In this sermon, Pastor Bill teaches on the favor of God and it’s implications. “Favor is supposed to drive us deeper into the center of our design, which finds its fullness in covenant relationship.” – Bill Johnson
you know everything about you your
personality your intellect your physical
body your history everything about you
is perfectly designed for obedience and
disobedience violates design both favor
and trial drive us somewhere it’s like a
sailboat where the wind drives me is
determined by the way I control the sail
in the rudder it’s supposed to drive me
deeper into God but I’ve watched both
favor and trial drive away from the Lord
that it was never designed for that
monitoring my heart my value system
attitude my confession is really the
setting of the rudder the setting of the
sail what is supposed to favor for
example what is supposed to take me and
to become the best possible example of
Jesus I could possibly be when the
rudder is wrong it moves into favor
moves me into self-promotion but the
wind wasn’t designed to do that my
liberty my freedom my will enables me to
distort divine purpose possibly the best
example of that certainly one of the
best examples never before has one
single gift one single person had such
an impact on the course of history that
Kings would leave their position to come
and sit at the feet of another king as
he did with Solomon
the Queen of Sheba traveled an
extraordinary distance with enormous
amount of wealth to give to him to honor
him for who he was he had the most
unusual measure and level a favor maybe
ever seen it’d be hard to be hard to
find anyone in all of history that had
greater favor with God and men favor was
to drive him into becoming all he was
designed to be and that is a perfect
complete representation of the heart
nature of God but something got into his
heart
something got in there where it says in
1st Kings it says but Solomon loved many
foreign women though there was a but
there was all this favor there was all
this stuff coming at him that perfectly
suited him to impact before New
Testament times impact the Gentile world
with the God of covenant the god of
relationship but the setting of his
heart the condition of his heart was
setting the direction of his heart I
should say was was positioned in such a
way that all that favor drove him to
counterfeit favor the appetite for favor
somehow in him drove him to counterfeit
favor why do I say that in in in those
days it was known that Kings would marry
the daughters of other Kings so there
would be a truce there would be a
covenant there would be no war and it’s
a counterfeit favor when you marry
foreign women so that you have peace
with all these nations he already had
peace he is a man of extraordinary peace
but he tried to do the same that Adam
and Eve tried to do for themselves the
serpent came to them and said if you
partake of this forbidden fruit you will
be like God they were already like God
they’re created in His image but they
tried to obtain through their labor what
they already had Solomon tried to obtain
through false covenant what he already
had and that’s extraordinary favor and
so this wind a favor because of the
setting of his sail in the rudder the
attitude of his heart actually drove him
into something that took Israel from
what I understand I’ve not been able to
to verify this but from what I
understand took Israel into a season of
bondage that actually actually took them
300 years to get out of the more favored
you have the more costly your mistakes
are the more favored you have the more
costly your your sins are I had lunch
with a one of the generals in God’s army
here several years ago man I had admired
from afar and we were speaking at a
conference together and he asked to have
private time with me so we met in a
separate room and the two of us had a
wonderful time together it’s great to
just finally meet this hero of the faith
and he he gave this analogy that I
thought was quite impacting impressive
the bigger the boat the bigger the wake
created and he loved he loved boating
and he he was telling me of a time he he
pulled into a Bay where Harbor where
there’s other boats that are being
parked one boat was being launched and
he came in too fast for the size of boat
he had and it created such a way that it
took the boat that was being launched
and thread up against the dock or the
the trailer that it was on I forget the
exact details but he says the man could
have sued me and won easily because I
was responsible for the wake I created
everybody in this room has awake and the
further we go in God the greater
our journey the greater our our season
of walking with God the greater
anointing the greater responsibility all
this stuff the greater part the bigger
that gets the bigger the wink and and
I’m responsible for the wake I create
it’s foolishness to think that well I
can get away with this I can get away
with that and people will just have to
adjust it’s foolish to to think that way
because I’m actually responsible for the
week that I create favor is actually
supposed to drive me deeper into the
center of my design which is always more
fully realized in the context of
relationship I don’t have the language I
want for this yet so I’m kind of working
my way through this so a little bit of
patience here favor is to drive me to
the center of my design which finds its
