Formula: A recipe or prescription; any fixed or conventional way of doing something; any plan or method for doing something well; etc
Induce: To bring about or give rise; to cause something to happen; to persuade someone to do something; to call forth or bring about by persuasion or influence; to arouse; etc.
Formula to induce Divine favour: a recipe or prescription to bring about Divine favour; a fixed or conventional way of persuading God to do something; a plan or method to arouse God’s favour.
The word ‘induce’ or ‘induction’ is closely related to childbirth. The human gestational period is about 38 weeks. But at times, babies decide to stay longer than that, such that when it’s after 40 weeks, the physicians begin to consider induction. They will give the woman a recipe or prescription that arouses labour when the woman’s body has not commenced it yet. The body then adjust to the induction and the baby is born.
The question one might ask is can a man induce God? Knowing fully well that God is God, and He has the power to do whatever He wants and when He wants it done.
Yet, I have found out through the scriptures that it is possible to arouse God’s favours; when it otherwise would not or should not have happened.
Bible scholars will know that King Ahab was an evil ruler in Israel. During his reign, himself and his wife – Jezebel sunk Israel into deep idolatry and kindled the anger of God. Ahab and his wife, therefore, deserved serious punishment from God; which God promised He will do and had communicated to Ahab himself via Prophet Elijah. But who will think that such a man as Ahab would find favour with God; such that God postponed the intended punishment?
I Kings 21: 17-29 – Dogs were to lick his blood outside the city gate where Naboth was killed. Calamity was to befall his family in his lifetime. His descendants were to be consumed. All his sons and even male slaves will die. His house will become desolate. Dogs will eat his wife body in the capital city of Jezreel. Corpses of his family members will not be available for burial: in the city dogs, outside the city birds shall eat.
Ahab reigned for 22 years. He died from an arrow wound from war, but he was buried properly. Just that dogs still licked his blood as God had said when they washed his chariot, where his blood had spilled.
We don’t want to live an ungodly life like Ahab; but what did a wicked person like him do to arouse Divine favour? If we children of God can do the same; then we can attract God’s favour also.
Ahab rent his clothes; put sackcloth upon himself; fasted; lay in sackcloth, and went about softly/meekly. God translated that to be humbled.
I Kings 21: 29 – See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house.
Formula 1: Humility
God loves humble people. He cherishes them greatly. He even helps them. He kind of respect them as well. He blessed them and favours them. On the contrary, God hates the proud and He even fights against them.
Psalms 138:6 – Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly, But the proud He knows from afar.
Prov. 3:34 – Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.
Luke 1: 52 – He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.
James 4:6 – God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.
I Peter 5: 6 – Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time
What extended the life of this evil king was humility before God; even though it was for a short time. God rewarded him with longer life; more years on the throne; the privilege of not witnessing the death of his children, and the postponement of the calamity foretold upon his lineage.
- May God favour you with long life. Enthrone you till eternity. You will not bury any of your descendants. No calamity will befall your household in Jesus name.
What a favoured man Moses was. About the only mortal that saw God physically (Ex. 33:18-23); spoke to God in person (Ex. 33:11); and wrought such miracles as never was and may never be (Dt. 34:10-12). God was his Undertaker (Dt. 34:5-6). He was a Chief Adviser to Jesus on Ministry matters (Mt. 17: 1-3). Moses secret was that he employed certain formulas that did arouse Divine favours upon his life.
Moses was a humble fellow. He did not pride himself in position, power or authority.
Heb. 11: 24-26 – 24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
He was very meek. He did not wield the power in his possession anyhow. He was gentle, to the extent that God Himself had to be defending him.
Num. 12:1-15
- May God preserve your place eternally in His kingdom. May you be a special vessel in the hands of Jehovah. May God wrought wonders through you and for you in Jesus name.
Formula 2: Service in propagating the gospel: in His temple; to the poor; strangers; widows; orphan; prisoners; to the lost; etc.
