Faith is not Obsolete

The Abrahamic covenant is one of the most interesting covenants that God had established with man. It not only was the basis of Judaism and Christianity but it also reveals various types and symbols that are indicative of the new covenant. One of the first things to note is that when God called Abram, he did not question God but responded to the call, "So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him..." (Genesis 12:4) His action sets an example for all believers. As Abram separated himself from all that was familiar, in the same way, believers are called to separate themselves from what is familiar, that is worldliness, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15) Keep in mind, that Abram did not have a copy of the Bible that he could turn to, to confirm what God was speaking to him or to build his faith. (Romans 10:17) He flat out obeyed God without question. This is a lesson that many believers need to learn.

Another point concerning Abram's call, is that he was seventy five years of age. You may be thinking, "Well what does age have to do with anything?" According to studies, on the average, eighty five percent of all people who accept Christ do so before the age of eighteen. This does not insinuate that adults do not receive Christ, but the older a person is, the less likely they are to respond to the gospel. Why is this? Studies reveal that people get so regimented in their life styles, that is, set in their ways, they do not see the need for a change. In short, the world system has conformed them in such a way that they can only see a worldview of life. Therefore, the negative, anti-Christ picture painted by the world is what they tend to believe concerning the church and or Christianity. Simply put, "whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." (2 Corinthians 4:4) So, the fact that Abram was seventy five years of age when he responded to God's call is amazing in and of itself.

Although God had called Abram, He had not yet established His covenant with him. However, look at Abram's next response to God, "And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him,"So shall your descendants be. And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15:4-6).  Abram believed God, that is, he made an unqualified, irrevocable committal to God. In other words Abraham gave himself to God in utter abandonment of self. How many believers today can honestly say the same about their commitment to God after entering the New and better covenant with Him through Jesus Christ?

Up to this point, God had not established His covenant with Abram. It wasn't until Abram was one hundred years of age (twenty five year after God's initial call) that God cut a covenant with him.(Genesis 17:17) First God changed Abram's name (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude) (Genesis 17:5) and then sealed the covenant through Abraham's blood (circumcision) which bound Abraham and his descendants to God and God to Abraham and His descendants. (Genesis 17:10-11) Yet for twenty five years prior to God cutting covenant with Abraham he held fast to his commitment to God, "And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 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. And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." (Romans 4:19-22) What a testimony of unwavering faith towards God.

In my years as a church leader, there are several things that greatly move me. One of these is the life of Abraham. Abraham, a man like any other man called by God, but one who did not believe what his flesh (senses) revealed, but believed God, period. A man of great faith in whom we can all learn a great deal from when it come to trusting God. However, there is another thing that also moves me but it stands opposed to what we should learn from Abraham. In the New Testament of the King James Version of the Holy Bible the word "faith" appears two hundred forty three time. The word "believe" appears one hundred twenty one times. The word "believed" appears one hundred fifteen times. The word "believest" eight times. The word "believeth" forth five times and the word believing eight times. However, the majority of church leaders today approach the words faith and believe as though they are obsolete or even offensive and yet "without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6)

For Abraham, his faith pleased God and it is recorded, "Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things." (Genesis 24:1). This does not say an occasional blessing here and there, but blessed in all things. The Holy Spirit spoke this wonderful words through the apostle Paul, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32) This sounds exactly how God blessed Abraham due to His faith and yet when talking with most Christians they see Abraham as though he was more than just a man. I believe the only thing that separated Abraham from most Christians was his unwavering faith in God. I say this because Paul also tells us, "For there is no partiality with God." (Romans 2:11)

With that said, I want to challenge you to look at the accounts of Abraham's life as revealed throughout the entire Bible. Meditate on what God's Word reveals and you will see you own faith grow, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

The Hand of the Lord

One of the greatest misunderstandings concerning how God deals with the believer comes from the writer of Hebrews, "And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons, My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:5-11)

To understand what the writer of Hebrews is conveying we must define the word chasten. Chasten is defined as: To train up a child; instruct; educate; teach; discipline. Where we tend to go wrong is when we look at the word discipline. Discipline to most means punishment. Although the word discipline has the word punishment in its definition, it also means to correct; to instruct; to chasten. As we can see the words chasten and discipline are synonymous words. Now let's look at what it means for God to chasten or discipline the believer, His child.

First and foremost, God loves us and His chastening is always immersed in His love. Next, He deals with us as with sons and I might add daughters. This is very foreign to most peoples thinking. For many parents, when it come to disciplining their children there is a tendency to punish the out of frustration, disappointment and even anger, rather than through love. This has nothing to do with the method in which parents chasten their children but the attitude of the heart when bringing discipline. Gods most potent characteristic is love and we must always keep in mind that He chasten His children through His abounding, surrounding love.

Next, we see that the chastening of the Lord is for the believers profit. Honestly, how can the believer profit from chastening? We profit because it is always for our good. It is always to promote our welfare. Look at one of the benefits that we profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. The believers becomes so holy that it may be said that we are partakers of the very holiness of God. "And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:24) Now for some this may be hard to believe, nevertheless it is fact. However, finding such a claim hard to believe actually reveals doubt in the believers heart. The evidence that the new man, New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness has nothing to do with how we feel or our performance, but faith in Jesus Christ and the integrity of God's Word.

Next, we see what else the believer profits from the chastening of the Lord, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. What is the fruit of righteousness? To determine this, we must look to Jesus. The prophet Jeremiah refers to Christ as the "Righteous Branch." (Jeremiah 23:5) At His death, a Roman centurion glorified God by saying, "Certainly this was a righteous man." (Luke 23:47) The apostle Paul states, "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 5:21) Jesus tells us,  "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit..." (John 15:5) The fruit of righteousness is doing the works that Jesus did and speaking the Word of God in the same manner as He walked the earth as the Son of Man. It is carrying out the will of the Father as Jesus did. 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)

As parents, so also the methods to which God chastens His children may vary. The misunderstanding concerning the chastening of the Lord come from such phrases as, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him, He scourges every son, If you endure chastening, Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful. Unfortunately, believers take these phrases and twist them to mean that God chastens His children with financial struggles, sickness, disease and so on. If this is true, if God truly uses financial struggles, sickness, disease and so on to chasten His children, then one of two things come into play. First, we do not truly know Him (Job 42:1-3, Hosea 4:6) or we believe that He does these things contrary to His Word which is so very far from the truth (Psalm 89:34, 107:20, 119:89, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, John 1:1)

In fact, God punished Jesus (Isaiah 53:4-10) so that those who confess and believe that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9) could enjoy all the benefits and privileges of being sons and daughters. (Romans 8:15-17, 32) He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses so that we are healed (Matthew 8:17, 1 Peter 2:24) He came to give us abundant life here on earth. (John 10:10) He died in our place to give us eternal life (1 John 2:25) He was made sin to make us righteous. (2 Corinthians 5:21) He was condemned so that we could go free. (Matthew 27:22-23, 34-35, Galatians 5:1) We also must realize that the believer is a member of the Body of Christ. If we truly believe that God chastens His children with financial struggles, sickness, disease and so on, then we must also believe that Jesus Himself, the head of the body deals with the same. We must also believe that the Holy Spirit who dwells in the believe has no problem with sickness or disease defiling our body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16) No, God child trains; instructs; educates and teaches His children through love.

