06 March 2011
You're a Favor-ite!
03/07/11 09:25 PM
I've been studying FAVOR.
We are hearing a lot about the word GRACE in this new year, but God's been showing me that GRACE and FAVOR are exactly the same word. They are used interchangeably in both the Old and New Testaments, as different translations of the same Hebrew and Greek word: chen/charis.
Most of the appearances of this word in the Old Testament (used 37 times as grace and 26 times as favor) say the same thing: So & So (Noah, Moses, Joseph, Ruth, Esther...) found "chen" in the sight or in the eyes of the Lord. In the Old Covenant apparently favor would "come upon" people occasionally, just like the Holy Spirit (as opposed to the constant indwelling we are privileged to experience in the New Covenant)! I am SO thankful God let me be born during New Covenant times, aren't you???? But, back to FAVOR...
In Luke 2:14 the heavenly host of angels announced something extremely different and outrageously amazing to a bunch of forlorn shepherds... they said: Glory to God! In the highest heaven and on earth - peace! Good will toward men - ON WHOM HIS FAVOR RESTS! What I see in this announcement is a change of guard. Whereas favor came upon a few lucky individuals who got God's special attention before - now HIS FAVOR HAS BEEN RELEASED TO ALL HUMANS! When Christ was incarnated in flesh - God's favor came on "all flesh." We - each and every one of us - are now rightfully "favor-ites." In the OT there were lots of 'ites" to contend with - who were separate from God's children. Jesus came and brought His Father and His kingdom with Him - and gave us all a right to be called sons of God if we would receive Him.Through Him we received "grace upon grace." (John 1:16) We are "Favor-ites" one and all!
It is wonderful to study what the Greek and Hebrew words for "Favor" mean (and I'll let you do that part, for now)... but it is very enlightening to study what Webster has to say as well. Here is a fascinating list ...
WEBSTER'S definition's of FAVOR:
favored; liked; approved
be pleasing to
too kind indulgence
unfair partiality
to prefer unfairly
to be too indulgent toward
be partial to
specially privileged
to afford advantages for success
promoted
specially privileged
provided with advantages
favorite: (as a "favor-ite" YOU ARE:)
1. a person or thing regarded with special favor, preference, or affection
2. a person liked very much and granted special privileges by a king, high official, etc.
3. a competitor considered most likely to win
Lance Wallnau defines FAVOR as:
The attraction of God to you
so that God can move through you
and cause people to promote you.
And Dutch Sheets has said:
Faith will move your mountains.
Favor will get others to move them for you.
So, today, receive it and believe it!
YOU ARE A "FAVOR-ITE!"
YOU ARE UNFAIRLY PREFERRED!!!
YOU ARE A PERSON LIKED VERY MUCH AND GRANTED SPECIAL PRIVILEGES BY THE KING OF KINGS!
YOU ARE AFFORDED EVERY ADVANTAGE FOR SUCCESS.
No wonder they call it "The GOSPEL OF the GRACE (FAVOR) of God!
~ ACTS 20:24
We are hearing a lot about the word GRACE in this new year, but God's been showing me that GRACE and FAVOR are exactly the same word. They are used interchangeably in both the Old and New Testaments, as different translations of the same Hebrew and Greek word: chen/charis.
Most of the appearances of this word in the Old Testament (used 37 times as grace and 26 times as favor) say the same thing: So & So (Noah, Moses, Joseph, Ruth, Esther...) found "chen" in the sight or in the eyes of the Lord. In the Old Covenant apparently favor would "come upon" people occasionally, just like the Holy Spirit (as opposed to the constant indwelling we are privileged to experience in the New Covenant)! I am SO thankful God let me be born during New Covenant times, aren't you???? But, back to FAVOR...
In Luke 2:14 the heavenly host of angels announced something extremely different and outrageously amazing to a bunch of forlorn shepherds... they said: Glory to God! In the highest heaven and on earth - peace! Good will toward men - ON WHOM HIS FAVOR RESTS! What I see in this announcement is a change of guard. Whereas favor came upon a few lucky individuals who got God's special attention before - now HIS FAVOR HAS BEEN RELEASED TO ALL HUMANS! When Christ was incarnated in flesh - God's favor came on "all flesh." We - each and every one of us - are now rightfully "favor-ites." In the OT there were lots of 'ites" to contend with - who were separate from God's children. Jesus came and brought His Father and His kingdom with Him - and gave us all a right to be called sons of God if we would receive Him.Through Him we received "grace upon grace." (John 1:16) We are "Favor-ites" one and all!
It is wonderful to study what the Greek and Hebrew words for "Favor" mean (and I'll let you do that part, for now)... but it is very enlightening to study what Webster has to say as well. Here is a fascinating list ...
WEBSTER'S definition's of FAVOR:
favored; liked; approved
be pleasing to
too kind indulgence
unfair partiality
to prefer unfairly
to be too indulgent toward
be partial to
specially privileged
to afford advantages for success
promoted
specially privileged
provided with advantages
favorite: (as a "favor-ite" YOU ARE:)
1. a person or thing regarded with special favor, preference, or affection
2. a person liked very much and granted special privileges by a king, high official, etc.
3. a competitor considered most likely to win
Lance Wallnau defines FAVOR as:
The attraction of God to you
so that God can move through you
and cause people to promote you.
And Dutch Sheets has said:
Faith will move your mountains.
Favor will get others to move them for you.
So, today, receive it and believe it!
YOU ARE A "FAVOR-ITE!"
YOU ARE UNFAIRLY PREFERRED!!!
YOU ARE A PERSON LIKED VERY MUCH AND GRANTED SPECIAL PRIVILEGES BY THE KING OF KINGS!
YOU ARE AFFORDED EVERY ADVANTAGE FOR SUCCESS.
No wonder they call it "The GOSPEL OF the GRACE (FAVOR) of God!
~ ACTS 20:24
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