By Grace Through Faith

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul presents some of the most important news for the liberation of the believer. We are told to, "Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24 AMP) This is not accomplished by self effort or by entertaining a barrage of rules and regulation, but by grace through faith. Yes, the same principle that one is saved, is the same way that we live our Christian life, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)

A biblical definition of grace is, "[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." (Philippians 2:13 AMP) and a biblical definition of faith is, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]." (Hebrews 11:1 AMP) So, grace is God's favor, ability and or strength at work in believers giving them the power and desire to do His will. Faith, is completely trusting in and acting on what God says (His Word) without any proof in the natural realm, even when the natural realm is completely contrary to God's Word. Therefore, to put off the old nature, which grows corrupt and put on the new nature which is created in God in true righteousness and holiness. So, we look to His Word and simply believe, receive and act on what God's Word says. Let's begin with Romans chapter six...

Romans 6:1-2 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" If a believer is "dead to sin," it is impossible for him or her to live in sin. If a person lives in sin, then he or she is not dead to it and knows nothing of the true grace of God. The aspect of death is not only physical but also a spiritual state, (not to mention, eternal state) and is spoken here as being "dead to sin," that is, separation from sinful living. Therefore, the expression "dead to sin” speaks of the way that the believers spiritual state is separated unto God from the sin in which he formerly lived. Notice that Paul never states that "sin is dead to us" but that we are "dead to sin." The law of sin or the principles of sin is still present in the believer, but it can be rendered inoperative as the believer walks after the higher law, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2)

Now Paul asks another question, "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" (Romans 6:3) In asking ourselves the same question, also ask, do we truly believe this? The believer became "dead to sin" by being united with Jesus Christ, that is, baptism into Christ. Baptism here refers to immersion into His death. Believers are to see in Calvary not only Christ’s death for him or her, but also his or her death with Christ. Every believer by spiritual union with Christ, enters into His death and in water baptism, testifies his or her identification with His death. Next... 

"Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4) Christ was raised up from the dead by the power of the Father. (Ephesians 1:19-21) The believer is also raised up. Christ arose to walk in newness of life. The believer also rises to walk in newness of life, not in the oldness of the old life. Knowing this, gives us a key to the believers new nature. Believers are to lay aside, renounce, render inoperable the old man, by God's grace through faith in what He says. Newness of life was instantly imparted at the moment of regeneration and we now are called to walk in this new life. Look at our oneness with Christ... 

"For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." (Romans 6:5-6) If one can believe that they were united together in the likeness of Christ’s death, then we are to also believe that we are in the likeness of His resurrection. Notice the tense here. Not is crucified with Him, but was crucified with Him. The same truth is brought out in Galatians. 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ…" This is very important to grasp; the old man (old demonic, fallen, spiritually dead, sinful nature) was crucified with Christ!!! The Centenary Translation puts it this way, "For this we know, that our old self was crucified with Christ, in order that the slave of sin might be destroyed; so that we should no longer be in slavery to sin.” (Romans 6:6)

This verse is a declaration to ourselves by faith, we can say, "I died with Christ, that is, the o1d man, the sin nature that was a partaker of spiritual death, died with Christ." By nature, we were born as slaves to Satan and sin. Now, the believer is no longer a slave to Satan and sin but servants of God, even sons and daughters of God in Christ. (1 John 3:1) The word destroyed in the above Centenary Translation means, made void, made without effect, to bring to naught, vanish away, put away, put down, abolished, to cease, rendered inoperative, or inactive. When the body of Jesus was crucified, died, and was rendered inactive, inoperative, so the believer's body of sin should be the same because of his or her union with Christ, in His death, no longer serving sin but serving Jesus.

"For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him." (Romans 6:7-8) This literally means "he that has died" in a physical sense. Note that the physical truth points to the spiritual truth. Freed means, justified, acquitted, absolved. That as Christ was once dead but now lives to God, and will no more die, so we, being dead to sin, but living unto God, should not obey sin, but should live only to God not only in the next life but now! So far, we see that the believer has, died with Christ; was buried with Christ; is united together with Christ; is raised with Christ; was crucified with Christ; and is alive with Christ. To say goodbye to our old nature, believers need to see not only Christ’s substitution in these things, but also our identification with Him in these things. Paul continues... 

"Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts." (Romans 6:9-12) To reckon means, to not imagine or count something true that is not true. Verse eleven is another faith declaration; "I conclude that it is true, I am dead to sin, and I am alive, I have life in Christ Jesus my Lord." The believer is to allow Christ, as King, to reign over him or her, not sin. The law of sin has not yet been eradicated from the believer simply due to believers having a mortal body that is subject to physical death. Physical death is the last enemy to be destroyed. (1 Corinthians 15:26) There is the constant need to say no to sin and yes to life in Christ Jesus. (Remember, this is talking about the law of sin, not the nature of sin) 

"And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." (Romans 6:13) This is our identification with Christ’s death and resurrection. Sin is a spiritual law and needs a person, their body, as an instrument to express itself. The heart of the whole matter concerns yielding the body's members as an instruments of sin or instruments of righteousness. The Holy Spirit through Paul also gives us the solution to this, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2) Paul gives us another wonderful nugget of truth... 

"For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14) There it is. Paul is clear that the believer can live a victorious life in Christ. Sin does not need to have dominion (reign as king) over the believer. The believer can have dominion (reign as king) over sin. This does not mean that the believer has reached a state of sinless perfection, but rather the believer no longer needs to be ruled or dominated by sin. The believer is not under the law (that is, the dominion of the law of sin as the context is dealing with), nor is the believer under the law which was given to Moses (as Romans seven points out), but the believer is under a higher and stronger law, grace, which is actually being under the law of Christ, that is, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2) "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3:17) PTL!!! 

What we have seen here in Romans chapter six, is the sanctification and identification of the believer in and with Christ. Sanctification is the operation of the new law of life in Christ Jesus, a higher spiritual law, which makes us free from the law of sin and death. So, in the mind of our Heavenly father, when Christ was crucified, we were crucified; when Christ died, we died; when Christ was buried, we were buried; when Christ spent three days and three nights as our substitute in Sheol/Hades, we were in Him; when Christ met the claims of justice, our old satanic, sinful nature was put away; when Christ was raised, we were raised; when Christ ascended, we ascended; when Christ sat down on the throne with all things under His feet, we also sat down on the throne with all things under our feet (Ephesians 2:6); as Christ lives, we also live; we are no longer slaves of sin; we have been freed from sin, and should walk in the newness of life!!!

