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I want to thank Almighty God for seeing this wonderful day. I'm grateful for the grace given to me to minister this morning. The theme is wonderful: Blessed and Highly Favored.
Luke 1:28 records: "The angel came unto her and said, 'Hail thou that art highly favored; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.'"
This was not just a promise but a proclamation of grace. Scripture says Mary was full of grace, and so is every believer here this morning. The angel declared three profound things to Mary:
We as believers are also blessed and highly favored. In Ephesians 1:6, Paul writes: "To the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved."
As the Lord was with Mary, so the Lord is with us. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promised: "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."
And in Ephesians 1:3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."
To be highly favored means you have been endowed with grace, compassed with special favor from God, and honored with blessings. The Lord is with you implies that you enjoy grace that brings God's special presence into your life. To be blessed among women means the grace of God that brings promotion—prosperity, blessings, healing, deliverance, and so on.
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In Psalm 102:13, the psalmist prays: "Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor me, yea, the set time is come."
What is favor? Favor is the tangible evidence that a man has the approval of the Lord. Favor means being prevailed above others in all things. Mary was preferred above every other woman. In our time, favor will open doors that did not exist before. Where others have failed, a favored man will succeed. Where others have been rejected, a favored man will be accepted.
One minute of favor can wipe away 40 years of struggle. I decree in the name of Jesus: every struggle is terminated!
In Job 42:12, we read: "So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning."
When God favors a man, everything in that man's life falls into place. Years of struggles, years of affliction are terminated. Romans 8:28 assures us: "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."
Whatever a man of favor touches is blessed. Look at Isaac in Genesis 26:12: "Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him." Before the end of this year, I decree you will receive your blessings!
For a man who has encountered favor, captivity is turned around for his good. In Psalm 126:1, the psalmist declares: "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream."
In Job 42:10, we read: "The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends: and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before." I decree again: for everything you have lost, receive double fold in the name of Jesus!
In Deuteronomy 28:7, Moses writes: "The Lord shall cause thy enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways."
In Esther 7:10, we read that they hanged the man on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
For a man of favor, the door remains perpetually open. Philippians 4:19 promises: "My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Obed-Edom received a lifetime blessing in just three months—that is the power of favor. In just three months he moved from nobody to somebody.
In 2 Samuel 9:13, Mephibosheth was sought out by favor and was raised from the dunghill to the palace.
Joseph also was picked from the prison to become prime minister by the word of Pharaoh. Listen, brethren: God grants favor through men to men. Blessings come from God through men to men. Prosperity comes from God through men to men. Healing, deliverance—all come from God through men to men. Never ignore the ministry of men!
In Luke 2:52, we read: "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." The Lord Jesus Christ, with all his splendor and power, needed favor not just with God only but also with man.
When you read 1 Samuel 16:1, the Lord said to Samuel: "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him? Fill your horn with oil and go; I have chosen David."
But here is the truth: God was ready to anoint David king, but man delayed it. David would have remained in the wilderness if Samuel had not shown up. I decree: your Samuel will show up! Your helper will locate you in the name of Jesus!
Never ignore men. Be nice to people, because one referral can make or break a person. I remember when we first came to this country and we were looking for a job. We walked into a company and met a lady. We greeted her politely and asked if there were any vacancies. She called the regional manager and, within five minutes, told him: "Sir, I have two people here. They are very good people. Is there still an opening?" The manager replied: "I know them—wonderful people. If you can get them fit for that job..." This person we had not met before, in just five minutes, was referring us as if she had known us for years. And that was how we got the job! A person we didn't know said, "I know them," and favor came.
Favor is a divine aroma—an all-encompassing blessing. Favor is the key that opens the door to miracles and the fulfillment of any desire or request. A life devoid of favor will experience struggle and labor. That shall not be your portion in Jesus name!
When we find favor with God, it exceeds what we expect. According to Ephesians 3:20: "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."
When we find favor with God, He will increase what we invest. In Luke 6:38, Jesus said: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom."
God will accelerate our impact of time to fulfill His kingdom purpose in us. Because favor redeems time.
I heard the testimony of a woman who had a delay in childbirth. She gave birth at the age of 50 years. People started mocking her: "Where will you eat the fruit of motherhood? In 30 years, when your baby is 30, you'll be 80—if you're still alive!" But guess what happened? Someone took a picture of the baby at six months old, sent it to a contracts in Pampers, and they endorsed that girl. They signed her to millions. She made her mother a millionaire overnight!
She started enjoying the fruits of motherhood, and friends who had children that were already 20-something years old had not received even one million. But favor redeemed time for her.
Favor redeems time. The Lord will help us in Jesus name.
I want us to understand the fact that delay is not denial, and I know that message is for somebody this morning. You may not know how, you may not know when, but God will do it for you again. Don't you know God has not changed?
Every delay is terminated this morning in the name of Jesus. God is able to make time work for us because He is not constrained by the clock or the calendar. The same God who did it for me and my family after 18 years of delay will do it for you. I say He will do it for you in the name of Jesus.
God is eternal, walking inside and outside the boundaries of time. It is not too late.
In Job 10:12, Job declares: "Thou hast granted me life and favor: and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit."
Father, perfume my life with the aroma of favor. Let my life speak favor. Let my life exhibit favor in the name of Jesus.
To be favored means to be singled out of the crowd for a blessing. A person who is favored of God is blessed beyond the ordinary. The favor of God gives us the blessings we do not deserve, and His mercy prevents us from getting the judgment we deserve.
