STRATEGIC FAVOR

 

© Morris Ruddick

 

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God.” Isaiah 61: 1-2

 

This Messianic passage in Isaiah is rich with the central truth needed to address the issues of this hour: the Gospel of the Kingdom. It speaks of the anointing to release change, restoration and transformation: an anointing for dominion. That anointing combines with an authority to proclaim a dynamic needed to unlock and facilitate the process: the authority for favor.

 

The Lord has called us as agents of change in a time of change. While Jesus was very clear in saying that His followers are “sent-out” ones; He indicated that as ambassadors of change we would be as sheep among wolves. Yet, within this pressure cooker environment would operate a catalyst to the change, despite adversity and backlash. That catalyst is favor.

 

The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes favor as: “ a quality that arouses approbation; friendly regard, goodwill, or esteem shown toward another, especially by a superior .” It is “ the act of approving or the state of being approved of; kindness especially when marked by benevolence in the agent or great gratification in the one benefiting; a special privilege or right granted or conceded; in one's good graces .”

 

For the believing community, the strategic favor noted in Isaiah 61 is divine intervention infused into impossible and hopelessly dark situations to release results that defy the odds. The authority for favor is the authority granted to proclaim God's dominion and reverse curses to bring about the blessings of God in hostile and oppressive environments. The dynamic of strategic favor is pivotal to the process of transformation.

 

The Body has been through a long preparation for what we now face. The Gospel of Salvation has been driven by the message of faith. Both are foundational. Yet, over the last generation, the Church has come from one having a largely disjointed, localized, in-bred influence to emerging as one with an orientation that is far more mature, connected and mobilized. It is bridging the gap to making a societal transforming impact reflected by the elements of this prophecy in Isaiah.

 

The context is a world whereby the perception is considered the reality. It has almost become a tenet of faith that marketing rules the world. Success has become measured by the glitter of your press release, the achievement expectation and the names you drop.

 

Yet, from the Torah to the teachings of Jesus is the plumb line for reality. This Isaiah 61 passage reflects a gate that is narrow and a pathway that is difficult and focused on the type of service that brings change and carries a cost. It is the gateway and path to trigger the level of favor required to release the transformation needed for this hour.

 

True reality will be defined by those Kingdom paradoxes that challenge the wide gate and self-promotional and manipulative mantras marking the orientation adopted by this age's superstars: Jesus admonished us to get beyond ourselves with the words: “He who loves his life will lose it.” He went on to address the need to overcome the short-sided worldview through which we process reality: “Whoever thinks he is wise in the age, let him become a fool that he become wise.” He likewise called for humility and service as the true indicators of leadership: “Let he who is greatest among you become the least and the leader as a servant.”

 

GATEWAYS TO FAVOR

The gateways to the release of favor frequently are stepping stones leading to a higher or a more strategic positioning of those called as agents of transformation. Yet, there will be times when these gateways mark such a release of favor that it brings forth the first levels of the change.

 

Favor Actuated by the Demonstration of God's Blessing . The people of the world are looking for something more. In the West, there is an emptiness and discontent brought by the constant seduction of the illusions of reality and empty trappings of success. There is a nagging awareness of there being a “something more” to it all. In the non-Western world that “something more” being sought far too often involves the necessities of life. In both instances people are looking for the reality of God operating in our midst.

 

At every stage in Joseph's tenure in Egypt, he walked in a favor that defied the odds. When he was a slave in Potipher's house, those around him recognized the reality of God operating in all that he put his hand to.

“ The Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man and every saw that the Lord was with Joseph and made all that he did to prosper. ” Genesis 39: 2,4

 

Favor Actuated by Service . Jesus spoke of going the extra mile. People who are not seen as being out for themselves begin to be trusted. That trust becomes the foundation for favor. When Joseph the Patriarch was in prison, he served. He just didn't sit in his cell and sulk. When there was a need, he did what he knew to do and he served. That service brought favor and promotion. Like in Potipher's house, the jailer promoted Joseph to oversee the needs of the other prisoners.

“ The Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison .” Genesis 39: 21

 

Favor Actuated by the Anointing of Leaders . When oppression reigns, it is apparent for all to see. So when Moses returned to Egypt as deliverer, a very interesting dynamic took place. The Egyptians, even those in direct service to Pharaoh, looked up to and took heart in the steps Moses was making. The result was that the Israelites began enjoying favor from the Egyptians around them because of Moses.

“ Moreover Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people, so that the LORD gave His people favor in the sight of the Egyptians .” Exodus 11:3

 

THE PATHWAY OF FAVOR

The Torah outlines the standard for leaders and the basis for community interaction. It says this: “ Teach them the statutes and principles and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Then select from all the people able men, such as fear God; men of truth, hating covetousness…” Exodus 18:20

 

Blessing Persecutors . Jesus' earthly ministry set in motion the statutes and principles, along with the pathways for us to enter what was reflected by the most frequent words He used to announce His ministry: “ The Kingdom of God is at hand .” Jesus reconnected people to God who had lost hope and concluded that the pathway to Him was impossible. He restored people back to God and established the foundations for reclaiming dominion and establishing the Kingdom of God. Within that context He spent time addressing the difficult path to change, by outlining the Kingdom-minded response to persecution, oppression and adversity. The reality He imparted included the following words:

“So, I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.” Matthew 5:44, 45

 

Sacrifice of Self . In his second letter to the Corinthians (chapter 4), the Apostle Paul wrote about the exchange required to release the power of God. He spoke of the treasure of our faith and the conflicts that will result from the confrontations of Light and darkness. He also noted that the impact of imparting Life by the power of the Spirit would result in walking a narrow pathway that would constantly be skirting death.