In the mind of the Father, the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, brought us into a perfect oneness with Christ. Just as Jesus conquered death by submitting to it, (John 10:17-18), we, the new creations in Christ, conquer Satan by submitting to the Lordship of Jesus. So, say goodbye to your old self and exceedingly rejoice, for Christ has truly set us FREE!!!

Jesus is Our Rightousness

From Romans 1:18 through Romans 3:20, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul has expressed and exposed to man his condition as a helpless sinner under wrath, under judgement, unjustified, guilty, condemned, and under the death penalty. This is what man is prior to confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and receiving Him as Savior. However, further into Romans, Paul turns to what God is and what God has accomplished through Jesus Christ as man's Substitute. God through Jesus Christ, has provided, on absolute legal ground, the way to give man eternal life. The gospel message for the unsaved generally provides the listener with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for man's salvation. Here in Romans 3:21-26 Paul expounds on what this all means as he begins to lay out by the Holy Spirit man's new identity when one comes to Christ. This is what I call the believers gospel.  

"But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets." (Romans 3:21) First, understand that man's basic need was and is righteousness, that is, the ability to stand in the Father's presence without the sense of guilt, condemnation, unworthiness or inferiority. Paul declares that God has unveiled a new source of righteousness which is witnessed by the law and the prophets. Even though God has revealed His righteousness apart from the law, that righteousness is not contrary to the law or against it. Moses, who through the Holy Spirit, wrote the Books of the Law, and the Prophets, who also spoke through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, revealed God's righteousness in every scripture that speaks of the Messiah. As far as God is concerned, the Law, Prophets and especially Christ set forth His righteousness. 

"Even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:22-23) Paul tells us in Romans 1:17, "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith." As we see, now we know where or to whom our faith is applied, Jesus Christ. This is very important, because our faith in Christ goes beyond the day one is born again. I say this, because most believers tend to have more faith the day they received Christ than they tend to have the rest of their Christian walk. This may be the main reason why so many live under guilt, condemnation, unworthiness or inferiority. For believers to live free of these enemies, we must apply faith to what God said as being absolutely true and then apply, or act upon His Word.

Notice, the righteousness of God is “to all and on all who believe.” This is an open invitation to the entire world, all men everywhere who believe. This believing, or faith, in Jesus Christ is not just mere mental assent, or intellectual knowledge. To believe in or on the Lord Jesus Christ is; to adhere, cleave to, trust in, to have faith in, to rely on. Acts 16:31 (AMP) says, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping and you will be saved." This applies across the board with every area of life as a beliver, because the word saved is pregnant with meaning beyond simply regeneration.   Remembering Romans 1:18 through Romans 3:20, all are guilty; all have transgressed; all are lawless; all have fallen short; none measure up to the perfection of God, the glory of God and the divine standard of God's righteousness, however... 

"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:24) Justified means "made righteous, acquitted; made and declared right; freed from guilt and blame, and therefore, freed from the penalty and punishment of sin's guilt. At Calvary, the law was honored, sin was judged, death was dealt with, and pardon was made available. Therefore, we see that God is gracious without being unjust, and He is just without be ungracious. This redemption, this buy back, the purchasing of man, has been provided in and through Jesus Christ only. 

"Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed." (Romans 3:25) God Himself had foreordained Christ to be the Lamb from and before the foundation of the world. Jesus was set forth to be a sin substitute, on the ground of faith and His blood. God did this to show His righteousness because He had been passing over the sins of Israel for fifteen hundred years but not only Israel but also all mankind, including Gentile. Now it is demanded that the penalty be paid. Jesus met that penalty and paid or redeemed the promises that were made each year by the High Priest on the great Day of Atonement. In effect, Jesus cashed in 1500 years of promissory notes and brought redemption to every person who had been blood-covered under the First Covenant. The writer of Hebrews also covers this in detail... 

"Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:12) Note that this redemption is an Eternal Redemption. When Christ carried His blood into the Most Holy Place of heaven and the Supreme Court of the Universe accepted it, man’s redemption became a completed, eternal thing. Next we see, "For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" ( Hebrews 9:13-14) Notice that the blood of bulls and goats only cleanses the flesh, the outward man. It did not cleanse the heart, it did not make man a New Creation. Continuing... 

"And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance." (Hebrews 9:15) Now we see that Jesus also died for the sins of those living under the First Covenant that had been covered by the blood of animals from year to year, that they might have their share in the inheritance of redemption through Christ. Finally, we see, "He (Jesus) then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." (Hebrews 9:26) Therefore, God has dealt with the sin problem. The sin problem is ended and the sinner, Jew and Gentile, through repentance, confessing with the mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believing with the heart that God raised Him from the dead, has given mankind the legal right to eternal life because God so loved him that He gave him His only begotten Son. And now... 

"to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:26) God is righteous and the righteousness of the one who has faith in Jesus Christ. The only way that a person can become righteous in the eyes of God, is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and His blood. It is upon simple faith in Jesus Christ, that is, acting upon what God has said in regard to His Son that turns an unrighteous, God opposing convict into a righteous child of God. Now we can understand that we were justified, declared righteous, freely by his Grace, through the redemption God worked in Christ. So then, if Christ has fulfilled the law and the righteousness of the law, then whosoever believes and receives Christ, (in the biblical sense), the righteousness of the law is also fulfilled in him or her. PTL. This is the gospel for the believer. Amen...

Our Legal Rights

The notion of "New Creation" was spoken by the prophet Ezekiel centuries before it became a reality. "For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." (Ezekiel 36:24-27)

Though this is the Word of the Lord to Israel’s renewal, it is a prophetic Word concerning the New Covenant and New Birth. Becoming born again is the heart of Christianity. From the fall of man to Pentecost every plan and purpose of man’s redemption is centered on this. This is the reason for the incarnation, death, burial, resurrection and glorification of Christ. We need to come into the revelation knowledge of the scriptures and apply faith to who we are in Christ, what Christ is in us and how the Father sees us or Christianity is nothing more than one of the religions of the world.

Becoming born again, becoming a new creation in Christ, is not simply a conversion to new concepts or a theory. It is not rules and regulation to live by, but a reality. It’s the transformation of one’s life into the image of Christ from glory to glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18) Though Ezekiel spoke prophetically concerning this, Jesus is the first one who speaks in specifics of being born again. With His conversation Nicodemus, Jesus reveals what being born from above is and the need for it. 