Always remember that no one has a better new birth, a better righteousness, a better Savior, a better Healer, a better Provider, a better Father, a better right standing with the Father than the believer. No one can get closer to the Father's heart than we His children. So when the Lord chastens us, let us stand in the confidence that it is for our profit because God wants to reproduce Himself in us.         

    

Say What?

For years medical research has been studying and discovering the impact spoken words have over an individuals health. Whether they want to admit it or not, they are agreeing with what the Bible says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." (Proverbs 18:21) So how a person perceives themselves will determine what they say. If you perceive yourself as having poor health, even if you don't, it will become so real that you will most likely live out that reality until you die. However, the opposite applies. If you speak of yourself as having excellent health, even when you don't, chances are you will live a long healthy life (remember, Proverbs 18:21) Jesus said it this way, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45) 

Right now some who are reading this may be thinking that I talking about metaphysics, the power of positive thinking or some type of mysticism. No, I am talking about the confession of God's Word through faith. I am talking about believing in and agreeing with God's Word and speaking it over your body. "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 (medicine; marginal rendering) to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22) We can say it this way, "God's Word is medicine to my entire body." Look at what the Psalmist says, "He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." (Psalm 107:20) Did you notice something here? He sent His Word and healed them...

In Matthews gospel we see an incredible act of faith. However, it was not from a child of Abraham, but from a pagan. Let's look at what took place, "Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed." (Matthew 8:5-8) Look at what the centurion said to Jesus, "...only speak a word and my servant will be healed." Do you see the power that words have. Now let's look at the outcome of this event, "When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel...Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour." (Matthew 8:10, 13) This event had nothing to do with metaphysics, but faith in Christ and the power of His Word.

All to often Christians speak things that are contrary to God's Word because they have been taught or have assume things that are contrary to God's Word. This is a result of living today on their own past experiences, the experiences of someone they know or accepting the word of another even a church leader that they admire. What it comes down to is their personal perception or interpretation of God and His Word. This is due to a lack of understanding His nature, character, will, purposes and plan. This is also why many Christians believe that God lets bad things to happen to His Children (them or other Christians) even though Jesus has fully redeemed humanity and has restore him to what Adam was before the fall.   

Here are some other scriptures concerning speaking words whether they be positive or negative...
"You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth." 
(Proverbs 6:2) 
"There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health. (Proverbs 12:18)
"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones."
(Proverbs 16:24)
"A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul." (Proverbs 18:7)

Finally, "Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful". (Hebrews 10:23)

Do You See That

The apostle Paul tells us, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12) In other words, believers are engaged in combat with forces not seen by the natural eye and must come to realize some things concerning this battle. First and foremost, although these forces in the spiritual realm are mightier than any natural forces or what man can develop, believers must always keep in mind that these forces have been conquered and dethroned by Jesus Christ. They only have power over man because unregenerate man does not recognize the fact that they have been set free from them.

When Jesus conquered Satan through His resurrection from the dead, He did it for humanity. His victory over the adversary was our victory. The believer is a conqueror today because of what Jesus did. Believers do not have to do a thing but simply uphold and enforce their victory in the Name of Jesus. Unfortunately, most believers, including many church leaders have never appreciated the fact that our enemy is defeated and that our fight is one of faith. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith..." (1 Peter 5:8-9) 
"Fight the good fight of faith..." (1 Timothy 6:12)

All to often believers have been taught that things like sickness, disease, financial difficulties and the like are all a product of God's purpose in their life and therefore are willing to live under the oppression of the enemy believing that it is from God. This is due to church leaders holding onto the Dark Ages and the old wines skin of the Protestant Reformation. They in turn teach people to say, as they do, that they believe the Word of God. However, their lack of acting upon it tells an entirely different story. James tells us, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22) He is saying that if one does not act on God's Word, although he says he believes it, he is deceived and really does not believe it.

It is a fearless confidence or faith in the Word of God that actually does the conquering. Spiritual strength and courage are built up by our persistent confession of what God's Word declares and then acting upon it. James further tells us, "But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18) James is saying again in a different way, that one cannot say that they believe God's Word or have faith if they do not act upon it. You see, demons know that they are defeated. When the believers knows it too and act, they will see the results of their actions.

My challenge to you is, dare to act on God's Word in the same manner that you act on the word of a doctor. Dare to act on God's Word the way you act on the word of a stranger who gives you direction when you are driving and have lost your way. Dare to act on God's Word when the circumstances of life and the world are speaking the opposite of what God's Word says. Dare to act on God's Word when you have absolutely zero evidence that things can get better. Always remember these words...
"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) 
"My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips." (Psalm 89:34)  
"Forever, O LORD, your word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89)
"Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)

May we all grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, having the eyes of our understanding be enlightened as well as believe and act on God's Word, in Jesus' Name...

Are You Fully Convinced

One of the most encouraging passages of scripture in the Bible concerns the patriarch Abraham and is found in Romans 4:19-22, "And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 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."

Here is a man no different than any other man. However, keep in mind that he was not born again, he did not have a recreated spirit, which means that he was spiritually dead like all other men. He also did not have God's Word written in a book that he could draw from. Yet he did not look at the condition of his or Sarah's body in hopelessness. Why? Because he believe the word that God spoke to him more than he believed in the circumstances that he faced. Abraham was not denying the tangible evidence of his age and the age of his wife. He was not denying that for ninety years his wife was barren and that she was beyond child bearing years. Instead, he believed the Word of the Lord and operated independent of the circumstances at hand. He did not let the things in the natural realm breed doubt, but in a sense, laughed at them and believed the promise of God. Because he believe the word of the Lord he was strengthened in faith. Why is this so important for the believer?

The apostle Paul tells us, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Unlike Abraham, believers today have God's Word, which reveals His will, nature, character, purposes, promises and plan written in a book. Believers should spend daily time reading, studying and meditating on His Word so that their faith can increase. Unfortunately, a large numbers of believers do not fill their spirit and renew their minds with God's Word so they very easily accept what they hear not knowing if it is true or not. For centuries due to this attitude toward God's Word most believers have not strengthened their faith, but the contrary, it has created much unbelief which is an enemy of faith.

Unbelief is a product of two distinct issues that most believers do not seem to understand. First, it is based on a lack of knowledge. Many in the church today do not believe the Word of God because they only know what they hear others tell them. For the most part what they hear is either stolen from their heart by the devil, the word does not take root or the cares of the world choke it from bearing fruit. (Marl 4:15-19) Hosea tells us, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." (Hosea 4:6) It is very difficult to know what to believe when Christians have a lack of knowledge of God's Word. The second type of unbelief is based on unpersuadableness which means, being unwilling to act upon God's Word even though one knows what the Word teaches. "Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief." (Matthew 13:28) Either way, unbelief is a disobedient attitude towards God's Word. 

