Welcome to PowerPoint with Jack Graham. You can experience favorable miracles in your life if you will do what Mary has done, and that is to say, Lord, I don't understand it. It's going to be difficult. It's going to be hard, but be it unto me according to your will. On today's PowerPoint, Dr.
Graham brings a message about how you can live confidently under the favor of God.
Now here's Dr. Graham with his message. It's never too late for Christmas. Every year for the past several years, Our family has been picking one word. My friend John Gordon put us onto this.
He's written a book called One Word. But John has suggested, and we have done it individually and as a family. to pick one word. that would be the focus of our lives in that year.
So often we have goals and goals are good. We have resolutions and that's good too, good resolve. Led by the Spirit, that's good. But so often we don't reach our goals and we don't Fulfill our resolutions because we're just not focused on the right things. We're here and there.
So the idea of one word is that one word would be Something that would sort of define your life for that year. The word that would be your word. And you think about it, post it, put it where you can see it. Your word should describe and define your spiritual commitment. Uh for the year.
And so I have chosen a word that's in our text today. One of my favorite texts in all the Bible, Psalm 84, 11. And it is the word Favor. F A V O R Favor. Psalm 84:11 says this: For the Lord God is a son and a shield.
The Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those Who walk uprightly. What a verse. What a word. Favor.
It's a word we find often in the Bible. It's a word, of course, that is akin. To grace. Also loving kindness. Favorite.
We see favor often, for example, in the story of Christmas. We just saw it. When the angel came to Mary to announce that she is expecting the Savior of the world. Mary was favored of God. The angel said, you are the favored one.
She was the chosen one. Later on when The angels spoke in the skies outside of Bethlehem and announced the birth of Jesus. The angels spoke of people of good favor who have been blessed by the favor of God. And of course, the word blessing is also. close to the idea A favor, favor and blessings.
When Jesus grew up He grew up With Wisdom and favor In the sight of God. Amen. Jesus Lived in favor before God. And before man, he grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God. And man.
The word favor has to do with approval. and commendation, approbation. Goodwill. If I do you a favor... I'm doing something good for you.
It's close to the word grace or gift, as I noted. If you go to a party and they give you a party favor, it may be a little thing, but it's a favor, it's a gift because you came to the party. You just showed up, you get the favor. It's also a word that And I believe this is the heart of it. has to do with advantage.
to have an advantage. If you say Our football team is favored. to win this week. They should win. They've got the favor.
Advantage. The undeserved Grace and mercy. And as I look back upon my life, Where I started, where I've been, where I am. I can only say, to God be the glory. for his favor.
That has been upon my life. I have no other explanation as to why I'm standing here doing what I'm doing except for the favor of God. That's it. That's it. And as I look now.
at this divine favor. I'm expecting this favor in the future. And I hope you are as well. Because God's favor Is forever to the child of God. When you have God's favor, you can accomplish things that you could never accomplish on your own.
We know that we had. a hope in a future. Jeremiah 29, 11. For I know the plans that I have for you. Plans for your welfare not to harm you, but to give you a future.
And a hope. And that is A great scripture, and it's a promise. It's the promise of God's favor. and faithfulness upon us. You can only go so far on your talent.
Everybody's got talents and skills and spiritual gifts, but you can only go so far with your talent. You can only go so far With your education. It's good to have an education, but education. will not take you far enough. You can only go so far with your experience.
You can only go so far with your resources. You can only go so far with your money and your effort. It'll take you somewhere, but it won't take you to where... You can find the favor. of God.
We need more than money, more than education, more than experience, more than resources. We need God. We need God's. Favor. And I'm telling you, if you will seek God, if you seek God's face, you will find his favor.
If you seek God's face, you will find His favor. Favor means God will give you more than you can possibly dream or even desire. Certainly more than you we deserve. Amen. It's favor.
