Pastor and president of World Challenge, Gary Wilkerson, paints a brighter and more biblical picture of God’s favor. In this week’s podcast, he digs down to the root of our expectations for ourselves and our Christian walk that often cause us to despair as we compare ourselves to other believers. He highlights the following three areas where comparison stems from:
- Our parents’ relationship with God and definitions of success
- Understanding the difference between God’s discipline and punishment
- Learning to pursue God’s plan for our lives rather than someone else’s
Woven throughout, Gary builds a case for the confidence that we should have in who God has made us to be and how Christ will grant us greater favor than we could ever manufacture on our own as we pursue his purposes.
Key Questions Covered in the Show
- What is God’s favor?
- Why does it seem that I’m always struggling, yet so many around me have God’s favor?
- We're commanded to love our neighbor. Is there any connection between not loving ourselves and yet loving are neighbor? Are we truly doing what we think we're doing?
- Should we compare ourselves to other Christians?
- Sometimes you get into this rut where you never think anything good will happen because you are in a season of discipline. Is that a poor view of God?
- Is it possible that people get stuck in a cycle where they never expect good to things to happen because they can never get over whatever they did that caused the discipline?
Key Quotes from the Show
If we see God as He is—the God of love, grace, and favor—that will change the way we live our life. – Gary Wilkerson
Pass me not, O gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry; While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by. – Fanny Jane Crosby
Many of us have an image of God, as a one who will pass us by if we're not behaving well…if we're not walking in perfect holiness. It's a perfectionism that destroys your life. – Gary Wilkerson
When we are stuck in self-hatred we're not going to love other people well. – Gary Wilkerson
Knowing the nature of God and His favor causes us to be free to do exploits, and we can really love other people well. – Gary Wilkerson
If we expect our life to be problem free, crisis free, trouble free, then when we get hit with trials and tribulations, we're going to have a poor view of God again. We're going to say, where are you? Why have you abandoned me? What am I doing wrong? Again, it will put us in that performance trap. – Gary Wilkerson
These are the nations that the LORD left in the land to test those Israelites who had not experienced the wars of Canaan. – Judges 3:1
We are not outside of God's favor when we are facing trials and tribulations in our life. Part of His favor is to leave those things there to grow us up, make us strong, give us power, faith, confidence, boldness, and teach us how to step on the head of the serpent. – Gary Wilkerson
The favor of God is powerful. It gives strength, boldness, and confidence that no matter what happens in my life I know God is for me. – Gary Wilkerson
Without a sense of God's favor engaging in our life it's hard for us to continue on in the midst of the pain and suffering. – Gary Wilkerson
God, if this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few. - St Teresa of Avila
A lot of us ask Jesus to come help us build the idolatrous life we believe will make us happy with ourselves. – Gary Wilkerson
People that impact the world know who God is, know his favor is on their life, know who they are, and know what they're called to. They have a sense of confidence and peace and rest in the Holy Spirit. – Gary Wilkerson
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. - John 14:27a
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory… - 1 Peter 1:8
God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. – 2 Timothy 1:7
Mentioned in the Show
About Gary Wilkerson
Gary Wilkerson is the President of World Challenge, an international mission organization that was founded by his father, David Wilkerson. He is also the Founding Pastor of The Springs Church, which he launched in 2009 with a handful of people. He has traveled nationally and internationally at conferences and conducted mission ventures such as church planting, starting orphanages, clinics, feeding programs among the poorest of the poor and the most unreached people of the earth. Gary and his wife Kelly have four children and live in Colorado Springs, CO.