The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. – Luke 4:18-19 (NASB)

RECOGNIZE THE SOURCE

• Where are you looking for your favor?

• James 1:17 – Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (NASB)

• Mt. 13:22 – And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (NASB)

• Deceitfulness of money is the lie that it will solve your problems

RECOGNIZE HIS AUTHORITY IN ITS DISTRIBUTION

• It is his yoke…

• Mt. 11:29 – Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. (NASB)

• We don’t get to choose our favor

• Mine vs. Yours

• 1 Cor. 12:4-11 – Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. (NASB)

RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS FAVOR

• There are always going to be problems

• Mt. 13:24-29 – Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away. When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ An enemy did this,’ he replied. So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.’” (NASB)

• Problems don’t mean “no favor”

• Are you trying to grow wheat or kill tares?

RECOGNIZE YOUR INFLUENCE ON FAVOR

• Put yourself in the right environments

• Our experiences are an even mix of our personality and context (situation/setting)

• Heb. 10:24-25 – And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

• Guard your mind

• Coffee example – Conventional wisdom is not wise

• The Spirit reveals ALL truth – Ask Him to reveal His favor in your life

• John 14:26 – But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you. (NASB)

• Declare your favor

• Our words have the power to impact our favor

• Mt. 12:33-37 – Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (NASB)

• The words of my mouth – Pr. 12:14

• Pr. 12:14 – A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words… (NASB)