Friends in High Places…
Receiving Favour from God with Man
You have friends in High places, in the highest courts of heaven! God Almighty is your friend, and you have access to His throne, for it is written:
Ephesians 2: (AKJV)
6 and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Today we are going to look at a topic that has come to the forefront in faith circles these days, the concept of receiving supernatural favour from God with people. We’ve all heard the saying, it’s not what you know, but who you know that makes the difference in our status in life. People in the workplaces spend incredible effort seeking to develop relationships with people of influence, in order to get the better job or position of status they desire. Well, we’ve got friends in high places, determined to promote us, if we would simply ask. Friends of eternal consequence that is, if you have made your peace with God, and received Jesus, as Your Saviour and Lord. If you haven’t yet, please read:https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2014/11/10/the-gospel-the-power-of-god/
Of course, like every promise of God there is a condition attached. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his way of doing things, and all other things are added unto us.
Let’s look at a few examples of individuals in the Bible of godly people who received supernatural favour from God with man.
Joseph
Genesis 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Remember, Joseph walked with God, and gave God all the glory for what God did in his life. You recall the story, Joseph interpreted Pharoah’s dreams and:
39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
One day of favour is worth a lifetime of labour.
Ruth found favour in the eyes of Boaz, a very wealthy man. She became his wife. Her life made an eternal impact, and the rest of her days were far better than any she had experienced beforehand.
God has some Boazes for you too, as you serve Him!
Moses
I know I am using images from children’s cartoons, but hey, I’m a dad, and I love watching kids movies with my children, snuggled in the sofa before bed.
Exodus 3:21 And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:
Exodus 11:3 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.
Exodus 12:36 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
Not bad, God moved to deliver His people, even as He has and is moving to deliver you. When He was finished, the enemies of the people of God freely gave them riches and wealth.
May God both deliver you from the hand of your enemies, but so move, that they freely give you riches and wealth!
Esther
You remember the story. King Ahasuerus had a haughty wife who conducted herself poorly in court, and formal affairs. He divorced her. He then had everyone look for the most beautiful virgin in his kingdom to be his wife. All the women were brought and:
Esther 2:15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
Esther 2:17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Who do you think gave that favor to Esther? God of course!
He will do the same for you too is you serve Him.
Sounds like a Cinderella story without the need of fairy god mothers, pumpkins and golden slippers.
Isn’t that the gospel though? We were lost, without purpose and direction in this life. Lonely.
Then we heard about Jesus the King, and we asked His forgiveness, and received Him as rightful Lord of our lives, but the miracle then occurred: We became not mere subjects of His Kingdom, but adopted into His royal family, sons and daughters of heaven, kings and priests unto Him! We have become, the bride of Christ!
Well, God has a purpose for favour. It is always the gospel. There was a plot afoot in the king’s court to assassinate the people of God. Mordecai, Esther’s uncle discovered it, and asked his step daughter to go into the king to try and do something. The problem was, anyone who appeared before the king, without invitation was immediately put to death, unless the king was to extend the royal scepter towards that person:
Esther knew this so she asked for prayer:
Esther 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
5:1 ¶ Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. Esther 5:2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
The scepter was extended! She humbled herself before God, asked her people for prayer, and they surely did pray. God answered these prayers and gave her favour with the king.
You know the rest of the story, God moved, the plot was stopped, the wicked enemy of God was hung on his own gallows, and God got the glory!
So, it appears that the favour of God could work in the governments of the day. It will work today too.
Let’s look at another couple of Bible characters to see this principal in operation.
Nehemiah 1:11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.
Now again we have the people of God being ruled by a godless government power, sort of like many nations today. We have a man of God, working for the government, desiring to do a work for God in his generation. He’s seen the desolation of the things of God, the wall around the holy city was:
Neh 1:3…the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
So this man prayed and fasted and cried out to God for mercy, then he asked the king he served for permission to rebuild the things of God. We pick it up in chapter 2:
Neh 2:1 ¶ And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.
6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;
8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
So here we have a man of God, sent by the government in place (which means he still got paid) and with letters granting him all the building materials he needed to get everything done. How’s that for favor? He rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem with the godless government’s money!
Truly, this is Romans chapter 13 manifest,
Ro 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Ro 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Ro 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
God sets the governments in place, and brings order to the earth, saved and unsaved alike.
Well, you know the rest of the story, envious jealous people did everything they could to stop the plan of God. Gershom, Sanballat, and Tobiah, Satan’s GST. (Inside joke for Canadians, there is a tax there called the Goods and Services tax, called the GST) When you get promoted and prospered, not everyone is going to be happy about it.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Yea, even Christians may oppose you.
