For one thing, favor doesn’t always look the same. Did you realize that there are different levels of blessings and favor? I could venture to say you didn’t want to read that, but it’s true.
Could
I explain what I mean to help you understand this better? We have steps to our front door. They are all
the same size in distance, but they are not all the same level. With each step I reach a new level, even though
the distance is the same from one to the other.
Each step takes me to the level I need to elevate me to the top or where
I need to go (be) for that time period.
How
do I relay this in terms we can embrace? A person who recently got a job and
another one who received a promotion were just elevated to new levels above what they
had previously. They are not the same,
but both have experienced an increase in favor.
Each person received something that others did not, because someone
bestowed favor to them above another person or persons. I’ve been witnessing this in life and when it
happened throughout the Bible.
Moving Up Higher
I
remember a song that Joyce Meyer wrote many years ago when she was seeking God
to move up higher in her calling. As far
as I know, it is the only one she ever wrote, but it certainly is one we can
gain wisdom from if we want increased favor for serving the Lord in higher
levels.
Some
of you are probably tired of that word, “favor” and think it’s only to get what
you want in life, but I assure you, it isn’t.
We have to have favor to accomplish God’s work here on earth in order to
walk out the commission of Christ Jesus.
If Jesus couldn’t live without favor why do we think we can?
There
is a reason why God wants to increase your favor; He raises us up to do greater
things for Him so that more people are brought into the Kingdom. When we are at the level we need to be, we
can accomplish the greater things Jesus was referring to in the Bible. Moving up higher opens doors that were once closed. Friends it's time we level up in faith and favor.
God
wants to take us to the next level of increase, but so many times we get stuck in
the same place, not seeking or expecting to do more or be increased. We become “comfortable” or “complacent.”
When
we become satisfied (no matter what the reason) with the level where we are and
never step out in faith for the higher level in God, we don’t reach the goal of
our high calling in Christ Jesus.
Sometimes we think, “This is the best it gets”, or “This is all there is
so I might as well make the best of it.”
If we give in to that thinking, satan wins and no one else comes to know
salvation.
Not Reaching the Goal
What
does it take to not reach your goal?
Well, not very much actually.
Let’s take
a walk back through the wilderness with the Israelites.
What was their goal or plan? To leave Egypt.
Who were they thinking of? Themselves.
If you think of it, they were successful in one way, but their own selfishness led to their lifetime of misery and ultimate failure to reach the goal God had set for them.
Throughout the forty years they wandered God
was continually increasing favor on them, yet they didn’t acknowledge His
blessings. In fact, they did the
opposite and complained for more favor.
What
exactly did God do for His children? To name only a few things:
When
the Israelites were hungry, God fed them manna. If they wanted meat, He gave
them quail. Water … came from a rock in
a desert, too hot …. He covered them with clouds. Too cold … I’ll give you fire
by night. Whatever you want … I’ll
deliver so you can reach your destination to the Promised Land.
We
know what happened. All those who
refused to worship the Lord or see Him as their “blesser”, died in the
wilderness. I don’t know about you, but
I don’t want to go my whole life just to receive nothing from God.
The
thing is that favor came easy to them when they first believed. It was only to be temporary until they had
faith to believe God for more on their own.
We can understand this if we relate it to raising a child. As a child grows, it gains more
responsibility and rewards for each level they achieve. You wouldn’t expect the same kind of behavior
out of a child of ten as you do a 5 year old.
I praised my nephew when he learned to tie his shoes, but didn’t keep
doing that when he was older.
Levels
of favor come with levels of faith to help us get to the next step on our
journey in life. If we aren’t willing
to increase, our faith and favor will die in “our” wilderness, never reaching
the potential God intended for us.
I’d like you to start proclaiming this right
now. Say out loud,
“I’m going to the
next level of faith and increase of favor.”
Finding Favor through Seeking
The
Bible repeatedly verifies that if we seek God, we will find Him. I’d like to share with you briefly examples
of those who sought God and increased in favor as they obeyed.
Ruth from Destitute to Destiny
In
the book of Ruth we read about 3 widow women who each took a different path on
their life journey. I’d like to
concentrate on Naomi and Ruth.
Because
of a famine many families left Bethlehem in search of food in other parts of
the world. When all the men had died in
Naomi’s family (her husband and sons) the women were faced with destitution. At that time Ruth didn’t really know the God
of Naomi, but said that she would follow after the God of Israel if Naomi would
not send her away. Unlike her sister-in-law
Orpah, Ruth chose to seek God, listen and obey as she learned.
Naomi
made the decision to move back to her homeland, even though she had no money.
She and Ruth were received home with open arms, but they still had no food. Ruth did something her sister-in-law wasn’t
willing to do. What are we willing to do
that others won’t that will cause God and man to give us favor?
“And
Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, Let me go to the field and glean among the
ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor. Naomi said to her, Go my daughter.” (Ruth 2:2
Amp.)
Upon
the permission of her mother-in-law Naomi, Ruth went into the fields and “gleaned”
(gathered bundles of) the barley that fell to the ground when the workers were
collecting it. She went expecting to find favor. That's what we are to do ... expect to find favor among those who don't even know us.
In Israel, it was a law
that the widows could do this without penalty or being accused of
stealing. Although this was very hard
work, Ruth did it willingly to bless and help her mother-in-law. She sat, listened and obeyed the instruction of
a wiser woman causing favor to increase in her life.
Naomi
knew the owner of the field, she knew the law of the land and most of all, and
she knew the God of that land. She
taught Ruth how to move to the next level so she could gain wisdom and favor
from the owner of the field. Ruth did
exactly what Naomi instructed.
