Living in the FOG(Favor of God)

Living in the FOG(Favor of God)

Living in the FOG(Favor of God)

Jeff Spring / General

Living in the FOG(Favor of God) / Favor / Luke 4:18–19

God has called us to walk in His favor.

FOG

Luke 4:18–19 CSB

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

The acceptable year of the Lord KJV

Genesis 37:2–4 CSB

These are the family records of Jacob. At seventeen years of age, Joseph tended sheep with his brothers. The young man was working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought a bad report about them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph was a son born to him in his old age, and he made a long-sleeved robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not bring themselves to speak peaceably to him.

God’s favorites...

Not because we earned it or deserve it. But how we are born.

Jesus came to proclaim the favor of God. The year of His favor. God’s grace and mercy working in our lives.

This means things happen we don’t expect or deserve. Anointed to prosper and highly favored. Doors open, promotions come, opportunities arise, and the blessings of God overtake you.

Favor means God is for you, on your side not because you deserve it but because He favors you because you are His child.

1. Circumstances don’t change your favored position. Joseph had a tough row to hoe, but he was brought through it because of favor. God’s favor.

2. Favor will bring opposition and jealousy. Pits, prison, and lies. Some don’t like it because of God’s favor on your life. Don’t mistake this for your on stupid choices, but recognize the enemy and stay in favor.

3. Tough circumstances don’t change or stop the favor of God, but favor brings you through tough circumstances and changes your circumstances and outcome. God is for us, He is on our side, and nothing can separate us from the love of God. If God is for us who can be against be against us.

Salvation positions us in the favor of God. We are born into it.

How-to walk-in favor.

1. Change your mindset. You are victor, not a victim. Everyone is not out to get you. You are called to thrive not just to survive. No matter what you are going through God is working for you and the outcome is in His hands.

2. Don’t do drama. Peace is the atmosphere of favor. Jehovah Shalom. The Lord our peace. Jewish greeting. Peace to you. Nothing lacking nothing wanting. Phil 4:6-9… Think of good things.

3. Don’t lose hope. Joseph lost his coat, but he didn’t lose his dream. He stayed “coated with His dream” Focus on the dream not the drama. I have a dream.

4. Be careful who you share your dream with. Some will despise you; some will ignore you; some will forget you; some will partner with you. Don’t be shy about it but be wise about it.

5. Don’t focus on the past, but on the dream. Not at what you are going through, but where you are going to. God has a plan to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:10-11

6. Genesis 42:14 Stay ready and dress appropriately. Pharaoh sent for Joseph, so he put on fresh raiment. Put on the new man. Dress for success. Present your best. Be ready at all times. Attitude will change the way you do everything. Your thinking, conversation, and behavior all affect the favor working in your life. How you dress, walk, present?

7. Focus on God’s assignment for your life, the gift of God in you, and He will make you forget all your troubles and make you fruitful in the Land of your grief.

Your thinking, conversation, and behavior all affect the favor working in your life.

His gift made room for him, and he was promoted because of God’s favor working in His life.

He was put in charge of everything. Second in command.

Made to ride in Pharaoh’s chariot

Given a wife.

Given two sons Manasseh and Efraim

Restored to his father

Restored to his brothers and able to bless them in the end

Factors that Influence (Favor) Increase

At all times we should be able to identify increase is some area. Increase in attendance, wisdom, anointing, financial, etc….

God is a God of increase and He created us for increase.

Position yourself for increase of your territory

Ex 23:27-31

27 "I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. 28 And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you. 29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land. 31 And I will set your bounds from the Red Sea to the sea, Philistia, and from the desert to the River. For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you

NKJV

Matuity

God will increase us when we are mature enough to hold the territory, he has given us – little by little, so it will not overwhelm us. Are we in position so God can increase us? We must prepare for increase and adjust for increase.

Grow up and be prepared. Mature for increase. Little by little to keep the land from being desolate.

Heb 5:12-14

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

NKJV

Immaturity will stop your increase

Personal growth promotes favor and increase in our lives.

2 Peter 3:18

8 But grow in grace , and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

KJV

2. A spirit of excellence will favor increase.

Dan 6:1-3

6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

KJV

He distinguished himself above the rest by an excellent spirit-faithfulness, no charge, no fault, no error…

Presentation of your services, your building and facilities, will favor increase.

Excellence in your character favors increase…

3. Faithfulness releases God’s increase in our life…

Matt 25:21

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

KJV

Faithfulness over small and little brings increase, so be faithful where you are and with what you have now.

4. You must rule your own spirit – we must have our bodies and minds in subject to the Holy Spirit.

Prov 16:32

2 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

NKJV

Learn to walk in self control

Prov 22:24-25

24 Make no friendship with an angry man,

And with a furious man do not go,

25 Lest you learn his ways

And set a snare for your soul.

NKJV

Control your anger, control your spirit, and turn your frustrations over to the Lord.

5. Humility will open the door to increase

Prov 29:23

23 A man's pride will bring him low,

But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

NKJV

Prov 22:4

By humility and the fear of the LORD

Are riches and honor and life.

NKJV

1 Peter 5:5-7

"God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble."

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

NKJV