"There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him. Jesus answered and said to him, most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born? Jesus answered; most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:1-8)

Some things to notice here. No one can see or understand the Kingdom of God except he is born from above. No one can enter the Kingdom of God except he is born of water and the Spirit. Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, cannot understand it. Jesus shows us the difference between the natural and the spiritual man. One is born of natural means and the other is born of the Spirit. It is evident that Jesus fully understood the state of man. Jesus in speaking to the Jewish leaders as recorded in John 8:44, tells them they are of their father, the devil, meaning, they are partakers of satanic nature. Jesus also tells us in John 5:24, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” 

It is apparent that Jesus believed man to be spiritually dead, a child of the devil, and that the born again experience is to be a change of nature which also will mean a change of relationship. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” (Ephesians 2:1-3)

Here we see that man is by nature a child of wrath, he is spiritually dead. Paul also tells us, Ephesians 2:12 explaining what the situation was with man prior to becoming born again, "that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John tells us, "In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the Devil." (1 John 3:10) This clearly reveals that there are only two families on the earth and all of mankind is either a part of one or the other. They are either children of God or children of the devil; they have either the nature of God or the nature of the devil; either made alive, born again, a new creation or spiritually dead, having the satanic nature.

You may have heard the teaching that says that although a person can be saved they still retain their old sinful nature. However, scripture does not reveal man having a dual nature especially once he is born again as we saw above, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins." (Ephesians 2:1) Prior to being born again, man’s spirit was dead, but now, being born again his spirit is made alive. It does not say one half alive or partially alive or that he is dead and alive, but that he is made alive. We see this spoken of in the following scriptures, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." (John 5:24) "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:12) This is not a future possession but a present tense possession.  

The life that Jesus is talking about, is the very life of God the Holy Spirit dwelling in the born again person. So, think about this, can or does the Holy Spirit share a portion of a born again persons life with the devil? (See 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 2 Peter 1:4) No, a person born again does not have Gods divine nature and the fallen satanic at the same time. However, a believer has a choice. Live and walk by the fruit of the recreated spirit or they can choose the works of the flesh and sin. (Galatians 5:19-26) 

Jesus tells us, "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."(John 10:10) I labor this point because many believers live under guilt, condemnation, unworthiness, shame and or inferiority and not the life that Jesus’ substitution has so abundantly provided through faith in Him. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Peter tells us, "having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever." (1 Peter 1:23) Believers are not illegitimate children, nor hybrids or half breeds, but are legitimately and legally born of God with His nature. (2 Peter 1:4) The fallen satanic nature is gone. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ..." (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) 

So, as the writer of Hebrews tells us, "...Let us go on to perfection..." (Hebrews 6:1) in Christ, let us do just that. Let us take our legal rights that God has provided for us in His most wonderful plan of redemption in and through Christ and know without question, our Heavenly Father has taken it upon Himself to reconciled us, that is, He has received us with favor. We are His sons and daughters. PTL

Sowing Seeds of Righteousness

In Mark's Gospel chapter four, Jesus teaches us the Parable of the Soils. In it He talks about seed being sown on four type of soils. In His explanation of the Parable He tells us the seed sown is the Word of God. In other words, God's Word is the seed of the divine life. It is life giving. Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63) Until one puts faith, unwavering trust in God's Word, they will being trying to reap a harvest where there is no seed planted. It would be senseless for a farmer to have faith for a harvest before he has even planted the seed. In the same way, it is not God's will that there be a harvest without the planting of the seed, that is, without His will, His Word, being known and acted on.

For instance, for a sick person to know that it is God's will to heal them, it is necessary for the seed to be planted in their heart where the power of God's Word can convince their mind. The seed is not planted until it is known, received and as I had mentioned, having unwavering trust that what God says is absolutely true and that He is both willing and able to perform what He says (Jeremiah 1:12). In the same way, no person can become a Christian before he or she knows that it is God's will to save. It is God's Word sown, trusted and acted upon which recreates the spirit and also heals both soul and body. God will always be limited in a persons life until he or she knows God's will in a matter. It is the Gospel, which the Holy Spirit says through the Apostle Paul, "is the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16) which applies to all its phases, physical, mental (mind, will, emotions and intellect) and spiritual.

The power of God's Word is not to be applied by prayer alone. Seed is powerless until it is planted. So, if we are unsure of God's Will, instead of saying, "Pray for me" we should first say, "Teach me God's Word", so that we can intelligently cooperate with the Holy Spirit and receive the promises of God. Within the Apostle Paul's prayer for the church we see, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened..." (Ephesians 1:17-18) After the eyes of our understanding are sufficiently enlightened, our attitude toward sickness, disease, sin and all the works of the devil should be the same as the Lord Jesus', "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38) "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8) 

We can be sufficiently enlightened by the promises of God by simply believing that our prayer is heard before we have experienced the answer, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (Mark 11:24) God's promises work there wonders while we see and act on eternal realities, that is, on His promises, on His faithfulness, etc., but we must stand on His Word and refuse to be affected by temporal things to the contrary. God always fulfills His promises when He can get the right cooperation. (Hebrews 10:23, 11:6) He always accepts us and undertakes for us when we apply Mark 11:24 to our daily lives.

To take this out further, let's look at Proverbs 4:20-22. "My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." God's Word cannot be health to either soul or body before it is heard, received and attended to. Notice here that the Words of God, spoken through Solomon, are life only to those who find them. If one desires to receive life and healing from God, they must take time to find the words in the scriptures that promise these results. When God's Word becomes health to all our flesh, our sickness and or disease will be gone.  Unfortunately, because many believers today have failed to find and attend to God's Word for their need(s), the promises that the Father has and is willing and able to give His children do not manifest.

As we see in this Proverb and when we respond to it, His Words are "Life and health to all our flesh." The Holy Spirit through the Apostle James tells us, "...receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:21-22) We also see that God tells us exactly how to attend to His Words, "Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart. Therefore, having your eyes on your circumstances and being occupied with them, will cause God's Word to "depart from your eyes." So, we are to look at, consider, meditate on God's Word and like Abraham, we also become strong in faith looking at the promises of God and nothing else. (Romans 4:17-21)

As the only way a seed can do its work is by being kept in the ground, so the only way that God's imperishable seed can effectually work in us is by it being "kept in the midst of our heart." This does not mean occasionally, but continuously. This is most likely the main reason why many have failed to receive the wonderful promises of God. When we attend to God's Words by not letting them depart from before our eyes and by keeping them in the midst of our heart, the seed takes root in good ground. This is the kind of ground in which, Jesus says, "But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:20) This is the crux of the message revealed in the Parable of the Soils.

