Push a Good Man Down and He Floats Up: Supernatural Favour

Sermon outline

A believer who loves instruction and lives by God's Word walks in supernatural favour: God surrounds him like a shield, His favour lasts a lifetime, and it makes him prosper wherever he goes.

1. The preacher taught the people knowledge

   Because the preacher was wise, he taught the people knowledge, so the foundation of all preaching is to impart knowledge. God's people perish for lack of it, and without knowledge of the Word on a subject you cannot have faith for it, so everyone needs their own Bible.

   Illustration: He has the church read the verse aloud together and then again 'loudly', borrowing a neighbour's Bible if they have none.

   “If you don't have knowledge about a certain thing from the word you won't have faith for that thing.”

   • Ecclesiastes 12:9
   • Hosea 4:6

2. Live within the boundaries of the Word

   A congregation contains people with poverty and sickness mentalities and people who think their lot in life is God's portion, and they often fight the Word when it is taught. Anything outside the boundaries of God's Word is not godly counsel, however much it was taught in religious circles or by a preacher's opinion. Do not bring the Word down to your circumstances; take the Word and speak to your circumstances.

   “Do not bring the word of God down to these circumstances.”

3. You know the mind of God

   A born-again believer cannot say 'I don't know the will of God', because God's Spirit lives in him as His temple and the path of the righteous shines brighter and brighter. Change your language: I have the mind of Christ, I function in the wisdom of God, I am not confused. The Holy Spirit tells him that the power to change your future and destiny is in your own hands.

   “The language of born again child of God, son of God, daughter of God need to talk: I know the mind of God.”

   • 1 Corinthians 6:19
   • Proverbs 4:18
   • 1 Corinthians 2:16

4. Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge

   Proverbs says that whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is foolish. Teaching on prosperity is not about money but about the kingdom's law of seedtime and harvest. New members should not judge a preacher after two sermons, but listen, catch up on the teaching and wait for revelation. He himself is always ready to learn like a sponge and to practise what he hears, because the Christian life is dry if the Word is not put into practice.

   Illustration: Giving the church only dessert would make it bloated and fat; sometimes it needs instruction so it can make the right choices.

   “It's a very dry life if you are not putting the word of God to practice.”

   • Proverbs 12:1
   • Genesis 8:22
   • 2 Timothy 3:17

5. Walk like kings and priests

   Believers are kings and priests, and a king carries himself with dignity and chooses his words carefully. Ushers, deacons, leaders and pastors should treat people with respect, call them 'sir', greet visitors warmly and even give up their seats. People who do not know who they are behave badly, but if you know who you are, no one can lessen your value.

   Illustration: Imagine a king announced on national television who slouches in like a hooligan, or a queen who speaks to the nation without preparing her words. If you give your seat to a visitor and sit on the step, you have lost nothing.

   “If you know who you are, no one can lessen your value.”

   • Revelation 1:6

6. A good man obtains favour from the Lord

   Favour means kindness, goodwill and approval, even 'unfair partiality or favouritism': to God you are His favourite. It does not matter who disfavours you, because when you are marinated in God's favour you walk without fear. Grow in the Word precept upon precept, and when your heart is full like a cloud full of rain, prosperity will burst out of your life.

   Illustration: In a pool he pushed an inflated ball to the bottom and let go; it shot up, and God told him no one can keep a good man down. Years ago, after a woman took a parking bay he was about to enter, he began trusting God for parking and has seen it over and over; he walks into empty shops and by the time he is served there are ten or fifteen customers behind him. Now, he told his wife, he sometimes only thinks of something and someone phones to give it to him.

   “If you are pushed down you'll float up.”

   • Proverbs 12:2
   • Isaiah 28:10
   • Ecclesiastes 11:3

7. With favour He will surround you as a shield

   Those who trust God can rejoice because He defends them, so you do not have to defend yourself. With favour He surrounds the righteous as a shield: people who come to attack you see only the favour of the Lord, and those who plot against you at work may be the ones who leave.

   Illustration: He calls several men, including Pastor Wes, to stand around him with their backs to him, showing how favour blocks attackers who come from the front, the side and the back.

   “With favor, He surrounds me.”

   • Psalm 5:11-12

8. His favour is for a lifetime

   God's anger lasts a moment, but His favour is for life, and even beyond to your children and their children. So enjoy the ride, and do not fight your own fights: God is your shield and will fight for you. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning, when sickness, lack and bad reports turn around.

   Illustration: He says he used to be 'a fight waiting to happen', angry with everyone and afraid of nothing, until the Lord dealt with him year by year and taught him to sit back while God fought for him. The day before, he told a pastor he was counselling, 'Don't fight your fight.'

   “Don't fight your fight. God will fight your fights.”

   • Psalm 30:4-5

9. In my prosperity I shall not be moved

   The psalmist says 'now in my prosperity', not 'when God prospers me'. When God prospers you, do not forget His house or the tithe, which is holy to the Lord: give the first tenth and the other nine-tenths are blessed and multiply. God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants, in their relationships, work, finances and spiritual walk.

   “If you give the first tenth, the other nine tenths is blessed.”

   • Psalm 30:6
   • Leviticus 27:30
   • Psalm 113:7
   • Psalm 119:18
   • Psalm 35:27

10. Saturated with the anointing: your little becomes much

    God puts a fortress around those He loves and saturates them with the anointing, so attackers' hands slip off and the devil's yoke has no size to fit your anointed neck. A believer's hundred rand stretches like a thousand. Talk to God as His friend, as Abraham and Enoch did, lay your anointed hands on your wallet, declare every bill paid, and give the first fruit as an offering.

    Illustration: He asks for a wallet and shows the church how to lay hands on their money and speak to it.

    “Your little becomes much.”

    • Isaiah 10:27
    • James 2:23
    • Genesis 5:24

11. At His word: favour with those over you

    Peter was a skilled fisherman who caught nothing all night, but at the word of Jesus he let down the net on the other side and the boat began to sink. When you act on God's Word, your boat will sink with His goodness. Those struggling with managers and supervisors will receive exceptional favour, as Joseph, Daniel and Esther did, and he says he will carry on the next Sunday.

    Illustration: Your manager may not agree with your faith, yet he will say, 'I don't know, there's something in my heart about this man.'

    “Your boat will sink with the favor of the Lord.”

    • Luke 5:4-7
    • Esther 2:15