The Year of the Lord’s Favor

by Bryan Craig

Day 5: Oaks of Righteousness

“They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.”  Isaiah 61:3b

In the early days of Influencers, the discipleship ministry I lead, when we first understood God had given us something special, we pondered how we could introduce our process to churches.  Rocky Fleming, our founder, in his wisdom did not feel this was something we could promote or package, but we had to let the Holy Spirit lead.  After all, churches get bombarded with the latest and greatest program someone is promoting every day.  He commented that he felt like churches might come to us after seeing transformation in some of their men.

Well, Rocky was right.  We are hearing story after story of pastors who are blown away at the tangible change they are seeing in people in their church who have gone through our discipleship process.  It is prompting them to want to know more.  Some have even joined one of our groups themselves.  One pastor told me, “My best guys are Journey guys.”  I love the description Isaiah used when he said that those who are set free will become “Oaks of Righteousness.”  When a person becomes a disciple, we see people like this.  They are strong, they are Godly, they are righteous, they are spiritually attractive and they bear the Fruit of the Lord.  And like a big tree, they stand tall and cannot help but be noticed.  These people would say, My life will never be same.

I entitled this week’s series, “The Year of the Lord’s Favor”, in keeping with the heading given to Isaiah 61.  However, I have begun to understand that as we make disciples, which fulfills the calling God gave in Isaiah 42 and 61, we have favor from the Lord.  He helps us and guides us as we guide the groups.  Furthermore, those who we are helping feel the Lord’s favor on their lives as He sets them free.  They could say that the year they spent in one of our groups was “The Year of the Lord’s Favor.”

Now, it’s time for those who have found favor to answer the call themselves.  Yes, that ancient calling prophesied by Isaiah and provided for by Jesus and fulfilled in Paul….that calling is on you and me.  We have the calling, we have God’s favor and anointing, and we have the tool.  What are we waiting for?

If you would like to learn more about the discipleship tool we call, The Journey, visit our website at www.influencers.org.