The troops were engaged in a battle with the Philistines, and when David arrived, he found the entire army, including King Saul, in complete and total fear of the Philistine champion, Goliath. Their attitude was that they were already defeated.
Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”
But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!” …
So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.
And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled (1 Sam. 17:32-37,48-51).
What I want you to notice in this story is the stark difference in attitudes displayed by Saul and the boy David. While Saul saw Goliath as a man who was too big to kill, David saw the very same man as someone who was too big to miss. David looked at the giant and said, “There’s no way I can miss that guy. He’s so big, I know I can get him.” That’s exactly what David did, despite the fact that he was the youngest and smallest of his father’s sons.
When I started playing Little League baseball at the age of nine, I was smaller than the other boys. The first day we all showed up to play—which was the day they determined who would be on the team—the coach said, “You boys line up, and I’m gong to walk in front of you. If I tap you on the shoulder, you come stand behind me. That means you made the team. If I don’t tap you on the shoulder, you didn’t make the team.”
I was shaking in my shoes, waiting to see if I would be chosen. I knew that although I was small, I could play as well as—or even better than—most of the boys in line. But the coach didn’t know that. When he tapped the two boys on either side of me, it was all I could do to keep from crying. After he had finished selecting the team, I went over to him and asked why I didn’t make it. He said, “Son, you’re too little.”
At first I was devastated. But as it turned out, so many boys had come out wanting to play that another team was formed, and I ended up being the pitcher of that second team. We had a great season that year, and our team made it to the championship tournament. The best part of the experience was that the team we defeated for the Little League championship was the original team that had rejected me.
I’m so glad God doesn’t see us the way the world sees us. He didn’t look at me and say, “Sorry, little Jerry, I can’t use you.” The truth is, God chose me, and He chose you, because He wants to set us apart and make us distinct from the world. He wants to pour out His favor on us so that we can be ambassadors for His kingdom and touch the lives of others.
GOD CHOSE ME, AND HE CHOSE YOU, BECAUSE HE WANTS TO SET US APART AND MAKE US DISTINCT FROM THE WORLD.
When I think about an ambassador, I think of someone who is highly favored; I think of a person who routinely receives preferential treatment. Ambassadors who represent their nations often ride in big cars with flags on the fenders and are escorted and honored everywhere they go. That’s how ambassadors expect to be treated. Being an ambassador in the kingdom of God brings even greater favor. We’re not talking about merely representing the United States, or Canada, or Nigeria. We’ve been chosen to represent a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We represent the kingdom of the Most High God.
Dr. T.L. Osborn has been an ambassador for God for more than 60 years. He has conducted mass-miracle crusades all over the world and has probably led more people to Jesus than any other man alive today. I love to watch him, because he walks and talks like a prince. When he comes into a room, the presence that surrounds him identifies him as an ambassador of the kingdom of God—and as one who is highly favored.
The same is true for you and for me. God has not handpicked us because of our own doing, or because of our goodness or our great works. We’ve been chosen because of the goodness of Jesus—because of the work He did in our behalf at Calvary.
We have been made righteous because of Jesus; therefore, we can fully expect the favor of God to be poured out upon our lives as we continue to pursue God with right motives and a right attitude.
8
TEN BENEFITS OF WALKING IN GOD’S FAVOR
The dealership had told me up front how much it would cost to repair Carolyn’s car, but the total on the invoice they presented to me was about half the amount they had quoted. When I pointed out the discrepancy, the service manager said, “We know it, Mr. Savelle, but you’ve been a good customer for so many years that the boss said to give you a 50 percent discount.”
I thanked the man, smiled, and said, “That’s the favor of God.”
I always make it known that the favor of God operates in my life, but a lot of people still mistake His favor for luck. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been told, “Jerry Savelle, you’re the luckiest man I’ve ever seen.”
I always reply, “It’s not luck. It’s the favor of God.”