Abraham acted upon God's Word irregardless of the circumstances at hand which in turn strengthened his faith. Abraham was "...fully convinced that what God had promised He was also able to perform." This goes beyond believing that God's Word is true. Many today will honestly say that the whole Bible is true but they lack in acting upon the Word and therefore what they believe is nothing more than knowledge that is stored in the mind. True Bible faith is simply believing that God is able to perform what His Words says and then acting upon it no matter what the circumstances may dictate. This is exactly what Abraham did.

So, has a lack of knowledge of God's Word or unpersuadableness caused you not to believe and act upon God's Word? Do you believe what a doctor says or what an auto mechanic says more than you believe what God says? If so then this is probably why you struggle with many of life's issues. However, this can all change today. It only takes one thing. You must come to the place where you are you fully convinced that what God has promised He is also able to perform and then act on it...  

'nough said

It's been said that, "Christianity is called the great confession." The apostle Paul tells us, "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." (Ephesians 4:29) This biblical principle is one of the greatest lessons that a believer should learn and live by because most believers are defeated in this life by the very words that proceed out of their mouth. The Book of Proverbs provides us with numerous warnings concerning the use of our words. For instances, "You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth (Proverbs 6:2) or, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." (Proverbs 18:21)

When we think about the power that is released through words, we must look at the way God used His Words at creation. In Genesis 1:3, 6-7, 9, 11, 14-15, 20, 24, 26, 29-30 it is recorded, "Then God said...and it was so." We may tend to think, "Well that was God and not me." However, a close look at Hebrews 1:1-4 reveals something that is not only intriguing, but will also give us a clear understanding of the power of God's Word spoken through the lips of the believer, "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, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." (Hebrews 1:1-4)

Our focus is on only a portion of the passage. Notice, upholding all things by the word of His power...If this said by the power of His Word, we could then agree that His Word has power. However, the fact is, His Word is His power. This is a very important truth that believers must come to fully understand if they are to "Walk by faith and not by sight" God's Word is power! The gospel of John reveals numerous times that Jesus did not speak His own words, "...but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things." (John 8:28) John's gospel also reveals, "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." (John 1:3) Jesus knew the power of words which is why He always spoke the solution and not the problem. There is no indication in the gospels that when anyone came to Jesus for healing or deliverance that He ever asked them how they got themselves in that condition. Why? He only spoke the things that came from His Father, God's Word!

Now think about this. How do you suppose you would talk if Jesus walked up to you and said, "whatever you speak from this time forward will happen just as you say?" Do you suppose that you would chose your words very carefully? Of course you would. Do you really want all the negative things that you have been confessing to come to pass? Of course not. Interestingly enough, He has already told us this in His word. Remember the two verses from Proverbs shown above. Unfortunately, most believers do not speak words that edify and impart grace to the hearer. There is a tendency to listen to what the world speaks and then follow suit.

The apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children." (Ephesians 5:1) Believers are to imitate God in the same manner that Jesus did. If believers would start imitating the Father and speak the Word of God from the heart, they will experience the very abundant life that Jesus promised right hear on planet earth. They will also be freed from being held captive by the corrupt words that have proceeded time and time  from their own mouth. When we truly understand the power of words and use them correctly, we will also understand what Jesus said when He said, "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says." (Mark 11:23)

This scripture is a promise that is released by faith. Notice the word "says" appears three time in this one verse. This is not a theory, it is in fact, a spiritual law. Jesus continues, "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) Wouldn't it be nice that every one of your prayers were answered every time? Well, Jesus tells us that if we have faith and do not doubt we will have whatsoever we ask of Him. So, if we haven't yet, let us speak the Word of God and not let any corrupt communication proceed from our mouth. Let us train ourselves to speak God's Word; let us begin to speak forth the results and not the problems; let us confess the Word of God not the circumstances; let us begin releasing faith filled words from our mouth; as we do we will also keep the devil in his defeat position, under our feet. Jesus said to the devil, "IT IS WRITTEN."

A Conquerors Prayer

The most incredible and most moving prayer spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane. After celebrating the Passover, Jesus and His disciples, minus Judas Iscariot, sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:30) Jesus' earthly ministry as the Son of Man is winding down. He knew why He had come from God and He knows what is about to happen. He takes His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, which He did often. He then takes Peter, John and James a little further into the garden to pray and says to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." (Matthew 26:38) Jesus then leaves Peter, John and James, goes a little farther into the garden, falls on His face and begins to pray. These men have seen Jesus pray many times but something was different. They must have noticed the sorrow and distress that was upon Him. What they didn’t know, was Jesus was facing the fact that He would soon be made sin. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us…” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Next, "Jesus came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?  Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:40-41)  He warns them to watch, literally, to abstain from sleep; to be vigilant, to guard against danger, and pray that they do not enter into temptation. He knew the danger that was coming and how the flesh might possibly give in to temptation. He knew that He was about to take the place of every human being and endure the punishment that was required to meet man’s greatest need, redemption.

In the incarnation, deity and humanity coming together, Jesus was not mortal or immortal, but a perfect human being as Adam was before the fall. However, as man’s substitute, He would become mortal the moment sin was placed upon Him in the same way that Adam became mortal when he sinned. Jesus knew that the moment He would be made sin, He would experience what Adam experience when he himself sinned. He would spiritually die, be forsaken by the Father and then physically die. He knew that as Adam’s sin made him subject to Satan, it would be the same for Him. He knew that He would suffer in hell until the entire debt that humanity owed justice was paid in full.

Some may have trouble comprehending these things, but they are facts, "And they made His grave with the wicked, but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand." (Isaiah 53:9-10)  The word death is plural in the original Hebrew and like Adam, Jesus died twice, spiritually and physically. Isaiah also tells us, "He has put Him to grief…" The word grief here means, to make sick, to be diseased, to afflict. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.) (Galatians 3:13) We see that Jesus was made sin with our sin, was made sick with our sicknesses and a curse. 

This should gives us a greater understanding as to what Jesus was going through in the Garden. "Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:43-44)  He alone must pay the penalty for humanity or humanity would be eternally lost. Did you ever notice that angels never came and ministered to Him while He was on the cross. I believe there was more spiritual agony here than there was on the cross. Three times He prayed a prayer of dedication and consecration, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." (Luke 22:42) A more literal rendering: “If it be possible, take this cup from Me, not my will, but yours be carried through to completion and save humanity.”

After Jesus finishes praying, "He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand." (Matthew 26:45-46) As Jesus emerged from prayer He had already won the the first part of the battle. He was no longer in sorrow and distress, but He was the Conqueror. He was ready for the trial; He was ready for the scourging; He was ready for the cross; He was ready to conquer sin and death; He was ready to redeem humanity from the hands of the enemy; He was ready to destroy sin, disease, poverty and everything that was set against humanity by Satan all due to Adam's transgression. Jesus emerged from prayer as the righteous, conquering King of kings and Lord of lords.

