World Impact with Billy Wilson “Finding His Favor”
 
(Billy Wilson:)  Welcome to World Impact. I’m Billy Wilson, and today on World Impact we are going to be sharing an exciting story from the Bible. It's the story of an orphan girl who changed a nation and saved her people. All because she had the favor of God. Now during the show today we're going to sharing some footage from a wonderful movie that was done a few years ago by my good friend Tommy Tenney called "One Night With the King." And during this time we hope you're inspired to find the favor of God in your life. I want to say to you, please listen closely, favor is greater than finance. Favor can change your world and can help you change the world of others. Now during this program I'm going to be preaching to you about how to find God's favor in your life. I'm also going to be talking about the fact that many people walk under disfavor. But you don't have to. As we share today, if you have a need before God, if you want us to pray for you, call us at 1-800-95-SHARE in the United States. Go to our website, worldimpact.tv. You can leave a prayer request there. You can give a donation to the ministry. And we do need your help. And you can share with us what's going on in your heart and in your life. I want to hear your story about what God's favor has done for you. I can tell you honestly today that the favor of God upon this ministry is the only way we have been able to exist and be on where you live. So stay tuned now and I'll be back in just a moment to talk about finding His favor.

(Announcer:)  It seems like everyone is seeking someone's favor. Children want candy from their parents. Musicians looking for their big break try to gain the favor of a studio executive. Journalists want that exclusive interview, and lawyers for a jury's favor. Since some adults use flattery, fear and lies to get their own way, a great many laws exist to discourage wrongful pursuit of favor. For example, it's illegal to give more than $2500 directly toward helping elect the U.S. president. In tribal Kenya it's illegal to coerce a man by threatening his wife. And a 1930s Virginia law prohibited the corrupt practices of bribery by any person other than political candidates. Regardless of method, it seems as though most everyone, from the politician to the musician, is looking for favor in order to advance his or her own agenda. Noah found God's favor and ended up spending 100 years working on a boat. Similarly, Joseph became a slave. Moses faced Pharaoh and Daniel was cast to the lions. Mother Teresa said, "If I have found favor with God, it is to bring His love to these children." In each case, God's favor was accompanied by God's purpose and resulted in the rescue or salvation of others.

(Announcer:)  God poured out His Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. This is that blessing foretold by Joel to empower the servants of God. And the study book, "This Is That," will bring you face to face with the Holy Spirit. Combining wisdom from the ministries of Jack Hayford, Derek Prince, Ron Luce, and many others, "This is That" will show you how to live the Spirit empowered life. And as a special offer, order now and we'll include this DVD of World Impact shows from Germany. "This is That," and four episodes of World Impact, yours for just $25. If you desire a real encounter with the Holy Spirit, the essays, reflections and journaling sections of "This is That" will help you explore Him beyond measure. Call 1-800-95-SHARE or go to worldimpact.tv today.

