A Year of the Lord's Favor

Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV)

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (the Lord Jesus),
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

If you want a comeback story, ask God to get involved.

We need a comeback from:

1. Our mistakes.  The worst mistake that we can make is being proud of our mistakes.  

1 Peter 5:6 (NKJV)

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

Mistakes are only temporary when humility is involved.  

2. Our wounds.  Joseph was falsely accused.  Joseph looked to God not his wounds.  Don't let your wounds define you.  God can use the pain and restore you.

Genesis 50:20  (NKJV)

20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

3. Our circumstances.  Job lost everything, but he never lost sight of the fact that God was with him.  

Job 42:2  (NKJV)

2 “I know that You (God) can do everything,

And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.  

When God gets involved, all hope arises.

If you want a comeback, then:

1.  Start believing.  

Matthew 19:26  (NKJV)

26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

2. Let go of the past and move forward.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV)

18 “Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.

3. Get intentional in moving forward, and putting God first. 

Matthew 6:33  (NKJV)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

4.  Get around the right people. 

If people can't see what God is doing they stumble all over themselves.  Proverbs 29:19.

5. Live with confidence.

Romans 8:11  (NKJV)

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 10:13 (NKJV)

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Allen Pedram, Church of the Highlands, Huntsville Campus  

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