The apostle Paul tells us, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37) As conquerors our prayer is to be one that is rooted in the Word of God. It is based on the believer knowing that their faith in Christ has already given them the victory over the circumstances that life may bring. It is one that is conceived within the believer that gives them the confidence that in Christ they are independent of their circumstances and, in a personal sense, "can do all things through Christ who strengthens." (Philippians 4:13) It is the assured confidence that God is able to do what He said He would do. (Numbers 23:19) So, let us pray like Jesus our Conqueror, especially when we are faced with seemingly insurmountable circumstance, knowing that we can, "Cast the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." (1 Peter 5:7) 

Let's Get Down to Business

 Prayer is a vital part of the believers life. In his book, E.M. Bounds on Prayer, Bounds states, “Prayer is the medium of divine revelation. It is through prayer that God reveals Himself to the spiritual soul today, just as in the Old Testament days He made His revelations to the people who prayed. God shows Himself to the person who prays.” The Lord desires, not only to have His children pray to Him, but have communion with Him through prayer. Prayer has many meanings such as: to ask; to beseech; to call to one’s aid; communicating with God; an act of communion with God.

The act of communion with God involves more than just praying in a general sense. In fact Jesus tells us what ineffective prayer is,  "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words." (Matthew 6:7) He also tells us how to pray effectively,
"For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (Mark 11:23-24)

The apostle John reveals a very important key for us when it comes to asking the Lord for anything, "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) So how can we know that what we ask Him is according to His will? How can we move from hoping that He will answer our request to having assured confidence that He will answer?

Peter says it this way, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." (2 Peter 1:2-3) and the writer of Hebrews says, "Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1:3)

Take notice to two important things here. First we see that "His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." So when we pray we must believe that He has given us "all things that pertain to life and godliness." But how do we acquire "all things that pertain to life and godliness?" Through having knowledge of Jesus Christ. This is not sense knowledge, that which we understand in our minds, but revelation knowledge, that which is conceived in the spirit.

The other thing that we must understand is, upholding all things by the word of His power.  Notice that it does not say that power of His word. Literally, God's Word is His power or His power is manifest by His Word(s). A great example of this is in creation, "Then God said...and it was so." (Genesis 1). So, if His power is in His Word(s) (which it is) and His power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Christ, (which He has) then praying the Word of God is the way that we can, as John said, "...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.". His Word is His Will and His Will is His Word.

So, let us no longer just talk at the Lord with many words, but pray His word knowing, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) God's Word get results every time if, one, "does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them..." In short, we pray His Word, believing that we have already received the petitions that we have asked of Him and His promise is, you will have them.            

Why Bother Asking

Have you ever had someone ask you for your help or advice because they knew that you were the most likely candidate to be able to meet their need only to have them totally disregarded your help or advice? Did it make you think, "what was the point in asking?" Let's bring it closer to home. Have you ever asked God for  help or advice knowing that He is the only one who could meet your need only to totally disregarded His help or advice? I am sure many have done this also. Well, James shows us one particular area that assures us that God does responds to our need if we ask Him, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

Although this is talking about asking God for wisdom, it applies across the board when asking Him anything according to His will. Let's look closer at what James says about asking God for things, "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting..." (James 1:6) Unfortunately, many of God's children are asking but much of the asking goes unanswered because of the underlying current of doubt which neutralizes faith. Doubt in the lives of most Christians is usually very subtle because they (there are various kinds of doubt) are directly related to what one understand or misunderstand about God. Many times Christians who genuinely love the LORD will "Hope" that God answers their prayer, which is not faith. Some may say things like, "let it be according to Your will" or "God must have a special purpose as to why He did not answer" or "it must not be God's timing" or even "God is sovereign and He chooses whose prayer gets answered and whose prayer does not."

The Gospel of Matthew shows us a situation that also deals with the issue of faith and doubt. The disciples were in a boat crossing the sea and between 3 and 6 AM they see Jesus coming towards them walking on the water. Peter calls out and says to the LORD, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So Jesus said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"  Jesus grabs Peter and then reveals very pointedly as to why Peter, who was walking on the water (it's very important to see this) began to sink, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:22-31) Peter sinking after he was already walking on the water had nothing to do with hope, God's timing, God's special purpose or whether it was God's will. It had to do with doubt that neutralized Peter's faith. Jesus' statement was not such as to bring condemnation on Peter, but to address the issue that prevents God from doing all the things that He desires to do through His children.

Notice what happens when Jesus and Peter get into the boat, "And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." (Matthew 14:32-33) Yes, Jesus is the Son of God, but this incident is not about Jesus' identity, it's a lesson on faith. Even though they were confessing Jesus to be the Son of God, remember, Peter also walked on the water because he believed Jesus' words to "come" out of the boat and walk on the water. The winds ceased, not because Jesus is the Son of God, but faith in an almighty God who created the wind. Look at another incident that is very similar in many ways.

"On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him,"Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!" (Mark 4:35-41)

Again, this is an issue of faith, not the identity of Jesus. When Jesus said, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? He was addressing the issue of doubt, (fearful: faithlessness) and insinuating that if the disciples would have exercise faith. they too could have stopped the storm. How do we know this to be true? "Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
(Mark 9:23)

As we go back to James, James continues with a very hard but truthful word, "...for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:6-8) This again is not to bring condemnation on believers but to bring them to make a decision, "...How long will you falter between two opinions?" (1 Kings 18:21) If we do not ask God in faith, James tells us that we should not expect to receive anything from God. This makes perfect sense doesn't it? It would be like passing a sign that says "stop and receive free money" but you don't stop because you have been trained to think that nothing is free, especially money. This type of thinking is doubt at work.

Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 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 7:7-11) All of this should give us a good understanding, no longer doubting, that God is a better and more desirous giver than any human being. All we need to do is "ask in faith, with no doubting..." 
  

Bad Things Do Not Come From God - Part 17

Recently I attended a large conference consisting mainly of church leaders from across the USA. During one of the main sessions the speaker made a comment concerning Hurricane Katrina. He said that the LORD had warned them (various pastors) two years in advance that a hurricane would hit New Orleans. The hurricane was from the LORD to cleanse the city of its corruption. The speaker went on to say that some ministers mentioned to him that the hurricane was not judgment from God, but he insisted that they were wrong.

They began to warn the churches of this impending storm and told the people to be sure that their home owners insurance would cover their losses in the event of a catastrophe which Katrina turned out to be. Naturally I was somewhat taken by such a claim. Although I have discussed some of this previously, I want to address this particular claim, as to whether God brought judgment on New Orleans to cleanse it from corruption or not.

Remember, it was Adam that was given authority and dominion over the works of God's hands and that the only one in all creation that Adam had to answer to was God Himself, the Creator. Everything else was subordinate to Adam (Psalm 8:5-6) We also saw that Adam freely chose to disobey God and thereby giving his authority and dominion over to God's enemy, Satan, placing himself and all humanity under Satan's rule (Luke 4:5-6) This act of treason by Adam brought a curse on creation (Genesis 3:17-18) So first we see that creation took on the new nature of its new master, Satan. That which was once pure, peaceful, filled with love and harmony had now become a place filled with adversity, affliction, calamity, grief, hurt, harm and trouble, that is, all matter of evil.

