How To Find Favour With God by Archbishop Benson Idahosa: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Don't write God's unexpected action out of your life. Just in case you have laid out your life and said, "I'm going to be a lawyer, a teacher, a doctor" — say it: "if God permits me" — because you may find that you were reading law in order to read the Bible. When God redirects, there is no appeal.

Mary: Highly Favoured

Luke 1:26-28 — In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her: "Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women."

Here is a girl, probably between 18 and 24 years old. Never before found in controversy, never before found in trouble. And then a man came — not a human being, but God's agent — knocking at her door, saying: "Mary, I have a message for you. You are highly favoured among all women."

Mary must have said: "Do you know where you are? It's the wrong address."

You may improve on your skill. You may improve on your intelligence and your intellectual approach. But if God favours you, you cannot improve on it.

Nobody had ever heard of Mary before. Suddenly, by God's divine intervention, she was told that among all women on earth she was going to make a difference.

Luke 1:30 — The angel said: "Fear not, Mary, for you have found favour with God."

There are many people whose creation has not yet been revealed. God wants to start to use the unknown to be known. He wants to knock at the door of people who know nobody.

Favour sometimes comes when you have so planned your life that you know exactly what it will be — and then God allows you to go ahead. He will not disturb you... until He is ready. And when He is ready, He doesn't ask your permission. He doesn't say, "Are you ready? I'm coming back tomorrow." He says: "Get up. Follow me." Before you can say "excuse me" — move quickly.

God chose Mary. She didn't work for it. She didn't merit it. "God chose it — I'm just sent to tell you."

God wants to do for you what you never expected. It doesn't matter where you have been, how bad or how good — something more than your life demands is coming your way. It's called the favour of God.

When God told me He was going to take me around the world, I laughed. I said: "Do You know who You're talking to? All the men I know who are powerful in the kingdom are white. What are You doing talking to a black man like me?" He said: "I didn't know you were black. I only made people in My image and likeness."

32 years ago, I changed my colour from black and white. I became a child of God. So when you ask me where I'm from — made in heaven, assembled in Africa, dispatched to my generation.

The Power of the Highest

Luke 1:35 — The angel answered: "The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you."

How do you do what you are afraid to do? Connect yourself to the power of the Highest. Did He fail Joshua? No. Did He fail Elisha? No. Is He going to start with you? No.

I don't have money — shut up. I know no man — shut up. My church is small — shut up. Your friend cannot pay the bill — shut your mouth. What should you do? Connect your life to the power of the Highest.

How do you become a possibility? By linking yourself to the God with whom all things are possible.

Luke 1:37 — For with God nothing shall be impossible.

God wants some people to conceive something tonight — not just women. Conceive something in your heart. Conceive something in your belly. What God wants to put in you that was not there — so that you can say: "God did it."

What God wants to put in your heart tonight shall be great. Don't try to pay a prophet for what God is freely saying to you. Truth will make you free. You don't need liars telling lies over your head.

Who Is Your Elizabeth?

Luke 1:36 — "Behold, your cousin Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age — she who was called barren."

That is what you need to hook your life to — those who were nothing and became something. Don't run after people who used to be something and are no more.

Elizabeth is a proof that with God all things are possible. Elizabeth is a proof that barrenness can conceive. Elizabeth is a proof that poverty can be changed. Elizabeth is a proof that darkness can turn to light. Elizabeth proves that the weak can be made strong. Elizabeth is an example that no matter how long you stay in barrenness, you will conceive. Elizabeth is an example that yesterday may be rough but today will be neat. Elizabeth is an example that God has not forsaken His own people.

Luke 1:39-41 — Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to the city of Judah. When Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

When God talks to you, stop looking for more talking. Revelation not used is lost. If God gives you an action and you don't act on it, you auction it — you sell it away. Mary arose immediately.

Who do you visit when God unveils something to you? Find someone whose faith can kick your faith. Find someone whose pregnancy makes your baby leap. You don't need a man who says, "Thirty years ago when God used to use me..." You need a man whose current life inspires you.

Find someone who out of the dustbin got promoted. Find someone whose church was 50 people last year and is 500 this year. That is your Elizabeth.

You pastors — find a man like this. Visit his ministry. Don't go to preach; go and listen. Don't ask for the microphone; ask for the hearing phone.

Luke 1:38 — Mary said: "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Be it unto me according to your word."

"I don't know how I'm going to do it. I don't know how it will be done. I don't know how to start. I don't know. I don't know. But oh God — just as You have said."

I stopped struggling. I now live by Your strength. When you stop struggling, you start strengthening.

God does not need to notify you before He gives you direction. If you accept that this is what you have been waiting for — to hear from God — this time next year your life will be a new story altogether, to the glory of God.

God is going to impregnate you with idea, vision, and dream. Don't abort it. Be willing for God to let it come to pass.

You are going to look for Elizabeth. Some of your friends — you don't need them in your life. They are dead. Their lives carry nothing. Every time they open their mouth, it's a tragic story. Dissociate and discontinue. Don't hate them — but don't be like them anymore, because there is something better in you. God has put something inside you tonight, and no man will destroy it.

God is giving you a new meaning to your life. The Lord is giving you a turnaround. So shall it be in Jesus name.