In
the end we learn that Ruth married Boaz, the owner of the field. She now owned the field where she once
worked. Naomi became a grandmother and nursed (yes that’s right … an old woman
nursed) her grandchild who became part of the line of Christ. Obeying wise counsel gained them favor from
God and man. Talk about increasing in favor, wow! (Read about Ruth’s favor
here.)
When Faithfulness Meets Favor
I’d
like to share with you a true story of a young man I know. His name is James. Young James worked for Parcel Express for
several years. He was faithful to his
employer learning all he could, and as he did, James (only in his 20's) increased in favor from
his boss. After a few years the business
James once worked for was now his, because of that favor.
Increase
comes from favor through God and man.
It’s biblical law. When God gives
favor it’s not so that you can have more stuff and use it selfishly. That’s a good way not to receive increase. Favor, or increase, is given to use on others
not you. Not once, but every time we go into that establishment, James grants us kindness and favor.
Becoming Your Reason for Living
In
order for us to understand that favor is something God wants to give, all we
need do is look at the life of Jesus. I
think when many of us read the account of His birth in Luke chapter 2, we miss
the details and focus on the miracles instead.
I’d
like to use the Amplified Bible version for this portion to show you the
“details” we sometimes overlook when reading God’s Word.
“And
the Child (Jesus) became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the
grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him.” (Luke 2:40 Amp.)
What
I’d like to point out is the word, “became”. To “become” implies that it wasn’t that level
in the beginning. This same phrase was
used when Samuel began to seek God. (See Judges 13: 24 & in 1 Samuel 2:26.)
So
the obvious question would be, “How do we become wise, blessed and
favored?” We look at what these people
did and follow the pattern set before us by God.
What
did Jesus do that caused Him to become what He was in order to
accomplish the Work of God?
“Now
His (Jesus’) earthly parents went to Jerusalem every year to the Passover
Feast. And when He was twelve years old,
they went up, as was their custom.” (Luke 2:41-42 Amp.)
What
you need to realize is that is wasn’t the custom for a twelve year old, but for
ages thirteen plus. Jesus did something
unusual for a boy of his age. (Just like Samuel and Ruth did.)
When
the feast was over and everyone was returning to their native land, Mary and
Joseph realized Jesus wasn’t with them.
It made me wonder what kind of parents are they not to know that their
kid was missing for three days? That’s
another story.
The
“neglectful” parents (it would appear in our eyes) backtracked to Bethlehem to
retrieve their wandering child. When
they finally located Him, what did they discover Jesus doing?
“After
three days they found Him (Jesus) in the court of the temple, sitting among the
teachers, listening to them and asking questions. Those who were with Him were amazed of how
intelligent Jesus was in understanding the Word of God.” (from Luke 2:46 - 47)
I’d
like to point out that when Mary laid eyes on her son she didn’t praise Him for
being in church, but instead reamed Him out for causing them to worry. (vs
48)
Jesus
didn’t respond to His parents like “their” child. He made it clear what He was doing, and
whom He was doing it for when He proclaimed to them:
“How
is it that you had to look for Me? Did
you not see and know that it is necessary (obey as a duty) for Me to be in My
Father’s house and (occupied continually) about My Father’s business? But they
didn’t comprehend what Jesus was saying to them.” (vs. 49-50)
In
other words Jesus was saying, “How come you didn’t realize I needed to be here
and do this? You know I’m the Son of God
and My main mission is to obey and do the will of God My Father.”
At
that time Mary and Joseph were operating out of the flesh and as parents, not
vessels God the Father used. How often
does that happen to us? We forget the
plan and purpose in which God has given us grace, mercy and favor.
After
that day the Bible tells us that Jesus made it a habit of being obedient to His
earthly parents (understanding they didn't realize the fullness of His mission), as He continued the Will of His Heavenly Father.
His obedience caused more blessings to come into His household so that He increased even more in wisdom and favor from God and man.
“And
Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and
years, and in favor with God and man.” (vs. 52)
Why do I need an increase in favor?
There
is a reason we need to be increased in favor (Jesus), and that is to fulfill
the call on our life according to God’s purpose and plan.
Now do you see why
favor is so vital in a believer’s life?
God
wants to raise you up to new levels and heights. He has so much He wants to
accomplish through you, but He needs you to follow His plan so He can help you
reach that goal.
Remember my front porch steps? They take me higher with every step. Which step are you on in life? What levels have you achieved? Are you at the top or have you rested on the steps in-between?
Don’t
stay where you are. You are stronger than you realize. You are not at the top
of your mountain. There is more! Become restless in your walk and step out in
faith. Become what God wanted you to be.
Begin
by seeking God, not His favor (that will
come when you seek Him). Read the Word of
God in a different light, notice when God did and didn’t give favor. What did the people do? Why did they receive what they did?
Those that received wisdom, understanding and
favor had this in common: They sought God, listened to instruction and then
obeyed (acted on) what they had been taught.
If you do the same, you will find that you too will be increasing in
favor as you live a life pleasing to God.
Seek,
Listen, Obey
You
Raise Me Up (with lyrics) - Selah
Until
next time, may you increase in favor!
Content and Image Copyright from
Favored1. Do not copy.
Image credit if not listed by Google Images Creative Common License
Scripture reference was taken from the New King James Bible Version provide by Gateway Bible
Image credits: Front steps Level up sign Missed Goal Put God First sign Ruth Jesus in Temple Jesus Reason signImage credit if not listed by Google Images Creative Common License
Scripture reference was taken from the New King James Bible Version provide by Gateway Bible
