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...
Monday, October 1, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
It's in the Name
I would like to give you something to think about. "The measure of the Lord's ability to work in and through a believers life, is measured by the value that the believer places upon His name." Now at first glance most will begin to quote some scripture such as, Matthew 28:18 "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." and Philippians 2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name..." These are certain true, but what do verse of scripture like these really mean to you? What value do you place in and on the name of Jesus?
Observe the following scriptures, "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:17-18)
"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:13-14)
"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:23-24)
If you do not believe what Jesus said in these verses to be true then and now, then you have placed little value on Matthew 28:18, Acts 4:12 and Philippians 4:9 not to mention most of the Bible. How can I make such a statement and know that what I am saying is true? Has Jesus lost His authority? Is there another name by which men can be saved? Is His name no longer above every other name? Absolutely not! In fact the promises that Jesus made concerning the believers use of His name is not only for the early church but also for all believers until His return. As staggering as that may seem, He has given the believe the power of attorney to use His name. It is ours to use and when you really meditate on that, the reality is, what is already ours does not require faith.
With this in mind let's look at and consider these scriptures,
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)
"And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11)
"Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
(Ephesians 5:20)
"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17)
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." (James 5:14)
"And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment." (1 John 3:23)
These are certainly not all the scriptures that emphasize the name of Jesus, but we can see that the name of Jesus touched every phase of the believers life in the early church. His name was upon their lips, in their hearts, it filled their thoughts, answered their prayers, it was in their preaching and teaching, it healed the sick, raised the dead and basically made what seemed impossible simply possible all the time. My prayer is that every believer begin to truly believe and act upon the Word of God. I pray that we permit the Lord to open the eyes of our hearts so that we may know the riches of His glory and that we operate in the power of the name that is above every other name, the name of JESUS.
Observe the following scriptures, "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:17-18)
"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:13-14)
"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:23-24)
If you do not believe what Jesus said in these verses to be true then and now, then you have placed little value on Matthew 28:18, Acts 4:12 and Philippians 4:9 not to mention most of the Bible. How can I make such a statement and know that what I am saying is true? Has Jesus lost His authority? Is there another name by which men can be saved? Is His name no longer above every other name? Absolutely not! In fact the promises that Jesus made concerning the believers use of His name is not only for the early church but also for all believers until His return. As staggering as that may seem, He has given the believe the power of attorney to use His name. It is ours to use and when you really meditate on that, the reality is, what is already ours does not require faith.
With this in mind let's look at and consider these scriptures,
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)
"And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11)
"Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
(Ephesians 5:20)
"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17)
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." (James 5:14)
"And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment." (1 John 3:23)
These are certainly not all the scriptures that emphasize the name of Jesus, but we can see that the name of Jesus touched every phase of the believers life in the early church. His name was upon their lips, in their hearts, it filled their thoughts, answered their prayers, it was in their preaching and teaching, it healed the sick, raised the dead and basically made what seemed impossible simply possible all the time. My prayer is that every believer begin to truly believe and act upon the Word of God. I pray that we permit the Lord to open the eyes of our hearts so that we may know the riches of His glory and that we operate in the power of the name that is above every other name, the name of JESUS.
Monday, September 17, 2012
What's Stopping You
Out of all the tragedies that have happened in the history of man, the greatest one occurred when Adam committed treason by choosing to disobey God resulting in relinquishing the authority that God vested in him and giving it to Gods enemy, Satan. Man was bankrupted. He lost fellowship with God, He lost his ability to approach God, the one whom he was master of has now become his master, he had opened himself to all the vile wickedness and destruction his of his new master, he was helpless and hopeless and could not save himself, he became spiritually dead.
We can look at human history and see that mans depravity has caused untold losses of live through wars, dictators who have slaughtered millions, the fetal murder of millions of children and on and on. But none of this would have happened if Adam chose God above his own desires. Due to Adams transgression, this left God with a problem. Was God able to provide man with a redemption that would set him free from the authority of Satan and give him the authority over Satan that he once had, remit all of his sin that he had committed, recreate him and make him a new creation with the nature of God so that he could once again approach God without condemnation, guilt, shame or feeling inferior, all on legal grounds? Yes He did. He did this through the incarnation, deity and humanity coming together in the person of Jesus.
Everything that has held man in bondage for 4000 years came to an end when Jesus rose from the dead and presented His blood to the Father (Hebrews 9:12). Jesus had conquered Satan. Jesus took away all of Satan’s weaponry. Let's look at some scripture concerning this very thing...
