Favor does not come without a fight

Luke 4:19 (NLT)

18 (Jesus teaching) ...the time of the Lord’s favor has come. (Is. 61:1-2)

Favor is not picture perfect.  It comes with a struggle.  Favor will distinguish you.  It will also put a target on your back.    

Favor is the guarantee of God's presence.  It is the provision of God's power to accomplish God's purpose. You are here to fulfilled God's purpose for your life.  

1. Favor for a moment.  

You can't blend into culture and change it at the same time.  Read Daniel chapter one how Babylon tried to change 4 Hebrew boys. They were 10 times smarter than the others.  

The king build a 90 foot high statue  which was 9 feet wide. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were instructed to bow to it in Daniel chapter 3. 

We will not bow to culture.  Government cannot dictate truth.  Right is still right and wrong is still wrong no matter what.  

They refused to bow.  There were consequences to not bowing which was a fiery furnace. 

Our faith is not on an outcome, but on the person of God.  The king flew into a rage and turned up the furnace 7 times hotter. 

They were thrown in and the king saw another person with them in the fire. He looked like God.  

When you stand for God, He'll stand with you.  The fire exposed their favor. They didn't bend. They didn't bow.  They didn't burn.  

The God who loves you is for you. It's the last time you hear about them.  It's not about their name, but God's fame. God will put favor on your lives when you need it the most. 

2. Favor for a season.  

Genesis 37-50.  

Joseph's name meant addition, but it is a story of subtraction.  Joseph had a dream of favor.  It was a dream that Joseph's family would bow down to him.  

His brother threw him into a pit.  He heard them planning to kill him, but was sold as a slave eventually to Potiphar. 

He was falsely accused of attempt rape of Potiphar's wife and goes to prison. He tells the dreams of two of Pharaoh's servant.  

Joseph eventually goes before Pharaoh to explain his dream.  Before Joseph knows it, he's ruling Egypt.  Only the favor of God can do that. What God blesses no man can curse.  

At 17 years old, Joseph had a dream.  At 40, his brother's bow before him.  He could have sought revenge, but Joseph saw the favor of God in the trials of man. Don't ever give up on God.  He is still with you. 

3. Favor for eternity. Jesus taught... 

Luke 4:18-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
    that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.

It was the year of jubilee where the slaves were set free and all debts were canceled.  Jesus was teaching that we are living in God's perpetual favor.  When you have Jesus, you have favor forever.

Tell Him. Lord Jesus, I give to you my life. 

Mike Haman, Healing Place Church