Further along in the Bible, we see God disclose to Abraham, His covenant partner, what was about to happen to Sodom and Gomorrah because "their sin was very grave." (Genesis 18:20) If God truly brought Hurricane Katrina upon New Orleans then we have to assume their sin was very grave and it was above the sin of every other city in the USA. If God were bringing judgment upon a wicked city in the USA, then it would be logical that He would bring it upon the most wicked of cities, wouldn't it? However, as we look further into this matter, Abraham pleads with God not to permit the destruction of those cities for the sake of the righteous who may live in them. God's response is the same every time Abraham make a plea, "If I find in Sodom any righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes." 

(Genesis 18:16-33) 

If God did bring Hurricane Katrina to New Orleans then we have to also assume that there was not one covenant partner, that is, there must not have been one believer in New Orleans. "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 5:21) In other words, there must not have been one righteous person in New Orleans. We also have to assume that Abraham was under a better covenant than the New Covenant in Christ, because God would not have permitted the destruction Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of the righteous under His covenant with Abraham. But we know that this is not true. The New Covenant established in Christ is the fulfillment of every other covenant and Hebrews calls it "a better covenant."

Now let's consider the "Ten Plagues" that came upon Egypt when Moses was sent to deliver Israel from the bondage of Pharaoh. (Exodus 4 - 11) There is no record that shows Israel suffering through the ten plagues with the Egyptians. No, these plagues fell upon the Egyptians only. The point, if God brought Hurricane Katrina to New Orleans to bring judgment, then He would have protected His people from judgment as He did with His people Israel. The believers in New Orleans would not have experienced anything destructive that a hurricane would bring, including darkness, the lack of electric, "The Egyptians did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." (Exodus 10:23) Although electric had not been discovered as we understand it for approximately 3200 more years, point being God protected His people.   

Let us now consider the account of Jesus rebuking the wind and the raging water when a windstorm came down on the lake as as He and His disciples were in a boat crossing over to the country of the Gadarenes. His rebuke caused the wind and raging water to cease and there was a great calm. Did God cause this storm? If He did, then Jesus would have been rebuking His father. No, let's face it, the god of this age is behind the destruction not our heavenly Father. Another point that we should consider in this account is that Jesus said to His disciples, "Where is your faith." (Luke 8:22-25) It is apparent that if the disciples exercised faith they would have experienced the same results that Jesus had with the storm. No, let's face it, the god of this age is behind the destruction not our heavenly Father. It seems to me, if God announced that a storm would be coming then He is calling His people to action. Winning souls away from their wicked life styles in an aggressive manner and exercise faith by speaking to the mountain (impending hurricane) before it even manifested would have been a more biblical response. 

Finally, if God is bringing judgment upon the world today then it means one of two things. First, Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, ascension and glorification did not fully satisfy justice and therefore man is not fully saved but must continue to suffer judgment from God or secondly, we have entered the Tribulation. Neither of these is true. Humanity has not entered the Great Tribulation and Jesus did in fact satisfy justice. Therefore God is not condemning humanity (John 3:16-17) for its corruption by bringing catastrophe's, yet. (See Revelation)   

Although I do not know where his statistics came from, the same speaker reported that sadly enough the city is more corrupt today than before Hurricane Katrina struck. Something else to consider, judgment did not come upon Sodom and Gomorrah to bring them to repentance, but to completely destroy them. However, if we look at Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-20 we will find the primary objective of the church. In short, the church is to bring sinners to repentance. No New Orleans, God did not bring Hurricane Katrina upon you, although after such a disaster one would think that all who have rejected the LORD Jesus Christ and have turned to their own ways would have repented and today be reaping the blessings of the LORD. Hurricane Katrina is the result of a fallen world under the influence of Satan, the god of this age and therefore like every other person who does not see God's true nature as it is revealed in scripture, that of blessings and life, will continue to blame God for bad things happening.

I could have shared many more passages of scripture as proof of God's true nature, but space would not permitted it. But I will say, from the "In the beginning" of Genesis to the "Grace of our LORD Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen" of Revelation, God's desire was and is to bless man and have fellowship with him throughout eternity. It has been the destructive nature of sin and Satan since man's fall that has tainted and twisted God's true desire for humanity. However, the good news is, God Himself has pursued man to restore him to his sinless position with Himself. Those who reject His offer to be a part of this will feel the repercussions of the unpardonable sin, separation from God forever in a lake of fire. Those who have accepted His FREE gift of salvation will experience paradise in His presence forever. If you have not received God's FREE gift of life, then please do the following...

"...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) In doing so, you can have the calm assurance to what 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)

If you have confessed Jesus Christ as LORD and have received Him as your Savior, then please seek a Bible believing congregation that will disciple you to grow in faith, "For without faith it is impossible to please God..." (Hebrews 11:6)
 

   

A Noble Gesture

So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.  (John 4:46-48)

Here we see a nobleman coming to Jesus seeking help for his son who was sick. Look at Jesus’ response to the nobleman’s request, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” It almost sounds like Jesus is rebuking those around Him, especially the nobleman. Well, He is. This is noteworthy to every believer that needs to see a manifestation in order to believe. This was the problem that we see with the apostle Thomas after Christ's resurrection (John 20:24-29) he needed to see in order to believe. The God kind of faith (Mark 11:22) is able to believe that is has received without seeing to believe (Mark 11:24)

There may be times when there are not immediate results when looking to be healed of sickness, disease, injuries, all matter of pains or when you have a financial need, etc. If you have spoken God's Word or prayed and this happens, do not get discouraged, but think how you may have prayed or spoken. Are you sure that your words came from a heart filled with faith or a head filled with faith? Every person has faith, but not every person operates in the God kind of faith. Faith must be based on what God’s Word says and not based on a manifestation! If it is based on a manifestation then we are not operating in a heart filled with faith but in a head filled with faith.
Unfortunately when circumstances don’t immediately change, many believers become discouraged and slip into the natural (head) kind of faith. Their faith turns to hope by saying or thinking “If others see this person get up from this wheel chair” or their confession becomes one of doubt “I am not sure that God wants to heal” they defeat themselves because they give place to the devil. Doubt, fear and unbelief come from the devil not God.

Smith Wigglesworth said it this way, “I’m not moved by what I see. I’m not moved by what I feel. I’m moved only by what I believe.”
What he was talking about is not what he beleives in his mind, what what he believes in his heart. The apostle Paul tells us, "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10) Next we see the nobleman's response to Jesus...

