by David Wilkerson
God promises wonderful favor to the blameless believer. “ Keep My commands . . . let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:1-4). God is saying if you set your sights to walk blameless before Him, you will walk in His favor and be pleasing to Him.
But that is not all. God’s favor also includes power! Paul said, “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in The Holy Spirit and in much assurance” (1 Thessalonians 1:5). His favor brings the power of The Holy Spirit to all you say and do. Your words will not fall to the ground, because they will have Holy Spirit power.
Paul said those Holy Spirit-empowered words produce great results: “And you became followers of us and of The Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of The Holy Spirit” (1:6).
Why were Paul’s words so powerful, so effective? Because, he says, “[We] became examples to all . . . who believe” (v. 7). It was not Paul’s preaching nor his praying that won people to The Lord. It was his exemplary life! God had found in Paul a clean heart—one that He could favor with the power of the Holy Spirit!
God’s divine favor also brings high esteem among men. It is written of David: “David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed” (1 Samuel 18:30).
The man who protects the name of Jesus by living holy before others will be given a good name before them—by God Himself!
Some Christians say, “I don’t care about my name. It doesn’t matter what people think of me. I just want to be an unknown, a nobody. Let The Lord have all the glory.” That may sound humble but according to Scripture, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1). God gives the righteous a good name so they can use it to glorify Him in greater measure!
http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/14793
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Comfort: Psalm 30.
Encouragement & Motivation: Psalm 15.
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
John 15:15
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.
Proverbs 19:8
Verses From Proverbs 20:
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.
3 Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man,
But any fool will quarrel.
5 A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding draws it out.
6 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a trustworthy man?
7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity—
How blessed are his sons after him.
9 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin”?
Verses From Proverbs 11
2 When pride comes, then comes dishonor,
But with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.
7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
And the hope of strong men perishes.
8 The righteous is delivered from trouble,
But the wicked takes his place.
9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
12 He who despises his neighbor lacks sense,
But a man of understanding keeps silent.
13 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.
17 The merciful man does himself good,
But the cruel man does himself harm.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.
19 He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life,
And he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.
20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD,
But the blameless in their walk are His delight.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.
25 The generous man will be prosperous,
And he who waters will himself be watered.
26 He who withholds grain, the people will curse him,
But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
29 He who troubles his own house will inherit wind,
And the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who is wise wins souls.
Philippians 2:12-16
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
Luke 6:27-28
But I tell you who hear Me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
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