“God can cause opportunity to find you. He has unexpected blessings where you suddenly meet the right person, or suddenly your health improves, or suddenly you’re able to pay off your house. That’s God shifting things in your favor.” Joel Osteen
Forward Thinkers, Happy New Year to you all. I’ll end the year of 2014 by declaring that each of you will flow in the “favor” of the Lord in the year of 2015. Forward Thinkers, before you make any New Year resolutions, first make up your mind that 2015 will be the best year of your life and that all of your decisions will set you up to walk in the favor of the Lord.
Forward Thinkers, I’m declaring favor in your family and finances and I challenge you today to release the faith needed to receive the favor of the Lord in both your family and finances.
Forward Thinkers, remember, without faith it is impossible to please God. We know faith comes through the Word of God so let’s finish 2014 studying favor in the Word.
Isaiah 61:2 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.
Forward Thinkers, I’m excited to announce 2015 will be the year of the Lord’s favor for all those who apply themselves to living out the promises found in the Word of God. Forward Thinkers, you can get ready to operate at a different level because after all you’ve gone through, the Lord is promoting you into the year of the Lord’s favor. Forward Thinkers, the year of 2015 can’t be filled with complaining or excuses because, favor does not flow in negative atmospheres.
Psalm 90:17 17 May the favor[a] of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.
Forward Thinkers, notice in order to receive the favor of the Lord, the Lord must find you working on something. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., once said, “the belief God will do everything for you is not faith but superstition”. Forward Thinkers, in the year of 2015 put your faith to work and watch how the favor of the Lord will find you and advance you in all you do. The key is in all you do because many will miss out on the favor of the Lord because they lack a strong work ethic.
Forward Thinkers, why would the Lord grant favor on an idle set of hands?
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 6 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”[a]
Forward Thinkers, I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor; now is the day of salvation. Are you ready to walk into the favor of the Lord?
Forward Thinkers, I challenge you to declare in the year 2015 that no more unfavorable results will occur in your life.
Forward Thinkers, your prayers will finally become your realities in the year of the Lord’s favor. Forward Thinkers, I challenge you to dream big and work hard and prepare yourself to leap into the favor of the Lord.
Forward Thinkers, you must allow the bible to become your final authority if you desire 2015 to be your year of operating under the Lord’s favor. Forward Thinkers, let’s continue to search the bible and discover the favor of the Lord.
Genesis 4:4 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering.
Forward Thinkers, many have asked the question: why did the Lord look with favor on Abel’s offering and not Cain’s offering. Forward Thinkers, the bible declares Abel brought the Lord his best but Cain simply brought the Lord his leftovers. Forward Thinkers, in the year of 2015 you must make up your mind to bring your best to the table of the Lord’s favor. Forward Thinkers, remember, faith without works is dead and we can no longer operate with great expectations until we commit to operating with the spirit of excellence.
Genesis 6:8-9 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. 9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.
Forward Thinkers, I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that Noah was described as being a righteous man who spent quality time with the Lord and the Lord showed Noah favor. Forward Thinkers, I know we have all heard favor is not fair but I need you to understand the route to favor is fair. Favor will not seek a lazy unrighteous man in the year of 2015 therefore we must get our house in order NOW.
Forward Thinkers, Noah walked with the Lord and ended up walking in the favor of the Lord. Forward Thinkers, who are you walking with?
Exodus 33:12 12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’
Forward Thinkers, Moses gives us an example of how to tap into the favor of the Lord. Forward Thinkers, I challenge you to stop focusing on what you don’t have and examine the lesson of Moses to receive the favor of the Lord needed to change your situation.
Forward Thinkers, Moses asked the Lord to teach him His ways so he could continue to find favor with Him. Forward Thinkers, in the year of the Lord’s favor we must have teachable spirits. Forward Thinkers, without a teachable spirit you will remain stuck in the struggles of your past.
Leviticus 26:9 9 “‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.
Forward Thinkers, in the 26th chapter of Leviticus, we are shown the rewards of obedience to the Lord’s Word. Forward Thinkers, notice obedience ushers us into the favor of the Lord. Forward Thinkers, the Lord desires to grant us with increase but we must understand the connection between our obedience to the Lord’s Word and the release of the Lord’s favor in our life.
Luke 1:30 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
Forward Thinkers, Mary found favor with the Lord to complete your Kingdom assignment. Forward Thinkers, the Lord will grant you unusual favor to accomplish the assignment He has laid out before you. The question is: do you have the faith to accept and begin the assignment while trusting the favor of the Lord to show up.
Isaiah 49:8-11 8 This is what the Lord says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, 9 to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ “They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill. 10 They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. 11 I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up.
Forward Thinkers, in conclusion, the year of 2015 can be your year to receive the favor of the Lord, but we must commit to doing our part.
Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church located, 16711 Ella Blvd. Houston, Texas, 77090. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him at pr.ghic@gmail.com or the church website www.ghic.net.