"The nobleman said to Him, Sir, come down before my child dies! Jesus said to him, Go your way; your son lives. So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, Your son lives! Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, Your son lives. And he himself believed, and his whole household." (John 4:49-23)

Once again we see the nobleman plead with Jesus on behave of his son. Jesus respose to the man in an entirely different way and says, "Go your way; your son lives." Why would Jesus go from rebuking those around Him to speaking the word's of healing, "Your son lives?" It is due to one thing, "the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him." His son was not present. The nobleman did not see a manifestation of healing. He simple believed and recieved the word that Jesus spoke to him and then he got the manifestation.
It is just that simple.

However, for most believers it is a diffecult thing (pride) to admit that their faith is weak so they have been taught to blame God for them not receiving what they have desired of Him. They do not blame Him directly but their words are cloaked in religious jargen like, "Whatever the LORDS will is" or "God has some purpose for not healing or providing for me." Please understand three things...

God's Word never fails. What He said He will do, He does...
"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?" (Number 23:19)
Faith from the heart and not the head is the only faith that God responds to...
"For with the heart one believes..." (Romans 10:10)
Your faith can always grow...
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)  

Shaking Things Up

The phrase "In one accord" means, to be in one mind; to be in agreement; to be in harmony; agreement or concurrence of opinion, will, or action. When believers flow in one accord the LORD will move mightily. One glorious example of this is found in Acts 4 practiced by the early church...
"For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:27-31)

Boy could we use this in the church today, but it's going to take faith. In this example we see a large number of believers coming together in one mind; in agreement; in harmony; agreement or concurrence of opinion, will, or action to accomplish God's will, to reach the lost by preaching the gospel with boldness and by working signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. We see the early church doing what they were commanded...
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Not only was the early church obeying the LORDS command, they were duplicating His very ministry...
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. (Matthew 4:23)

These very things can also accomplished on a smaller scale.
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. (Matthew 18:19) 

Although in context with the preceding verses dealing with church discipline this verse is still universal and applies to all believers and all prayer. The phrase, “If two of you agree” is a metaphor reflecting a number of musical instruments set to the same key, skillfully playing the same tune and being pleasant to the ears. It means a perfect agreement of the hearts, desires, wishes, and voices of two or more persons praying that is highly pleasing in the sight and ears of the Lord. This is being in one accord, both agreeing, not one believing and one hoping, but both agreeing, that is, believing. When this happens, we see the Father's promise manifest as it did in Acts 4, “It will be done for them by My Father in heaven.”
(Also see - Matthew 21:21-22, Mark 11:23-24)

Next Jesus continues...
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
(Matthew 18:20)
“I am there”, only God is omnipresent so not only is He able to be any place at any time where two or more are gathered in Jesus' name, but this statement proves that Jesus is God. The LORD places a high premium on two or more believers coming together in His name agreeing in prayer; He is there!!! In light of these things, it is no wonder why Satan works overtime with his lies. Two of the deceptions that he uses (which by the way have not changed from mans beginning), first he does not want believers to come into agreement and secondly, he convinces them not to believe that these things are so for the church today. The early church clearly shows us that faith and agreement working together are very powerful. Unfortunately these same two areas that proved powerful in the early church are lacking in most congregations and individual believers today.

I believe the one thing that makes Christians dangerous in any culture is when they believe God period. Not believing what faithless church leaders, bible college or seminary professors have to say, but being fully convinced that what He says He will do. Faith really shakes things up. plus it is what pleases God...
(Hebrews 11:6)

Who is on Your Throne?

A great lesson that believers seem to fail to grasp was spoken in James 1:2-3, My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Two things that believers must understand, first, God does not bring trials on His children and second, a trial is a testing of ones faith. A trial will reveal what a believers faith is resting upon. The Apostle Paul tells us that faith will rest either upon the wisdom of men or on the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5) One of the greatest New Testament examples of faith resting on the power of God is seen in the lives of Paul and Silas.

The Bible records in Acts 16 that Paul cast a spirit of divination out of a woman which used the woman to bring her masters a means of income. At this, a multitude rose up against Paul and Silas, their clothes were torn off, they were beaten with rods, thrown into the inner prison and their feet were fastened in stocks. Again, God did not bring this trial upon them. In fact, James 1:13 tells us, "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone."

Think about it. Why would God use Paul to preach the gospel in obedience to his calling in Christ, then use the authority in the name of Jesus Christ to cast out a demon all for the purpose of God bringing a trial upon him. Not only would that be unlogical but also a great misunderstanding of the will and nature of God. We can see that Paul and Silas understood that this trial was not from God but from their enemy the devil by their response to their situation...

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25)

Paul and Silas chose not to murmur or complain to God or to one another about their situation. They chose to pray and sing hymns to the LORD. In fact they prayed and sang so loud that the prisoners were listening to them and something incredible happened, …

Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. (Acts 16:26)

This all happened at “midnight”. However, midnight is also symbolic of tests, trials and seemingly the darkest of times of ones life. Most believers do not have trouble praying or singing when they have minor issues to deal with, but it takes real faith to minister to the LORD in a dark and seemingly hopeless situation, which Paul and Silas exhibit here. Believers must understand that LIFE MAYBE HARD, BUT GOD IS GOOD, HE IS FAITHFUL AND HIS WORD NEVER FAILS!!!

Paul and Silas were not overcome by their circumstance but were delivered from them. Unfortunately many believers face defeat because they let the circumstanced run over them, joy is sapped from them and they have no strength because there faith was not in the One who is both willing and able to deliver.

The storms of life come and every storm that comes will reveal just how much or how little faith a believer has. A believer’s attitude during the time of tests and trials makes all the difference. Our attitude should be something like this; “LORD, things are not going the way I would like them to go, but I choose not to fret about it and trust that you will work it out because…

We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

A Minister unto the LORD

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said,"Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. (Acts 13:1-3)

We see two type of praying associated with fasting. I want to look at them in reverse because our focus will be on the latter. Fasted and prayed; this is known as petition praying in which we are asking God to do something for us shown in verse 3. However verse 2 reveals something a little different. They ministered to the LORD and fasted; which is known as worship prayer.

The word minister means to be a servant; to be a worshipper of God. The differences between both of these types of prayer are obvious. But, one is not more important than another. However, in most times of prayer we are seeking God on our own behalf praying that certain needs be met or seeking God on the behalf of another, ministering to one another (and we certainly need to do this). Notice something else in verse 2…“The Holy Spirit said”. There was a response of the Holy Spirit as they ministered to the LORD. We need to understand that this type of prayer creates an atmosphere where the LORD can move.
But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3)

When believers minister to the LORD they should do so in faith not just going through a ceremonial or religious routine. In doing so the door is opened to unlimited possibilities of the LORD moving in the midst as we saw in Psalm 22:3. In acts 13:2 the Holy Spirit spoke to launch Barnabas and Saul (Paul) into ministry. But think about a typical church gathering. Should we really expect the Holy Spirit to speak or move as we minister to the LORD? Emphatically yes. Anytime believers gather in the name of Jesus, His promise is that He would be in the midst and if He is in the midst then we should release our faith and expect that He will move in the midst. Unfortunately it is quite sad that there are people who truly love the LORD but when they gather together they have no expectation that the Holy Spirit will move. Maybe we need to revisit the Parable of the persistent woman and the judge and learn a lesson concerning faith.

