Divine Faith, Divine Favor
a. Ecc. 3:1 - To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose of heaven.
b. John 5:4 - Angel would come down at a certain season to trouble the water in the pool. The first one in received miraculous healing.
c. Gal. 4:4 - When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
II. RIGHT NOW, AT THE PRESENT TIME, WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A SEASON OF UNUSUAL FAVOR FROM GOD.
III. FAVOR DEFINED
When some people think of FAVOR, they typically associate it with being delivered from a fate that they would generally deserve. For example, someone may have run a stop sign and ended up in traffic court. They may ask God for favor with the judge. It frequently has been discussed in connection with court proceedings.
But God's idea of favor means much more than that.
B. Exaltation - Exodus 11:3 - Moses was very great! Ps. 89:17 (raised up; lifted up higher). The favor of God will raise you up; lift you up; cause you to lift up your faces and be seen, that God's glory will be seen in you!!!
C. Increase - In all areas that pertain to life!! Ps. 30:4-5. In the favor of God there is life. Life to any and all dead areas. 2Peter 1:3.
D. Strength/Ability to Stand Firm - Ps. 30:7.
E. Protection - Ps. 5:8-12. Cocooned with favor. On all sides. Compassed about; crowned with favor.
IV. HOW DO WE APPROPRIATE GOD'S FAVOR?
A. WE APPROPRIATE DIVINE FAVOR BY ACTIVATING DIVINE FAITH. WE MUST ACTIVATE THE GOD KIND OF FAITH.
B. Ps. 5:8-12 makes a clear distinction between the enemies of God and the righteous.
The enemies have no faithfulness in their mouths. Nothing but wickedness in their inward parts. Those who obtain favor exhibit the opposite kinds of characteristics. They have faithfulness in their mouths and in their inward parts.
C. To exercise the God kind of faith, we must GET THE WORD BUILT UP IN OUR INWARD PARTS, IN OUR INNER MAN, IN OUR SPIRIT.
And then we must SPEAK FORTH THAT WORD IN FULL ASSURANCE THAT IT WILL COME TO PASS. The scripture connects favor with faithfulness which is openly demonstrated and revealed by what comes out of one's mouth. Matt. 12:34 tells us that it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.
D. 2 Cor. 4:13. The spirit of faith believes and speaks what it believes.
Rom. 10:6 The righteousness of faith speaks.
E. WE ALSO ACTIVATE DIVINE FAITH THROUGH ACTION. DIVINE FAITH ACTS. James 2:17-21 SAYS THAT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD.
V. THE PRINCIPLES IN OPERATION
A. The children of Israel and Moses. Exodus 11; Exodus 12. Hebrews 11 shows us that the favor which they experienced happened after they activated their faith!!
B. Ezra 1; Cf. Isaiah 45:1-2. Those in exile were, according to the prophesy of Jeremiah, permitted to return and rebuild. And they did so with extraordinary provision. This was so that the purposes of God would be fulfilled. It started with words spoken in faith by the man of God. God supernaturally moved to loose the loins of King Cyrus. And God will loose the loins of kings for you!!!
VI. THE CHALLENGE WITH MANY BELIEVERS
VII. THE ANSWER