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
If the church could just get past its reformation hang over, believe and act on the Word of God and let the Holy Spirit have the preeminence in the church once again, the church would turn this world upside down once again. Gods presence, power and glory would be in every service and would also manifest wherever we would go. The church would again make it very difficult for the second greatest tragedy to continue in mans history. Jesus said, 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) We also read, Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
That's right, the second greatest tragedy that continues to happen in mans history which is worse than war and the slaughter of human life is what happens to those who past from this life to the next who have not confessed the Lordship of Jesus Christ and receive Him as Savior. They will be cast into everlasting fire (Matthew 18:8) where their worm does not die (Mark 9:44) where there is darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12) Is there one person who would want this to happen to another person. Well if you are truly a Christian then your answer is absolutely not! So, what is stopping you? If we have the ultimate weapons, which we do, then we must get out of the fort (church building) take authority over the darkness and enforce what Jesus has already accomplished, No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. (Mark 3:27) Jesus has bound the strong man (Satan) and plundered his goods and has given believers a mandate, And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:19) So let's use our authority and win souls for Jesus!!!
We can look at human history and see that mans depravity has caused untold losses of live through wars, dictators who have slaughtered millions, the fetal murder of millions of children and on and on. But none of this would have happened if Adam chose God above his own desires. Due to Adams transgression, this left God with a problem. Was God able to provide man with a redemption that would set him free from the authority of Satan and give him the authority over Satan that he once had, remit all of his sin that he had committed, recreate him and make him a new creation with the nature of God so that he could once again approach God without condemnation, guilt, shame or feeling inferior, all on legal grounds? Yes He did. He did this through the incarnation, deity and humanity coming together in the person of Jesus.
Everything that has held man in bondage for 4000 years came to an end when Jesus rose from the dead and presented His blood to the Father (Hebrews 9:12). Jesus had conquered Satan. Jesus took away all of Satan’s weaponry. Let's look at some scripture concerning this very thing...
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Acts 10:38 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.
1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from
the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might
destroy the works of the devil.
Colossians 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a
public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Hebrews 2:14-15 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh
and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might
destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those
who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Sickness, disease, poverty, fear and so much more have all been defeated. For those who have come to believe Jesus to be Savior and confess His Lordship have been given the ultimate weapons against the works of darkness, the name of Jesus and the Word of God. The Bible tells us...
Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Luke 10:19-20 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents
and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any
means hurt you. Sickness, disease, poverty, fear and so much more have all been defeated. For those who have come to believe Jesus to be Savior and confess His Lordship have been given the ultimate weapons against the works of darkness, the name of Jesus and the Word of God. The Bible tells us...
Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
If the church could just get past its reformation hang over, believe and act on the Word of God and let the Holy Spirit have the preeminence in the church once again, the church would turn this world upside down once again. Gods presence, power and glory would be in every service and would also manifest wherever we would go. The church would again make it very difficult for the second greatest tragedy to continue in mans history. Jesus said, 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) We also read, Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
That's right, the second greatest tragedy that continues to happen in mans history which is worse than war and the slaughter of human life is what happens to those who past from this life to the next who have not confessed the Lordship of Jesus Christ and receive Him as Savior. They will be cast into everlasting fire (Matthew 18:8) where their worm does not die (Mark 9:44) where there is darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12) Is there one person who would want this to happen to another person. Well if you are truly a Christian then your answer is absolutely not! So, what is stopping you? If we have the ultimate weapons, which we do, then we must get out of the fort (church building) take authority over the darkness and enforce what Jesus has already accomplished, No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. (Mark 3:27) Jesus has bound the strong man (Satan) and plundered his goods and has given believers a mandate, And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:19) So let's use our authority and win souls for Jesus!!!
Monday, September 10, 2012
Covenant ot Contract - You Decide
Today I believe that most Christians have little understanding as to whether they are in covenant with other believers or have a contract with them. For all who are born again, those who confession Jesus as LORD and receive Him as Savior, automatically enter into the New Covenant that was established through the blood of Jesus Christ. But by virtue of ones covenant with Christ, believers also become covenant partners with every other believer. Many may be quick to say amen to being in covenant with the LORD and all believers, but it is not true for most.
Covenant is defined as the mutual consent or agreement of two or more persons, to do or forbear some act or thing: to enter into a formal agreement; to stipulate; to bind ones self to another. Some of the differences between a covenant and a contract look like this...
The following are some components of a covenant...
