What have you done with the favor you've been given?

Copyright 2010 Theresa Harvard Johnson

This morning, I heard the Lord ask me this: "PROPHET, what have you done with the FAVOR I've given you?"

I paused momentarily, completely caught off guard. I asked him, "Father, what do you mean?"

He said to me, "PROPHET! Everyday I open doors for my people, providing them opportunities to preach the gospel. Many of them GRAB HOLD of what I have for them and they hoard it. They MISS the understanding that comes with MY FAVOR."

The Lord took me to 1 Samuel 2:26. No matter what standard translation of the bible you choose, this scripture verse doesn't change much. It says, "And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men."

Then he brought Luke 2:52 to my remembrance. It says, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."

A BASIC DEFINITION OF FAVOR IS THIS:
It is an advantage or a benefit that is given uniquely to you. It is a privilege or an act of regard that is extended SPECIFICALLY to you at a particular time along destiny's path.

Now, this question really, really hit me... as I did not know what the Lord was asking. I had to rely on those scriptures, and ask Ruach Hakodesh (HOLY SPIRIT) to give me divine understanding. As I meditated with the Lord, he began to minister to me that HE HAS APPOINTED A MEASURE OF FAVOR on all of His sons, His children. As with all things He does, that favor is released "at the appointed time" in which it is needed to take you to your next "spiritual level" to complete your next "natural task" in the Kingdom.

Favor is about APPOINTED TIME -- not YOU or ME being EXTREMELY
SPECIAL. Lord Jesus, I do hope you understand what the Lord is conveying here through His prophet. I am writing this by His spirit and praying that understanding comes... as this is not a particularly easy understanding to convey for me.

Favor is also about PROSPERITY. In other words, when favor is upon you... you prosper in the things in which you were sent to do in that "specific" place of favor.

YOU SEE, He is showing me that many believers look at "FAVOR" in their lives as something EXCLUSIVE to them because they are some how more important or more significant than others OR because they've done something extra special. Now, this isn't true. Favor, in of itself, is a supernatural move of God in a person's life that is BEYOND HUMAN comprehension -- regardless of how long you've been saved, or how much the Lord speaks to you. We must be reminded that he has revealed eternity to us in a way that we can never fully comprehend it. The word tells us this...

The kind of favor Father gives is:

1. Unique to your destiny
2. Unique to your need
3. Unique to your purpose
4. Unique to your walk with the Lord
5. Unique to your lifespan
6. Unique to your assignment
7. Unique to your territory
8. Unique to your call, office of administration and impartation
9. Unique to the measure designated to you

Where is all this coming from? Well, in considering the lives of God's people in the scriptures there were times when EXTREME FAVOR came to them. Remember the prophet and the raven bird; the widow woman with a little oil and a little meal; the woman with the issue of blood; the crippled relative of Jonathan whom David blessed; Rahab the prostitute, Naomi and Ruth, etc.

We can go on and on. YOU SEE, every OUNCE OF FAVOR that they received was not about how GREAT they were or about them being super special. It was ABOUT the MOVE OF GOD that needed to take place in their lives UNDER A MANTLE OF FAVOR to get them closer to their destiny.

This is what the Lord wanted to show me.

Growing in favor is about DEVELOPING & MATURING in the things of God. It is about GROWING in HUMILITY -- not racking up accomplishments and then BRAGGING ABOUT HOW THE LORD PUT YOU BEFORE PEOPLE so you can sing, dance and cut the mustard. Come on now...

CAN YOU RECOGNIZE TRUE FAVOR?

When the Lord asked me this question, "What have you done with the favor I've given you?" He was really asking me this: "How have you used your favor to elevate the message of my Kingdom?"

Psalm 30:5-7 says, "
For his anger is momentary, but his favor lasts a lifetime.
Tears may linger for the night, but with dawn come cries of joy.
6 Once I was prosperous and used to say, that nothing could ever shake
me 7 when you showed me favor, ADONAI, I was
firm as a mighty mountain. But when you hid your face, I was struck with terror.


Take a look at this!

TRUE FAVOR is not a BANNER for you to wave in the faces of others to say, "LOOK! LOOK AT ME! I HAVE FAVOR WITH GOD! I'M DOING THIS AND I'M DOING THAT! AND I GOT THIS AND I GOT THAT! THAT'S THE FAVOR OF GOD!"

Now, I use caps to show emphasis not to scream at you... lol. What I want you to see here is that many ABUSE their favor. They fail to recognize that the Lord gives us FAVOR to fulfill his purposes in us AND AT THE SAME TIME to BUILD OUR FAITH.

People have taught some things on this subject, but they've MISSED THIS. As a result, jealousy rises up. Competition enters the heart of men. Folks begin comparing themselves to one another and so forth. If we could ever just grasp how important it is to know that our Father has no respecter of persons -- we'd truly be able to walk in unity as a body. Our Father has no more regard for me, than he does for you.

YOUR MEASURE OF FAVOR IS YOURS!!!!!!!!!! It was PRE-DESTINED FOR YOU! Your requirements were these: BE OBEDIENT. WAIT FOR THE APPOINTED TIME so that YOUR FAVOR could meet you. The story of Jonathan's crippled cousin and the blessing he received from King David speaks heavily to me concerning this. It gives clarity to the word of God which says I will
rain on the just and the unjust...

God gives HIS FAVOR to whomever He pleases!

Now, on to answering the Lord's question for me: "PROPHET, what have
you done with the FAVOR I've given you?"

In a prayer to my Father, with Holy Spirit's guidance, I answered: Lord,
I've walked out those instances of favor that I recognized. I know I missed some. Lord, I also misused some of the favor you gave me... and waived it like a banner over my head. Forgive me Lord! I didn't have understanding, but I have it now. Now, Lord I'm going to walk in your favor, activate your favor through obedience to what is in my hand. LikeKing David, when favor comes to me I will HEAR YOUR VOICE and impart a measure of that favor to those you have assigned to me. FAVOR is not for me to HOARD, but to release. It is a greater aspect of the ministry of giving, the ministry of compassion and more important the ministry of humility..."

What are you doing with the FAVOR given to you? Are you a hoarder and a bragger? Do you think you're SPECIAL because you've received something that NO ONE ELSE within eye shot of you have received? Has your FAVOR made you feel like you are BETTER than someone else?

If so, go to your knees. The Lord's favor DOESN'T work this way. You need to ask yourself whose favor are you walking under? Did God give you this favor? Because His favor brings humility through crushing OR is this favor from another father?

Matthew 7:11 says, " If ye then,
being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children,
how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give
good things to them that ask him?"

FAVOR is a gift. In the end, when you are blessed (and I am not talking strictly with finance, but also with resources or the ability to open doors for others) the Lord will cause you to show His favor in the lives of others. You don't have to do anything or promise anyone anything! All you have to do is allow HOLY SPIRIT to tell you how to "handle" your favor... and be obedient -- no matter how ridiculous it sounds.

I've done some things in this last year that made NO SENSE to me. Some people even questioned my sanity. But I tell you, when you've been FORGIVEN MUCH (which is favor when you've done some ugly things), then you MUST EXTEND that same measure to others. It's the LOVE OF JESUS. Period.

Embracing the mandate of immersion from Jesus the returning King,
Prophetess Theresa Johnson