Walking In The F.o.g

“Walking in the F.O.G.”

“Favor of God”

2nd Samuel 9 : 1 - 8

I like to watch the weather channel and on the weather channel they have a show that comes on called storm stories. On this show they show people that have experienced and lived through many different types of weather conditions. Some of the people have gone through hurricanes or tornadoes; others have been through floods and hail storms. Some have experienced mudslides or floods. However there is one story that sticks in my mind that I thought was truly amazing. The reason that I believe it sticks in my mind so much is because I never considered it has a storm. Nevertheless, the destruction that came because of it categorized it as a storm. In this one particular area there was a great concentration of fog that fell and the fog was so thick that it became impossible to see. During this week we have experienced a lot of fog ourselves and you know that fog can be an overwhelming experience Since this fog made it impossible to see many accidents along the highway resulted and numerous lives were killed as a result of the accidents, which were caused in part by the fog. When I watched the program one of the officers that worked the accidents said because people didn’t know how to operate in the fog they lost their lives.

I want to talk to you about operating in the fog; however, the fog that I want to talk to you about today is not a meteorological situation that is caused by droplets of water vapor suspended in the air. It is not the atmospheric pressure that causes visibility to become reduced. It is not a state of confusion or the lack of clarity. The fog I want to talk about is a mind blowing experience caused by the combination of prayer and praise, which in turn produces fog, F.O.G. the Favor of God.

No doubt you have heard the phrase “When praises go up blessing comes down.” That is a true statement; however, when praise is combined with prayer, not only will you receive blessing, but you shall have favor. What is it that causes people to ask the question? How could you take that? Why was my brother Mark able to write a song and sing it at my sisters funeral. How was my father able to preach his only daughter’s funeral? How come at the funeral people were able to shout at the funeral, it is because of favor.

WHAT IS FAVOR

Favor comes from a Greek word called “Charis” and means gratitude bestowed. Favor is the affection of God toward a person that releases a spirit of influence through that person so that other people are affected by that person and are inclined to like, trust, and cooperate with that person. Favor is a little different then grace. Grace is unmerited, undeserved, and unearned good will upon a person. Grace is Gods ability to do only what God can do. Favor is granted because of something that you have done the combination of prayer and praise. Favor makes the ordinary shine in an extraordinary way. Favor opens up doors that normally would be closed. Favor will protect you from the enemy. Favor gives you victory over the enemy. Favor places the wealth of the wicked to be laid up for you. Favor cause men to give unto you. Favor causes you to have life and to have it more abundantly. However favor ain’t free. Favor doesn’t mean that we will walk always in favorable circumstances all the time. Many people look at Mark the 10th chapter and verses 29-30 which says “Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sister, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s. But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands…(we like to stop there and say you see I am expecting a hundredfold in return because of what I have done; therefore I will get the favor of God, but the very next two word of this scripture let’s us know that favor ain’t free, for the Bible says) with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” With persecutions let’s us know that favor has a price.

Everyone wants the favor of God, but everyone ain’t willing to pay the price. Are you willing to pay the price in order to walk in the fog? My mind goes to the rich young man that wanted to have eternal life. Jesus said sell all that thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure (favor) in heaven. The young man heard what Jesus said and went away. He wanted the favor of God, he wanted to walk in the fog, but he wasn’t willing to pay the price. Favor is going to cost you something.