“Believe and Receive.”  “Heirs of Everything.”  “The Anointing to Prosper.”  “Explosive Blessings Are Coming Your Way.”

These are just a few recent sermon titles by prominent U.S. Christian pastors.  And the list of similar sounding titles goes on and on. And on.

While I believe that God wants us all to prosper and be blessed, I think we all know the underlying message of many of these sermons: if we are living in God’s favor, we should own extravagant homes, drive fancy cars, enjoy a fat bank account, and delight in a lifestyle made complete by Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Bentley, and Armani.    I’ve even heard it said and frequently implied that if you don’t have these “blessings” you’re not walking in favor and must be lacking in faith.

Last night was the premier of “Preachers of L.A.” I didn’t see the show (nor do I intend to watch it) but I did see some preview clips.  The message seemed clear: Christian success is equated with having an abundance of material things – the same things that unbelievers equate with success.  I was flabbergasted to hear one of the preachers say, “P. Diddy…Jay Z – they’re not the only ones who should be driving Ferrari’s and living in large houses.”

I know God blesses people financially – especially those who are good stewards and honor God with their finances.  I’m not opposed to Christians having nice homes, great jobs and new cars – I’m thankful for my own nice home and new car.  What I am saying is many people misunderstand what it means to be “favored” of God.

The angel said to Mary in Luke 1:28, “thou that art highly favored.”  Wow!  She wasn’t just favored, but “highly favored!”  What was the result of Mary being “highly favored?” Her entire life was turned upside down.  She was thrust into a season of hardship and pain.  She was misunderstood and ridiculed.  Her fiance wanted to “put her away privately” because it appeared she was pregnant out of wedlock.  When it came time to give birth, she was alone.  There was no fancy hotel available – not even a room with a bed.  She gave birth in a stable.  Her only companions were Joseph and the stable animals.  She and Joseph were so poor, they didn’t even have clothes for the child.

Later, when she took baby Jesus to the temple, she was met by a prophet.  Simeon took Jesus into his arms and proclaimed that the child was the Christ, who had come to bring salvation.  Then he looked at this young girl who was “favored” by God and declared, “Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Mary, you are walking in divine blessing.  You are “highly” favored of God.  Oh, by the way, a sword is going to pierce through your soul.  Your son will die as a young man.  You will watch Him suffer torture and death.  All this because you are walking in divine “favor.”

Favor is not about cars and houses and a big bank account.  Favor is not about God spending on us.  It’s about God spending us.  Mary was highly favored because she was a conduit of God’s purpose and plan.  She was blessed because she was used by God to bring the Savior into the world.

The disciples walked in divine favor.  John the Baptist was so “favored” that Jesus said there’s never been a greater man in human history.  They were all favored, yet they all suffered persecution and hardship.  They were ofttimes destitute.  They all died without the things our American society equates with success.  But they died rich! – Rich because God spent them.  Rich because they were channels of God’s glory.

The unfortunate consequence of espousing an erroneous concept of “favor” is that many people, when going through trials, tests or a season of scarcity, buy into the lie that they are not “blessed” or favored of God.  Sometimes being used of God leads to seasons of sacrifice.  You can’t always equate your lack of material possessions with a lack of God’s favor.

A further distortion of “divine favor” is thinking that when God does bless us with financial blessings it is for us to live in self-indulgent luxury.  In James, God pronounced judgment upon those who “hoarded wealth in the last days” and “lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence.”  Whenever God blesses us with financial resources it is not for us to lavish things upon ourselves – it is for us to use those resources to further the Gospel.  The favor is not the “things” – the favor is that God has chosen to use us.

I have traveled overseas and seen many of my Christian brothers and sisters who are living a meager lifestyle.  They have little, if any, material possessions.  But they are so favored.  They are being mightily used of God.  They are instruments in the Hands of God.  To think they are lacking in faith or God’s favor because they don’t have the material possessions of the “Preachers of LA” is ridiculous.

God’s favor is more about us being used in His purpose than it is Him blessing us with material things.

-Pastor Ball

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5 Impacting Things We Can All Do Regardless of Our Natural Abilities

I’m fascinated by people who are exceptionally gifted in some area of life or ministry.  I know some people who are incredibly good with people.  Their charisma is magnetic.  They don’t know a stranger and can win over the toughest adversaries.  Others are exceptionally talented musicians or singers.  They can play or sing with a level of skill that surely causes angels to envy.  I’ve listened in utter amazement to gifted public speakers who can capture the attention of the hardest audience and hold them spellbound.  The world has many people with amazing gifts and abilities who are able to do what may seem impossible to you and me.

Sometimes the great talent we see in other people makes our own abilities seem inferior. At times, we’ve all felt intimidated and looked at our own lives and wondered if we had any special talents or abilities at all!  But the reality is we are all gifted in unique areas.  God has given all of us differing talents and abilities.  He bestowed a diversity of gifts to different people so that we would all need one another.

