”“Yes indeed, it won’t be long now.” God’s Decree. “Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once – and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills.” (Amos 9:13, The Message)
Welcome to the new month of September, the beginning of the -ember months. Blessed be the Name of the LORD Who saw us through August, in which we enjoyed the “new wave of glory” for a new beginning. The glory of God that we are basking in shall not depart. We will not be called Ichabod for carelessly letting the glory depart from our lives, home, family, church and community. Our glory, like that of Joseph, will attract men and women to God’s kingdom assignments, in Jesus’ Name.
The two keywords to consider this month are “speed” and “favor” as defined below:
SPEED – It can be defined as how quickly or slowly an action is carried out or progress towards a goal is attained. Ecclesiastes 9:11 says, “I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.”
FAVOR – This is a divine aroma, an all-encompassing blessing, the key that opens the door to miracles and the fulfillment of any desire or request. Only God can grant favor to a man; it is from Him, by Him and for His glory. We cannot reproduce or manufacture it. It is not a model, a system, nor the result of a program. It cannot be purchased, copied, taught or caught. Not everyone will get it, however, when a person has it, everyone in their sphere of influence will know it. Divine favor means God has singled out an individual making such a one stand above equals. A life devoid of favor will experience struggle and labor, where efforts far exceed results.
The speed of favor speaks of the process involved in the LORD bringing to pass the promise of accelerated favor in the life, family, church community, and nation of any of His children. Remember, we do not understand this and cannot explain it. Only the LORD is in control of the acceleration of His favor in the lives of His children. He is committed to bringing us to a season when time works to His advantage for us individually (Ecclesiastes 9:11). It is true that all believers in Jesus Christ are blessed, however, favor is different and something beyond simply being blessed. The five things of which one must be cognizant when operating in the speed of favor are these:
- The Already Factor
When faith and expectation are activated, the believer begins to see the “Already Factor.” It is in the lives of all Christians, but we must be spiritually perceptive to know what to look for in order to find it. In the Old Testament book of Exodus, God brought Jacob’s family out of a famine-stricken land to Egypt. Exodus 1:1-5 lists the 11 brothers of Joseph, and distinctly notes that: ‘Joseph was already there.’ Well, God favored that situation enough to put something in place before a need manifested itself. There was a man named Joseph who was in Pharaoh’s palace before Pharaoh even knew he would have a problem. That’s the Already Factor. I decree, in Jesus’ Name, that this is the beginning of your Amos 9:13 season of accelerated favor, in which the plowman shall overtake the reaper in Jesus’ name, Amen.
- Understand the Three Elements of Favor
A prerequisite for divine favor is being in alignment, walking in agreement, with God and His Word so that I live the life I should, according to Scripture, that I may be pleasing to God. I believe that as a result of that, God expresses to His sons and His daughters favor that comes with just walking in agreement and alignment with Him to meet our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). The three elements of favor are promised by the Amos 9:13 blessing:
- God will exceed what we expect – Despite our low levels of expectation, Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now unto Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask or think according to the power that works in me.“
- God will increase all we invest – Luke 6:38 says, “Give and it shall be given until you, pressed down, shaken together, running over will I cause men to give unto your bosom.” In addition, in Malachi 3:10, God tells us to “Try Me. Just give Me a chance and watch what I’ll do in your life.“
- God will accelerate our impact of time to fulfill His Kingdom purpose in us – God is able to make time work for us because He is not constrained by the clock or the calendar. He is eternal, working inside and outside the boundaries of time. So, shortening the time of a 6-month task to a month, or a month’s task to a week, or a week’s to a day are nothing to Him. Our focus should always be, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth” (Matthew 6:10).
- Fill Your Mind With Testimonies of God’s Favor
If God has done a thing in the past, He can certainly do it again.
- After 400 years of slavery, the favor of God caused the children of Israel to leave Egypt with the wealth of their oppressors (Exodus 12:36) because the LORD gave the people favor (Exodus 11:2).
- Job finished up with twice as much as he had before. He said, “Thou hast granted me life and favor, and Thy visitation hath preserved my spirit” (Job 10:12).
- Learn Your Responsibility to Keep Favor Working for You Like Esther
Esther’s character portrait in a strange land is defined by Esther 2:15,17: “Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Heggai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her…and the king “loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen.” When you know that you are greatly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved, you don’t have to depend on your self-efforts. From Esther’s story, we glean the following requirements for favor:
- She was chaste and pure – Esther lived at the time of the dispersion of the children of Israel and, though she was far away in a foreign land, she maintained a life of chastity and purity.
- She was well trained – Although she was orphaned at an early age, she submitted dutifully to the training of her uncle, Mordecai. She was therefore well-trained in every way.
