Fathers impart blessing on people and favor on the works in their book. The people, their book and their works are strategic ingredients in reformation. Their works flow out of the purpose in their book. God favors those people and work. Father’s connect those dots and impart that favor.
Getting saved is easy – accept Jesus, experience His presence, and go to heaven. Living out our lives on earth is the tricky part. We want to be the faithful who multiplied their talents and heard, “Well done!” from our Father. We want to be fruitful in ministry to people, prosperous in the natural and be living epistles who display the favor and glory of our Father.
The problem is, most of us don’t feel that way. In fact, most aren’t clear enough on our direction to be strongly committed to anything! The metrics for success on people with no serious goals are always discouraging. To intellectually defend this lack of direction, many believers have a theology of grace without works – that performance leads you away from spirituality.
Created for works – The truth is God’s favor is on His kids to do works and co-labor with Him – works are very relational. We were created with those works in mind and we get to decide whether to do them or not. We really will be ‘measured’ and rewarded based on that voluntary decision! When we do things in the name of Jesus, the implication is that we’re part of God’s family doing His business. His sons carry their Father’s name and do His works.
Ps. 139:15-16 – My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. NIV
Eph. 2:10 – For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. NIV
Col. 3:17 – And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. KJV
Rev. 20:12 – And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. KJV
Favor – Charis is the Greek word for both grace and favor. There is a sense of His grace being unmerited when we get saved. The tragedy of the grace doctrine is that it’s prone to separate us from committing to the “work” written in our book. Favor is free but not unmerited; God favors those who work with Him. He doesn’t favor couch potatoes even if they are saved by grace. The problem is the jobs and businesses in our mountain don’t always ‘feel’ spiritual or favored! Why not?
Acts 14:26-27 – From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed (paradidomi) to the grace (favor) of God for the work they had now completed. NIV
Acts 15:40-41 – but Paul chose Silas and left, commended (paradidomi) by the brothers to the grace/favor of the Lord. NIV
Paradidomi – para (over), didomi (to give) = to give over to or commit.
These verses point to a conscious effort to commit or surrender people to God’s favor for the sake of the works in their book. They imparted God’s favor by knowing what was in the person’s book! The next obvious question is, “What should I commit to?” Why should God favor me? What are the “works” written in my book?
Works of faith and the labor of love – The formula for a well-lived life that multiplies talents on earth and pleases the Father in heaven is simple.
1 Thess. 1:3 – constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope NASU
Works of faith are rooted in the Father’s heart, and labor of love has roots in what thrills our heart. When our hearts and God’s heart are on the same page, we are integral with our destiny. What is written in our book is integral with what the Father wrote in our hearts. Co-laboring with the Father and experiencing his favor in our work is exhilarating. We each have specific assignments that can be discovered and completed. Doing works in Jesus’ name is doing them with His power working in us. Working with the Father is a big part of experiencing His love and leads to amazing demonstrations of His power – more than we can ask or imagine.
Eph 3:18-21 – grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us NIV
When things go wrong – What if there is no fruit or I experience delays or setbacks? Well, you will – that’s life! The constant is knowing that you’re working on something your Father is also working on; whether it’s easy or hard, fast or slow, with or without warfare. We have the satisfaction of giving our lives to what is written in our book and experiencing the pleasure of our Father. Our work or business can be a labor of love and a stream of favor when it has roots in both my Father’s heart and my heart.
How to put this to work in your life – to be honest, “commitment” and “accountability” are cringe-worthy for most because they point to working against your own heart to deploy the agenda of someone else. There are several kinds of works:
- Works of the law (the self-righteous, religious dung of scribes and Pharisees)
- Dead works (good intentions that didn’t originate with God and get burned up)
- Works of the flesh (garden variety carnality consumed on our lust)
- Works of faith that originate with our Father and elicit His favor (co-laboring)
You’re looking for #4 because it’s self-propelled. Your heart is already energized to love these initiatives enough to be faithful, creative, industrious, and productive. Father is ready to put His miraculous favor on these initiatives to do what is impossible in our own strength.
Works are spiritual and practical – God’s favor manifests in both spiritual ministry for people and practical leadership skills that get real results in the real world. “Works” is always some combination of words and deeds: 1) spiritual gifts that miraculously bless people, and 2) the creation of value evident in products or services that result in wealth and cash flow. Wisdom and wealth are closely connected as Biblical concepts. Even words like righteousness convey prosperity from the favor of God. Daniel is a great example of highs and lows; obscurity and influence; poverty and wealth.
Dan. 5:12 – This was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel NASU
Dan. 6:3 – Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. NASU
Volunteer for your assignment – You can open your book, find your assignment and go to work. If you want to be clear enough to commit to your path forward, we recommend www.OnlineHeartPlan.com. Check it out. You can connect with what God wrote in your heart and multiply it on earth. It’s fun! Your work of faith and labor of love are worth pursuing. It’s a perfect fit for your heart.
Being surrendered to your work in your mountain is worship. It blesses your Father’s heart to have you work with Him.
Rom. 12:1-2 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. NIV
Words and works – Christians can be prone to preach more than practice because the model of ministry in meetings is preaching and pulpit oriented. The Kingdom manifesting in seven mountains creates room for powerful actions that change cultures and nations. Now, we’re seeing God raise up great examples of mighty works. Words have much more power on the foundation of works. “Show me, don’t tell me.”
Luke 24:19-20 – “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. NIV
Acts 7:22-23 – “Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds. NASU
1 Cor. 4:20-21 – For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. NIV
Col. 3:17 – And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. KJV
2 Thess. 2:17 – encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. NIV
1 John 3:18-19 – Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. NASU