(Billy Wilson:)  Today we're going to be talking about one of the most important things you will ever find in your life. We're talking about favor. Psalm chapter 30 verse five says this, "His anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."  Now the word favor in Scripture comes from the same root word as we receive the word grace. Yet favor and grace are different. They are similar but they're different. The Bible says that the grace of God has appeared to all men. All of us receive grace, grace enough to believe in Jesus as our Savior. And yet favor is not extended to all men. In fact at times there are varying degrees of favor. Favor is available for everyone, but not necessarily extended to everyone. Today we're going to talk about how you can find favor, that special grace that makes you attractive to others and makes you successful for the glory of God. One pastor in Rhode Island said it this way, "Favor is when God likes you and there's such an influence that comes upon you that the charisma of God Himself rubs off on you, which makes other people like you or cooperate with you whether they like you or not. Favor is the special affection of God toward you that releases an influence on you so that others are inclined to like you or to cooperate with you." All of us have met people over the years that had the favor of God upon them. There was a special grace upon them. It seemed that God liked them. Now throughout Scripture we find people or we discover people who found favor with God and with man. One of those is the prophet Samuel.  First Samuel 2:26 says, "The boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men." It is said of David, who became king, Acts 7:46, "He enjoyed God's favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob." It is said of David that Saul sent to Jesse saying, "Let David I pray thee, stand before me for he has found favor in my sight." Scripture tells us of the mother of Jesus, Mary, in Luke chapter 1, verse 28, "The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings. You are highly favored. The Lord is with you.'" And even of our Savior, Jesus, it is said in Luke chapter 2 verse 52, "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men." Even the early church, after the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2, was walking in extreme favor. There was a unique grace upon them. The Bible says in verse 47 of Acts 2, "They were praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Now today during this sermon I want to focus on one young lady who found God's favor in a very unusual place. This young lady was orphaned. Her parents had died. She was adopted by her cousin Mordecai and raised in his home, and he became her spiritual father. Over the years Esther began to find God's favor. At a certain point, King Xerxes was looking for a new queen and Esther was one of the young maidens that found herself among many others who were trying out for the queen's part. The Bible would say of her in Esther 2 verse 15, "When the turn came for Esther, the girl Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail, to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king's eunuch, who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her." And then when she went into King Xerxes, the Bible says in verse 17 of chapter 2, "Now the king was attracted to Esther more than any of the other women. And she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins." This adopted orphaned girl became queen because God's favor was upon her. In the remainder of this sermon we're going to talk about what the favor of God upon Esther meant to a nation, to us today, and how God's favor can change your life. Stay with us.

(Kay Horner:)  There is a lot of controversy surrounding the book of Esther and its inclusion in the canon of Scripture. For one reason, the actual name of God does not appear in the text at all, yet you see the divine providence throughout, so although God's name is not there, His handprint is all over the book of Esther. I think when you look at the aspect of favor you have to understand, Esther didn't choose to go to the palace. The virgins were brought in at the king's command. She had no choice. And I don't really see her as pursuing favor for selfish motivations. In the full scope of the narrative, you see that Esther was given favor, divine providential favor, so that she could be in a place to seek the life of her people. I think when you look at the aspect of the disenfranchised women of Esther's day, where Vashti disappears simply because she won't come and parade herself before a group of drunken men. Yet Esther finds herself in a place of authority, a place of being able to write decrees in the nation. And it wasn't because she went out seeking the favor for herself. It was because she walked in obedience and God brought that favor. I think if we try to pursue a place in society with the wrong motivation and with the wrong attitude, we will find ourselves continually disenfranchised. But if we pursue it because we are doing it to seek the blessings of God, not only for ourselves but for others, God will create a divine reversal in our lives. Victory comes through obedience, and with obedience you find favor.

