Experiencing God's Favor: A Supernatural Currency
Summary
Today is a day of deep gratitude and celebration, not just for the joy of a beautiful wedding, but for the overwhelming evidence of God’s faithfulness and favor. As I reflect on the events of the past week, I am reminded that God’s ways are higher than ours, and His resources are not limited by what we see in our bank accounts. The wedding was a testimony to the truth that God can provide in ways that defy human logic and expectation. Many of you witnessed the grandeur and beauty of the celebration, and I want you to know that it was not achieved by our own strength or resources, but by the supernatural favor of God.
Scripture tells us in Isaiah 55:1, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!” This is not just a poetic invitation, but a spiritual reality. God invites us to access His abundance, not with money, but with favor. Favor is a currency in the kingdom of God, and it is superior to money because it comes from God Himself. Money is limited, man-made, and bound to earthly systems, but favor is divine, unlimited, and can open doors that money cannot.
The testimony of our wedding is a living example of this truth. Despite a budget that seemed insurmountable, God orchestrated events so that the hotel itself paid for the wedding, providing not only the venue but also accommodation for our guests. This was not achieved by negotiation skills alone, but by following the leading of the Holy Spirit, holding fast to God’s promises, and refusing to let circumstances dictate our confession of faith. Even when there was no visible sign of provision, we continued to declare God’s word and trust in His favor.
Favor is not just for essential needs; it is for enjoyment, for dreams, and for the fulfillment of God’s purposes in our lives. The greatest poverty is not the lack of money, but the lack of favor. When favor becomes a functional currency in your life, you will see God do what money could never accomplish. Let this testimony ignite your faith to believe that you, too, can “buy without money” and experience the supernatural provision of God.
Key Takeaways
- Favor is a Divine Currency, Superior to Money
Favor is not just a spiritual concept but a real, functional currency in the kingdom of God. While money is limited, man-made, and can only buy what is available on earth, favor is God-given and can open doors that money cannot. When favor is active in your life, it can bring resources, opportunities, and victories that are otherwise impossible. The true wealth of a believer is measured by the fullness of their favor account, not their bank account. [21:02]
- The Limitation of Money and the Limitlessness of Favor
Money is a medium of exchange, but it is bound by earthly systems and human limitations. Favor, on the other hand, operates in both the spiritual and physical realms, transcending what money can achieve. There are places and situations where money simply cannot gain access, but favor can grant you entry and success. The greatest poverty is not the absence of money, but the absence of favor in your life. [31:40]
- Faith and Confession Activate Favor
Favor is available to every child of God, but it must become functional through faith and persistent confession. Even when circumstances seem unchanged and there is no visible sign of breakthrough, holding fast to God’s promises and refusing to change your confession is key. The testimony of the wedding was birthed by unwavering faith and a refusal to let go of God’s word, even when nothing seemed to be happening. Faith makes favor operational in your life. [47:48]
- Favor Can Accomplish What Skill and Resources Cannot
The Israelites did not possess the Promised Land by their own strength or skill, but by the favor of God. Likewise, favor can take you where your qualifications, connections, or finances cannot. It can cause even those who do not like you to bless you, and it can bring about outcomes that defy human logic. When God’s favor is upon you, He sponsors what your wallet cannot afford. [32:22]
- Stewarding Favor for God’s Glory
When God grants favor, it is not just for personal enjoyment but for the advancement of His kingdom and the blessing of others. The responsibility is to steward that favor well, ensuring that those who have trusted you see the goodness of God through your actions. Favor should inspire us to greater faithfulness, generosity, and a commitment to making God’s name known through our testimonies and conduct. [53:28]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[05:02] - Opening Praise and Thanksgiving
[07:14] - Reflections on the Wedding and Gratitude
[09:08] - Worship: Singing Hallelujah
[14:09] - The Power of Praise and Testimony
[14:48] - Isaiah 55:1 – Buying Without Money
[16:07] - The Role of Favor in the Promised Land
[18:18] - The Limitation of Money
[19:40] - Joseph’s Prosperity and the Nature of Favor
[21:02] - Why Favor is Superior to Money
[23:57] - Favor as a Manifestation of Victory
[25:24] - Making Favor a Functional Currency
[28:08] - The True Wealth: Favor Over Money
[33:44] - Testimony: The Wedding Provision
[41:37] - Packaging God’s Promise in Practical Terms
[45:02] - Negotiating by Faith and Favor
[49:05] - The Hotel Pays for the Wedding
[54:09] - The Superiority of Favor and Final Encouragement
[58:43] - Giving, Spiritual Accounts, and Closing Blessing
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Supernatural Currency of Favor
---
### Bible Reading
Isaiah 55:1 (ESV)
> “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
Psalm 44:3 (ESV)
> “For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.”
Psalm 41:11 (ESV)
> “By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.”