And God will do things in your life. Going forward. That you cannot Explain. Apart from favor. The favor of God is ours because of what Christ.
has done for us. Like grace, favor advances our lives and. brings us through the decades. To the places that we go, the people that we meet. Favor will bring you before great people.
Favor will open doors that no one can shut. And by the way, Favor will close doors that no one can open. The Bible says the steps Of a good man are ordered by the Lord. You could also say the stops of a good man are ordered by the Lord.
Sometimes we God says go, sometimes God says no, sometimes God says slow, wait. But his favor is for you. One way you could describe God's favor is God's hand upon your life. Nehemiah was a cup. Bearer to the key.
Living in Persia, a Jewish man. And God put it in his heart to go home and rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. And he prayed and repented, and repented in behalf of his people because those walls were down, symbolizing the glory of God, protecting the people from enemies. And so he knew, Nehemiah knew that he was called of God to go do a great work for God, something he could have never imagined. To leave the comfort zone and the satin sheets of working for the king of Persia and go back and get a construction job in Jerusalem.
But he said yes to the call of God. And he did it. And when he stood before the king to ask the king for provisions. He said, the good hand of my God. was upon me.
That's favor. When God chooses to place his hand. upon your life. This means God's guidance, His provision. It means everything.
It means favor. Gods. Favor. Favor also means approval. If it means advantage, God giving us certain advantages in life.
It also means approval. Perhaps you've seen a product of some kind. that bears a seal of approval. That means backing the product is the seal of an organization that the product is good, the product is what it claims to be, and so on, a seal of approval. Did you know that God, the Holy Spirit, has given you as a Christian a seal of approval.
The Holy Spirit. For we're told in Ephesians chapter 4 that we're not to grieve the Spirit, but that we are sealed by the Spirit unto the day of redemption. And the day of redemption means the day when our bodies are redeemed, when we stand complete before Christ.
So we are sealed to that day. We have God's approval because of God's redemption. The scripture says in Ephesians chapter 1 that we have been accepted in the beloved. We are approved. We are accepted.
We have an advantage. First favor.
So, this year, I'm thinking all year long about. Favorite. Seeking God's face. and finding God's favor. More and more.
It doesn't mean favor doesn't mean that we will not have adversity. Don't run with the idea of favor that means it's all prosperity, prosperity, prosperity. No, there's adversity, even. In favor? In fact, at times, the favor of adversity is greater than the favor of prosperity.
The favor is what God gives, and only God gives. But I know this: that the favor of God follows us, listen to me, follows us all the days of our lives. Psalm 23: Surely goodness and mercy, God's favor, will follow me all the days of my life. Everywhere you go, child of God, God's favor is going with you. All the days of your life.
And It's your job in order to receive God's favor. And to live. In God's favor is to do exactly what Mary, the mother of Jesus, did when the angel said. hail to the the favored one she said be it unto me according to your will You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message: it's never too late for Christmas. Beginning January 1st, we have a great way for you to begin your walk in 2026 on the right foot.
We are beginning a 365-day devotional called Ignite. When you sign up, you'll receive a devotion from Dr. Graham every day to help you grow in your walk with Christ. All you have to do is text IGNITE to 59789. That's IGNITE to 59789.
We want to remind you that your support today will be doubled by a $250,000 matching grant to help ensure PowerPoint finishes the year strong. ready to reach more lives with the gospel in 2026. When you take advantage of this match, your generous gift will be worth twice as much to help proclaim the life-changing message of Jesus around the world through PowerPoint's TV, radio, and online outreach. To give your gift, just text the word MACH to 59789. Again, that's MATCH to 59789.
Now let's get back to today's message. It's never too late for Christmas. The way You live in the favor of God. is to live Surrendered to the will of God and the ways of God in your life. Mary was about to experience a miracle, and you can experience favorable miracles in your life.
If you will do what Mary has done, and that is to say, Lord, I don't understand it. It's going to be difficult. It's going to be hard. There will be questions people won't understand, including Joseph. What's going to happen?
