David Rathel - May 15, 2016
What Is Favor?
A good name is to be more desired than great riches, Favor is better than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1 FIRST, WHAT FAVOR ISN’T: Favor Isn't Fairness. Favor Isn't Happiness. Favor Isn't Just For You. The FAVOR OF GOD is the GUARANTEE of His PRESENCE and the PROVISION of His POWER to accomplish His DIVINE PURPOSE. Elijah and Elisha - 1 Kings 19:19-21 (NASB) So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. 20He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him. GOD’S FAVOR MEANS THAT YOU DON’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT - YOU GET MORE! Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us… Ephesians 3:20. (C.S. Lewis Quote Slide.) WHEN GOD DOESN’T GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT, IT’S BECAUSE HE PLANS TO GIVE YOU MORE THAN YOU WANT! The Favor Of God Is With Our Missionaries Brittney & Ashney Johnson. (Slide Picture Of Jesus And Little Girl.) Finding God’s FAVOR: Not WHAT I Want, MORE than I want. When It’s Not Right – God Says NO! When You’re Not Right – God Says GROW! When The Time Is Not Right – God Says SLOW! When IT’S Right, YOU’RE Right, And The TIME Is Right - God Says GO! 2 Kings 2:9-13 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10He said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. 12Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him. GOD’S FAVOR IS ALWAYS MORE THAN YOU ASKED FOR. GOD’S FAVOR IS ALWAYS MORE THAN YOU WANTED.
