Under God’s Favor

Many think that to be full time servants of God requires them to wear a type of religious mantle or have a “churchy” title before or after their names. Conversely, one might think having the title “businessman,” “lawyer,” “teacher,” “homemaker,” “carpenter,” etc. is an inadequate calling and/or designation for one who is “full time for the Lord.”

Actually, what one does for a living has little to do with what it is to be a full time servant of the Lord. To be a full time servant is “what one IS” not “what he DOES” or “what his TITLE IS.” It is a mistake to compartmentalize one’s life into the “spiritual” as opposed to, or distinguished from, the normal, i.e., business, professional, social, recreational aspects of life. If one is spiritual at all, he is so all of the time. His point of view on every issue of life will be seen in light of his life in the Spirit.

When one is consistently committed to finding and fulfilling the will of God for his life, it will be marked by his passion for the Lord and the desire to be faithful to Him. Out of the pool of people who walk in faithfulness, God will raise up particular people on whom He puts his favor based on His knowledge of the workings of their inner being. Such people will experience an unusual degree of blessing and expressed power plus they will be given favor with people, i.e., Joshua and Israel.

God’s favor is always the determining factor of a life that significantly counts for God. There is a difference, however, between a favored public ministry and a favored private life. In a favored public ministry, God raises up a person and exalts him to the extent that he catches the eyes of the multitudes, i.e., a great evangelist. One must long be faithful in the way he conducts his private life before the Father will trust his with public favor.

When one faithfully functions under the favor of God, regardless of how inept he may seem or inadequate he may feel, he cannot fail in the assignments God gives him regardless of how he may appear to man. Success in Kingdom affairs is not measured in human norms but is measured by God according to His well-established criteria. When one acts in humble obedience to Godly leadership and does so with spiritual dignity, piety, and compassion in every encounter and relationship, he is a choice servant on whom Godly favor will abide.

God’s favor is transitory based on the person on which it is bestowed. One can order his life and attitudes in such a manner that God’s favor can be removed. An example of this is Moses, who in a moment of pique, lashed out at the rock in the wilderness, rather than speaking with quiet obedience and the assurance that God required of him. The consequence of his anger and shortsightedness did irrevocable harm to the Israelites and the loss of God’s favor on his life.

Many servants languish under the feelings of rejection wondering why God is passing them by while at the same time nurturing feelings and attitudes within themselves that brought them to such a place to begin with. In 2 Corinthians 9:27, Paul spoke of being “disqualified.” The implication is that one has failed to walk continuously in the Spirit. One cannot pick and choose when he walks with a godly attitude and demeanor. It is a permanent and fulltime choice to be made or it is not at all.

Broken relationships (regardless of what caused them), unresolved sin issues, lack of obedience, faithlessness, disregard for the feelings and rights of others (including those that are in the world) and many other issues can accumulate in one’s life causing the Father to remove His favor.

One has a choice. He can live in a sense of failure and inadequacy or he can take the very steps that he, in his best moments, would advise others to take who are faced with the same thing. Unconditional forgiveness, comprehensive repentance, relentless obedience, a perpetual faith-walk as well as compassionate, patient, and thoughtful care for the needs and feelings of others will go a long way toward restoring the Father’s favor.

Jeremiah voiced the way back into the Father’s correctly when he said: “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord” (Lamentations 3:40). Jeff

• Jefferson H. and Norma R. Floyd, CO-directors • Jubilee International • P. O. Box 572 • Noblesville, IN 46061