fullness in government in a relationship
in other words favor that drives me away
from covenant relationships and people
is a misuse of favor
favored by nature is is supposed to
increase my capacity for impact by
nature favor increases my capacity
that’s a verse I’ve quoted to you
probably 20 times the last few years but
I will do so again because of the
context where the Queen of Sheba
prophesized to Solomon and she says God
has highly favored you Solomon because
of his love for Israel that I’ll never
forget when I first saw that it just
pierced my heart
God has highly favored you and put your
name in there he’s highly favored you
because of his love for the people
around you so the implication is favored
upon me has to benefit people around me
or its misuse favor it’s actually it’s
not given to me for me you say well that
doesn’t make sense he loves me he does
but here’s how it works the woman takes
bethel puff a bottle of costly pointment
she breaks the alabaster vial and she
pours it all over jesus wiping it into
his body with her hair it was entirely
for him but she left the room smelling
just like he did
in other words what gets on you is
because of what you get on him and yes
you walk away with the blessing of favor
but it was never directed at you it was
all it all impacted your person your
personality your gift your family all
the stuff because you determined to
invest it wisely and the people around
you and somehow in the process you get
splashed in other words if I use this
costly ornament for me I’ve missed it
and that’s really what favor is favor is
access to divine recognition it’s access
I have undivided attention from a
perfect father and he does care about my
needs and there is a place for me to
present my needs my requests my
petitions before him but when God
increases my favor with people it’s just
not for self-promotion
so imagine favor then a wind that is to
drive me to the center of more
meaningful impacting relationships it’s
a favor that drives me to the center of
what I was designed for my role in in
this case in what God is doing here
driving me deeper into the expression of
Christ in a loving body of believers who
have given themselves for the
transformation of a city and a
transformation of Nations either that
favor drives me into that or drives me
into my own unique selfish expression of
my imitation of Christ
amen
good point bill still late I gave you a
chance
[Laughter]
trials the same way winds of adversity
this is this great passage in Exodus
once you turn to it Exodus chapter 13
we’re gonna look I think at two portions
of Scripture tonight so Exodus 13 is one
I wave this Bob around so much that well
it’s sparkling and so it’s it baptizes
me every time I open it I think I’ll
leave the top off there we go
all right Exodus 13 are you there you
have your Bible say I love my Bible I
really really really really love my
Bible
some of you got the amount of real as
you were supposed to get some of you
short cut it it’s all right done yeah
it’s it’s fatiguing I know all right
Exodus 13 verse 17 then it came to pass
when Pharaoh had let the people go
that God did not lead them by the way of
the land of the Philistines although
although that was near for God said lest
perhaps the people change their minds
when they see war and return to Egypt
verse 17 again it came to pass when
Pharaoh had let the people go that God
did not lead them by the way of the land
of the Philistines although that was
near for God said lest perhaps the
people changed their mind when they see
war and return to Egypt this is uh I
love this particular story this
particular verse the season in Israel’s
history I love it because God was the
one fighting their battles it wasn’t
like this victory against the
Philistines depended on their wisdom and
their strength but God knew his role
would be limited by their fear
it was a very good point there God knew
the his role his place in the journey
with his people would be limited or
restricted or cut off by their fear and
so he actually said I’m not going to
take them the direct path the
Philistines are in the way they’re too
young even though God is the one who
fights the battle for them and delivers
the victory to them and sometimes
through them he said I’m going to take
them another way because they may see
war and become discouraged and go back
to bondage Wow how many people I see go
back to bondage because they don’t know
how to handle conflict not I mean this
counterfeit argument with a friend or
something I’m talking about the
lifestyle that says I was designed for
something greater and I keep running
into this wall we sang about it tonight
that wall the wall but that becomes a
way that’s the challenge right there is
every time God leads us into a place
it’s under victory so here in this
passage it would be reasonable to assume
that God chose in this case their young
inexperienced probably become afraid
that probably want to go back to bondage
God says I’m going to direct them I’m
going to take them around this enemy
because I don’t want them to face that
prematurely so a month later they’re
going down the road and the Lord leads
them into an enemy what’s the
implication they’re written
they’re ready a month ago
yeah and they’re gonna they’re gonna
they’re gonna mess themselves I’m just
gonna take them I’m gonna take them
around a month later he takes him right
into a war and the implication is I’ve