God created us for His pleasure. He gave us free will to express this. whenever God sees people who use their free will to serve Him, He is delighted and rewards such people with His favours.
Job 36: 11-12 – If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures. 12 But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.
John 12:26 – If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honour.
Mt. 25:21 – His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
God did not only expect us to serve Him; He has expectation on how the service must be done to attract favours. E.g.
Psalms 100:2 – Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.
People who served God faithfully are always favoured by Him. There were over 600,000 men that left the bondage in Egypt for the Promised Land; out of these, only 2 were able to make it, because they were God’s servant.
Num. 14: 24 – But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.
Judges 2:8 – Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died when he was one hundred and ten years old.
Thank God we are sons and daughters of the Most High God by accepting the work of grace done by Jesus Christ. But are we also God’s servant? Do you serve God? What are you doing for Him?
Of what significance is a son/daughter that does not serve his/her father/mother? If there were 2 children; and one serves their parent, while the other did not. Which one will be favoured more by the parent?
Mt. 21: 28-31 – “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.
Our earthly and eternal reward; including continual favours with God is inherent in our service. Become a faithful servant of God today.
Formula 3: The right spirit
Our God is omniscient. He knows all things and sees all things. No one can deceive or trick Him. The best actions may be done with a bad intention, man may not know, but God knows. Such that God does not only reward the deed/actions of men; He rewards based on the motive and intent of the heart.
Caleb – Num. 14:24 – But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.
Joshua – Num. 27:18-21 – And the Lord said to Moses: “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate[d] him in their sight. 20 And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the Lord for him by the judgment of the Urim. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him—all the congregation.
David – Acts 13:22 – And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.
I Sam. 2:3 – Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the Lord is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed.
I Sam. 16:7 – But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
Prov. 16: 2 – All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits.
Prov. 21:2 – Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.
Prov. 24: 12 – If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?
There were many bad kings in Israel in those days; the Bible, however, mentioned that King Amaziah did what was right in the sight of God; but alas he did not do so with a perfect heart. That worked against him. He eventually fell into error (2 Chron. 25: 1-28).
– Hire soldiers; sacrificed to God of Edom; Challenge Israel king; Taken captive.
With what spirit are you relating to God and serving him? Is your spirit right? God will never accept the kind of Cain’s offering from any man. Anything you do in the name of ‘Let’s just, so that…’, God will not accept it. Rather it must be ‘Let’s go up at once…’.
Formula 4: Complete obedience. Follow God fully.
The God we have chosen to follow is a jealous God. He is the Creator of all things, so He can not share His glory with anything or being.
There are many gods that men can worship. Hindus recognise 33 million gods; the Egyptians have about 490 gods. As believers, though we claim that we believe in the Almighty God; but do we follow Him fully?
Caleb followed God fully. Num. 14:24 – But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.
Joshua followed God fully. Jos. 14: 8 – Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.
David followed God fully. Acts 13:22 – And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
No wonder they all enjoyed the favour of God in their lifetime.
Jesus told us that the greatest of all commandment in Mt. 22: 35-38.
Many years ago, in elementary Economics, I was taught the concept of ‘Scale of Preference’.
The list of wants or needs that a person writes or comes up with in order of importance.
All desires of consumers are not of equal urgency or importance. Since man resources are limited and he cannot fulfil all his desire, he must pick and choose more important and more urgent desires for satisfaction, and postpone the less important ones.
For many Christians, following God fully and obeying Him completely is sadly the less important on our scale of preference. Which should not be so.
It was the same for Abraham up to a point where God had to call his attention to it.
Gen. 17: 1 – And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Do you want to enjoy increasing and continuous favours of God?
Employ these four formulas and watch how you will swim in God’s special favours.
Be humble before God;
Serve God faithfully;
Have a right spirit within you;
Follow God with the whole of your heart.
Prayers
Father, help me to be humble
Father, help me to serve you faithfully
Father, help me to possess the right spirit.
Father, help me to obey You completely and follow You fully.
The sermon was delivered on May 26, 2019.
