Favour Is When God Causes Someone to Become a Problem Solver for You

Sermon outline

Like David, we are prepared in private for appointed hours we cannot see coming, and favour, God causing someone to solve our problem, flows when we are productive, obedient and humble, and stops through fear, ingratitude, greed, arrogance and ignored instructions.

1. David's appointed hours

   God sent Samuel to Jesse's house, and seven sons passed before him while the Lord looked at the heart, not the appearance. David, the rejected youngest, was out with the sheep where wild animals roamed, learning to depend on God, to play the lyre and to encourage himself. The oil came and the Spirit stayed on him from that day. His second hour came when one of Saul's officials named him as the man who could play; his third came at the battle line against Goliath. Appointed hours are never forced on us; they wait in the course of life to be taken by faith.

   “Appointed hour opportunities are never forced. God never forced an opportunity upon his people.”

   • 1 Samuel 16:1-13
   • 1 Samuel 16:14-23

2. Keys 1 to 3: be productive, be known for something, be bold in private

   One, cultivate a productive life, natural and spiritual; nobody can do it for you, and David did his father's assignment so well that the skill he learned there set him up in Saul's court. Two, be known for something: develop a gift so that when there is a problem, yours is the name that comes up. Three, David's bold spirit was developed in his private fellowship with the Lord; when you are thrown against the wall you learn to fight back.

   “When a problem arises, guess who they call? They think of you.”

   • 1 Samuel 16:17-18

3. Keys 4 to 6: favour is God's deliberate design

   Four, favour is the difference between your present and your future, though it may also stir envy, as it did in Saul. Five, favour is not an accident but a deliberate design of God to reward obedience; you must be both willing and obedient. Six, favour comes for His purpose, not careless living. The blessing empowers you to prosper; favour gives you the opportunity to make it happen.

   Illustration: A singer from a small Texas town who only ever wanted to be a backing vocalist moved to Hollywood, lost her flat, slept in a car and went home down and out. Then a television talent show came to her town; she auditioned with nothing to lose and went on to win Grammys. She had the gift; she needed the opportunity.

   “Favor is not an accident, but it's a deliberate design of God to reward you for your acts of obedience.”

   • Isaiah 1:19
   • Proverbs 10:22

4. Keys 7 to 9: favour, attitude and cooperation

   Seven, favour is when God causes someone to want to solve your problem, whether a relative, a boss, an enemy or a stranger. Eight, keep a great attitude when favour visits, because pride arrives with elevation, and never judge people by their CV. Nine, favour increases when you aggressively cooperate with God's laws and let the Spirit help you. Sent with bread and cheese to his brothers, David heard the reward for killing Goliath and asked about it; his own brother burned with anger and asked who was minding "those few sheep", but someone else overheard and carried his words to Saul. He refused Saul's armour and ran towards his opposition.

   Illustration: Never judge people by their CVs, "because nobody had a better CV than Satan".

   “Favor is when God causes someone to desire to become a problem solver for you.”

   • Isaiah 60:10
   • 1 Samuel 17:17-32

5. Favour blockers 1 to 4

   One, fear: of the unknown, your age, your health, your resources or your colour; the cure is faith with corresponding action, while postponement and excuses fertilise fear. Two, trivialising your access to wise counsel. Three, greed, which dried up the river of favour for Saul. Four, ingratitude and entitlement: say thank you even when you have paid, and give favour in unfavourable places.

   Illustration: A rude waitress slammed down his coffee. Instead of complaining, he left money with a note on a serviette, "God loves you. I believe in you." She came back with her own note apologising: her boss had been shouting at her all day.

   “Sometimes you have to give favor in a place that's not favorable.”

   • Proverbs 11:14

6. Favour blockers 5 to 8

   Five, deliberately ignoring an instruction from God, as Saul did when he chose what suited him; there is a way that seems right to a man. Six, arrogance and self-sufficiency, as with Nebuchadnezzar, who lived like a beast until he acknowledged God; gifts without the fruit of the Spirit make empty trees. God looks for tender hearts like David's. Seven, any broken or ignored law of God. Eight, an ignored opportunity to solve a problem: if David had been too busy to play for Saul or to carry the grain, his story would have gone another way.

   “If you're obedient to one small instruction, the Holy Spirit will help you in moving to the next level.”

   • Proverbs 14:12
   • Daniel 4:28-33
   • 2 Chronicles 16:9

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