thought this through they’ve been able
to deal with stuff in the last 30 days
I’m just throwing out 30 days
Taylor Shay they’ve been able to deal
with stuff from the last 30 days I trust
them they I think they never been a
question of what God can what battles
God can win that’s not even a contest
there’s there’s there’s never been a
contest between the devil and God zero
and so when the Lord then leads Israel
into a conflict it’s because not only
were they designed for victory they’re
ready for victory so when I choose fear
instead of faith I’m violating my design
when I choose fear instead of faith I’m
not acknowledging that this moment was
divinely orchestrated that I might once
again illustrate that the victory of
Christ in a given situation
how many of you believe Jesus raised
from the dead
absolutely
your victory proves it your victory
proves it I mean it’s not as though he
needs any evidence in your life and my
life to validate it it’s validated on
its own but when you pray for the sick
and that person is healed it’s a
demonstration of the resurrection power
of Jesus when you defeat a personal
addiction habit that that thing changes
in your life it’s a demonstration of the
resurrection power of Jesus when you
face this mental battle this conflict of
the mind and you resolve to obey the
Lord no matter what and you and you
stick with that process so you come in
into ongoing victory you’re
demonstrating the resurrection of Jesus
so I want you to look at mark chapter 4
we’re gonna look at a passage that I
have probably possibly talked with more
than any other in the last 10 years I’ve
had a great privilege to be with
Hillsong in New York last week it was a
Scituate situation it was an opportunity
that came up out of nowhere and I
already had that time blocked to be at
home
and but when I I asked my my team about
it they they felt it was the Lord and
the real test was I asked my wife and
her voice and the voice of the Holy
Spirit sounds so similar man I sometimes
think we know too and sometimes I’m
pretty sure they’re the same voice yeah
I had one prophet point to my wife say
she’s your hearing aid and a wonderful
wonderful time so moved by but Karl and
Laura Lance and the whole Hillsong
movement so thankful for them I
mentioned only because I shared on this
verse there but we’re gonna I want to
read a story that I’ve taught on many
many many times here but I want to
emphasize a different verse than I’ve
ever emphasized in this story so mark
chapter 4 are you there
I mean you still love your Bible how
many of you still love the person next
to you good good no don’t don’t get
weird on me now just leave them alone
till we’re done alright you may remember
a while back I read to you that that
thing says have you ever woken up in the
morning just happened to be alive you
kiss the person next year and then he
says yeah I just tried that apparently I
won’t be allowed to fly on that airline
anymore
[Applause]
mark chapter 4 verse 35 on the same day
when evening had come he said to them
let us cross over to the other side when
they had left the multitude they took
him along in the boat as he was in other
little boats were also with him the
great windstorm arose and the waves beat
into the boat so that it was already
filling but he was in the stern asleep
on a pillow and they awoke him and said
him teacher do you not care that we are
perishing then he arose and rebuked the
wind said to the sea peace be still and
the wind ceased and there was a great
calm but he said to them why are you so
fearful how is it that you have no faith
verse 39 or 40 again he arose rebuked
the wind said to the sea peace be still
and the wind ceased there was a great
calm and he said to them why are you so
fearful how is it that you have no faith
I love this story because it illustrates
for me this role of maturity that God
requires from us he did not design us to
ask him to do everything for us he’s not
the cosmic bellhop waiting for us to
ring the bell and he comes running to
fulfill whatever requests we have him
have of him I believe so strongly in the
importance and power of prayer and I
believe strongly that we are to bring
petitioner request of him so it’s almost
a contradiction but in lifestyle it’s
not Jesus has his disciples in this boat
during a life-threatening storm the boat
is already starting to fill so they’re
afraid they’re going to die
it’s a legitimate fear without God it’s
a legitimate fear and so they waked
Jesus up asked him don’t you care that
we are perishing he stands he rebukes
the wind says peace to the storm
everything stops and then he says how
come you don’t have any faith my
upbringing was
we pray and he does stuff here’s here’s
the disciples they come to Jesus and
they make requests who’s Jesus he’s God
what do we call petition prayer so they
pray Jesus turns and answers their
prayer and then says how come we don’t
have any faith that’s a mind-boggling
scenario to me because I I grew up the
only thing that I had in my mind is that
if I prayed good and I prayed effective
I’d get answers to prayer and things
would happen and in part that’s true but
it’s not what Jesus was grooming his
disciples for he was grooming them to do
what he would do if they were in his
shoes which in this case was to speak to
the storm in this case they were to deal
with the obstacle to God’s will
I’ve heard people say that Jesus slept