(Billy Wilson:)  Esther was raised by her cousin Mordecai who became her spiritual father. And the favor upon Esther was also the favor of God upon Mordecai. At one point this favor, this grace of God upon him, helped him discern that the king was about to be assassinated. Esther then delivered a message to Xerxes and his life was saved. However, there was another person around the courtyard other than Mordecai, who became an archenemy of Mordecai and of the Jewish people. His name was Haman. Scripture would say of Haman that we was an Agagite. Now if you track that back, you'll find that he was a descendent of King Agag, who was an Amalekite. Scripture throughout the ages had revealed an ongoing generational struggle between the Amalekites and the children of Israel. It started way back in Exodus chapter 17. This struggle now had come to the very palace of what was the center of the most powerful nation in the world, Persia. Persia's kingdom extended all the way from India to Ethiopia. It was a powerful kingdom and Haman had now been exalted to a high place in that kingdom. Haman was angry because Mordecai would not bow down to him. And he went to King Xerxes with a plan to destroy the Jews. In fact he offered Xerxes a lot of money. And if you translate what is said in the Scripture into today's modern terms, he offered him over $400 million worth of silver. Haman's plan was to give this money so that Xerxes would commission the Jews to be destroyed throughout the kingdom. When Mordecai heard what had happened through this Amalekite, this descendent of King Agag, he was distraught. In fact all of the Jewish people began a fast, and Mordecai put on sackcloth and ashes and came to the gate of the king's palace. Esther, hearing what was going on with her spiritual father Mordecai, sit close to him to change his raiment, because he couldn't be in the king's palace with sackcloth on. He denied it and he sent her the writing of the king's decree that said that all the Jewish people would be destroyed on a certain day. At this moment, Esther herself was distraught because she was a Jew. Mordecai's message to her was, "Don't think you're safe in the king's palace. They will find out who you are." Up until this moment no one knew that Esther was a Jew. Esther then sends message back to him, "I will go into the king. If I perish, I perish. And I want you to pray and fast for me for the next three days, and I'll pray and fast." So Esther and all of the Jewish people declared a three day fast. At the end of that fast, Esther went in to King Xerxes. Now if the king lowered the scepter it meant Esther would be destroyed. If he raised the scepter it meant she would live. When he saw Esther, the Bible tells us that she had favor. "And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight. And the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. And Esther drew near." From that moment on, Esther used the favor of God upon her to save her people. Ultimately, because of the favor of God upon her, Haman would be hung on the very gallows he had built to destroy Mordecai. God would use the favor that was upon Esther's life to save an entire population of people. In fact the decree was changed, and a new decree was written, that on the same day the Jews were to be destroyed, they could now defend themselves. God exalted Mordecai to Haman's seat. Esther remained queen and kept her crown, and the favor of God made all the difference. Now in just a moment I want to talk about what God's favor can do in your life. So I want you to stay with me.

(Announcer:)  Based on the novel, "Hadassah," by Tommy Tenney and Mark Olsen, the movie, "One Night with the King," dramatizes the story of Esther, a story that has inspired generations of women. The film underscores how Esther was different from the other women, who were clamoring for the king's favor. Esther didn't want to risk her life, but listened to Mordecai's words.
(Mordecai:)  "For if you keep silent, deliverance for the Jews will arise from someplace else. But you will surely perish. Who knows whether you have come to the palace for such a time as this."

(Announcer:)  The movie shines a clear light on the rest of the story. Esther's carefully prepared plan to expose the plot against the Jews in Persia is daring, inspired and favored by God. Even after Esther was granted audience with the king, she didn't put on an air of importance or speak loudly. Rather she invited the king to a series of meals, and only when the time was right did she expose Haman's plan to massacre the Jewish people. Esther found favor with both God and man, and her story remains one of the great stories of all time.

(Billy Wilson:)  In the first two parts of our teaching today we talked about favor, and we talked about how one young lady, an orphan girl, found the favor of God and changed the entire destiny of the Jewish people. Today I want to talk to you for just a few moments in the last segment of this message about what God's favor means in your life. We're going to draw lessons from Esther's life, to say what does favor mean for my life? Will, let's look at what happened to Esther. Number one, favor trumps finance. When you have favor it's greater than financial power. This is amazing. Haman offered $400 million but the favor of God on Esther and Mordecai stopped his plan. Second today, favor will get you into places that no one else can get you into. Favor will put you in places of prominence and importance. Esther became queen of the greatest kingdom in the world, though she was an orphaned Jewish girl, because God's favor was upon her life. Three today, favor will move the hand of kings. Not only will God give you places of prominence, he'll help you make a difference when you're there. Favor is able to move the hand of a president, the hand of the U.N. God's favor on a person's life can change the destiny of an entire nation. Favor also brings deliverance. God's favor upon you will deliver you in times of trouble and will help others that are following you or that you touch. Remember, weeping endures for a night but favor lasts a lifetime. God's favor on David would not allow Saul to kill him. Fifth today, favor can turn the tide. Perhaps you're watching this program today and things are really negative in your life. I share with you that if you'll find God's favor, if you'll do what it takes to be in the favor of God, He can turn your situation around. Weeping endures for a night, but God's favor can last a lifetime. Now when we look at Scripture, we also understand there are ways that we can not have God's favor. In other words, we can have God's disfavor. Let's look at some of the things that, in our lives would happen that would bring us under God's disfavor. First of all, if we do evil, we walk under God's disfavor. "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous," First Peter 3:12 says, "and his ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." Doing evil brings disfavor. According to Deuteronomy 28, disobedience to God brings disfavor. We also know from Scripture that distance from God brings disfavor. God is the source of grace. He's the source of favor. If you want favor get close to Him. And when you're distant from Him, you risk being in disfavor. Self-determination or pride brings disfavor as well.  James 4:6 says, "He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" And finally, disregard to the poor brings us in disfavor. "If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor," Proverbs 21:13 says, "He too will cry out and not be answered." We must remember the poor. But finally today, what does it take to have the favor of God? How do you and I find favor? First of all, we find favor according to Esther's example by submitting to authority. Esther submitted to the chamberlain of the king's house. She said, whatever you give me I'll take it. Second, we find favor by simplicity or authenticity. Esther made up her mind she would not take all the other things that the young maidens had, all of the perfume, all of the paraphernalia. She would be authentic. She would be simple before God and God would use her just as she was. Three, we can seek God through radical prayer and fasting to find favor. Now when we pray and fast, we don't get brownie points with heaven, but we position ourselves to obtain the favor of God. And finally, we need to stand with courageous faith in order to have God's favor. Esther said, "If I perish, I perish." I want God's favor so I can make a difference in the world. Today you can find God's favor as Esther did, and you can go before King Jesus and find His favor in your life.