Therefore, after we have planted the seed, God's Word, which give promise and solution to our circumstances, we simply believe it is growing even though we do not see it growing. This is faith that is, as the writer of Hebrews says, "the evidence of things not seen." By looking to Christ, by looking to God's Word, we have perfect evidence for faith. Any person can get rid of his or her doubts by looking only at the evidence that God has given for our faith, His Word. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Seeing only what God says will produce and increase faith.  By continuously, "giving attention to God's words; Inclining your ear to His sayings; not letting them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; we will find life, light, liberty, love, joy, guidance, wisdom, understanding, provision, perfect health and so much more. God's Word provides everything that we could ever possibly need in this life. (2 Peter 1:3)

So, let us take these final words to heart, as it has been said, "Don't doubt your faith; doubt your doubts, for they are unreliable." Therefore, from this day forward, let us permit the Holy Spirit to fill us with grace, peace, wisdom and revelation of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ and as sow the seeds of righteousness which will open the eyes of our understanding and transform our lives like never before. Amen?  

Completely New

With the new year almost upon us, many see New Years day as not simply the beginning of a new year, but as a new beginning for themselves. We see the reality of this by the many resolutions that people make on New Years. A New Year's resolution is basically a decision to do or not do something in order to accomplish a personal goal or break a habit. It comes at a time when people look back at the past year and make an effort to improve themselves as the new year begins. Unfortunately, statistics reveal that only 8% of people who make New Years resolutions succeed in keeping them. This means that 92% of all New Years resolutions fail. Why? Mostly, people make unrealistic resolutions and or they are not really prepared mentally to fight off fleshly desires and continue with their goals. But what about believers? Should they make New Years resolutions? There is certainly nothing wrong with making New Years resolutions, but the same conditions that bring failure still exist, unless believers put their trust fully in the Lord.

The Bible tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) Even the Apostle Paul learned a lesson of trusting the Lord in a greater way while he was being buffeted by a messenger of Satan. The Lord revealed to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9) Paul's response is quite interesting, "Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)

All believers, like the Apostle Paul must rely upon God's grace to get them through every area of life not only New Years resolutions. A good definition of grace found in the Bible goes like this, "[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." (Philippians 2:13 AMP) and, "Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]." (Ephesians 3:20 AMP) 

Another area to consider is to fully know and understand who believers are in Christ; who Christ is in the believer; and how the Father sees them. When believers come to a full knowledge of these three things, they will understand what Jesus meant when He said, "nothing is impossible to those who believe." (Mark 9:23) Knowing these things sets believers free from shame, condemnation, guilt, unworthiness and inferiority. They will walk in a freedom that will cause them to not make resolution but to rely on God's grace to overcome and live victorious. For instance, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ.." (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)  "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." (Romans 6:6) 

The old nature, the old person that you were, prior to your salvation is gone. The Bible shows us that God has not made any provision for the old nature but to crucify or executed it. You have been made completely new in Christ and have right standing with God. (Keep in mind that it is one's spirit, not their soul, IE, mind, will, emotions and intellect, and not their body that has been recreated) These things only come one way, "by grace through faith." (Ephesians 2:8) This mean, every believer one day must come to the place where their own faith has grown and has brought them to know without doubt, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14-15) This is actually a realm of Christianity that few believers come to. Not because they do not desire to have this level of faith, but, it is mostly due to a lack of studying and meditating on God's Word which builds the believers faith and renews their mind. (Romans 10:17, 12:2)

When believers apply these things in their life it will change their behavior and thought patterns which in turn will cause them to have the desire and ability to accomplish the purposes and will of God. This is grace in action. These things are not self imposed, but Holy Spirit inspired. The Apostle Paul tells us to, "...Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16) So, you see we do not have to make New Year resolutions to only have them fail. We can live in the power, favor and ability, the grace of God, everyday through faith in Jesus Christ to overcome every obstacle of life and do the impossible where others may fail. So this New Years, do not make a New Years resolution per se, but, "...lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of you." (Philippians 3:12) My prayer for you, as the Apostle John said, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (3 John 2) Have a safe and Happy New Year...  

Peace and Goodwill

Christmas is celebrated throughout the world with many traditions and various ways (to many to share hereon). Although the holiday itself has some dark history tied to it, our focus is from a more joyful, traditional perspective. It is both a cultural and deeply religious occasion celebrated by billions of people around the world. From the inclusion of the Christmas tree to the annual gift-giving, the feast day that spans through modern history has many traditions, myths, and stories that resonate around the globe. For instance, the evergreen fir tree has traditionally been used to celebrate winter festivals (pagan and Christian) for thousands of years. Pagans used branches of it to decorate their homes during the winter solstice, as it made them think of the spring to come. The Romans used Fir Trees to decorate their temples at the festival of Saturnalia. Christians use it as a sign of everlasting life with God. However, nobody is really sure when Fir trees were first used as Christmas trees.

In America, communities around the country honored the day in different ways. Some observed Christmas as an important Christian religious day, honoring the birth of Jesus. Others celebrated the day with parties, music, drinking and eating. However, some communities did not celebrate the day at all. It was during the early 1800s that Americans began to reinvent the holiday. They started combining ancient Christmas traditions with modern American influences. Religion played a big role in how an American might celebrate the holiday. Calvinist Christians banned the celebration of Christmas. But groups such as Episcopalians and Moravians honored the day with religious services and seasonal decorations. By mid-century, Christian groups began to ignore their religious differences over the meaning of Christmas and honored the day in special ways.

Though the celebration of Christmas is not a biblical concept, the early church, in an attempt to get rid of a pagan holiday, declared December 25th to be the day to celebrate the birthday of the Son of God, though the Bible does not reveal the actual day or date that Jesus was born. Many historians think that Jesus was born sometime in the spring because the shepherds were in the fields at lambing time. It seems quite appropriate that the "Lamb that takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:19) would have been born during the time that all of the lambs destined for sacrifice in the temple were also born. Since it is also a fact that the very hour Christ gave His life for the sins of men, all over Jerusalem the Passover lambs were being slain (John 19:14). It would not be coincidence, but the timing of the plan and purpose of God. It was not until 1870 that December 25th was declared a federal holiday in the United States. With this said let's look at what we call the real reason for the Christmas season... 

"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:1-7)

The census that was ordered by Caesar Augustus was the first of its kind. It was done because the Roman government wanted to make sure that everyone in the Roman Empire was paying their taxes correctly. The census was carried out over the entire Empire. For Jews in Palestine, it meant that families had to register in the their historical tribal town rather than where they lived. This also meant that Joseph and Mary, (Mary now pregnant with child), would have had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, as this was town that Joseph's family originally came from, a journey that would have taken about three days.