in the storm because he was exhausted I
don’t believe that’s true I don’t I
don’t believe that’s true I think the
reason he slept in a storm is because
the world he dwells in has no storms it
was illustrating what it is to live in
the reality of communion with the father
it’s a heavenly around that Paul would
later find language for we are seated in
heavenly places in Christ
it’s tragically it’s been reduced to a
doctrine it’s an invitation to an
experience it’s an all experience is an
invitation to a lifestyle what’s what’s
initiated by an experience is a promise
of a lifestyle should we want to pursue
it
god never introduces us to joy for
example holy laughter and you get so
filled with joy you can hardly stand
yourself that was never given to you as
an experience that was just to help heal
up the wounds of the last twenty years
and then you go on struggling through
life he opened a door
that gives you now legal access to this
realm of inheritance anytime you feel
you need it when when that that sense of
comfort or prophetic or whatever it is
that comes upon us we move into that
moment those moments are invitations to
sustainable lifestyle they are not
tastes that we then have to ignore and
just suffer through with life so when
the Lord opens up insight for us an
invitation for encounter which is an
invitation for a lifestyle let me just
take the joy thing again since you’re
giving me that look once I have tasted
so you have to understand in the kingdom
of God a taste initiates transformation
it’s it’s the taste John 7 here’s a
here’s the perfect example end of the
chapter left side of the page at the
very top is where it is in your Bible in
John 7 he says come to me and drink
alright
come to me and drink out of your
innermost being will flow rivers a drink
becomes a river a taste changes your
capacity a taste changes your nature a
taste gives you access to the resource
of heaven it’s all flowing in and
through you a simple experience changes
your capacity to give in to serve
nothing is given to us merely to help us
cope
he has no coping mechanisms
he doesn’t say here here’s here’s joy
now that will help you to get through
this next season because this next even
is gonna be real trial no when he gave
you joy he gave you the key to that
realm that reality is now yours and all
these all these realms in God are to be
stewarded they are gifts a favor that
are to be stewarded again not for
self-promotion but so that I continue in
the journey of being the best possible
representation of Jesus Christ that I
could possibly be I’m being driven by
favor into that but trial is supposed to
do the same so we have this
life-threatening storm and the guys come
to Jesus and they make a request by the
way I haven’t thought this all the way
through I I’ve been thinking on it for
maybe a year and I need to come to some
met a bit better maybe better language
but I’ve got this sense that prayers of
panic and fear are prayers of a servant
and prayers of authority of prayers of a
son a daughter both are accepted I’m so
glad you can be bitter and he welcomes
you I can be angry as can be he doesn’t
turn me away but my responsibility is
when I come into that presence I must
not leave the same if I left the same I
was not praying I was complaining time
with God is not a time to vent it’s a
time for exchange he welcomes me in so
that God and man’s passion trends
translation puts a Jerusalem the city
with God and men mingled together
that’s prayer God and men mingled
together so now we have this particular
trial and the disciples are in this
life-threatening storm and they make
petition out of absolute panic and Jesus
saves the day well that’s how we learn
sometimes we pray wrong he answers
anyway he’s just teaching us is never
did he I can’t find one place where he
spoke to somebody of their weak faith
and then withheld an answer he would
address weak faith but then he would
provide the answer to give them access
to greater faith every answer is a place
of surrender and yielded nough so that
we stepped more fully into our design we
were designed for obedience we are
designed to represent him well so as we
look at this story
verse 35 is key do you still have your
Bibles open on the same day when evening
had come he said to them let us cross
over to the other side
let us cross over to the other side I
wonder what the will of God is hmm trial
and difficulty from the enemy’s
perspective is to dislodge me from what
God has said the serpent comes into the
garden has God said if you eat of this
fruit you will surely die see the enemy
knows that at the very center of all
that God has made his economy his way of
life everything the very center is his
voice it’s his word and God said that to
be liked and it was like so the work of
the enemy is always to dislodge me from
the most powerful expression in the
universe and that’s the voice of God the
last Adam is Jesus Christ first Adam and
the last Evan he’s baptized in water the
father proclaims over him you’re my
beloved Son in whom I’m well pleased the
next moment describes him at the end of
40 days of fasting and Satan comes to
him and says if you’re the son of God
what was the last thing Jesus heard the
father say you’re my beloved son the
serpent comes if you’re the son go so
here we have two things I personally
believe all temptation every distraction
of the enemy comes in one of two forms
