If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 NKJV

Solomon, the wisest man in the Old Covenant, to illustrate the value of wisdom uses the imagery of a man cutting wood. The picture is of a man trying to cut wood with a dull ax. If you have ever tried to cut something with a dull instrument, be it an ax or knife, you know it takes more effort to bring forth the desired result. It can also be dangerous causing injury. Many people who have tried to cut something with a dull knife have ended up cutting themselves because the knife finally cuts through the object when they least expect it and they end up stabbing or cutting themselves in the process. There is also the wear and tear on the body from using dull equipment.  At the very least, it will take more time to produce the desired results.

As we have established, it is both dangerous and time consuming to try to cut wood with a dull ax.  Why, then would anyone do it? Because they do not want to take the time that it takes to sit down and sharpen the ax. They look and their friend is already in the woods cutting trees, so they already feel like they are running behind.

I believe the sharpening of the ax represents preparation.  Many people’s health and productivity is being affected by their lack of preparation. Much like our wood cutting friend, they are so desirous to accomplish their goal, they want to skip the preparation process and get right onto the “good stuff”.

1.    Keeping Sharp Through Preparation for Ministry.

 My spiritual father in the faith Dr. Jefferson Thompson used to tell me when I was just starting out in ministry, “Preparation time is never lost time”.  Of course, that was not what I wanted to hear but it was true nonetheless. The fact is that the greater the calling, the longer the preparation time. Jesus prepared 30 years for 3 years of ministry.  Moses knew he was to be a deliverer of God’s people when he was about 40 years old (Acts 7:23-25).  He tried to fulfill his destiny in the flesh by killing an Egyptian and ended up fleeing for his life. However, after submitting to God’s sharpening (preparation) process, in the spirit he killed a whole Egyptian army who drowned in the Red Sea.

Preparation in ministry is important, first, because you need to know something if you are going to help someone else.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

 From this passage, we see that we need to have understanding of the Word and we need to learn to rightly divide the Word. I realize that understanding is a journey and not a destination. Even the Apostle Paul says we know in part. However, we have to stay sharp in our Bible study. One problem for ministers is we can become so topical in our approach to Bible study that our doctrine gets lopsided. We need devotional study of the Bible as well as topical. By “devotional”, I mean reading through the Bible. It is easy to fall in the trap of only reading the highlighted parts of your Bible. First, this leads to pride, because if you only study what you do know you lose sight of how much you do not know.  Secondly, (which leads us to our next point) in reading only your favorite “bread box” scriptures you lose sight of what he was talking about in the context of the chapter and book as well as in the light of the rest of the Bible. We have to learn how to rightly divide the Word of truth. At the time of this writing, the national presidential elections are around the corner. There are many sound bites being aired by various news networks. I have noticed that depending on the networks agenda, the sound bites can be arranged in a certain way to paint their view of a certain candidate. The same is true with those who only study their favorite scripture. They use biblical sound bites to push their spiritual agenda and not God’s. We have to draw out of the Bible what God intended not use the Bible to “proof text” what we wanted to believe to start with. (If you think this does not apply to you because you are not a five-fold minister that is not true. Ephesians 4 says the five-fold ministry is to equip believers for the work of the ministry. Every believer is called to the ministry of reconciliation.) A good example of misusing the scripture is taken from the following scripture.

 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

John 12:32 NKJV

 I have heard it taught, using this passage as a proof-text, to prove that if we lift up Jesus in praise then all peoples will be drawn to Him. Yet, if we read just one verse later we get clarity

This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

John 12:33 NKJV

The “lifting up” spoken of in verse 32 according to verse 33 is His death on the cross. Therefore, when Jesus was lifted up on the cross we were identified with Him in the mind of God and sin’s justices were paid in the high court of heaven.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; 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 NKJV

You see although praise is important, that is not what that passage is talking about.

The second reason preparation in ministry is important, is the development of character. We need to have our character developed so that when we are promoted it blesses us and does not destroy us.  Paul says that maturity is a qualifier for ministry.

not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

1 Timothy 3:6 NKJV

 How is our character developed for ministry? It is developed through faithfully serving a man of God in the context of the local church.