Spending Time With the Father

The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 2:5 that believers are "a holy priesthood" in a similar way that the Levitical priesthood was. The difference is, believers today are to offer "up spiritual sacrifices" not natural sacrifices as the Old Testament priests. However, like the Old Testament priests we are to minister to the LORD...

"And the Levites who went far from Me, when Israel went astray, who strayed away from Me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity. Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, as gatekeepers of the house and ministers of the house; they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister to them. Because they ministered to them before their idols and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity, therefore I have raised My hand in an oath against them," says the Lord GOD, "that they shall bear their iniquity. And they shall not come near Me to minister to Me as priest, nor come near any of My holy things, nor into the Most Holy Place; but they shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed. Nevertheless I will make them keep charge of the temple, for all its work, and for all that has to be done in it. But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood," says the Lord GOD. They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge. (Ezekiel 44:10-16)

In the passage above Ezekiel describes two types of priests (Levites). One group (verses 10 & 11) was upholding religious practices, that is, ministers of the temple and to the people but not to God. Even though they made offerings to God, He didn't accept them, because they were not glorifying Him nor were they ministering to the LORD first and foremost from their heart. However, we see that the other group (verses 15 & 16) was ministering directly to the Lord, honoring Him as holy and obeying him with their hearts.


To "minister to the LORD" is to worship him alone in all that we do. Most often when believers think of worship it is limited to singing heartfelt songs to the LORD. However, Christian worship is any act of passionate devotion  directed toward God that is motivated by an overwhelming feeling of profound love and admiration in all that believers do. So, any ministry that is directed towards others without first being directed towards God is not ministering to the LORD. This is why faith plays such an important part in a believers life. Hebrews 11:6 states, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." This applies to every aspect of Christianity which includes "Ministering to the LORD".

At the Cross, Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for all of humanity. He was both the sacrifice and the priest who presented the offering of Himself to God the Father. Hebrews 10:19-22 reveals that believers are covered by the blood of Christ and are now able to enter the "holy of holies" and present ourselves to God the Father. Ministering to the Lord does not mean that He needs us to stroke His ego; rather, it describes the kind of worship and service that God finds acceptable, that is, that which completely depends on the power of his Spirit, instead of flesh and blood. "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23-24)
 
As Christ was and is our example of both Offering and Priest, let us through faith in Him also offer up spiritual sacrifices as priests that are "Holy and acceptable to the LORD which is our reasonable service."

Getting Pumped

The Bible shows various ways that believers can grow in and be built up in faith. Naturally the number one way to do this is found in Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. This is not to mean everyone who hears the Word of God responds favorable to it. It means that faith is present in the Word of God. When the Word of God read, studied, meditated upon, taught and preached faith is present. However, Acts 14:6-10 shows us an interesting situation. Out of a crowd of people who heard the Word of God preached, only one man received the Word and was healed. The explanation of Parable of the soils by Jesus also bears witness to this point. Not everyone believes it, receives it and retains it. However, the more of the Word that believers hear, the more faith will grow. Not just reading it, but studying and especially meditating on His Word daily grows faith.

Romans 12:3 reveals to us that "God has given every believer a measure of faith." 1 Corinthians 12:9 The Apostle Paul presents nine supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit in which the "gift of faith" is one. It is no more difficult to receive the gift of faith than it is to receive any other gift. How do we know this?
1 Corinthians 12:7, 11 tells us that the manifestations of these gifts are distributed to any believer at any time as the Holy Spirit wills. The Holy Spirit gives supernatural faith at times to accomplish the impossible as He wills. Also I Corinthians 14:1 tells believers to desire spiritual gifts (plural) because they are an advantage for the common good of all.

Next we see that within Galatians 5:22-23 among the "Fruit of the Spirit" is faithfulness. It is the same Greek word that is translated faith elsewhere. The Holy Spirit is at work in us growing faith in our lives.
According to James 1:22, 2:14-18 "faith without corresponding actions is dead." Faith also grows by putting action to God's Word. For instance, if I truly believe that Gods will is to heal, then I put action to that by laying hands on people and pray for healing. Last but certainly not least Jude 20 tells us that by "praying in the Holy Spirit," that is our pray language, an unknown tongue, believers can "build themselves up in faith."

So, if a believers faith does not grow, it is certainly not Gods fault. His Word increases our faith, He has given every believer a measure of faith, the Holy Spirit manifests the gift of faith and the fruit of faith, our faith grows when we act upon Gods Word and we build up our faith through praying in the Holy Spirit. However, this all hangs upon what each individual believers understands or misunderstands about God. If believers do not believe (interesting thought) certain things that the Word of God says are true, then they limit their faith from growing and releasing the things that God has given to the church and every believer. Honestly, how can a believer even think that God's Word does not work today like it did in the early church. The only way that happens is that some how God has changed, HE DIDN"T, His will has changed, IT DIDN'T or just maybe believers have been taught to doubt by leaders who have no faith, MOST LIKELY. So let's exercise our faith and get ourselves pumped up in HIM!

Does Anyone Want a Fig?

The Gospels of Matthew and Mark present some wonderful lessons on faith. We will look at one particular instance and begin in Matthew's gospel and then look at Mark's account of the same events that take place.

Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, let no fruit grow on you ever again. Immediately the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, how did the fig tree wither away so soon? (Matthew 21:18-20) There are many points to consider here but I want to focus on the disciples response to what they saw and then Jesus' answer. The fact that the diciples asked Jesus a question concerning what they saw, should trigger something in believers. Rather than just being amazed as to what happened and moving on, they wanted to know, "How the fig tree wither away soon quickly."

A point to consider here is, why do so many believers read the Word of God, which is a very good thing to do, but do not question the LORD when they do not fully understand certain things in the Bible especially when Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would guide believers into ALL truth. (John 16:13) The disciples really wanted to know and understand this marvalous thing that has taken place...
So Jesus answers and said to them Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
(Mark 11:22-24)

"Have faith in God" literally means have God kind or God like faith. This was exactly what Jesus was doing. He was exercising "God like faith". Doubt would respond something like this, "Well that was Jesus and that is why He was able to have God like faith." However, we need to consider the next two verses and not let doubt neturalize faith. Jesus' resonds by saying, "WHOEVER says...and does not DOUBT in his heart, but BELIEVES...” What Jesus says is not figurative, it is not rhetorical, there is no subliminal, hidden, mysterious message that has to be figured out nor is it because He is the Son of God. Jesus tells them that His ability to do what was done to the fig tree is to simply to believe, have God like faith.

Jesus continues, "...but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says." Keep in mind that Jesus has also presented an even greater miracle in the beginning of this Verse (23)..."For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes..." Jesus is telling His disciples as well as the "Whoever" that they will have the ability to do miracles like what happened to the fig tree and also be able to move mountains by simply having faith without doubt. Jesus reveals something important to the disciples and us. It is obvious that the Father’s will is much greater and diverse than most believers have faith for. Jesus continues…

"Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." WOW, what an incredible statement of fact that Jesus makes here. It does seem from what Jesus says here, that believers are to determine what it is that they want to happen, believe that they have received and then they will have it. We must keep in mind that the things that we believe and ask for for must be according to the will of God. "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) But the fact remains that if believers act in faith without doubt that they will receive.