either to give me a question what God
said where’s the question who I am
those two realities when they become
compromised in my heart they become
compromised in my thinking then it puts
me on very weak
weak ground to stand on when things are
shaking around you and you’re shaking
too it’s because you’re not standing on
the unshakable rock of the kingdom
that’s why insecurity is wrong security
exposed insecurity God in His mercies
just dialing up something in me so I
realize I’ve got one foot on the kingdom
here but I’ve got I’ve got part of my
identity is wrapped up in something else
and this is not healthy and that’s
shaking and I’m getting fearful and I
can question this in question that but
it’s the mercy of God saying son just
scoot over it’s good over get both feet
on the rock so that the world that can
be shaken is shaken but you stand stable
so that you are a resource of life and
strength to those that are being shaken
winds of adversity they don’t come from
the Lord but they don’t make him nervous
you don’t see Jesus having a prayer
meeting in the cabin of the boat the
disciples didn’t come in interrupt a
prayer meeting as he’s interceding that
they will survive this next test he was
so confident in the outcome he slept he
slept God’s not nervous about your
ability to confront that which is in the
way of your destiny he’s not nervous
about it he’s already set the stage for
your victory and probably in most every
case represented in this room is also
already spoken the word that is needed
to get you there the problem is is the
fear the stress the anxiety is to
dislodge me from what God has set I can
assure you when the disciples came and
woke up Jesus none of them were thinking
you said let’s go to the other side
his word is our sort
one of the aspects of the kingdom that
probably none of us like is found in
Matthew 13 where Jesus teaches this
parable of the seed in the sower and he
makes his statement he says when
tribulation or persecution persecution a
riot when tribulation or persecution
arises because of the word tribulation
conflict difficulty persecution
opposition difficulties in life
opposition alive are attracted to the
word spoken over you
I received a very significant prophetic
word from amazing person I’d never met
before they know very little about me
but my life was in another country and
they brought a very profound word
extreme detail it gave me great hope the
reality is is that what was declared now
looks more impossible than when it was
declared but as they say this isn’t my
first rodeo I know that the word of the
Lord actually attracts opposition and it
must because if there’s no opposition to
the word then I don’t have any choices
to make in the journey if I have no
choices to make then there’s no basis
for reward if I have no opportunity to
question what God has said then that
thing called the will that is like a
muscle it gets strengthened every time I
say yes and obey God as that develops in
me something is being formed in me that
qualifies me for even greater impact and
greater conflict ah bummer first part I
like second part in it but it is true it
is the way it is the way this kingdom
works and so a word is released over us
that has to be valuable enough that we
protected it says of Mary of the
prophetic words she received over Jesus
that she pondered these things in her
heart they weren’t they weren’t clay
mugs that you drink coffee with they
were crystal goblets that needed to be
behind
Glassdoor you bring out for special
occasion and examine but they’re not
things you let the grandkids play with
the word of the Lord over your life is
to be delighted in enjoyed celebrated
but not treated carelessly and when is
treated carelessly then you’re actually
inviting other people to critique what
God has spoken to you and they will chip
and they will break and they will take
this thing that is fragile and when
they’re through that it won’t look
anything like it did when it was given
to you we have a responsibility to guard
well what God says of our life it’s a
responsibility to put in a safe place to
protect I’ve told you maybe probably
probably do a place for you you might
get bored with the subject but I talked
to you time and time again about what I
do with words and prophetic words I
remember flying back last year when the
fires were going on here I was in the UK
and Benny called me said I think we lost
our home went on and on I got on a plane
flew home on the plane she texts me that
our home was spared and but I spent that
flight a large part of that flight just
reviewing prophecies why well I’m going
into into a war zone with a whole bunch
of people that I love and care for and I
don’t know what it’s going to be like so
I’ve got to make sure that I’m thinking
what God’s thinking you read the word
you read the prophetic words i reaiiy
fill my heart and mind with these I sat
on the plane that’s what I did I said my
iPad I’ve got videos I’ve got I’ve got
pages and pages I just that’s what I did
flying from the UK to San Francisco I
said then I just read word after word
looking for anything that might bolster
courage sense of purpose
sense of you know there was no word and
I didn’t expect to find a word about
fires but what I expected was to see
what God is saying and come out of it
with supernatural courage that has not
intimidated by the size of a problem