- She was obedient – This virtue was there before she got married to the king, and was largely responsible for her being used of God. Although she was initially reluctant to fulfil the call, her commitment to listening to Mordecai’s instruction eventually won out. This is what enabled her to carry out the national assignment, rather than any special quality or talent.
- She was wise – Esther was confronted with at least two major dilemmas she needed wisdom to resolve. The first being married to a husband as wicked as King Ahasuerus. The second being the threat of the annihilation of the nation of Israel by Haman. I doubt any one of us will ever be confronted with the magnitude of critical issues she was faced with, yet she found resolution through wisdom.
- She was modest – Modesty was depicted in her language, comportment and appearance. All the women were given the opportunity to adorn themselves with whatever they desired from the women’s quarters before they were brought for an audience with the king. But when it was Esther’s turn, she “requested nothing but what Haggai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised.” The result, as we know, is that she was crowned queen.
- She was submissive – While the other women grabbed the best garments, perfumes, and accessories to beautify themselves, Esther did not rely on her own abilities. Instead, she submitted herself to Heggai, the official who had been appointed by the king to oversee the women. There was so much wisdom and humility in her decision.
- She depended on God – Esther depended entirely upon the LORD’s unmerited favor because she trusted Him and was able to be in a position of rest. Esther did not have to struggle. God promoted her above all the other beautiful women. God resists the proud and gives unmerited favor to the humble (1 Peter 5:5).
- She prepared herself – Orphaned at an early age, she submitted dutifully to the training of her uncle, Mordecai. She learned not to be incorrigible or self-willed. When she was confronted with the dilemma from Haman, she was able to control herself and withhold from telling the king the problem before the appropriate time. Not even the King’s promise to grant her the request made her rush things. We talk too often and too soon because of the pressures of problems. As if something is boiling and stirring within us, we feel we cannot just keep quiet; we must talk now to our spouses, bosses or parents. However, those who pay the price to succeed are not lucky, their success is a reward!
- She sought only the king’s approval – Esther probably turned a lot of heads, but she sought only the approval of one – the king. Do you want the LORD’s anointing to please Him, or others? The higher God takes you, the more frequently you’ll have to answer that question.
- Hindrances to Favor
Hebrews 1:9 says, “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” There are three major hindrances to divine favor in the life of any believer:
- Sin. Romans 6:1-2 says, “…shall we continue in sin and ask for grace to abound, certainly not…”
- Pride. James 4:6 says, “God resist the proud…”
- Disobedience. Isaiah 1:19 says, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;”
Conclusion:
Favor comes by the agency of mercy for Psalm 102:13 says, “Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion.” Favor is available on Mount Zion, but one cannot be at ease there. Amos 6:1 says, “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion…” I charge all to cry unto the merciful God of favor Who sets times and seasons.
God will exceed all you expect. He will increase all you invest. And He will accelerate time to accomplish His kingdom purpose in and through you. That is the word the LORD gave me for you this month. Since then, He has done that and more in my life, and He can do the same for you in Jesus’ name.
PRAYERS:
- Father, I thank You for Your mercy and grace at work in my life. I was saved by grace and I am being kept by Your grace.
- O LORD, perfume my life with the aroma of your favor.
- I immerse myself body, soul and spirit in the blood of Jesus. Help me, LORD, to fulfill my responsibility to keep favor working for me like Esther, in Jesus’ Name.
- By the anointing, I decree: “Therefore, my gates shall be opened continually, they shall not be shut day or night, that men bring unto me the forces of the gentiles and their kings may be brought.” (Isaiah 60:11)
- Holy Ghost fire destroy and burn to ashes every altar of affliction raised against the people of God, in the Name of Jesus.
- “It shall come to pass in that day that the LORD shall grant you REST from your SORROW, and from FEAR and from the HARD BONDAGE wherein you have been made to serve” (Isaiah 14:3).
- I release your foundation from the bondage of Failure, Struggles, Stagnancy, infirmities, affliction, manipulation backwardness, occultism and torment and ancestral powers, in Jesus’ Name.
- LORD, while others are sitting, keep me standing. When others stand, make me stand out, when others stand out, make me outstanding. When others are outstanding, make me a standard.
- Father, give my Ahasuerus a sleepless night until he has given me my due reward, in Jesus’ Name.
- Father, please command Your favor to be released in our marriages, conception, childbearing, raising children, businesses, parishes, and finances, in Jesus’ Name.
- Let every pending immigration matter receive favorable consideration, in Jesus’ Name.
- In Luke 2:52, Jesus grew in favor with God and man, and so will I, in the Name of Jesus.
- Deuteronomy 33:23 says, “He said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.” I will be satisfied with favor, in Jesus’ Name.
- By Your grace and favor, Father, I shall finish well, in the Name of Jesus.
