PROVOKING DIVINE FAVOUR (II)

DIVINE FAVOUR PASSAGE TEXT: EXODUS 3 : 21, EXODUS 12: 35 – 36

WHAT IS FAVOUR and HOW TO UNLOCK THE FAVOUR OF GOD?

Meaning: according to Merriam-webster on line dictionary and doctronary.com, favour can be defined as:

(a) Friendly regard shown towards another especially by a superior.
(b) Gracious kindness
(c) A special privilege or right granted or conceded
(d) Something done or granted out of goodwill, rather than from justice or for remuneration.
(e) Excessive kindness or unfair partiality or preferential treatment.

People often say Grace makes a man function without struggle, while favour makes a man receive without asking. But one of the ways God shows His goodness to people is through divine favour.

This is exactly what Israelites experienced in Egypt according to our texts.

“And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall come to pass but, when ye go, ye shall not go empty” Exodus 3 : 21

“And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians Jewels of silver, and jewels of gold and raiment: And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians” Exodus 12 : 35 – 36

HOW DO I PROVOKE GOD’S FAVOUR And PRAYER FOR DIVINE FAVOUR

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For 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.

So then it is not of him that willeth, or of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy”. Romans 9 : 13 – 16.

Though God says he will show mercy or favour upon whom he will show mercy, it is possible to provoke God’s favour.

1. BY YOUR PRAYER

There is a type of prayer that provokes divine favour. This is the prayer that avails much. The Amplified Bible describes it as:
….. The earnest (heart felt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available (dynamic in its working) James 5 : 16

Hezekiah was sick unto death and God sent prophet Isaiah to inform him that he would surely die. Hezekiah’s prayer in Isiah 38 provoked God’s favour and He added 15 years to his life.

2. TRUSTING GOD

“Jesus said unto him, if thou can’t believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” Mark 9 : 23

We can provoke the favour of God by our faith and trust in Him. In Luke 8 : 43 – 48, The woman with the issue of blood experienced the favour of God because of her level of faith.

3. THE POWER OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

Praise is a powerful tool in provoking God’s divine favour. “But thou art holy, thou that inhabitatest the praises of Israel” Psalm 22 : 3

A person of praise will steer clear of murmuring. When you murmur, you limit God and favour will be far from you.

“And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord and the Lord heard it and his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp”. Numbers 11 : 1

Paul and Silas experienced the favour of God in prison in the process of praising God. Acts 16: 25 – 26.

In Marks 6 : 21 – 23. Herod’s daughter had danced before Herod. He was so pleased with her dance that he told her to ask him for anything she desired, even to the half of his kingdom. Favour was released as a result of her dance.

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his counts with praise; be thankful unto him and bless his name’ Psalm 100 : 4

4. SHOWING FAVOUR

“Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy” Mathew 5 : 7 Brethren, the level of favour you enjoy is a function of the level to which you favour others. The law of seedtime and harvest controls the issue of favour. Do you want to walk in favour? Then be a person of favour.

In the book, Esther (2 : 21 – 22) Mordecai got wind of a plan to kill king Ahasuerus and leaked it, thereby spearing the king’s life. A time came when Mordecai was also to be killed, but his earlier seed of favour will not allow it. See Esther 6 : 1 – 3.

5. YOUR CONFESSION

Your mouth is a weapon of authority ordained by God to keep you in perfect dominion. If you say positive things based on the word of God in your heart, you will get positive results. Favour moves in the direction of those that say favourable things.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” Proverbs 18 : 21

6. YOUR GIFTS

“ A man’s gift maketh room for him and bringeth him before great men” Proverb 18 : 16

There are three areas your gift can provoke the favour of God.

(a) Prophet Offering

The widow of Zarephath and the Shunamite woman enjoyed divine favour by reason of what they gave to the prophet. (1Kings: 17 : 10 – 24 and 2Kings 4 : 1 – 37).

(b) Giving To The Poor

When you give to the needy, you can provoke the favour of God. “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again” Proverbs 19 : 17.

(c) Giving To Your Parents

“Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” Eph. 6 : 2 – 3

Your gift to your parents irrespective of their wealth or wickedness will provoke the favour of God.

7. BEING KINGDOM FOCUS

“But seek yee first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” Mathew 6 : 33

There are two ways:

1. Soul wining: Mathew 28 : 19 – 20
Your practical involvement with God in His purpose for reaping the over-ripe harvest of souls guarantees His divine favour.
2. Sacrifices: Sacrificial giving towards God’s kingdom or business is trigger for divine favour.
In second Chronicles Chapter 1 verses 6 – 7; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offering and God gave him a blank cheque which signifies unusual favour.

SUSTAINING GOD’S FAVOUR

TEXTS: GEN. 39 : 2 – 6, 21

SUSTAINING GOD’S FAVOUR INTRODUCTION:

Provoking God’s favour is not the ultimate for a believer. The key thing is how do I as a believer sustain divine favour. What does it take to operate under perpetual divine favour.

Joseph is one biblical example that operate under continous favour of God. Even while he was in prison, he experienced the favour of God.

HOW DO I SUSTAIN DIVINE FAVOUR?

1. FAITHFULNESS: 1 Corth 4 : 2, Proverb 28 : 20

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful”. 1 Corth 4 : 2

“A faithful man shall abound with blessings; but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent” Proverbs 28 : 20. Joseph faithfulness ensures his continuous favour. He said “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? Gen 39 : 9

A faithful man, after God has blessed him will not miss his tithes. He will not forget about his service in the House of God.

2. REMAIN CONNECTED: Hosea 12 : 13

“And by a prophet the Lord brought Isreal out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved”. Hosea 12 : 13

After God has blessed Joseph in a strange land, He did not forget his root. A branch that is cut off from a tree will die a natural death. When God blesses you don’t forget your root.

3. LIVE IN FORGIVENESS. Gen. 45 : 7

“And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance” Gen 45 : 7
Joseph despite all that his brethren did to him, even when he had opportunity to revenge, he did not”

David had several opportunities to avenge the wickedness of Saul to him but he refused. No wonder David also enjoyed continuous favour from God.

4. LIVE IN OBEDIENCE: Gen 2 : 22

Abraham enjoyed constant favour from God because; he lived a life of total obedience. Even after God has blessed him with a child after waiting many years, he obeyed God and offered the child for sacrifice.

Saul lost the throne despite God’s promise to his generation to sit on the throne forever due to disobedience.

5. BE JOYFUL Isaiah 12 : 3

Joseph did not complain for one day even despite the experiences he went through. He was so charming even as a slave that the madam of the house wanted to sleep with him. Even in prison, because he was full of joy he was made the head of other prisoners.

One way to enjoy constant favour from God is to always display Joy irrespective of what you are passing through.

“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water our of the wells of salvation” Isaiah 12 : 3

6. LIVE A LIFE OF THANKSGIVING

“Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise unto him with Psalms” Psalm 95 : 2

“Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God’ Philippians 4 : 6

Brethren, it takes thanksgiving to provoke favour of God and it also takes thanksgiving to enoy continuous favour.

An adage says “When a child thanks an elder for yesterday’s blessing, he will definitely get another one.

Most Israelites died in the wilderness because they forgot the God that delivered them from Egypt and began to complain.

“And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; and the Lord heard it and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. Numbers 11 : 1

Brethren, continuous favour from God requires a life of daily thanksgiving. A person of thanksgiving will not have any cause to complain or grumble. Anyone that complains will never experience God’s blessings.