But she said, Nevertheless, be it unto me according to your will. and according to your word. And then she went on with the great magnificent praise in which she's praising God and singing a song of adoration to God, seeking God's face, finding God's favor. You are a child of the king. Did you know that?
The one who was born is king of kings and lord of lords. And he was born so that you could be born again into his family. His blood is royal red blood. His family is a royal family. You don't live in defeat.
You live in victory. Because of what Christ has done. There's a great story that describes this favor of God in the scripture. It's found in. 2 Samuel chapter 9.
And it's the story about King David. A man after God's own heart, certainly a man who experienced God's favor, chosen from out among his brothers from the shepherd's field. God just favored him and gave him an advantage. God gave him an advantage when he went up against the giant. The giant, I guarantee you, was favored to win, but there was something different.
David had the favor of God. And so the giant went down. And so David, after being In exile for a while, chased down by Saul, his predecessor, the king of Israel. Before he ascended to the throne, there were these extreme battles for the kingdom. In the midst of the battle, people died, including Saul himself.
But when David ascended to the throne. In chapter 9 of 2 Samuel. Verse 1. David said, Is there anyone left of the house of Saul that I may show him kindness? And in the Hebrew, that's a word which means favor.
That I may show him favor, kindness, grace. For Jonathan's sake. Who was Jonathan? Jonathan was a Dear friend and brother. To King David, the son of Saul.
Who helped David? Because his father, Jonathan's father, Saul, was crazed at the end of his life. He helped to hide David on one occasion, save David's life. They became literally blood brothers. And I don't have time to tell you the details, but they shared blood in a blood covenant.
And David and Jonathan became brothers. blood brothers in the covenant that they established together.
So when the smoke and the dust has settled, David looks around and he said, Now remember, this was the mortal enemy of David who tried to kill him. But he said, Is there anyone in the house of Saul? Jonathan, by the way, had perished in battle. Is there anyone in the house of Saul? that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake.
He says it again. Look at verse 3. And the king said, Is there not still someone of the house of Saul that I may show the kindness? the favor of God to him. And Zibah the servant said to the king, There is still a son of Jonathan.
He is crippled. in his feet. You see, Jonathan, or rather. Yes, Jonathan's son. Mephiboshef.
ran to hide. From David's soldiers. He was the son. Of Saul, the grandson of Saul, the son of Jonathan.
So The nurse. Running in fear to take The baby Mephivoshev, what a name. Mephibosheth, I like saying it. Mephibosheth. Taking the little baby, running.
The lady was overweight. It's in the Bible. She tripped. and fell and crushed the baby's legs. The child's legs, there were no surgeons at that time, of course, so this little baby.
Grew up with uh a a deformity if you will uh she crippled And he was living in a place. Named Lodivar. I like saying that too. Lodibar. It was in the desert.
It was a dusty place, a terrible place, a place that people went to die. Lodibar. Way down in Lodibar was Mephibosheth. And he grew up there. He never walked.
He was crippled, dragging his feet. Along And now David is saying, Is there a son of Saul, a son of Jonathan, that I can show the kindness of God? And the servant said, Well, there's. There's Mephiboshev down in Lodabar. Verse 6, and Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David because they sent a royal entourage out to get him.
I'm sure he thought, this is the end. It's over now. David's going to bring me in and execute me.
So they send the royal entourage out and they bring Mephibosheth in, Mephibosheth in, and he gets on his face. He fell on his face and he paid homage. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold, I am your servant. Slay.
And David said to him, Do not fear. For I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. Remember that blood covenant? And I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always. He said, Mephibosheth.
You're not going to be a servant here. You're going to be a son. You're in my family now. You're going to sit at my table. For the rest of your days.
Verse 8, and he paid homage and said, What is your servant that You should show such regard for a Dead dog, such as I. Talk about low self-esteem.
So what happens when you live at Lodibar, Lodibar self-esteem? But he said, I'm just I mean, how can you do this? I'm nothing but a dog, a dead one at that. David reminds him, You're not a dog. Verse 10 says, But Mephibosheth, your master's grandson, shall always eat at my table.
