and finances never increased could you still be a recipient of God’s favor? The correct answer is yes. We must realize that God’s favor is not always seen in the flesh but realized in the spirit. Many of today’s Christians are in a pursuit for something that they have possibly already had yet failed to recognize it because it didn’t come with a diamond or hood ornament attached.

Many preachers who have appealed to the natural desire to succeed in life have created a false sense of what favor truly is. With so many people declaring favor as something that is determined by outward possessions, we have conditioned Christians to work on acquiring the external factors of life while neglecting the internal things that matter most. We compare churches and ministries not on the content of their work but on the image they can portray. Pulpits have quickly become as competitive as franchise sporting events. After all, we must be the best and most successful so that people will see us as favored above others.

Joseph never succeeded because he was outwardly adorned with a coat of many colors. His true success was God’s favor that was upon his life even while being dismissed as one who was the least of them all.

The Purpose of Favor

Surely you have read Mathew 7:7, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and ye will find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.”  This powerful verse displays God’s unending desire to bless us. The only thing we must not forget is that God can only answer things that are according to His will. It’s not just a matter of knocking; it’s knocking on doors that he desires to open.  After all you can only open a door to someone if you’re behind it.

If we are going to truly receive favor then we must first understand exactly what it is and what it is not. It is not God’s way of lording one person over another, or lavishly blessing one of his children while his other children look on in want and need. Although favor can bring pleasure, it serves a greater purpose when it truly comes from God. Favor is a spiritual advantage for the purposes of expanding His kingdom, not for building yours.

While studying the Bible I have realized that its pages are filled with men and women who have operated under the manifest favor of God to accomplish great feats to advance His kingdom. In the overwhelming majority of these events the favor of God was not displayed as excess provision as much as it was supernatural intervention in the absence of provision. The widow who offered her last meal of grain to the man of God did not in return find her pantries over flowing with substance, but instead had supernatural access to daily provision.

Which of the following do you think is greater, wealth in the hands of the foolish, or a little in the hands of the wise? Realize that God does not have to saturate you with excess resources just to get a job done or to make others see you as a success. God’s greatest demonstration of power is not when he operates within the world’s views and standards, but when he defies them altogether.

His Favor in Action

Favor is not always in the ability to raise funds but in his ability to forgive debts. It’s my 30,000 mile tires running 55,000 miles. Its His protection against the snares and traps of the enemy of my soul.  It’s the joy in the midst of hardships that can’t be explained. It’s the peace that’s found in midst of the storms of life. If we truly desire favor and the joy of the Lord then we must realize first and foremost that it comes not from what he allows to pass through our hands, but what he passes through our hearts.

If we are ever going to make an impact in this world for Christ we will do it by the leading of his hand, and with a generous portion of God given favor. It might come as God given wisdom coupled with access to unlimited resources as it was with Solomon. It might come as supernatural advantage for promotion despite your enemies’ plans as it was with Joseph. It could possibly even be something as simple as a mere stone in the hands of a seemingly un-equipped child standing before a giant. Whatever it is, and however he chooses to manifest it in your life it’s still favor.

Desire God’s favor, pray for it and seek it with all of your heart. Not blessings, but favor. Not gifts, but spiritual gifting and abilities. Seeking those things that not only make a difference in your life but God given favor that allows you to make a difference in the lives of those around you. The kind of favor that leaves you amazed, when all the dust settles and leaves you repeating Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might nor by power but by my spirit says the Lord.” Now that’s favor!

Dwayne Harris is the founder of Fresh Outpouring Ministries, Inc. and is an Evangelist and Missionary. He is an Ordained Minister within the Church of God of Cleveland Tenn. and the speaker of the “Message in a Minute” wed based devotional video series. For more information visit: http://www.freshoutpouring.com/

Christians Can Claim Victory Over Past Mistakes

Many times we as Christians may ask ourselves, “Have I sinned beyond God’s grace to be forgiven?” “Can God still use me to effectively spread His message?” “Because of past mistakes, is it possible that God has turned His back on me?”

Questions like these are asked by God’s children every day. Do not despair; God is gracious, kind, patient, and loves you infinitely more than we can humanly realize. Our hope is found in His Son, and our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.

Let us turn to the Book of Luke. We instantly find a story of both failure and hope. Peter wept bitterly after realizing that he had denied his Lord, Jesus. Although Peter had said he would never deny Christ.

“Peter said to Him, Even if I must die with You, I will not deny or disown You! And all the disciples said the same thing” (Matthew 26:35).

You see, Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples went against all he had boldly promised to Jesus in a face-to-face conversation.

“Then a servant girl, seeing him (Peter) as he sat in the firelight and gazing [intently] at him, said, This man too was with Him. But he denied it and said, Woman, I do not know Him! And a little later someone else saw him and said, You are one of them also. But Peter said, Man, I am not! And when about an hour more had elapsed, still another emphatically insisted, It is the truth that this man also was with Him, for he too is a Galilean! But Peter said, Man, I do not know what you are talking about. And instantly, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed” (Luke 22:56-60).

Many Christians today feel that due to past mistakes in their life they too have let Jesus down, and that they will never be used by God again. This is NOT the case!  After Peter’s failure (mistake), he learned much that would help him in the leadership responsibilities he soon would assume.  Thanks to the power and forgiving love of Christ, so can you.

The apostle Paul explained to Timothy that he himself was the “Chief of Sinners,” yet Paul went on to fulfill God’s purpose for his life. In Romans 7:14-25, Paul teaches us about struggling with sin, and how we may call upon Jesus to reconcile our past and even future mistakes before God. We are totally and perfectly justified by the blood Christ. God loves you immeasurably; for it is He who created you.

Know this, the devil is a cunning liar. He will do everything he can to make you feel as though your past mistakes have separated you from God forever. He will attempt to plant seeds of doubt in your heart in an all out effort to lead you into his trap of dark despair. In Jesus’ name, you can stand strong against the devil’s deceit by knowing that our God is our heavenly Father of second chances. By faith, you can know that God is for you, and no one can ever come against you.

“What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]“  (Romans 8:28-31).

Whenever you may feel as though God has abandoned you because of past mistakes, or sinful behavior, know by faith, “God will never leave you, nor ever forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Remember, we are not saved by our good works, but for good works. We are freely saved and forgiven by God’s glorious grace and tender mercies. Jesus is with us always, even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).

“By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

When we approach our heavenly Father with a repentant heart, He will graciously forgive us all our sins,  never to be remembered again.  Therefore, the only time your past mistakes (sins) are remembered, is if and when you bring them up. God has cast them away forever; by faith, so should you.

“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:11-12).

I would encourage you to forgive yourself as you have been perfectly forgiven by God. You can wholeheartedly believe by faith that God has an excellent plan for you; regardless whether you feel that or not. God is faithful and for us; place every aspect of your future in Him. Trust God to give you His peace and rest. Pray fervently, wait patiently, and God will restore your every mistake into His perfect will for your life (Romans 12:2).

May almighty God be with you always,

Tony

Tony Marino
Founder, Executive Publisher
Christian Times Online
http://www.ChristianTimesOnline.com

Next Page »