One time I was ready to fly home from London, and they didn’t have a seat in the section where I wanted to sit. I didn’t want to wind up in the only seat left, way back there by the toilet. So I started confessing the favor of God all the way to London Heathrow. As my director for the U.K. ministry office drove me to the airport, I kept saying, “Geoff, I’ve got favor. I believe favor is going to open some doors and change some things when I get to the airport.”
We walked right up to the check-in counter, and I told the agent my flight number. She went to the computer to make sure I was confirmed. Then she said, completely out of the blue, “I have the authority to upgrade.”
I said, “That’s wonderful to know.”
“We had a cancellation and I’d like to put you in first class, if you don’t mind.”
I told her, “That’s the favor of God.”
“The what?”
“That’s the favor of God.” When I turned around to smile at Geoff, he was just shaking his head.
“You beat anything I’ve ever seen,” he said. “I’ve never known anybody to have favor like you.”
I said goodbye to Geoff, boarded the plane, and took the aisle seat on the front row, where I really like to sit. One of the flight attendants looked at me and said, “Oh my goodness—you’re Jerry Savelle.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ve got one of your books in my purse,” she said. “As soon as I get through serving these people, I’m going to come back and have you autograph it.”
“I’d be happy to,” I told her.
In a little while, the captain came out of the cockpit and said, “I don’t believe it. Jerry Savelle.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ve been listening to your messages and reading your books for years. I’m going to tell the co-pilot to take over, and then I’ll be back in a few moments. I want to talk to you.”
It wasn’t long befo
re four flight attendants and the captain were sitting on the floor listening to me talk, every one of them wanting me to autograph books. After about 20 minutes, they thanked me and said, “We’ve got to get to work.”
The whole time this was happening, the guy sitting next to me hadn’t said a word. But as soon as the crew went back to work, he said, “ I don’t know who you are, and I don’t know what you do, but I ain’t had no service since you got on this airplane!”
I laughed and told him, “It’s the favor of God.”
If the favor of God will work to our benefit in little things like getting a seat on an airplane, what will it do when we’re going through a financial crisis? What will it do when the world says, “No, no, no. You’re not going to sell your house” or “You’re not going to have this or that”?
The favor of God has the power to completely transform our lives. Let’s go to the Bible and take a look at 10 specific benefits afforded to us when we walk in it.
BENEFIT #1:
WE WILL EXPERIENCE SUPERNATURAL INCREASE AND PROMOTION
In chapter 2, we saw how the favor of God altered the destiny of Joseph, who was sold into slavery in Egypt by his own brothers. Because God’s favor was upon him, he was placed in charge of everything that his master possessed—and the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian for Joseph’s sake.
Later, when Joseph was imprisoned after being falsely accused, he found favor with the keeper of the prison and was put in charge of the prisoners. But Joseph’s story doesn’t end there. Because God had given him the ability to interpret dreams, he was brought before Pharaoh.
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt” (Gen. 41:39-41).
The favor of God most certainly altered the destiny of Joseph. It brought supernatural increase and promotion into his life, and it will do the same for you and for me.
BENEFIT #2:
WE WILL EXPERIENCE THE RESTORATION OF EVERYTHING THE ENEMY HAS STOLEN
We’ve learned that one of the definitions of the word “judgment” is “to be set right.” God’s people had been captives in Egypt for 430 years when He spoke these words to Moses:
Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, “The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, ‘ I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt; and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.’ ” …
And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians (Exod. 3:16-17,21-22).
God didn’t intend for His people to walk out of captivity empty-handed. That’s why He said they would “plunder” the Egyptians, which means “to spoil, to recover, to rescue, and to snatch away.” But notice that the people had a part to play in this restoration; they had to put a demand on God’s favor by asking for those things that God had promised them.
GOD DIDN’T INTEND FOR HIS PEOPLE TO WALK OUT OF CAPTIVITY EMPTY-HANDED. THAT’S WHY HE SAID THEY WOULD “PLUNDER” THE EGYPTIANS.
We, too, can put a demand on favor by making this declaration: “The favor of God will restore to me everything that the enemy has stolen!”