I’ve accepted the fact that there are some areas where I’ll never make a great impact because I’m not gifted in those areas.  That’s ok.  I will try to focus on my areas of giftedness because, obviously, that is where I’ll make the greatest impact.  But regardless of the gifts any of us possess or don’t possess there are some things that we can all do – things that really make a difference.  There are some areas where we can make an impact and there are no special gifts required!  Let me quickly identify a few:

1. Kindness.  We can all be kind.   We can all demonstrate kindness.  We can all be gracious toward people. There’s no special gift required.  It may never be said of me, “He brought the house down with that song!”  But I can be kind.  It can be said of me, “He is so caring and thoughtful.”
2. Encouragement.  We can all be an encourager.  The world is a discouraging place.  Our adversary is discouraging.  Life can be discouraging.  People are desperate for encouragement.  We can all be an  encourager.  There is no special gift or talent required to simply offer words or gestures of encouragement to the people in our lives.
3. Integrity.  We can all people of integrity.  Regardless of what special gifts I have or don’t have, I can be a man of integrity.  I can do what I say I’m going to do and practice what I preach.  We can all be people of character and integrity.
4. Prayer.  We can all pray.  We don’t have to possess some special talent or ability to pray.  Prayer changes things.  Prayer changes people.  Prayer changes situations.  Prayer changes us.  And anyone can pray.  I may not be a gifted singer, musician, speaker, writer or creative genius, but I can pray – and prayer makes an impact.
5. Faithfulness.  We can all be faithful – faithful to God, faithful to our calling or ministry, faithful to our spouses and family, faithful to our church, faithful to our vision and mission.  Diligent, consistent commitment to what’s important in life makes an incredible impact – and you don’t need any special gift to be faithful!

I’ll never play or sing at Carnegie Hall.  I’ll probably never receive a Pulitzer Prize for a literary masterpiece.  There are some things in life that I’ll never achieve because, frankly, I’m not gifted in those areas.  But in spite of what talents we may or may not possess, there are some things that we can all do – things that will positively impact our lives and the lives of those around us.  There are some areas of greatness where no special gifts are necessary!

– Pastor  Ball

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I’m often amazed by what I see happen at Faith Apostolic Church.  After just about every weekend service I leave in awe of the great things I see God doing in and through His people.

Last Sunday was one of those days.

A family in our church came to service carrying an unspeakable burden.   Their daughter had just been raped earlier in the week.  I can’t even imagine the pain and confusion this young, innocent, fourteen year-old girl was feeling.  I’m sure her father wanted to find the low-life perpetrator and give him what he deserved.  I didn’t know what to say or how to minister to a family in the jaws of such a deep sorrow and grief.

As we all began to worship, the Spirit of the Lord swept through the building like a cool, refreshing breeze.  I sensed that gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit and, in retrospect, I’m so glad I followed His lead.  I didn’t tell the church the details of what happened, I just mentioned that this family was dealing with a terrible situation and that we needed to pray for them.

The members of our church poured out of their seats and filled the aisles and packed in the rows around the family.  They literally locked arms in concentric circles around them as if to make a human shield that would ward off all the fiery darts of the enemy.  Without even knowing the details of the incident, our church began praying and interceding.  They wept and sorrowed with that grieving family.  Compassion and concern gave way to deep empathy and true burden-bearing.  It was like the whole church shouldered the weight of that tragedy.

God did a miracle that morning.  He didn’t change what had happened to the young lady.  He didn’t take all the pain and hurt away.  He didn’t erase all feelings that she and her family will have to sort through.  But, He did use a church family to minister healing and comfort.  It was like God opened a vial – a vial full of the prayers and tears of the saints – and poured it upon the wounds of that family. Like a healing salve, it brought them comfort.  It eased the pain.  It brought hope and peace. 

The book of Revelation records a scene in heaven.  Twenty-four elders are before the Throne of God and they have vials in their hands which contain the prayers of the saints.  An angel takes the prayers in those vials and offers them up to God.  The aroma and fragrance of those prayers fills the room.  It is a sweet smell that blesses and ministers to God.

The gospel of Luke records a woman coming to Jesus with an alabaster box of precious ointment.  She breaks open the box and pours the ointment upon Jesus’ feet along with her own tears.  Jesus tells the onlookers that by her act of pouring oil and tears upon His feet she was “anointing His body.” 

We know that pouring our tears and prayers out to the Lord is like offering to Him a sweet incense that ministers to Him and blessed Him.  Could it also be that when we pour out our tears and prayers for one another we are ministering to “His body?”  We are the hands and feet of God.  We are the body of Christ.  When the woman poured the oil on His feet, Jesus said, “She has anointed my body.” 

Our Prayers and tears are like incense that ascends to the Throne and blesses God. But, so are the tears and prayers we pray for one another like a healing salve that blesses the Body of Christ.

When our church family began to pray on Sunday for one of our families who was suffering, it was like a vial of salve was opened and poured upon the wounds of that family.  Our tears for them and prayers for them were like a precious ointment that ministered healing and hope.

Ministry like this is so needful in our world that is so full of hurting people. I pray the church will always know how and be ready to “open the vial” and pour out our prayers, tears and intercession for one another. 

 Pastor Ball

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