“He who loves his life will lose it, but he who hates his life in this world will gain for eternal life.” John 12:24-25

 

Wisdom Beyond This Age . Wisdom is grasping reality beyond the superficial. It is based on a long-term perspective that goes beyond the blindness of the self-orientation and its consequent dependence on a worldview constrained by the societal framework of an era. Since its beginning, the SIGN ministry has operated on the premise of what we refer to as “the Issachar context,” of understanding the times and knowing what to do. The “knowing what to do,” is not based on conforming to the standards of the age we live in, but rather leveraging what we know to enable realistic steps toward the restoration yearned for in the heart of God.

“Whoever thinks he is wise in the age, let him become a fool that he become wise.” 1 Cor 3:18

 

Leaders that Serve . True service can never be the result of anything other than operating as a God-pleaser. Service that is driven by insecurity or being a man-pleaser will fall short. The favor of God flows from time spent with Him and is more than enough to employ the wisdom and discernment to be a true leader, which is a servant-leader.

“Let he who is greatest among you become the least and the leader as a servant.” Lk 22:25-27

 

THE AUTHORITY TO OPENS GATES THAT BRING CHANGE

The Honor of Jabez. The prayer of Jabez contains the elements--- honor; blessing, enlargement and the hand of the Lord --- needed for the favor and authority to reverse the curse. The scripture says that Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. Honor is the response of the people around you to how you rightly respond to the reality around you. Joseph operated as an honorable man with God always being seen at the forefront in all that he did. So, Jabez asked for not just the blessing of God and its tie to favor; but the hand of God, which was the authority to bestow those blessings. The result was and will be the reverse of the curse and enlargement. The pivotal factor is favor.

 

The Key of David : Both Isaiah 22 and Revelation 3 speak of the key of David. It is a key of authority that opens doors, as well as shuts doors. It is an authority that is bestowed, but it is bestowed upon leaders whose hearts toward both the people, as well as God's purposes, are in alignment with The Father's heart. It is an authority to unlock, which will be given to those genuinely called as catalysts of transformation.

 

Establishing Dominion . God created man to rule over the work of His hands. However, that only works in cooperation with Him. When that interaction takes places it releases the blessings of God. Good overcomes evil. So, when the goodness that comes from God is unselfishly imparted by His ambassadors; restoration and change is released.

 

The cycle begins with the blessings of God accompanying those walking in His favor. Within the context of operating in recognized reality, the blessings of God in turn activate a response of favor to the things of God and people of God. That in turn actuates the authority of God. At each stage in Joseph's tenure in Egypt, “ everyone saw that the Lord was with Joseph and made all that he did to prosper .”

 

When those in authority over Joseph recognized God's authority operating through him, they entrusted him with their authority. It happened with Potipher. It continued with the jailer and was the means by which Joseph was promoted to sit along side of Pharaoh.

“Pharaoh said: ‘Can we find such a man as this, a man in whom is the spirit of God? Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as wise and discerning as you are. You shall be over my house and all my people shall be ruled according to your word.'” Genesis 41: 38-41

 

At issue is the authority to reverse the curse. This authority will be based on trust and accompanied with the byproducts of favor for those serving as His ambassadors: promotion, provision, influence and protection. The authority to reverse the curse will not take place until the people of the world, within the context of the realities of their communities, economies and nations, see the demonstration of the reality of God operating in their midst --- and respond with the favor that unlocks and clears the way on these pathways. It will be the bottom-up strategies of transformation igniting the top-down efforts.

 

STRATEGIC FAVOR AND SET-TIMES

The year of the Lord's favor involves set times. When the settings and times marked by an extreme convergence between the forces of good and the forces of evil, combine with the divinely orchestrated thrust of those paying the cost of traversing that narrow path, God will sovereignly intervene. Historically until now, the clashes of good and evil that have resulted in a time of His favor have yet to be taken over the top.

 

Ours is the first generation emerging with both a connected, mobilized, mature Body and a global reach that is genuinely global in its potential for impact. The anointing for dominion and the authority for favor represent key catalysts for “the shift” currently underway. God's time of favor will release the fire of God that consumes corruption and oppression and reverses the curse. The time of the Lord's favor is a time of restoration. It will be the response of the world, from the least to the greatest, to those not just talking the talk, but demonstrating the reality of the Lord operating in their midst. It is foundational to an explosion and spread of transformational wildfire that will restore His Kingdom.

 

“Yours O Lord is the greatness and the power and glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and earth is Yours. Yours is the dominion and You do exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You and You do rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great, and to strengthen. Now therefore our God, we thank you and praise Your glorious Name .” I Chron 29: 11-13

 

" Now Lord, these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power and strong hand. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to those who desire to fear Your name; and let us prosper this day and grant us favor.. ." Nehemiah 1:5-11

 

 

Morris Ruddick is the founder of the God's Economy Entrepreneurial Program, which imparts hope and equips believers in lands of oppression and persecution as economic community builders. He is also the author of “The Joseph-Daniel Calling” and “God's Economy, Israel and the Nations,” each of which address God's mobilization of the economic and community dimensions of His Word. They are available from Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and other popular outlets.

 

2007 Copyright Morris Ruddick — info@strategic-initiatives.org

 

Reproduction is prohibited unless permission is given by a SIGN advisor. Since 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic intercessors committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For more information on SIGN, check: www.strategicintercession.org