And then verse 11 says, So Mephibosheth ate at David's table. like one of the king's sons. Isn't that a great story? What brought Mephibosheth from living like a dog in the desert, died? He was deformed, he was depressed.
He was defeated. He was dying. He was a dog. What turned this man? Crippled.
By a fall. No fault of his own. But now What brought him from this terrible place and condition? to sitting at the king's table. As a child.
Of the king. Favor. God's grace in a barren place. Favor. He's now a royal child of the king.
And guess what?
So are we. We were dead like dogs, dead in our trespasses and sin, crippled by a fall, the fall of Adam, wounded and dragging through life. But then the king called. And we heard his call. And we exchanged kings.
You know, Mephibosheth had to exchange kings from Saul to David. But he paid homage to King David, he received the king. He worshiped the king. And now. For the rest of his days.
He's living in the palace. A royal.
Son of the king. And so are you. You're a royal blue blood. The blood of Jesus Christ. You know, isn't it beautiful that that Mephiba chefs Yeah.
His broken wounded legs. are now under the table. of the king. And he's feasting. He has the king's provision.
He has the king's promise. Everything I have, everything that belonged to Saul now belongs to you. The kings Protection? And the king's person, he's eating with the king. at the king's table.
And so are we. You can't. earn or deserve this favor. You just Welcome. and invite it.
to an act of faith and surrender. You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message: it's never too late for Christmas. With just a few days left in 2025, We want to invite you to give a year-end gift to help ensure PowerPoint steps into the next year of ministry in the strongest position possible. The good news is that a generous friend has provided a $250,000 matching grant, which means any year-end gift you give by December 31st will be doubled to take the life-changing message of the gospel to more people around the world. To give your gift, just text the word match to 59789.
That's match to 59789. And thank you for helping proclaim the gospel till the whole world hears. Beginning January 1st, we have a great way for you to begin your walk in 2026 on the right foot. We are beginning a 365-day devotional called Ignite. When you sign up, you'll receive a devotion from Dr.
Graham every day to help you grow in your walk with Christ. All you have to do is text IGNITE to 59-789. That's IGNITE to 59-789. Pastor, what is your PowerPoint for today? Mm.
Salvation in Jesus Christ is the most important thing in the world.
So you must realize this. You cannot go to heaven apart from the grace of God. To believe otherwise is a tragic, tragic mistake. You and I have sinned and we need a Savior. And this is where God's miraculous rescue mission went into action.
God demonstrated His love toward us, says the Bible, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. And in this, God, in the person of Jesus Christ, stepped out of heaven and came to earth to reach our hopeless, sinful condition and to offer us His mercy and grace. Eternal salvation. Can you see how Jesus dying on the cross for our sins is the greatest act of love that you could ever know? He took our place on the cross to pay the price for our sins.
Let me tell you the truth now about sin. The very best that you can do on your own, trying harder, going to church, living on a religious list, all the good things you can do will never merit salvation. Look, I'm not going to heaven because I'm a preacher or because I've lived a good life. I haven't lived that good of a life. And no one has.
None of us. None of us can earn or deserve our way into heaven. It is only because of God's love that we have any right to claim the gift of eternal life. We do this by faith in His grace. We are saved from sin, and we are saved by love unto a new life.
He gives us a brand new life because the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5, 17, If anyone is in Christ, he's a new creature. Old things are passed away and everything becomes new. He will give you an eternal and an abundant life.
So today, embrace Jesus Christ. Receive his salvation. the gift of eternal life, bought and paid for by his blood, which has purchased a place in heaven for you forever. And that is today's PowerPoint. Remember that when you give a gift to PowerPoint, your gift will be doubled by a generous matching grant.
So text the word match to 59789. And join us again next time as Dr. Graham brings a message about how you can have a heavenly perspective on your life. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham. PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministries.