BENEFIT #3:
WE WILL RECEIVE HONOR—EVEN IN THE MIDST OF OUR ADVERSARIES
As a result of the ninth plague released against Egypt, the land experienced three days of what the Bible describes as “darkness which may even be felt” (Exod. 10:21). Yet the children of Israel had light in their dwellings throughout those three days. Just before God brought the tenth and final plague against Egypt, He spoke again to Moses:
And the LORD said to Moses, “ I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether.” … And the LORD gave the people favor 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 (Exod. 11:1,3).
Perhaps the most widely recognized of the psalms is Psalm 23. We have all read these words penned by David: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Ps. 23:5). David was not the first person to experience honor in the presence of his enemies. He may have been inspired by the story of what God did for Moses and the Israelites.
God has said, “ I am the LORD, I do not change” (Mal. 3:6); therefore, we know that what He has done for Moses and for David, He will most certainly do for us. His favor will bring us honor in the midst of our adversaries.
BENEFIT #4:
WE WILL INCREASE IN ASSETS, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF LAND AND REAL ESTATE
I have learned in my own life and ministry that as I confess that the favor of God goes before me and brings real estate into my possession, that is precisely what happens.
The same was true for God’s people in biblical times. Following the death of Moses, God told Joshua to arise and take the people across the Jordan into the land He was giving them. He said, “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses” (Josh. 1:3). Just as God had promised, He delivered the land and assets into the Israelites’ hands—and they didn’t have to fight for it.
I sent the hornet before you which drove them out from before you also, the two kings of the Amorites, but not with your sword or with your bow. I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant (Josh. 24:12-13).
We read in an earlier chapter that as Moses blessed the tribe of Naphtali with God’s favor, he made the following declaration: “ O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of the LORD, possess the west and the south” (Deut. 33:23).
I’m telling you, when we declare that God’s favor will manifest as an increase in land and real estate, it happens. And guess what? We don’t have to pay the world’s price for it, either.
BENEFIT #5:
WE WILL EXPERIENCE GREAT VICTORIES IN THE FACE OF LONG ODDS
One of the things I’ve come to understand about walking in the favor of God is that the more impossible the battle looks, the more easily the victory will come. To return to the account of God’s people entering the Promised Land, the Bible says of the armies gathered against Israel:
And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.…
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for tomorrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel.…
So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them … and they fell upon them.
And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel.…
For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses (Josh. 11:4,6-8,20, KJV).
Although the enemy armies surrounding the Israelites were a multitude that possessed countless horses, chariots and, presumably, vast weapons of war, there was one thing that they did not possess: favor. When the favor of God is upon us, we can expect to experience great victories in the midst of the most daunti
ng odds.
WHEN THE FAVOR OF GOD IS UPON US, WE CAN EXPECT TO EXPERIENCE GREAT VICTORIES IN THE MIDST OF THE MOST DAUNTING ODDS.
BENEFIT #6:
WE WILL RECEIVE RECOGNITION, EVEN WHEN WE ARE THE LEAST LIKELY TO BE SELECTED
Many of us, at one time or another, have worked our hearts out, yet have not received the slightest appreciation or recognition. But when the favor of God shows up, that’s when your situation will change. That’s when you will get a promotion even though you seem to be the one least likely to receive it. This happened more than once in the life of David.
As a boy, David was the youngest and the smallest of the sons of Jesse, from among whom the prophet Samuel was to anoint a new king. When Jesse presented his sons to the old prophet, at first he didn’t even include David. But when the young boy finally arrived, the Lord said to Samuel, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” (1 Sam. 16:12).
David then went back to tending his father’s sheep, but it wasn’t long before Saul, the reigning king, sought him out:
Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul. So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer. Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight” (1 Sam. 16:19-22).
When the favor of God is upon us, we will be recognized. We don’t have to go around telling others about it; instead, we can confess that favor to ourselves and praise God for it. When we do, it won’t be long before we receive recognition—even if we’re the least likely to be selected.
The Favor of God Page 12