---
### Observation Questions
1. In Isaiah 55:1, what does God invite people to do, and what is unusual about the way He says to “buy”?
2. According to Psalm 44:3, what was the real reason the Israelites received the Promised Land?
3. The sermon described a wedding that was paid for in a way that “defied human logic and expectation.” What specific example was given to show how God’s favor worked in this situation? [[49:05]]
4. The pastor said, “The greatest poverty is not the lack of money, but the lack of favor.” What does this mean in the context of the sermon? [[31:40]]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean that favor is a “currency” in God’s kingdom, and how is it different from money? [[21:02]]
2. Why do you think God invites us to “buy without money” in Isaiah 55:1? What is He teaching us about His provision?
3. The Israelites did not win the land by their own strength but by God’s favor (Psalm 44:3). How does this challenge the way we usually think about success and achievement? [[16:07]]
4. The sermon emphasized holding fast to God’s promises and not changing your confession, even when there is no visible sign of provision. Why is this important for activating favor in our lives? [[47:48]]
---
### Application Questions
1. The pastor shared that even when there was no visible sign of provision, he continued to declare God’s word and trust in His favor. Is there an area in your life right now where you need to keep trusting God, even though you don’t see the answer yet? What would it look like to “not change your confession” in that area? [[47:48]]
2. The testimony of the wedding showed that favor can open doors that money cannot. Can you think of a time in your life when you experienced God’s favor in a way that money or your own efforts could not achieve? If not, is there a situation where you need to ask God for favor instead of just relying on your own resources? [[49:05]]
3. The sermon said, “If your account or your wallet is empty and your favor account is full, there is nothing money can get you that favor will not get you.” How does this statement challenge the way you view your own needs and resources? [[28:08]]
4. The pastor mentioned that favor is not just for essential needs, but also for enjoyment, dreams, and fulfilling God’s purposes. Are there dreams or desires you have set aside because you thought you couldn’t afford them? How might God’s favor make a difference? [[15:26]]
5. The sermon taught that favor should be stewarded for God’s glory and the blessing of others. What are some practical ways you can use the favor God has given you to bless others or advance His kingdom? [[53:28]]
6. The pastor said, “You should be more worried about the state of your favor account than the state of your bank account.” What steps can you take this week to focus more on building your “favor account” with God? [[28:45]]
7. The Israelites received the Promised Land because God favored them, not because of their own strength. Is there an area in your life where you have been relying on your own skills or resources instead of seeking God’s favor? What would it look like to shift your focus? [[16:07]]
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to open your eyes to His favor, to help you trust Him beyond what you can see, and to use the favor He gives you to bless others and bring Him glory.
Devotional
Day 1: God’s Favor Is Greater Than Money
There are limits to what money can do, but God’s favor knows no bounds. While money is a medium of exchange created by man, favor is a divine currency that opens doors, changes hearts, and brings about victories that money could never buy. When you walk in God’s favor, you can receive things that are far beyond your natural qualifications or resources, because favor operates in both the spiritual and physical realms. Let your confidence rest not in your bank account, but in the fullness of God’s favor over your life. [21:02]
Isaiah 55:1 (ESV)
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
Reflection: In what area of your life have you been relying on money or your own resources instead of trusting God’s favor to open doors for you? What would it look like to shift your focus to God’s favor today?
Day 2: Favor Brings Victory Where Effort Cannot
There are places and situations where no amount of effort, skill, or money can bring you victory, but God’s favor can. The Israelites did not possess the promised land by their own strength or sword, but by the favor of God. When you walk in favor, you experience triumphs that are not the result of your own doing, but of God’s hand working on your behalf. Favor is the secret weapon that causes you to win, even when the odds are against you. [16:07]
Psalm 44:3 (ESV)
“For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.”
Reflection: Think of a challenge you are facing right now. How can you invite God’s favor into this situation and trust Him for victory beyond your own abilities?
Day 3: The Manifestation of Favor Is Evidence of God’s Pleasure
One of the clearest signs that God’s favor is upon you is that your enemies do not triumph over you. Favor is not just about material blessings, but about God’s pleasure and protection over your life. When you see victories and breakthroughs that cannot be explained by your own strength, it is a sign that God is pleased with you and has set His favor upon you. Let this assurance give you boldness and peace, knowing that God’s favor is your shield. [24:42]
Psalm 41:11 (ESV)
“By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.”
Reflection: Where have you seen God’s favor protect or deliver you in ways you could not have accomplished on your own? How does this encourage your faith for today?
Day 4: Favor as a Functional Currency in the Life of a Believer
Every child of God is favored, but not everyone experiences favor as a functional, active currency in their daily life. It is possible to have a “favor account” that is full, even when your bank account is empty, and to see God provide in supernatural ways. The key is to be more concerned about the state of your favor account than your financial account, trusting that favor can credit your natural needs and open doors that money cannot. [27:27]
Luke 2:52 (ESV)
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”
Reflection: What practical steps can you take this week to cultivate and activate God’s favor as a functional currency in your life, rather than relying solely on your own resources?
Day 5: Radical Faith to Believe and Act on God’s Word
Sometimes, God calls you to believe and act on His Word in ways that seem “delusional” or impossible to others. When you dare to trust God’s promises—like “come and buy without money”—and step out in faith, you position yourself for testimonies that will inspire and encourage others. Radical faith is not just about believing for yourself, but about creating a legacy of God’s faithfulness that others can see and follow. [52:04]
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Reflection: What is one promise of God that seems impossible in your current situation? How can you take a bold step of faith today to act on that promise, trusting God for an “earthshattering” testimony?