Divine Favor and Provision by Todd Bentley
Recognizing the favor of God sometimes is key to your inheritance. The land you dwell in is not always the place of your favor. When you are in the place of your favor, you can be in your place of inheritance! "The LORD had said to Abram, 'Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you'" (Genesis 12:1).
The favor of God is key in our lives to advancing and prosperity. The ministry, gifts, and anointing or talents can be recognized as a measure of grace and favor; however, favor is the key to success and fruitfulness. Much activity does not always mean favor. It is possible to have all the gifts and talents and not be in the favor of God. I have had seasons of favor in my life that just opened doors and increased me. They were not dependent on my abilities to preach or see someone healed. I have also had seasons where I moved in the most powerful demonstrations of power, but others were promoted around me with less gifting because they had favor. We need the favor increase and oil in our lives to work together with our other gifts and talents to really be promoted to the full places God has for us. The favor of God will move you and sustain you in positions that even great gifting and anointing cannot take you! Let us remember there can be seasons of favor and we can increase in favor with God and man! "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52).
Recently, while on vacation, I had a supernatural encounter. I was praying for and needed a specific amount of financial provision-tens of thousands of dollars. I felt the Lord nudge me and said, "No, what you need to ask for is financial favor because when the favor is on your life, business, and/or ministry that will bring the automatic financial breakthrough you need."
Favor is different than the unconditional love of God. God doesn't love anyone any more or less. Favor isn't like the love of God. Favor can be conditional. Favor is not fair. Favor will keep you in places you could never get to on your own. There is a connection between seeking God and His presence and favor. Hebrews 11:6 says God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. There is a reward that comes to those who diligently seek Him.
Acts 4:35 talks about the great power the apostles proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus, which brought great grace and great provision. Great grace and great provision is linked to the witness of Jesus and the manifested favor was on them all. Nor was there anyone among the entire church that had any lack. Favor isn't about money amounts. The Lord was showing me how we can seek after Him for favor and the presence of God is in the midst of all of this.
Favor of God
If you start praying for the favor of God, it will release supernatural money. I needed a financial breakthrough/miracle. In Luke 2:52, Jesus increased in both wisdom and favor. If Jesus can increase in favor, who says we can't? The key to increasing favor is increasing favor with God.
Hebrews 11:6: says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." There is something about seeking after and being committed to the presence of God. Moses was the one that said the glory is what I want.
Proverbs 16:15 is one of my favorite promises about the favor of God and how it comes. "In the light of the king's face is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain" (NKJV). The latter rain is the rain you need for the harvest of all things with barns that are overflowing.
There is something about seeking the face of God and standing in the light of His countenance. There are many examples in the Psalms about God shining on us.
In the encounter I had recently, I had a visitation from an angel. God said it is favor. Money and finances were going to be restored. Seek Him for favor and when favor comes, we will have financial provision.
Recently, I was praying for financial provision of $25,000. After this encounter, I began to seek His face and favor. I received a call from my office that a check had been received in the mail from someone who had never donated to our ministry before in the amount of $25,000!
On another recent occasion, I received a call from our office saying Todd, we need $20,000 today. I met a Jewish couple that gave me a ride and they handed me an envelope with $20,000 in it! They said, God told us to give you this amount.
We need to be a people of His presence, His face, and His glory. With great power they gave witness. Great power brings great grace and that brings favor.
Todd Bentley