History reveals that during that time period there were no such things as motels or inns, such as we have today. People who traveled would have normally stayed in the homes of either extended family or friends. Due to the census, many people would have traveled to Bethlehem, so it was most likely that most, if not all of the houses, were filled with guests, especially the upper levels of houses, which were the guest rooms. So Joseph and Mary probably had to sleep with the animals on the lower level where it was common to have a manger cut into a wall where you put the animal food or they could have possibly been in a stable, cave or even a covered market stall that sold animals. 

It was the custom in those times to wrap a new born baby very tightly in long bandages called swaddling clothes. The arms and legs of the baby were also wrapped, so they couldn't move. This was done because they thought it helped the baby to grow strong, straight limbs. And as no proper crib was available, the new baby boy was placed in a manger, or feeding trough. At the birth of Jesus we also see the angel of the Lord make the most wonderful announcement, For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11) Then the heavens were filled with rejoicing, ...And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" (Luke 2:11, 13-14) So, let us remember that the Incarnate One is come, Christ the Lord. Have a very Merry Christmas...

The Real Deal

When we look at creation, we can draw the conclusion that man was the reason for creation. We can say this because everything was created before and for man, Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth...and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food." (Genesis 1:26-29) "...what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen, even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas." (Psalm 8:3-8) 

Although this wonderful work of creation was for and to benefit man, in his one act of disobedience to only one command, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:15-17) man forfeited his dominion, his ownership, over all creation to God's enemy, Satan. (Luke 4:5-7) However, Gods desire and His great love for His crown Jewel, man, to be redeemed, immediately after the fall, put into action His plan for the redemption, the buy back of man. 

Through Jesus Christ, God the Word becoming flesh, God Himself would become liable for mans sin and rebellion. He would take it all upon Himself in order that the demands of justice be completely and lawfully satisfied. Through Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection, the just for the unjust, God had legally redeemed man once for all. Now God can on legal grounds give eternal life to man. Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." (John 5:24) For everyone who confesses Jesus as Lord and receives Him as Savior, there will be no judgment nor will there be any suffering in Sheol, Hades, like there was for Jesus. Yet in  all the glorious things that the Father did through Christ from the incarnation to His seating at His right, I believe the greatest miracle happens when a person receives Christ and instantly goes from being a child of the devil to becoming a child of God. "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." (Colossians 1:13)

The reality of who and what a born again person is in Christ, is nothing short of a miracle. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

This became a reality the moment Jesus carried His blood into the Holy of Holies in heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father. These things are not progressive or future events, but a current reality. Now a person can accept Christ and know that the moment he or she does, they becomes a new creation. The o1d things of life have passed away, and behold all are become new; and all these things are of God, who has reconciled that person to Himself through Jesus Christ. Do you see why the new creation is a miracle? A person upon receiving Christ in a single moment goes from a convict, to a redeemed child of God. (1 John 3:1) Not only that, but also notice, “He who knew no sin, became sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." A person upon receiving Christ in a single moment also becomes the righteousness of God in Christ.

Let us look at what the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul reveals, "Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).  Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2 AMP)

As it is in 2 Corinthians 5:21 we see here also; upon the confession of Christ as Lord and receiving Him as Savior we are declared righteous by God. This is emphatic. God Himself declares this. Is goes on, "who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised up because of our being declared righteous." (Romans 4:25 YLT) In other words, after three days and nights of unimaginable suffering in Sheol, Hades, by Jesus our substitute, the very moment that justice was satisfied, in the Father’s mind, sin was dealt with, mankind was declared righteous, and then Jesus was raised from the dead. Yes, all of mankind in the mind of God has been given right standing. There is no problem with sin in the mind of God. Sin was dealt with in Jesus Christ. However, there is still a problem with sinners. Though mankind has been declared righteous, it only becomes a reality to an individual when they receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Next, Jesus reveals to us in His conversation with Nicodemus, "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18) God does not condemn the sinner, they condemn themselves for not believing on Jesus. We see "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17) This is why it is so highly important that believers know who they are in Christ, who Christ is in them and how the Father truly sees them.

In the natural sense, it’s like a person having a debilitating disease that is life threatening. Someone has freely paid the price to provide the cure. Because someone took it upon themselves to provide the cure for free, in a sense the disease is already cured. However, if the diseased person knows what needs to happen for the cure to become a reality and does not pursue it, in a sense they have brought the end result, death, upon themselves. To compound the matter, those who have received the cure may have other types of diseases attached to them, such as, fear, doubt, unbelief, guilt, unworthiness or a sense of inferiority, and though they themselves have received the cure, they do not tell other diseased people what makes the cure a reality. Unfortunately, this happens all the time because most believers do not have an assured confidence as to who they are in Christ, who Christ is in them and how the Father truly sees them.

The way to freedom on both of these fronts is to apply faith to the unchanging Word of God. Abraham did not have a complete revelation of God as we do today in what we call the Bible, yet it says of him, "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform." (Romans 4:20-21) This is why the writer of Hebrews encourages us to, "hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23) The Apostle Paul tells us, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might...Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand..." (Ephesians 6:10, 13-14) 

Believers are now in Christ and the reality of this means, He is in us and we are in Him; We are new creations the old has passed away; We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ; He has not left us to live on our own; He is living His life in us; He is acting in us, through us, and with us; We can continue the work here on earth that He modeled for us; We are now His burden-bearers; We carry His load with His strength; We do His will with His ability. So, let us come to a greater revelation of the truth as to who we are in Christ, who Christ is in us, and how the Father truly see us. Our new life in Christ is not simply a path to follow; It is not a theory; It is not a doctrine; It is a reality; it is life.

Many Dogma's and Doctrines have lost their significance. They are the worn-out shells, old wine skins of yesterday which have held believers in bondage for years. So, let us become God inside minded. Let us never forget, who we are in Christ; who Christ is in us; and how the Father truly see us. The days of condemnation, guilt, unworthiness, weakness, failure and inferiority are over. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John Tells us, “…because as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17) Glory to God!!!

The Old is Gone

I believe that the two greatest struggles for most believers is being fully convinced concerning God's Word and receiving our inheritance now. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) When we know what our Redemption in Christ truly means, and what it means to the Father, not simply a place in heaven when we pass from this life to eternity, then we pass out of the realm of worry, fear, doubt, unworthiness and inferiority and into the rest that God has provided in Christ.