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,

1 Timothy 1:12 NKJV

 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV

Many young ministers are trying to “break into” the ministry. The key to promotion and enabling in ministry is faithfully serving in the local church.  Faithfulness is key to promotion and greater anointing. Elisha served Elijah and received an impartation. Timothy served Paul. Joshua served Moses. Philip, in the Book of Acts, started out as a deacon waiting tables and was promoted to being an evangelist mightily used by God. Now, you cannot be an evangelist just because you serve, you have to be called. However, to be released in your calling you have to be faithful. The greater your calling, the greater the amount of character development needed through preparation and service.

This has been a challenge for me over the years.  I have been much like our wood cutting friend who saw his friend chopping down trees while he was still sharpening his ax. I have seen people in ministry a shorter amount of time than myself pastoring churches and doing other things that makes it seem like I am being passed up, especially when they make their verbal jabs at you to make them feel superior. However, I know I am being prepared and cannot compare myself to others and I must run the race set before me.

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

2 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV

 All they are doing, of course, is to measure themselves by their own standards or by comparisons within their own circle, and that doesn’t make for accurate estimation, you may be sure.

2 Corinthians 10:12 J. B. Phillips

 But in all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point.

2 Corinthians 10:12 Message

 Our destiny comes in seed form. Although it starts small, as we are faithful it will grow to fruition.

Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They’ll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone (of the temple) in place!”

Zechariah 4:10 Message

2.    Love Prepares.

As our main text illustrates, wisdom and preparation are inseparably linked. Too many Christians are reactive rather than proactive. If you move with God, you will always be ahead of the enemy and circumstances of life. There is much teaching (as there should be) on healthy marriage relationships. However it amazes me how little emphasis there has been in the preparation phases leading up to marriage. So we with a “dull ax” are trying to cut back opposition and hold together marriages that if there had been proper preparation would have cost a lot less time, energy and pain.

 It is the nature of unrenewed man to worship the creation more than the creator and by doing so we exchange the truth of God for a lie.

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Romans 1:25 NIV

Does Paul mean we tell a lie? No. In my opinion, it means we believe a lie. For example, we are created social creatures so much so that losing your right to fellowship was a means of correction in the New Testament church. However, in some circles, the creation (social need) gets elevated above God and the purpose for which He created it and things get out of whack. The purpose for fellowship in the context of the local church should be to strengthen our relationship for the purpose of bringing unity and harmony that will in return strengthen our prayer and worship. Also, we are to come together to glean understanding from each other. You will never live long enough to learn everything on your own. That is why we are the Body of Christ. However, in some church circles the social has rose to preeminence to the point of carnality. If my flesh likes your flesh we have a basis for fellowship, if it does not I reject you. I am not talking about in a sexual context, but rather the basis for fellowship being carnal fleshly interest that may not be bad within themselves rather than a spiritual connection. The Word of God is also never mentioned in these carnal relationships, because if I listen to someone else it might imply they know something I do not (Newsflash, they probably do). In so doing we believe that we are doing what the Bible says and having unity. It is, however, a counterfeit unity and therefore you believe a lie to be true.

The same is true in relationships. The following example is some of the most ignored wisdom of God in the Bible.

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:14 NKJV

 God instituted marriage and said it was good. However, some have elevated and worshipped being married above God the creator of marriage and it results in shipwreck. God said do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Yet week after week in our churches across America another young man or woman brings some unsaved person of the opposite sex into the church with them and sit on the back row because they do not understand what is going on (of course they don’t they are lost).  If that person is a coworker that you brought to church then that is wonderful. These people however are bringing them as a potential mate! They believe the lie (remember Paul said that is what we do when we worship the creation more than the creator) that they can change that person. The truth is, however, the person they are before you marry them is the best they will ever be. If you feel like someone who is not saved is to be your mate then wait and pray for him or her. However, you should not go into a rebellious relationship with them cutting them and you off from the very grace of God to move in their life.  Much like our wood cutting friend they see friends of theirs getting married and their life seems to be blissful. In addition, they have aunt Nellie asking them at every family function when they are going to get married.  So they succumb to the pressure, reject the Word, marry the person, and spend years in counseling that could have been spared through the preparation of doing the Word in the first place.

Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, Because he willingly walked by human precept (rules of action or conduct).

Hosea 5:11 NKJV

 Brutal Ephraim is himself brutalized— a taste of his own medicine!
He was so determined to do it his own worthless way.

Hosea 5:11 Message

 I also believe that “unequally yoked” extends beyond saved and unsaved. If you believe speaking in tongues is a valid New Testament experience and you marry someone who believes they are of the devil, then you are unequally yoked.  Unbelief comes in many forms. If you do not believe in divine healing you are an unbeliever on that level whether or not you are saved. Remember that when you choose a mate you are also choosing a parent for your children. If they come from a denomination that rejects the biblical truth of divine healing and health then who will agree with you when your children are sick?

“Woe (great sorrow and distress) to the rebellious children,” says the LORD “Who take counsel, but not of Me, 
 And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin; 
      

 Who walk to go down to Egypt (who is a type of the world system), And have not asked My advice, To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt! 
      

  Therefore the strength of Pharaoh 
Shall be your shame, 
And trust in the shadow of Egypt 
Shall be your humiliation.

Isaiah 30:1-3 NKJV

 Therefore shall the strength and protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt be to your humiliation and confusion.

Isaiah 30:3 Amplified

 In addition, on a more practical level, if a man says that he loves a woman then he prepares.

I (Jesus) go to prepare a place for you.

 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

John 14:2-4 NKJV

 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

Ephesians 5:25 NKJV

 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:2 NKJV

 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.

2 Corinthians 11:2 NIV

 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:2 NLT

 When we harmonize these passages, we realize that Christ love for us is the pattern of true love that should exist between a man and a wife. Jesus said He goes to prepare a place for us. I am amazed at how many boys (the omission of the word “men” here was deliberate) will ask a girl to marry them without a home, job, or ambition to get either. That is not love. If you are in love, you will give yourself for her. Love will not take a girl out of a home where she is cared and provided for without providing for her. He is actually lusting her. Lust desires to get at the expense of others. Love, on the other hand, desires to give at the expense of self. So ladies if that dude loves you he will have a j-o-b.  Before God gave Adam a wife, He gave him a job. When he did not cover and take care of his wife, he then lost his job.

In addition, if a guy walks in love he will establish himself by getting an education before getting into a relationship to start with. Much like the man with the dull ax, relationships struggle and have to put forth more effort because of a lack of preparation (sharpening your ax).

3.    Keeping Sharp Through 
Spiritual Preparation.

 As I said earlier, many Christians are reactive rather than proactive. They react to problems as they arise rather than preparing ahead of time. The same people who will not drive across town to go to a church to teach them how to walk in divine health will drive a hundred miles to get treatment once they get sick. Some will refuse to give God ten percent and yet will give the credit card company fifteen percent to catch up their finances because they are laboring under a curse from robbing God.

  “ Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me!  But you say, ‘ In what way have we robbed You?’  In tithes and offerings.

  You are cursed with a curse,  For you have robbed Me,  Even this whole nation.

  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,  That there may be food in My house,  And try Me now in this,”   Says the LORD of hosts,  “ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven  And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

   “ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”  Says the LORD of hosts;

   And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,”  Says the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 3:8-10 NKJV

 They say they have no time to read the Word of God and yet they can tell you a blow-by-blow account of the entire career of their favorite sports star or who was voted off the Island last week. I am not criticizing sports or entertainment but they had better not be your top priority. The amount of time spent in church three times a week is not as big of an investment as dying early.

With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

Psalm 91:16 NKJV

 Be proactive and not reactive. Seek the Lord and He will tell you what preparations you need to make to stay sharp and to be ahead of any problems that may arise.

In this message taken from accounts of physically barren women in the Bible I draw parallels on how we can be delivered from spiritual barrenness.