Psalms 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
Yes, we believe for favour with people but there are those who will not have it. Love them anyway. You favor and blessing will make them scared, envious, and jealous. That is why we cannot tell everyone all the goodness God is doing in our lives sometimes…
Well, anyway, Nehemiah built the wall despite the persecution.
You can do the plan of God for your life too.
We are looking at how God gives favour to his people with government, let’s look at:
Daniel 1: 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;
4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
8 ¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs
.
17 ¶ As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
Well you know the rest of the story. Daniel served as prime minister under three kings. The three Hebrew children were delivered out of the firey furnace, and promoted to first place among all of the kings cousellors.
One day of favour is greater than a lifetime of labor.
Well, so what’s the point pastor, all of these people in the Old Testament have died and gone to heaven, what does their life have to do with me, today?
Well, I’m glad you asked child of God, you royal seed.
1 Corinthians 10:6 ¶ Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
If God did it for these, He will so it for you, for we are under a better covenant based upon better promises. All the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ Jesus.
Well, Many countries have become a socialist countries, with government involved in almost everything, because we let them.
My personal opinion is that the government that governs best is the one that governs least, yet the Scripture is clear:
Romans 13: 1 ¶ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake
We are to serve Jesus, and pray for the government. Nehemiah had such favour with the government he served that they paid him and gave him everything he needed to accomplish God’s plan for his life. I believe God is well able to speak to this government to fund the gospel and the mission and mandate of your particular ministry.
1 Tim 2:1 ¶ I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
If you are a soul-winning ministry, you qualify for government funding, because salvation is always the will of God.
So, today, we are going to pray for some of you. This was written in the nation’s capital of Canada. We see businesses thriving on government contracts. People financially blessed with great jobs, working for the government. I am going to pray that God do the following:
1. That God grant us favour and divine appointments with the lost to present to them the gospel and an invitation to your church.
2. Give your church or ministry favour with the governments where you are.
3. Give each of you individual favour with the governments. (this can sure help you with your taxes)
4. That God give favour with government in the form of grants and business opportunities to anyone that will believe.
5. That God reveal to us, our authority in Him, seated with Christ in heavenly places, to bring change to our communities, and nations where we serve.
6. That God bring wealthy people into your life to lovingly support your gift and calling.
7. That God give you wisdom to recognize and avoid the traps of your enemies, as His favor manifests.
Ps 5:12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
Let’ Pray:
Father, we ask you right now for:
1. Romans 13 – favour and praise and honour from governments.
2. You to surround us with favor as with a shield.
3. Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
That God would order our steps into right places, and relationships of honor, integrity, and like precious faith.
4. Lu 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdotm and stature, and in favour with God and man.
That we would grow to become more like Jesus today, in wisdom, strength, in your favour, and please grant me favour with man.
5. That your grant us favor with wealthy people to lovingly support our gifts and callings.
6. That you protect us and give us wisdom to avoid the traps of our enemies.
Now there is action to be done here:
His will is to see lost people born-again and loved into His kingdom. Let’s pray for divine appointments to pray with people to receive Jesus, and to be used to help those He loves.
Father, I believe that my steps are ordered of you. I know your will is that people be born-again, and added to the church. Please give me favour with those who don’t know you, and words to win them to you, and invite them to church, in your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen.
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Give in faith!
1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits?
1 Corinthians 9:14 [On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.
Paul goes on to say, that he did not use his position as a minister of the gospel to take up offerings, rather he worked, making tents, to support himself. You might notice here, that Paul was not married, nor did he have children. Family responsibilities take time, and just as you bust a move on your job to provide for your family, I work every bit as hard, doing this, faithful to the Lord in prayer and the ministry of His Word, to you.
I will never charge for this: it my responsibility to God, my calling. Freely I have been given, now, I freely give…
As you give, hear Holy Spirit what to give, and honestly expect God to reward you for your giving.
Matt 10: 41 He who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, surely I declare to you, he shall not lose his reward.
I am a five-fold ministry gift and office – this is my life – I pray, I hear, I write, and wonderful things happen. You have your job description, I have mine – this is mine….
I have ‘see through’ faith for you, in this: Gal 3: 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
I believe I have a responsibility before God to be like Jesus, in every offering I receive. I receive it with thanksgiving, just like Jesus did the little boys lunch.
Then, because I walk and live by faith according to the blessing of Abraham, I believe that God will take your seed sown, and multiply it, according to what the blessing of Abraham promises:
Genesis 22:17 In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies
It has been a joy to me, to see the hand of the living God act in the lives of those of you who have supported us this year!
Many have seen tremendous blessing come into your households, and for this we give thanks, and give Jesus all the glory!