The Apostle Paul recognized this so much that he tells us, "Not that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therein to be independent of circumstances." ( Philippians 4:11 TCT) Why or how can believers be independent of circumstances? Paul goes on and says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me." (Philippians 4:13) You see, redemption in the mind of the Father means a new creation, not a new renovation or a hybrid, but complete sonship with al1its privileges. It means that we have come into God’s family and have all the family rights and privileges now as His Children. Paul tells us, "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…" (Romans 8:15-17 ) What a remarkable promise...

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John tells us, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God…" (1 John 3:1-2) We could stop here, because this should be enough to cause us to walk in newness of life free from the old nature understanding who we are is in Christ; who Christ is in us and how the Father truly sees all of His children. Jesus tells us, "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26) and, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:11)

How about this, "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:9 ) For some, it may take some time before the reality of this scripture becomes more than simply a nice scripture. The great God and Father, the Creator of all things, has called us into fellowship with His Son, because He sees us as new creations in and with Christ. It is important that all believers recognize these truths, because the Father sees us as being one with Him in Christ. Oh, it goes even further, PTL.. 

"For if, through the transgression of one individual, death made use of the one individual to seize the sovereignty, all the more shall those who receive God's overflowing grace and gift of righteousness reign as kings in Life through the one individual, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17 WEY) We are now reigning as kings in the realm of life. We have become Masters; We are more than conquerors; We are set free; we are no longer held in captivity; We were slaves, defeated, conquered, held in bondage but LORD has taken us to His throne, and in the name of Jesus we become the bondage breakers for the rest of the human race.

Paul tells us, "Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." (Colossians 2:18)  Paul tells believers not to let anyone deprive them of their due reward. The only way to secure the prize was to hold on to the truth of God's Word and not yield to the philosophy of the world or the teachings of the Jewish leaders, who would try to defrauded Jews of their reward in Christ. The same can happen today and is happening today. Many of God's children are being cheated out of their inheritance through faithless teachers who teach the traditions and doctrines of man, rather than the unadulterated Word of God which builds faith (Romans 10:17) and produces life. (John 6:63) So, hold your position in Christ and stand on His truth, as Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32) Amen...    

Ever Increasing Faith

With the holiday season upon us which not only includes Christmas but also the closing of a year and the beginning of a new year, let us prepare ourselves now with high expectations of God manifesting His Kingdom, Power and Glory like never before. Let us remember that Jesus gave humanity a complete and eternal redemption which provides us with life and that more abundantly, now. Let us "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:1-2) Let us move beyond churchianity into true Christianity by letting the Holy Spirit loose, bringing us to the place where the supernatural power of God is released through us in the Name of Jesus. (Mark 16:17-18) Let us exercise more faith in God and His wonderful Word and works than we every have. Of course we will have a fight on our hands. But not a fight against Satan, for he is a defeated foe. 

The greatest battle that any child of God will ever fight is the battle of faith. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul reveals this very thing, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:12) We often wonder why it is so hard for so many believers to truly believe God. There are several reasons. Some of these are; we are surrounded in an environment of an antagonistic world that is presided over by the enemy of all righteousness, Satan; we live in his unreal world; we are surrounded by the currents of unbelief so subtle that most seem unable to realize them and rise above them and the corruption and demonic evil that surrounds us can lead believers in to a place of fear and anxiety that erodes faith.

To believe in God for most anything seems to be a continual struggle against the selfish, greedy, materialistic currents that buffet us. To believe in Christ for victory over sin is a battle during every hour of consciousness, with the spiritual hosts of darkness seemly and relentlessly opposing all that is good and righteous. To believe in God for healing the physical body when one is ill is to put up a battle against the centuries of trusting in medicine. So it is not at a1l strange that so many break down in their faith life. For those who press through these things we must caution ourselves to not be harsh or critical against our brothers or sisters in Christ who fail when scripture tells us, "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:1-2) So, let's take a moment and look at what the Bible reveals concerning faith. 

To begin with faith is a noun whereas believe is a verb. Believing, being a verb, is an action word. To believe in a Biblical sense means "to take," or "to grasp." To believe Jesus means to take Jesus for all that the Scriptures declare Him to be. To clarify this, to believe on Christ as a Savior, is to take Him as the One who saves, delivers, redeems, sustains, preserves and makes whole; the One who has opened the way to everlasting salvation, eternal life. It means to take Him and recognize Him as your healer, provider, protector, basically, our all in all. In other words, believing is an act of the will. When I believe, I have acted, having acted, I have reached what is called faith. Faith is a noun. I take a step. Having taken the step, I have arrived, therefore arriving in this sense is faith. 

To believe then, is to act on the Word of God. So then, faith is action, that is, not believing only but acting on God's Word. The Apostle James says it this way,  "...I will show you my faith by my works (corresponding actions)" (James 2:18) Doubt or unbelief is refusing to act on God's Word. This brings us to the next point. There are two kinds of unbelief: first, a refusing to act on the knowledge of the Word that we have. This can be called unpersuadableness. It is refusing to act on what we know to be true in the light of knowledge. The other kind of unbelief arises when one does not know, therefore he/she cannot act. In other words, if we do not understand or know something to be true, we are afraid to act or we do not know how to act. The cure for this is knowledge; the cure for the other is obedience. 

The writer of Hebrews tells us, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) For many, although this verse is describing or defining faith it seems to be somewhat obscure. So, to break this down to more understandable terms, it can be said; Faith is the title deed for things you have hoped for, the putting to proof of things unseen, that is, faith is the title deed to the property you know you possess, even though you have not yet seen it. Think about it from this perspective. You are given the deed to a property. You have never seen the property, however, the deed is the legal document and the only proof required, that guarantees and proves your ownership. In the same way, we apply faith in God's Word (the deed) which God Himself guarantees that what He says is true and that He is able and willing to perform. In other words, faith is expecting God to do what you know He has said in His Word that He will do, or, faith is believing that God speaks the truth, period, therefore, no matter what the circumstances may be, I am convinced that God is willing and able to do what He says. 

