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Dunamis With Bishop Prof B. Manjoro
Last week we saw how obedience unlocks God’s favour in one’s life. Today I will talk to you on hindrances to God’s favour.

These are things that if you are not careful about, you will miss the favour of God on your life, and lose what was supposed to be yours.

The good marriage you desired, the promotion, the happy family, the growing church, the thriving finances, the best results and goals you are aiming — can all be blocked by these things! However, be of good courage, you will not miss it but make it and prevail over every trap, hindrance and obstacle of the enemy in 2015.

This is your year and your time — a year of the Lord’s favour.

Favour is on your way!

“Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for draught’. And Simon, answering, said unto him, ‘Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net’”, (Luke 5:4).

From our text today and in the past weeks we hear the conversation of Peter and Jesus. The Lord has finished using Peter’s boat and instructs him to launch out into the deep and let out his nets for a catch. Peter begins to explain how much they had toiled all night and caught nothing but nevertheless, would heed to the word of the Master.

Here is the first thing you need to watch out for on your way to favour — doubt.

To unlock the favour of God you must be able to trust and believe the Word of God.

You really have to be careful because many have lost great opportunities here.

Marriages, companies, jobs, careers, churches, visions, dreams and many great ideas have flown down the drain due to this hurdle. For favour to work in your life you need to believe and trust the Word of God.

Just because it has been declared a year of favour, don’t think the enemy will sit down and fold his hands, No.

The enemy will come and try you. But here is wisdom for you, don’t negotiate or discuss with the enemy! When the devil begins to question about your marriage, your promotion, your children, your blessing, your miracle — just hit back and say, “Shut up in Jesus name!”

Jesus didn’t want to negotiate when at one time Peter, being used of the devil, tried to stop him from dying on the cross.

He said to Peter, “Shut up get thee behind me Satan!” At times the enemy will whisper in your thoughts. At such instances don’t hesitate to open your mouth alone in your house and say, “Eh eh, shut up devil!”

It’s allowed to talk alone in times like these.

Don’t just sulk and eat the negativity of the devil, you have a mouth, fight back. You will be fighting warfare, O hallelujah!

When doubt and negativity knock on your door, fight back! Stand on the Word of God.

Say to yourself, “I know that I know that things are going to get better”.

When you believe you have to believe the person who spoke the word. When you know who it is then you trust the person concerning the Word.

Trust the Master for his word for you in 2015!

Peter, when he was told to launch his nets, though difficult he trusted the words of the Master and said, “Nevertheless, at thy word . . .” and acted on it.

You also need to understand that favour is either drawn or chased away by what you hear.

Be very careful of what you hear. Don’t just allow anything to enter your heart.

For example, you may be told by a relative who is into witchcraft and charms, “You will not see tomorrow!” When something like that happens, don’t fear.

Fear chases away favour but faith emboldens and brings favour.

There is a kind of faith that draws favour, like the one that saved Esther and the Jewish race from the evil plan of Haman.

When they tell you you are dying, say, “I will not die, I will live to declare the works of the Lord. Death is not my portion!”

Be careful of what you hear. You see, sometimes negative talk comes silently in your mind or at times comes with a messenger. The person will say, “Eh zviri kufamba here kuno? (Are things well with you?)”.

Before you quickly divulge and talk about your life, church, family or finances you say, “Ah no, let’s hear about you first?” And they say, “nothing is moving”.

Then you say, “Ah you shall have whatsoever you say! Zvangu zviri kufamba! (My things are moving!)” Be wise and careful in conversations, be it at work, in the house or in the bus going home. Don’t talk negative — it drains the favour of God!

Also understand that your mind is the battleground. Be careful of what hits your mind.

Your mind could be saying to you now that you fasted beginning of January so what did you get? Today its January 31, the first month is already over and you achieved nothing so far these 31 days. Friend, don’t you worry about that battle of your mind.

Let me tell you this, the first day of the year whatever you were doing you were sowing.

In life sometimes you don’t just sow and reap the next day.

Two things have to happen to the seed. It has to die and it has to grow. Unless a seed dies nothing happens. O I like it, I like it.

Be of good courage, your seeds are growing — walk in the favour of God. You didn’t waste January, you were sowing, strategising and planning — watch out for you favour!

For with God all things are possible, Mark 10:27.