when God said let us cross over this
other side he actually gave them the
tool that would have defeated and
destroyed the mountain of opposition
and first Timothy I’ll just read it to
you
we even studied this probably three four
months ago but I can’t shake it I can’t
shake it I can’t shake it for me if I
can’t shake it for me you’re gonna hear
about it I’m gonna take it out on you is
what I’m gonna do yeah this charge I
commit to you son Timothy verse 18 of
chapter one this charge I commit to you
son Timothy according to the prophecies
previously made concerning you by them
waged a good warfare by them the word
did not come simply to gratify be the
word did not come simply to for me to
feel good about my life
those are good but it’s not the whole
picture
it’s also to build in me a sense of
responsibility
Paul said a soldier is committed is not
committed to many tasks but he embraces
one to please the one who enlisted him
in the in the war in the army I quoted
it bad but you get the principle when
the Lord gives you a word it’s a divine
assignment for a conflict sometimes
they’re won easily sometimes sometimes a
person gets make a decree and it’s
settled sometimes there’s an act of
obedience sometimes sacrifice in any
area of life if financial breakthrough
sometimes a gift somewhere helps to
break that thing loose you have to look
for the breakthrough points in our life
sometimes it’s not in in an act it’s in
perseverance in an act it’s it’s it’s
saying it over and over again it’s it’s
generosity over and over again it’s
stepping outside of my comfort zone over
and over again and praying for this
person ministering to this one it’s it’s
repeated it’s repeating the same gesture
that he drew us into but in this
KACE adversity came that God knew they
could handle but they had their rudder
and sail set in a way then instead of
going further into who they were and
designed by God to confront mountains of
opposition they went away from that and
cried out for help Jesus save the day
put him back on track I’m glad that he
puts us back on track but but the design
remains the same this word will get you
through the next mountain this word as
as we sing tonight will turn the wall
into a way this decree just use it well
use it well minister to yourself I’ll
wrap this up I think probably going long
enough so let me let me just end it with
this in Ephesians 6 we have this
wonderful description of the armor of
God the helmet of salvation breastplate
of righteousness people ask did you put
on your armor this morning my responses
nope
I didn’t I but I didn’t take it off when
I went to bed last night so I found it
smartest to sleep with the armor on so
that’s that’s my mode of operation so
alright so you’ve got the shield of
faith the sword of the Spirit feet the
gospel of peace etc the sword in this
analogy is not one of those long sword
fighting swords it’s actually it’s like
a dagger I guess it would be suited for
hand-to-hand combat if that was
necessary but the other thing was useful
for is that if an arrow got past my
shield of faith and actually lodged into
me that dagger would help me to remove
what got past my faith
what has God spoken to you sometimes we
sometimes we get stuck to that fiery
dark but we just didn’t see it coming I
just didn’t see it coming we didn’t know
that that person would betray us we
didn’t know that that criticism would
rise up we didn’t know that that
opposition would come our way we didn’t
know that this deal that was sure that
work would actually fall we didn’t know
that he knew it and so he gave us a
sword that can help to remove the fiery
darts that got passed our faith man
shall not live by bread alone but by
every word that proceeds out of the
mouth of God God’s Word his voice
actually sustains life you are actually
breathing because God spoke your cells
of your body are held in place because
he spoke all things are held together
simply by this decree that God has made
if God can speak and light is formed if
God can speak and you who are destined
for eternity apart from God are now part
of the family of God because he spoke
then certainly the word he spoke over
your life can handle the wall and turn
it into a way don’t you Stan
one of my biggest cries is that the Lord
would give us a second third fourth
fifth hundredth chance to remember what
he said and he’s kind enough to do that
but but the point is I actually want to
bring it to mind this time because I’m
determined to hold to what he said
regardless of what goes on around me the
one thing I will do is that will guard
well that what God has spoken over my
life I don’t always know how things are
supposed to work I don’t always know my
role but I know I have a responsibility
to guard well what God has set you are
at your best in obedience
we we function in the fullness of our
design in our yes
and every time we say yes to the Lord we
strengthen a muscle the will that has
great impact on our destiny
I’ve asked you before I’ve asked people
the number of times when we worship why
doesn’t Jesus just manifest himself in
all of his glory while we’re here
because then our worship wouldn’t be
voluntary you see him in his glory
everybody’s on their face
there’s no choosing and the Lord likes
to restrain himself in measure so that
we have the opportunity to make the
right choice to strengthen the will that
is so deeply connected with the heart of
