MONTH OF DIVINE FAVOR

(Part  II)

The Other Side of Favor…

I.                   FAVOR IS:

1.      Different from God’s Love.

God’s love is universal

John 3:16

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Love is willing the highest for another human being and doing what you can to help accomplish it.

2.      Favor is when God notices you.

John 11:5-7

⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. ⁷ Then after this, He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”

1 Samuel 12:25

²⁴ Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and went in to her and lay with her. So she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Now the Lord loved him, ²⁵ and He sent word by the hand of Nathan the prophet: So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.

3.      Because he likes you He releases influence upon you that people are drawn to like you and cooperate with you.

4.     We need favor with God and Man. 

Luke 2:52

⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

II.                FAVOR DOES:

1.      Favor will cause the presence of God to be with you. 

Exodus 33:12 –17

¹² Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace (favor) in My sight…¹⁴ And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” ¹⁵ Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. ¹⁶ For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace (favor) in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.” ¹⁷ So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace (favor) in My sight, and I know you by name.”

2.      Greater Manifestations of Mercy

Genesis 39:21

²¹ But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Psalm 102:13

¹³ You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For the time to favor her,

Yes, the set time has come.

      Psalm 109:12

¹² Let there be none to extend mercy to him, Nor let there be any to favor his fatherless children.

1 Kings 11:9-13

⁹ So the Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, ¹⁰ and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the Lord had commanded. ¹¹ Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. ¹² Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. ¹³ However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of my servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.”

3.      Favor Places You in Strategic Positions

Esther 2:15

¹⁵ Now when the turn came for Esther, the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king…Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her…¹⁷ The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

4.      Grants you Access to Revelation

Daniel 1:17

¹⁷ As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

John 13:21-26

²¹ “…Jesus…was troubled in spirit…And said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” ²² Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. ²³ Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. ²⁴ Simon Peter, therefore, motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. ²⁵ Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” ²⁶ Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

5.      Favor Increases Your Earthly Dominion

Exodus 12:36

³⁵ Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. ³⁶ And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

III.             FAVORS PURPOSE

Although favor is often given out of love, God seems to demand a return on favor

1.      Abraham – Start a Nation

2.      Joseph – To preserve life

3.      Moses – Liberate Israel

4.      Joshua - Lead Israel into Promised Land

5.      David – First God chose king of Israel to establish throne and lineage of the Messiah

6.      Solomon – Build God a temple and show his glory

7.      Esther – Save Israel from Harman

8.      Daniel and Hebrew Boys – Give Witness to Jehovah in Babylon and Medo Persia

9.      Mary  - Birth Savior of the World

We must ask why is He giving us a favor right now why does He give ministries favor in certain seasons

IV.             ENVY THE BACKLASH OF FAVOR

1.      Joseph and pit

2.      Daniel and Lions Den

3.      Three Hebrew Boys and fiery furnace

4.      Esther and Haman

5.      David and King Saul

6.      Jesus and Pharisees and Sadducees

V.                FAVOR CAUSES YOU TO OVERCOME EVNY WHEN YOU KEEP YOUR SPIRIT CLEAN

1.      The pit was Joseph training and launching ground

2.      Daniel’s Den caused the king to make a decree that all should revere Daniel’s God

3.      Fiery Furnace did the same

4.      In the story of Esther gallows were used for her enemy. Then they killed all who hated them

5.      David’s run from Saul was his training ground

6.      Cross paid the price for our sin.

THE MONTH OF DIVINE FAVOR I

Luke 1:27-31

²⁶ Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” ²⁹ But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. ³⁰ Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.

I.                   FAVOR IS:

1.      Different from God’s Love. 

God’s love is universal

John 3:16

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Love is willing the highest for another human being and doing what you can to help accomplish it.

2.      Favor is When God Likes You

Daniel 10:5-11

⁵ Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold ^†a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: ⁶ His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. ⁷ And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision, but a great quaking fell upon them so that they fled to hide themselves… ¹¹ And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved.^”

1 Samuel 12:25

²⁴ Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and went into her and lay with her. So she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Now the Lord loved him, ²⁵ and He sent word by the hand of Nathan the prophet: So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.

3.      Because He Likes You He Releases Influence Upon You That People Are Drawn to Like You and Cooperate With You

4.      We need favor with God and Man. 

Luke 2:52

⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

II.                FAVOR PROCURES

1.      Knowledge of Divine Affections

When God loves you, He lets you know about it.