God is a covenant maker and a covenant keeper. Today, like always He still hates divorce. Aren't believers suppose to hate what God hates and love what God loves? It is apparent that most believers still miss the only commandment that Jesus gave, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35) The word love refers to the God kind of love (agape) not the natural kind of love (phileo) The difference, agape is defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 which basically has no conditions (terms) and is spiritual, whereas phileo has conditions because it operates in the natural, it is carnal. Agape takes faith to live out, phileo does not. So in a sense, covenant is rooted and grounded in agape and contract is rooted and grounded in phileo.
So if you have broken off any relationship with another believer or have left the congregation that you said you were called to and have not reconciled and restored the relationship, then it's time to do so. Why should you do this? Not only is it right in the eyes of the LORD but the apostle Paul when confronting the Jews who did not obey the law said this, "For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles (World) because of you, as it is written." (Romans 2:24) Look back at why Jesus tells believers to love one another, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Could our lack of upholding covenant with one another in the God kind of love be one of the main reasons why the world rejects the LORD and calls Christians hypocrites? I think that it might be. So let's reverse our attitudes, renew our minds and let the God kind of love dominates us now...
"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23) The God kind of love is already in every believer. Let's choose to operate in it...
Covenant is defined as the mutual consent or agreement of two or more persons, to do or forbear some act or thing: to enter into a formal agreement; to stipulate; to bind ones self to another. Some of the differences between a covenant and a contract look like this...
- A covenant contain unlimited liabilities, a contract has limited liabilities...
- A covenant does not contain terms, a contract has terms...
- A covenant requires commitment between the partners to fulfill what has been stipulated in the body of the covenant and to see to the success of the covenant, and the termination of the covenant occurs only at the death of one or both partners. A contract only requires the parties to fulfill the terms which have been stated in the body of the contract and at the fulfillment of such terms the contract is terminated.
The following are some components of a covenant...
- Agreement: Union of opinions or sentiments resulting in harmony and conformity...
- Commitment: The act of engaging; to pledge; or to pledge by implication...
- Stipulation: An agreement or covenant made by one person with another for the performance or forbearance of some act...
- Conditions: To make terms; to stipulate...
- Duration: Continuance in time...
- Exchange: To give and receive reciprocally...
- Bind: To tie together; To confirm or ratify...
God is a covenant maker and a covenant keeper. Today, like always He still hates divorce. Aren't believers suppose to hate what God hates and love what God loves? It is apparent that most believers still miss the only commandment that Jesus gave, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35) The word love refers to the God kind of love (agape) not the natural kind of love (phileo) The difference, agape is defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 which basically has no conditions (terms) and is spiritual, whereas phileo has conditions because it operates in the natural, it is carnal. Agape takes faith to live out, phileo does not. So in a sense, covenant is rooted and grounded in agape and contract is rooted and grounded in phileo.
So if you have broken off any relationship with another believer or have left the congregation that you said you were called to and have not reconciled and restored the relationship, then it's time to do so. Why should you do this? Not only is it right in the eyes of the LORD but the apostle Paul when confronting the Jews who did not obey the law said this, "For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles (World) because of you, as it is written." (Romans 2:24) Look back at why Jesus tells believers to love one another, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Could our lack of upholding covenant with one another in the God kind of love be one of the main reasons why the world rejects the LORD and calls Christians hypocrites? I think that it might be. So let's reverse our attitudes, renew our minds and let the God kind of love dominates us now...
"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23) The God kind of love is already in every believer. Let's choose to operate in it...
Monday, September 3, 2012
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...
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...
Monday, August 27, 2012
The Greatest is Love
With all the "dos and don'ts" that church leaders have developed over the years and have placed upon believers, it seems that we have forgotten the one most important "do" that Jesus gave to the church. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35) Love is God's most potent characteristic, "...God is love..." (1 John 4:16) and it should be the same in the life of every believer.
As new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) believers have the God kind of love already dwelling within them. Now this might be difficult for some to believe, that believers can walk in the same kind of love that Jesus emulated in His ministry on earth as the Son of man. But let's look at what the apostle Paul tells us, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) Do you see that? By virtue of being born again, God's love was instantaneously pour out in the heart (spirit) of every believer through the Holy Spirit who dwells in the believer who is also God.
Next, we see something else concerning the God kind of love in the believer. The apostle Paul tells us, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:22-26) Love is a fruit of the recreated spirit. Again, as soon as one is born again, the God kind of love becomes a part of the believers recreated spirit through the Holy Spirit.
However, a closer look at this passage reveals some important things. First, And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Have you responded by faith to this statement? Have you crucified the flesh with its passions and desires? In other words Jesus said it this way, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." (Luke 9:23) Do you deny the flesh with its passions and desires on a daily bases? If not, then the God kind of love will not be able to take root in your heart.
