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.