John 13:23

²³ Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Revelation 3:9

⁹ Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

Matthew 3:16-17

¹⁶ And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: ¹⁷ And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

2.      The Ability for you to be Entrusted with things Precious to Him. 

Luke 1:30-33

³⁰ Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father, David. ³³ And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom, there will be no end.”

                       

3.      A Place in Strategic Positions

Esther 2:15

¹⁵ Now when the turn came for Esther, the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king…Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her…¹⁷ The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

4.      Access to Secrets

Daniel 1:17

¹⁷ As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

John 13:21-26

²¹ “…Jesus…was troubled in spirit…and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” ²² Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. ²³ Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. ²⁴ Simon Peter, therefore, motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. ²⁵ Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” ²⁶ Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

5.      Increase in Resources

Exodus 12:36

³⁵ Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. ³⁶ And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

III.             HOW TO HANDLE FAVOR

1.      Walk in the Spirit 

Galatians 5 16-17

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish.

a.      Favor attracts temptation

Genesis 39:7-13

⁷ And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” ⁸ But he refused…¹⁰ So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her…She caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. ¹³ And so it was when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside

2.      We must Cast it back down at Jesus Feet.

Revelations 4:10-11

¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ¹¹ “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

3.      We Must Obtain Wisdom to carry it.

1 Samuel 18:5,14, 15, 30.

⁵ So David went out wherever Saul sent him and behaved wisely…¹² Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul. ¹³ Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. ¹⁴ And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. ¹⁵ Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David because he went out and came in before them. ²⁸ Thus Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him; ²⁹ and Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David’s enemy continually. ³⁰ Then the princes of the Philistines went out to war. And so it was, whenever they went out, that David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul so that his name became highly esteemed.

DEDICATION SERVICE

1 Kings 7:51-8:64

⁵¹ So all the work that King Solomon had done for the house of the Lord was finished; and Solomon brought in the things, which his father David had dedicated: the silver and the gold and the furnishings. He put them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord…⁴ Then they brought up the ark of the Lord…¹⁰ And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, ¹¹ so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

¹⁴ Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing…⁶² Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the Lord. ⁶³ And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord, twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. ⁶⁴ On the same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the Lord; for there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before the Lord was too small to receive the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.

I.                    THE TWO REALMS

1 Corinthians 15:44

⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

2 Corinthians  4:18

¹⁸ while we do not look at the things, which are seen, but at the things, which are not seen. For the things, which are, seen are temporary, but the things, which are not seen, are eternal.

II.                SPIRITUAL REALM IS MOTHER TO NATURAL REALM

1.      God is a Spirit (John 4:24).

2.      Angels are spirit beings (Good ones and bad ones)

3.      Humans are spirit beings (1 Thessalonians. 5:23)

4.      Humans are also physical beings.

III.             THE FIGHT FOR DOMINION OF EARTH

1.      Dual Beings

1 Thessalonians 5:23

²³ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2.      We have been given dominion in this realm

Genesis 1:27

²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Psalm 115:16

The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: But the earth hath he given to the children of men.

3.      Dominion Lost and Reclaimed

Luke 4:5-8

⁵ Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁶ And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. ⁷ Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” ⁸ And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

Colossians 2:13-15

¹³ And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴ having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Matthew 28:18

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

4.      Everything on Earth will be brought under dominion of Jesus

Ephesians 1:10

¹⁰ that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

                        Revelation  11:15

¹⁵ Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Psalm 110:1-3

¹ The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ² The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! ³ Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.

IV.             AUTHORITY OF BELIEVER TO RECLAIM DOMINION

1.      Believers have been given authority to claim territory for Jesus

Matthew 28:18-19

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 16:18-19

¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

V.                THREE AREAS WE WORK TO SUBMIT TO JESUS

1.      People

Colossians 1:27-28

Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

2.     Territory

Luke 4:5-8

⁵ Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁶ And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. ⁷ Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” ⁸ And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

Land, Buildings, cars, property, etc.

3.     Times and Seasons

a.       Time can be blessed or cursed

Exodus  20:8-11

⁸ “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it, you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

b.      Seasons can be blessed or cursed

Judges 6:2-5

² And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds. ³ And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; ⁴ And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. ⁵ For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.

Daniel 7:25

²⁵ And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

VI.               CONSECRATION/DEDICATION

The Pattern of King Solomon

1.      Honored the previous generations contribution

2.      Brought in the Ark (Presence and Glory) of God

3.      Blessed the People

4.      Gave Offerings (Sacrifice) to God

5.      Dedicate the House of the Lord