(Song lyrics:)
Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord, to thee.
Take my time, take my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.
Take my voice and let me sing, always only for my King
Take my lips, let them be, filled with words from Thee
Take my love, Lord I pour, at Thy feet its treasure store
Ever, only, all for Thee

Take my will and make it Thine
It shall be no longer be mine
Take my heart, it is Thine own
It shall be Thy royal throne

Take my voice and let me sing, always only for my King
Take my lips, let them be, filled with words from Thee
Take my love, Lord I pour, at Thy feet its treasure store
Ever, only, all for Thee
Ever, only, all for Thee

(Billy Wilson:)  We learned from Esther what can happen when one person gives everything to God and walks in His favor. The favor of God upon Esther's life changed an entire nation and saved her people forever. Favor is powerful. God's Word says in Psalm 5 verse 12, "For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous. You surround them with your favor as with a shield." And Psalm 30 verse 6 and 7 says, "Now in my prosperity I said, 'I shall never be moved.' Lord by your favor you have made my mountain stand strong. You hid your face and I was troubled." We need the favor of God in order to make a difference in our world. As we've shared today, favor is the most powerful thing on planet earth. And today I pray you're walking in God's favor. Perhaps as you watch this program you say in your own heart, "Billy, I don't have the favor of God. I've experienced His grace but I'm not walking in favor. It seems everything is against me." I believe that can change today if you'll seek His face. So today if you want God's favor in your life, or maybe you're not even serving Jesus and you want to find Him and know the favor that comes by being God's son, I want you to call me right now, at 1-800-95-SHARE in the United States, or go to our website from anywhere in the world. Every week we have people from around the world connect with us through our website. You can leave a prayer request, you can share your story with us, and I promise you we will pray for your need, that God will turn the tide. Weeping endures for a night, but favor can last a lifetime and you need the favor of God. Now today during this program we've offered a very special book that our ministry has published recently called "This is That: Empowered by the Holy Spirit for 21st Century Life." This unique book is a compilation of articles that will help you live the Spirit-empowered life in the 21st century. You see it's the Holy Spirit that makes evident God's favor upon our lives. The early church was filled with the Holy Spirit. They spoke in other tongues, and people heard God's glory and majesty proclaimed from their lips in many different languages. Peter said, "This is that spoken by the prophet Joel," and "this is that" brought God's favor upon the early church, so they had favor with God and with man. Today I pray that you will find God's favor and change your world and make a difference for Jesus Christ. You know when you spend time with the King, God's favor comes upon you and you can make a difference. Thanks for joining us today on this World Impact program. I'm Billy Wilson, and we appreciate your partnership as we continue sharing Jesus with the world.

(Instrumental music)