It also seems that the one thing that will prevent God from answering whatever we want according to His will is simply doubt. Unfortunately, many believers are waiting for God to reveal His will and His purpose, when in fact God is waiting for believers to exercise their faith and receive what He has already given in Christ. The faith that Jesus is talking about, is not mental assent or head faith, but faith from the heart (the spirit). The difference is, faith from the heart believes without question, whereas head faith says I believe BUT...

If you are born again you already have faith, so now it's time to assault and destroy the doubt(s), (the buts)!

Adam, Who are you?

One of the most incredible things that could happen to any human being is to come to know Jesus Christ as LORD. He has done such great and wonderous things for ALL people, that it sometimes is difficult to comprehend. One of the things that believers must come to truly understand is where they came from and what the Heavenly Father has provided through Jesus Christ. If believers can truly understand what Gods purpoe and plan for man was and is they will finally see just how wonderful it is to be one of His children. 

GENESIS 1:26-27, 2:7 reveals the creation of man where Gods breathed His Spirit into mans body whereby energizing man as a living soul, a living creature. And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:24) And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.
(Colossians 3:10) Man was created in Gods image and likeness, in knowledge, righteousness and holiness and because God is Spirit and eternal, so man was also created as an eternal being. Being created in the image and likeness of God means that man is a spirit living in an earthly body. God desired children who would be like Himself. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
(John 4:24)

God did not create man for heaven, He created man for the earth. Gods plan for man was this; God ruled the unseen realm in heaven and man would rule the visible realm on earth, with God and man enjoying continual communion through their spiritual natures. It is important to know that man was created not only to fellowship with God but he also was given the responsibility to rule over what God had created. Everything that God created was for man! This is a very important key and the only way that a believer will comprehend these things is through faith, believing God and acting upon His Word.

Psalms 8:4-8 puts it this way; 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. 
The word “angles” in the above is the word “elohim” and in Psalms 82:6 I said, you are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High The word “gods” is also define “elohim”. The word “elohim” means “mighty ones” it is also the creation name of God when capitalized.

The Hebrew for “You have made man a little lower than the angel’s” is actually “You have made man a little lower than God”. This means that not only was man given dominion over the physical earth and all the creatures, but also over the angels of heaven, fallen angels and Satan himself. I other words, man was created as the god (small “g”) of this world. Man was created as Gods “mighty ones” a little lower than Himself. Woman was made to be a suitable, compatible and comparable helper to man and her position was the same, a little lower than God. 

Just knowing Gods original purpose and plan for man should cause believers to be excited and very thankful because of what the Father has accomplished through the Son. As we look further into what had happened to man, the fall, we will also look at the restoration of man and incredible thing indeed that can only be experienced through faith in Jesus Christ.

I Will Not Believe

"I will not believe" are the very words that the NKJV records Thomas saying when the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the LORD." (John 20:25) Though this may sound paradoxical, but unfortunately many believers today including church leaders also do not believe. Doubt or unbelief is generally produced through several means...

• A lack of knowledge of the Word of God...
• A lack of understanding ones position in Christ...
• A lack of understanding of who one is in Christ...
• A lack of understanding what we have been given in Christ...
• A lack of understanding of our authority in Christ...
• An excess of the wisdom of man which produces liberal theology...
• A flat out lack of faith... 

Doubt or unbelief come in several forms but they all are based on questioning the integrity of Gods Word or His will. They manifest in one or more of these arguments...

• Gods will is different for different people even if the circumstance or situations are the same…
• God has a divine purpose for using sickness, injury, diseases, poverty, etc. in a believer’s life…
• God has a specific timing for all aspects of salvation (healing, deliverance, being made whole, etc.) therefore no matter how much faith one has He prevents these things from happening until His timing has been met…
• God is sovereign and He will do whatever He wants to do…

Doubt will always prevent a believer from acting on the Word of God because true faith is always revealed through actions as James 2:18 says…”Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” As we can see here in James faith is not static. If believers do not spend daily time in the Word, come to know their position in Christ, know who they are in Christ, know all that they have been given through Christ and reject doctrine that contrary to Gods Word, the faith that they already have simply will not grow. It is a lack of faith in the believers life that causes them to fall far short of all that the Father in heaven has provided through Jesus Christ.

Believers must come to a place in their lives that they do not question what God can do, He has already fully restored humanity and has provided salvation (rebirth, healing, deliverance, protection, provision, etc.)through Jesus Christ. It simply comes down to one thing, what YOU CAN BELIEVE!!!

If I Just Had More

All to many time believers defeat themselves for a number of reasons. But one of the ways that believers are defeated is because they have a lack of understanding as to what they have been given in Christ. There is a lack of standing in faith and receiving Gods Word as the truth whether situations, circumstances, feelings and even what our senses may dictate. The following list (not inclusive) shows us what the Father has restored, that is, what He has given to believes through Jesus Christ...

   • We have been given power through Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8)
   • We have been given the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ (Acts 2:5)
   • We have been given peace with God through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1)
   • We have been given love in our hearts through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:5)
   • We have been given the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwelling in us (Romans 8:11)
   • We have been given faith through Jesus Christ (Romans 12:3)
   • We have been given grace through Jesus Christ (Romans 12:6)
   • We have been given salvation through Jesus Christ Romans 10:9-10)
   • We have been given the gifts of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 12:7-11)
   • We have been given the Fruit of the Spirit through Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:22-23)
   • We have been given the ability to do all things through Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:13)
   • We have been given the right to come before the throne of God through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 14-16)
   • We have been given wealth and health through Jesus Christ (III John 2) 
 
The list goes on and on, Hallelujah. Look at this list and meditate on these verses. What a wonderful inheritance that believers have in Jesus. If Christians would just start believing that the Bible is true and act like they believe it, the devil would not stand a chance. The first thing that would happen would be the restoration of the church. Church leaders would put away their persuasive words of human wisdom, walk by faith in demonstration of the Spirit and power. This will squelch all the twisted doctrine that has infiltrated the church through partial revelation mingled with the wisdom of men and a lack of faith. The disunity would be dispelled, we would be in one accord and those held in captivity by the devil and his gang would be set free through the gospel and power of Jesus Christ.
 
Deuteronomy 32:30 says, "How could one chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight unless their Rock had sold them and the LORD had surrendered them?" Do we see the implication in this verse? Think about every true believer putting away their pet doctrine(s) and really believing Gods Word? O what power would be released on the earth, O what glory the Father would receive and O how the name of Jesus would be exalted. This can happen, but believers must put faith in Gods glorious Word and not the wisdom of men that unfortunately comes forth from many pulpits throughout the world especially from the pulpits, seminaries and Bible colleges in the USA.
 
With that said, here is some food for thought...
"...Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)