When it comes to acting on God's Word, that is, releasing faith, always remember, God has never asked that we exercise faith for something that He has not first promised or that He will not do for us. In other words, first, He gives us a promise. Then as our faith grows it produces actions, then He fulfills His promise. The Apostle Paul tells us, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) Although Jesus paid the price for sin, a person must act in faith, confess and believe, before God fulfills His promise, "you will be saved." This same principle applies across the board. Faith is believing and acting on God's Word. So, always remember, God never asks us to believe He will do something for us unless He has promised to do it first. We also need to remember, "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19) 

Solomon tells us, "My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22) Let us do what we see in this Proverb concerning God's Word. In the natural, when a farmer puts seed into the ground, he does not dig it up to see how it is doing. He believes that the ground and seed have begun their work. Similarly, we are to, "Keep them (God's Word) in the midst of your heart" and believe that it is doing its work. So, let us have the same faith in the imperishable seed, God's Word. The Apostle Peter tells us, "having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever." (1 Peter 1:23) 

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus tells us the seed that is sown is the Word of God. (Mark 4:14) He also tells us in the Parable of the Growing Seed, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how." (Mark 4:26-27) Therefore, after you plant seed, (God's Word) believe it is growing even before you see any results. As we see above, we may not understand how the Word grows (our faith), we simply believe. This again is faith, which is the evidence of things not seen. Any person can get rid of their doubts by looking steadfastly at the evidence which God has given for our faith, His Word. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) It is God's Word that produces and increases faith. So, do not doubt your faith, but simply doubt your doubts, for they are unreliable. 

As we approach 2026, let us commit to doing the following three things on a daily bases. First, saturate ourselves with and in the Word of God. Let it prevail over fear, doubt and unbelief like never before. Simply put, let's believe and act on God's Word. Second, let our confession be the Word of God. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23) Remember, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Thirdly, spend time conversing (praying) with the Father in the Name of Jesus. Not only offering up our petitions and requests, but also given thanks in all thing, keeping in mind, that to converse is to have a conversation, a two way conversation with the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit. "truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3) 

Finally, let us not make vain New Years resolutions, where according to statistics, approximately 80% of resolutions fail by the second week of February. Instead let us truly commit ourselves to the Lord, His Word and His way's, in doing so, the church will once again takes its place in every society turning the world upside down, glorifying the Father and magnifying the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12) My prayer for us all was spoken by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle John, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (3 John 2) PTL  

Thanks be to God

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Taken from the Greek, the word everything means; all things; every kind or variety; in the highest degree; the maximum; with all boldness. The Holy Spirit is our helper and comforter (John 15:26) and no matter what circumstances of life we may find ourselves facing, let us remember that He is with us always. The attitude of giving thanks for every believer should go beyond Thanksgiving Day, which we celebrate this year on November 27, 2025. Simply put, Thanksgiving is not just a holiday every fourth Thursday in November where believers join with family and friends and share what they are thankful for, but everyday ought to be Thanksgiving Day for believers and as Paul tells us "In everything give thanks."

The Psalmist says, "Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations." (Psalm 100) One of the things that we see concerning giving thanks, is, "Make a joyful shout to the Lord." For most there seems to be no problem with shouting at sporting events or even various forms of entertainment, but what about shouting thank you to the Lord. As we see in the beginning of this Psalm, our lives are meant to be joyful. God wants us to get excited about who He is. We all need to exercise the fruit of joy and shout joyfully to God. He has won the victory for us through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We also see that we are to, "Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing." The word serve not only indicates to labor, but also to worship as we see "Come before His presence with singing." The usage of the word gladness talks of glee; exceeding gladness; joyfulness; rejoicing. The reasons for this are obvious. Jesus has saved me; He is merciful to me; He lives in me; He is a present help in time of trouble; He is healer; deliverer; provider; He loves me without conditions; He will not cast me away; on, and on, and on. Just keeping these things in mind and confessing them at all times should cause us to serve the Lord with gladness and with a song coming forth from our lips.

Next, we are called to, "Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture." This verse shows three of the many attributes of God. He is Lord. We are to let Him be Ruler, Master, Lord of our lives. He is Creator. When a person creates something, though we simply use the created things of God to invent or make things, that person is greater than the thing created and they have every right over that which was made. (Romans 9:20) The Apostle Paul tells us, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) He made us. We are His. He is the our Shepherd. He guides us to the place of security, plenty and rest. Like sheep, we are to be totally dependent on God.

Next, we are to "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations." Here is the epitome of what Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the kind of thanksgiving that flows out of a thankful heart. In Luke chapter seventeen we see a heart of thanksgiving revealed through a Samaritan who was healed of leprosy by Jesus. 

"Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.  And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-17) 

Notice, that out of the ten lepers, the Samaritan was the only one who returned to Jesus, "and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. In doing so, he was showing us just how thankful he was for what Jesus did for him.  Why? "For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations." Let's be honest, Jesus has done exceedingly great things for us, we, more so than the Samaritan, should be thankful to God for what He is and what has done for us. So, this Thanksgiving with all the preparations, events and excitement, let us be truly thankful, with shouts of joy; with gladness; with thankfulness and gratitude and with a heart dependent on Him. Happy Thanksgiving...

Love as God Loves

Man is a spirit, with a soul, which dwell in a physical body. (1 Thessalonians 5:23) His spirit enables him to contact spiritual things. His soul is composed of his mind, will, emotions, intellect and reasoning faculties in which he contacts mental things. His body enables him to contact physical or material things through his five senses. Before one is born again, a new creation, due to the fall, his spirit is dominated by spiritual death which has opened the door to his soul to have dominion. This makes it impossible for him to understand the Bible, that is, revelation of Truth. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14) 

However, one of the wonderful Old Testament prophecies spoken to Ezekiel by the Holy Spirit says, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." (Ezekiel 36:26-27) He is speaking of the new creation. He will give them a new heart and put a new spirit in them. Not only will their spirit be recreated but this suggests that He is going to take away selfishness from their heart and replace it with a new kind of love that will make them one as a body of people. Jesus reveals this during His final instructions to His disciples, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” and "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." (John 13:35, 17:21) 

The old human spirit, the real man, the real person, is to be recreated with the nature and life of God. Again he says, 'I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." This is speaking of the New Covenant person by new birth not the Old Covenant person by circumcision. The Apostle Paul tells us, "In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ." (Colossians 2:11) The Old Covenant made them servants, whereas the New Covenant makes us sons and daughters.  "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1) As we can see, our circumcision is not physical but spiritual. It is God taking away not a portion of the physical body, but putting off the body of the senses or the flesh.

This means He is taking away the dominion of the physical body over the human spirit which gained control when man sinned. He says he is "putting off the body of the sins of the flesh." That is, "knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." (Romans 6:6) Here the Holy Spirit is trying to make clear the same truth. When a person is recreated, the physical body loses its dominion. The reason why men could not love God and love one another under the first covenant was because the heart was selfish, dominated by spiritual death. The only love that he had was "phileo" which is based upon selfishness. Now we can understand what Jesus meant when He said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34) 

The natural man, due to his fallen nature, cannot do this, only those who have become new creation have the ability to love as God loves. Can you see how absurd it would be to tell the people of the world that they must love? They cannot do so until they receive the nature of love, the One who is love (1 John 4:7-8) in the new birth. Jesus, again in His final instruction to the disciples, tells them, "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love." (John 15:9-10) The word abide comes from the Greek word that means "to settle down," "to remain." This can be worded this way, "I want you to settle down in my love just as I have settled down in my Father's love. I have remained in my Father's love. I want you to remain in my love." 