Favor brings an end to weeping. In Psalm 30:5, the psalmist writes: "For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."
Favor makes us to flourish. In Psalm 92:12, we read: "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon."
Favor brings quick answer to prayers. Isaiah 65:24 promises: "It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear them."
Favor brings sweatless victories. In Psalm 41:11, the psalmist declares: "By this I know that thou favorest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me."
I will conquer every enemy of my life by your favor!
Favor means divine approval, divine endorsement, divine accommodation, divine admiration, divine assistance, divine backing, and heavenly bias. Heaven is just biased towards you!
Do you know what happened to the man at the pool of Bethesda? The Bible recorded that there were many impotent people, sick people, laying down by the pool waiting for the stirring of the water. But Jesus passed all those who were sick and went straight to this one man and healed him. He had the capacity to heal everyone, but He passed everyone and went to this man. Heaven is biased towards people because the favor of God comes upon them.
I decree: before the end of this year, single me out for favor. Single me out for blessings!
Favor is gracious kindness. It is God's favorite, divine preference. Are you not surprised that when Cain went away from the presence of the Lord, the Lord did not go after him? But when Jonah did the same thing, God went after him. Who says God doesn't have favorites? You will be God's favorite in Jesus name!
In Romans 9:15, Paul writes: "He said to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.'" You will be God's favorite in Jesus name!
Favor is divine settlement, divine advantage. Ecclesiastes 9:1 tells us: "The race is not to the swift." This tells me that favor is that factor that will make you run and win, that will make you fight and triumph. Favor empowers you to get that job you do not qualify for. It is favor that lifts men. In this kingdom, it's not about the race, it's not about time invested in work. It's about the favor of God. Receive that favor in the name of Jesus!
Favor is God making people show interest in you without you lobbying or begging for it. When God's favor is upon you, you don't have to lobby for positions, you don't have to lobby for ordinations. When the favor comes upon you, you'll be sought out. That shall be your testimony in the name of Jesus!
Favor is the announcer of men. He causes men to locate you and help you regardless of your status.
Favor makes men to remember you. Favor makes helpers to locate you. They will not rest, they will lose their sleep until they bless you. That was what happened to the king. The king could not sleep until the case of Mordecai was sorted out. I'm praying for somebody this morning: your destiny helper will lose their sleep until they favor you, until you are blessed, until you are assisted in the name of Jesus!
Favor ensures continuity of life. Favor is a maker of glorious destinies. Favor is the strength of your progress. Favor is a terminator of struggles.
Favor can make you great within 24 hours. Favor is a very powerful weapon of strange liftings. What happened to Mordecai—how can you explain it? He slept one night as a nobody; the next morning he woke up as a millionaire.
It was the same thing that happened to Joseph. He slept one night as a prisoner; he woke up the next morning as the prime minister of Egypt. Strange liftings!
It was the same thing that happened to Mordecai. He slept one night as the gatekeeper in the palace; he woke up the next morning as the second in command in the palace.
When favor comes upon you, you get what you never prayed for. Solomon didn't ask for wealth, but because of the favor of the Lord upon him, God said: "Even the things that you do not ask for, I will give to you."
I am decreeing this morning: Favor will lift you up!
Before we conclude, let me address the hindrances to favor.
Number one: Sin. Romans 6:2 asks: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid!"
Number two: Pride. James 4:6 declares: "He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, 'God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.'" God resists the proud but gives grace unto the humble.
For us to attract favor, we must:
One: Be holy. Uncompromising holiness. 1 Peter 1:16 says: "Be holy; for I am holy."
Two: Be a prayer addict. Pray, pray, pray. Don't find it difficult to pray. In Job 33:26, it says: "He shall pray unto God, and he will be favorable unto him."
Three: Be a friend of God, like Abraham. If you're a friend of God, you attract favor. Pursue intimacy with God; you attract favor.
Four: Control your tongue. Proverbs 18:21 declares: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Control your tongue if you want to attract favor.
Five: Rejoice in the Lord always. Be happy, be excited. Some of you are frowning. You don't have to frown! People who are better off than us are down there beneath six feet. But because you have the gift of life, be excited about life. Don't frown. Smile to everybody. Just be excited about God, be excited about life, and the favor of God will locate you in Jesus name.
Isaiah 12:3 says: "Therefore with joy shall we draw water out of the wells of salvation."
Let us rise and pray. For the next few minutes, we will pray very well.
Father, expectation blockers, I am not your candidate—die by fire! Open your mouth and pray.
Expectation blockers are terminated in Jesus' mighty name.
Father, congratulation blockers, you are a liar—die by fire! People will congratulate you before the end of this year. Congratulation blockers, lose your hold in Jesus' mighty name!
Father, testimony swallowers, my life is not your candidate—die by fire! Those who are assigned to swallow our testimonies, my life is not your candidate. The life of my children is not your candidate. Testimony swallowers, I am not your candidate in Jesus' mighty name!
Father, back-to-back celebrations, back-to-back congratulations, locate me now! Back-to-back congratulations, back-to-back celebrations, back-to-back testimonies, locate me now!
Father, powers that must die for my life to move forward before I leave church this morning—die by fire! Powers that must die for me to move forward, for my life to move forward before I leave church this morning, in Jesus' name!
Father, rain of divine favor, fall upon my life! Let that rain fall, let that rain fall. Rain of divine favor, Divine announcement, Divine liftings—let that rain fall!
Thank you, mighty Father, in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.