Redefine-1.: to define (as a concept) again :reformulate<had to redefine their terms>

2 a : to reexamine or reevaluate especially with a view to change

b : transform

Miriam-Webster.com

 What is faith? Everyone has an Idea. We must let the Bible define what Bible faith is. We undo religious preconceptions and allow God to redefine faith in this message ministered at Russellville Christian Center.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

Definition of Faith

In part one of the definition of faith, we determined what faith is not. Now let us let the Bible define what faith is. I encourage you to take your religious glasses off and not assume that you know what faith is. This will not be an exhaustive definition of faith, for the entire Bible is designed to produce faith and contains further insight on principles of faith.

Notice that in Hebrews 11:1 that faith is the substance of things hoped for. Both faith and hope are eternal and will never pass away.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV

Hope is important but has no substance. Hope can be compared to a dream.

It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, And look—he eats; But he awakes, and his soul is still empty; Or as when a thirsty man dreams, And look—he drinks; But he awakes, and indeed he is faint, And his soul still craves…

Isaiah 29:8 NKJV

Faith is the spiritual force that brings substance to our hopes, dreams, and desires. Now, these hopes, dreams and desires must be produced from the Word of God.

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4 NKJV

Another words, you cannot desire another man’s wife, for example. That is contrary to the written Word and does not come from God. Faith will not bring substance to that desire.

Just as faith brings into manifestation what we do hope for, fear brings into manifestation what we do not want. Fear is misguided faith. Anytime you try to tell someone about victory in Jesus they always say, “well what about Job?” The Book of Job is a whole study in itself. But , the reason Job experienced the things he did was because of fear.

For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.

Job 3:25 NKJV

Faith is gateway for the goodness of God to be manifest in our lives. Fear is an open door for oppression from the devil.

In righteousness you shall be established;You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.

Isaiah 54:14 NKJV

Fear is the reciprocal force of faith. Another words, the higher level of fear operating in your life, the less faith operating in your life. The higher your level of faith, the lower your level of fear.

But He (Jesus) said to them, “Why are you fearful (full of fear), O you of little faith?”

Matthew 8:26 NKJV (Parenthesis mine)

But He (Jesus) said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

Mark 4:40 NKJV (Parenthesis mine)

NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for…

Hebrews 11:1 Amplified

Notice that the Amplified Bible includes “title deed”  in its description of faith. If I have a title deed to a car or any other piece of property, it is mine legally whether it is presently in my possession or not. The same is true with any promise in the Word of God. If you put faith in the Word the promise is legally yours.

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 NKJV

The Word translated believe (Gr-Pisteuo) is the verb form of faith (Gr-Pistis).

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

In the second part of Hebrews 11:1 we see the origin point of faith and provision.

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.

Mark 11:22 NKJV

And Jesus answered and said to them, Have ye the faith of God;

Mark 11:22 Wycliffe Bible

The second rendering of this verse from the Wycliffe Bible is more accurate to the Greek text. It could be rendered, “Use or employ the God kind of faith”. This means that this is God’s faith we are using. This takes the struggle out of faith when you realize it is God’s faith, not ours that we have at our disposal! Do you think God’s faith will have trouble producing results?

Both faith and its provision come forth from the Spirit realm or unseen realm.

while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 4:18,5:7 NKJV

Everything in the seen realm came forth from the unseen realm and is therefore subject to the spirit realm.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Hebrews 11:3 NKJV

If your problem can be seen it can be subdued from the power that originates in the spiritual dimension.

For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good testimony.

Hebrews 11:2 NKJV

Continuation of the Definition of Faith

According to Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest, the preceding verses are connected to verse one of Hebrews 11. They are a continuation of the definition of faith. “Obtained a good testimony” is a little blind to us. The word “testimony” is the Greek word “martureo”. It literally means they were borne witness to. Now this has a twofold application.