Secondly, If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Unfortunately, most believers do not comprehend what it means to walk in the Spirit. Simply put, to walk by the Spirit is to yield to the influences of the Holy Spirit and not the influences of the flesh. To do this we must apply what the apostle Paul applied to his life as he followed Christ, "...and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) You cannot escape this spiritual principle. You must live "By faith in the Son of God!!!" Believers will never live beyond the passions and desires of the flesh until they operate in revelation faith that is, unwavering faith upon the Word of God. The sad thing is, most believers operate in sense knowledge faith, which is natural faith that every person has. This type of faith relies solely upon what our five senses can comprehend.
Finally, if believers do not truly live by the influences of the Holy Spirit, but live by the influences of the flesh, that is the senses, they will do exactly what the apostle Paul warns not to do, "Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." These things are the result of placing "dos and don'ts" upon believers rather than focus upon the one commandment that Jesus gave to the church, to love one another. The God kind of love is what brought forth the incarnation. The God kind of love is what motivated Jesus to love the people that He came into contact with as the Son of man even though they were constantly antagonistic toward Him. The God kind of love is what lead Jesus to surrender His life into the hands of those who would kill Him. The God kind of love is what paid the sin debt accrued by humanity. The God kind of love has provided the means for humanities greatest need, redemption. It is the God kind of love that will destroy the denominational barriers and differences in the church which will show a lost world that believers are Jesus' disciples.
To walk daily in the the Spirit and exercise the God kind of love is a choice that every believer must come to grips with. I believe the Lord is saying to many believers today the same thing that He spoke to His people Israel on Mount Carmel through the prophet Elijah, "...How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; (walk by the Spirit) but if Baal, then follow him" (walk by the flesh with its passions and desires). So let us do the former, ditch the flesh once and for for all and respond to what the apostle Paul says concerning what truly matters, "...faith working through love."
As new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) believers have the God kind of love already dwelling within them. Now this might be difficult for some to believe, that believers can walk in the same kind of love that Jesus emulated in His ministry on earth as the Son of man. But let's look at what the apostle Paul tells us, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) Do you see that? By virtue of being born again, God's love was instantaneously pour out in the heart (spirit) of every believer through the Holy Spirit who dwells in the believer who is also God.
Next, we see something else concerning the God kind of love in the believer. The apostle Paul tells us, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:22-26) Love is a fruit of the recreated spirit. Again, as soon as one is born again, the God kind of love becomes a part of the believers recreated spirit through the Holy Spirit.
However, a closer look at this passage reveals some important things. First, And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Have you responded by faith to this statement? Have you crucified the flesh with its passions and desires? In other words Jesus said it this way, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." (Luke 9:23) Do you deny the flesh with its passions and desires on a daily bases? If not, then the God kind of love will not be able to take root in your heart.
Secondly, If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Unfortunately, most believers do not comprehend what it means to walk in the Spirit. Simply put, to walk by the Spirit is to yield to the influences of the Holy Spirit and not the influences of the flesh. To do this we must apply what the apostle Paul applied to his life as he followed Christ, "...and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) You cannot escape this spiritual principle. You must live "By faith in the Son of God!!!" Believers will never live beyond the passions and desires of the flesh until they operate in revelation faith that is, unwavering faith upon the Word of God. The sad thing is, most believers operate in sense knowledge faith, which is natural faith that every person has. This type of faith relies solely upon what our five senses can comprehend.
Finally, if believers do not truly live by the influences of the Holy Spirit, but live by the influences of the flesh, that is the senses, they will do exactly what the apostle Paul warns not to do, "Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." These things are the result of placing "dos and don'ts" upon believers rather than focus upon the one commandment that Jesus gave to the church, to love one another. The God kind of love is what brought forth the incarnation. The God kind of love is what motivated Jesus to love the people that He came into contact with as the Son of man even though they were constantly antagonistic toward Him. The God kind of love is what lead Jesus to surrender His life into the hands of those who would kill Him. The God kind of love is what paid the sin debt accrued by humanity. The God kind of love has provided the means for humanities greatest need, redemption. It is the God kind of love that will destroy the denominational barriers and differences in the church which will show a lost world that believers are Jesus' disciples.
To walk daily in the the Spirit and exercise the God kind of love is a choice that every believer must come to grips with. I believe the Lord is saying to many believers today the same thing that He spoke to His people Israel on Mount Carmel through the prophet Elijah, "...How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; (walk by the Spirit) but if Baal, then follow him" (walk by the flesh with its passions and desires). So let us do the former, ditch the flesh once and for for all and respond to what the apostle Paul says concerning what truly matters, "...faith working through love."
Monday, August 20, 2012
'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."
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."
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