God that he can actually trust us to
pray for whatever we want and it will be
done for us he’s building us into a
generation that represent him well since
Jesus never had an unanswered prayer it
might be good if we find out what he’s
praying and praying put a hand on
someone next year pray for them they
need help
hey they need help more than they know
they need help I want you to pray for –
I would should pray for them regarding
this God remind them of any word that
they have forgotten any word that’s not
at the forefront of their thinking that
they would steward will give them the
grace to steward well all that you have
said all that you have spoken all that
you have spoken pray for them pray God
help help them to adjust the direction
of their heart so that both favor and
difficulty drives them further into the
will and purposes of God
thank you God
thank you thank you thank you Lord God
keep printing push into it a little bit
further
the Lord will increase your insight on
how to pray those of you that are
watching on Bethel TV we make the same
declaration over you that every
household every house of faith every
individual is step more fully more
deeply into this beautiful
representation of who Jesus is what he’s
like you were designed for obedience
we’ve become our best saying yes to
Jesus and I pray that over everybody in
this room God enhanced the yes enhance
the yes give a supernatural courage for
the deep deep yes of God
supernatural courage for the deep deep
yes of God
thank you lord I will give you all my
worship I will give you all my praise
you want to wash it you are Harvey of my
brain I will give you all my share I’ll
give you all my praise you are I long to
worship you all I’ll sing it again
Harvey you are my master
[Music]
you
[Music]
I get fascinated with people in
Scripture that got it right and how they
got it right
one of the most impacting individuals in
the Bible for me personally is David it
was a king he ministered as a priest
before the Lord Acts chapter 2 described
him as a prophet he was this package
that seemed to well represent Jesus
David was the king of Israel the most
powerful nation on the planet he was
greatly feared because of his military
strength but it wasn’t just physical
strength it was the fact that God fought
with him he was feared by everyone he
was respected by everyone he was
treasured by his own nation and I want
you to hear the words of the man who in
this moment in time had the greatest
wind a favour blowing on his life
certainly more than most who have ever
lived if not more than anyone who ever
lived up to that time and this is what
he said he’s the Lord my heart is not
haughty my eyes lofty I don’t concern
myself with great matters nor were
things too profound for me surely I’ve
calmed and quieted my soul like a weaned
child with his mother like a weaned
child is my soul within me Oh Israel
hoping the Lord from this time forth see
the favor of God did increase his
self-confidence self-confidence is no
greater than self
the favor of God increases God
dependency so father increased the god
dependency like David we just choose
simplicity of thought simplicity of
heart simplicity of life at the end of
the day we just want to know that we did
what you celebrated what you directed
lord I give you my heart I give you my
soul I live for you every breath that I
take every moment I’m away would have
your
in me Lord I gave you haha
I give you my every breath oh Lord haha
in me thank you so much father thank you
that you’ve entrusted to us this
priceless wonderful holy spirit thank
you that you’ve entrusted us with your
your word your word with never which
never lacks power and I ask that tonight
you take us little little deeper into
this thing of using your word well not
for self-promotion of herself gain but
to establish your purposes in the earth
that never again what we find ourselves
cowering in front of a mountain of
opposition but instead we’d be searching
for what you’ve said what did you say
about this before I got here how did you
prepare me for this moment how did you
set the stage to ensure victory I said
you’d give that grace to every person in
this room in Jesus mighty name amen amen
amen
come on up let’s how we want to be able
to pray for folks let’s have a ministry
team come on up
thanks papa bill can we just thank you
all my god we are we are gonna have our
ministry team come up for some prayer
but before we move on if you heard Papa
Bill speak and you’re in this room and
you don’t know Jesus you don’t have the
peace in the middle of the storm I just
felt like there was an invitation from
the Lord to actually receive Jesus into
your life for the first time as Lord and
Savior if that’s you or maybe you’ve
just been far off and you felt the Lord
speaking to you about coming back to him
and letting him lead your life again
would you just be bold and brave enough
to put your hand up in the air is that
anyone here tonight don’t wait don’t
wait he loves you he’s calling you all
right we’re all family thanks Jesus okay
so we have ministry team up in the front
if you would like to be prayed for for
healing or for breakthrough or anything
of that sort we have people in the front
we’re gonna play music and you are
welcome to come up we’ll have our
ministry team put their hands up in the
air if they’re available and you can go
to the next person who’s got their hand
up