Love, the God kind of love, becomes beautiful and very attractive as we continue to abide in love and let love abide in us. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John helps us to understand this, "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16) In the natural, people are valued according to their financial or political standing in a community. However, in the final analysis, the people who love as God loves, are the people who truly help the community, because the former is birthed from selfishness whereas the latter is born of the spirit and yet, to operate in the God kind of love, is a choice to give up the old things and live in the newness of life that comes by-way-of life in the Spirit. 

We can train ourselves to operate in the God kind of love by declaring from the moment we rise in the morning and throughout the day, "I have God, the love God, the God of love inside of me today. It is going to be easy to do my work because the Greater One is going to move through me, act through me, love through me and speak through me today. I will not be left alone to meet any crisis. He will be there to make me a success." We say this not as a mantra, but knowing that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. We simply open our hearts and minds to this truth and let the vine feed us, pour Himself into us, keeping in mind, love is God in action. There is no love without action, "For God so loved the world that He gave..." (John 3:16) "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) 

Every day will be a great day in our lives as we let the God kind of love loose in us, to flow out of us. In doing so, His grace would be without limitation. If we think about it from this perspective, grace is love manifested. So, every morning when we awaken, let us say, "Today, I am walking in love because I have God's ability and God's nature at work in me." Amen...

Gods Will Be Done

When we take an honest look at Christianity, as portrayed in the scriptures, we see that it is entirely supernatural. The incarnation was supernatural. The ministry of Jesus was supernatural. The church was supernaturally birthed. The early believers saw the supernatural as simply normal Christianity. Even becoming a new creation is supernatural. However, in many Christian circles, when the supernatural is mentioned in the church today, a shying away tends to occur due to numerous doctrines that have held many believers in bondage for centuries. Yet, the Bible clearly reveals that God and His Word do not change (Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 40:8; Malachi 3:6; Mark 11:31; Hebrews 13:8) and that He and His Word are one. (John 1:1, 14; 1 John 5:7)

In order to see the supernatural living God at work through His church, we cannot get past this one truth, which is revealed through one of Jesus' apostles, Thomas. "Then Jesus said to Thomas, Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:27-29) Simply put, we must believe. Thomas did not believe that Jesus was risen and alive, though Jesus told all the apostles that He would be killed and on the third day rise again. (Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:31; Luke 18:31-33) In other words, Thomas did not believe the Lords Word. 

The very things that happened with Thomas, is the very thing that goes on in many believers today. They do not believe God's Word, but have excused it away either in the same manner, as Thomas, “Unless I see...I will not believe.” (John 20:25) or have replaced God's Word by, "making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down." (Mark 7:13) These are most likely the main reasons why healing in the church through the supernatural power of God in Jesus' Name is almost nonexistent in many areas. However, there is a biblical truth that is a foundation to healing the sick and injured. This foundational truth is frequently expressed in various ways in the New Testament.

Many, who seem to generally accept the truth of divine healing, seem to fail in applying this foundational biblical truth to specific matters involving healing. Others will simply reject the implication behind this foundational truth based on doctrine that has become acceptable in the church, again, not believing God's Word. Therefore, healing for believers today in many areas of the church is generally unpredictable, unreliable, inconsistent, or not present at all. This has produced a weak theology that erodes faith for receiving and or ministering healing. This truth, which we will see, cannot be taken for granted or underestimated. It is the bedrock of receiving and ministering healing today in and through the church, believers. Let's begin with a conversation between Christ and His disciples in the Gospel of John. 

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him. Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us. Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves." (John 14:1-11) 

Jesus reveals, He is the way, the truth and the life. Although this has a larger application than just healing, Christ is also the way and the truth about healing. In other words, Christ's life produces healing, and to know Christ is to know the Father. He goes on and answers Philip. To see Jesus, His actions, is to see the Father in action. Therefore, studying the life of Jesus reveals the Father's will in all matters, which includes healing. If believers fail to believe that Jesus knows the Father's will and expresses it perfectly, many things that God's has provided for believers, such as healing, will remain an unattainable puzzle at best. Believers must understand without reservation, that the Lord Jesus Christ ultimately reveals the will of the Father in all matters! 

The writer of Hebrews says, "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person..." (Hebrews 1:1-3) Phillips version of this verse says that Jesus is the "radiance of the glory of God, flawless expression of the nature of God." The Amplified Bible says, "He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature." Let us also keep in mind, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) Again, in all matters, pertaining to God, Jesus ultimately reveals the will of the Father. 

While the entire Bible declares God's will, nature, character, purpose and plan, many of these attributes were unclear and unrevealed until Jesus. Mysteries that were once hidden are now revealed in Jesus, particularly by His actions and words. Also notice, the special nature of the relationship between Jesus and the Father. Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus. Jesus says that believers must believe in this special relationship to experience the Father's will which includes healing. We also see that Jesus gives credit to the Father for His works. The miracles and healings in the ministry of Jesus were expressions of the divine purpose and will of the Father. 

Having faith in Jesus includes believing that He was and is in the Father. Jesus has been teaching the importance of believing that He has been revealing the Father. In fact, He commands His followers to believe that very thing. If believers fail to believe that Jesus reveals the will, nature, character, purpose and plan of the Father perfectly, they will find that faith will be difficult for many of the things that the Father has freely given through Christ. (Matthew 7:11; Romans 8:32) Understanding that Jesus was expressing the will, nature, character, purpose and plan of the Father can be discerned simply by observing the ministry of Jesus in His teaching, preaching and actions. 

To believe and appropriate the blessings, the promises of God, which includes healing, we must believe, we must mix God's Word with faith. This was not only the apostle Thomas' failure but also the failure of many Jews which kept them from coming to Christ. "For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it." (Hebrews 4:2) God's Word must be mixed with faith or Christianity is reduced to nothing more than another world religion. So, as the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul states, let us cast away the, "persuasive words of human wisdom" and believe God for the "demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5) Let us believe God for a continuous flow of His supernatural power in and through the church so that the Father is glorified, the Name of Jesus magnified and that the Word of God multiply and prevail mightily. The unsaved world is depending on us. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you...