1. The Word of God is witnessed to our spirit.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Romans 8:15-17 NKJV

This is where many people miss it. They mentally agree with black print on the white page of the Bible and call it faith. They do not have the witness of the Spirit on the subject. We have to meditate the Word until we receive a revelation of that word in our spirit and then faith comes.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

The word translated “word” is rhema. And that is a word that has been quickened in your heart by the Holy Spirit. That brings us to another point. We cannot get faith by praying for it, although prayer is important for other reasons. We cannot get faith by having hands laid on us. You only get faith from the revealed Word. A revealed Word from God has binding and loosing power.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

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 16:17-19 NKJV

Not only did Peter get a revelation from God, Jesus said that this revelation is the foundation that the entire church will be built upon. And according to the Greek text with that revelation we can bind and declare unlawful in the earth whatever heaven has declared unlawful.

…whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.

Matthew 16:19 Amplified

There is abundance in heaven. Therefore we have the right to loose abundance in the earth. There is no sickness in heaven. Therefore we have the ability to bind and declare unlawful sickness and loose health in our physical bodies.

2. God bears witnessed by manifesting the Word in our lives in manifest reality.

God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

Hebrews 2:4 NKJV

True Bible faith will produce results in this natural seen realm. Many people do not believe that their faith will produce anything this side of heaven. This is not Biblical faith. This is not the God kind of faith. The God kind of faith will produce in this natural realm. Some say “Well, brother, didn’t Jesus say, we are more blessed if we believe without seeing?” Yes He did.

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:29 NKJV

We have to harmonize that with everything else that He said.

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

John 11:40 NKJV

In context, in John 11:40 Jesus was referring to raising Lazurus from the dead.  When we harmonize these two passages we conclude that if we believe regardless of what we see, we will see what we believe come to pass.  Another words, if we see sickness manifest in our body and we believe “By his stripes we were healed” (1 Peter 2:24), we will see the manifestation of our healing. If we see a need in our life and we believe that “my God will supply all my need according to His riches in glory” , then we will see that need met.

We see the progression of the twofold witness illustrated in 1 John 5:10-15.

He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.  And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son 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 5:10-15 NKJV

Notice the progression:

1. God bears witness.

2. We continually believe on Jesus and what He accomplished in redemption.

3. We ask confidently.

4. We receive the manifestation.

By faith we understand …

Hebrews 11:3 NKJV

Faith is grounded in understanding and not ignorance. Many Christians, always tie faith with ignorance. They say, “We just never know what God is going to do. But we just have to have faith”. You can only have faith to the degree that you know the will of God. You can only endure through knowledge.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing…

James 1:2-3 NKJV

Another principle tied to this passage is understanding comes through faith obedience. Many say, “I will obey God when I get more understanding”. That is putting the cart before the horse. You have to obey God before you get complete understanding.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Many say, “When I understand the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, I will obey Jesus and be filled.” You will never get understand. You have to obey then He will give you further direction.

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit…

1 Peter 1:22 NKJV

Our soul includes our mind, will, and emotions. Mind renewal and understanding come through faith obedience.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:8 NKJV

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.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

We cannot please God without faith. The writer of Hebrews goes on to clarify what he means. First of all we have to believe He is. That goes beyond believing He exists. It means we have to believe He is who He says He is.

He is:

The Lord our Provider (Genesis 22:8,14)

THe Lord Our Healer (Exodus 15:26)

The Lord Our Banner (Victory)(Exodus 17:15)

The Lord Our Peace (Judges 16:24)

The Lord Our Shepherd (Guide) (Psalm 23:1)

The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)

The Lord Ever Present (Ezekiel 48:35)

If you do not believe God is all these things, you cannot be pleasing to God. Secondly, You must believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. How does He reward them? By being all those things He says He is to us personally.

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Genesis 15:1 NKJV

If you think He may or may not heal you, you are calling Him a liar and cannot please Him. If you say He may or may not provide for your needs you are calling Him a liar and cannot please Him.

How do we release faith?

Now that we have looked at what faith is we now need to know how to release it. There are two kinds of energy. There potential energy and kinetic energy. Potential energy is like the energy that is in a stretched spring. Kinetic energy is the energy produced when you release that spring. Potential energy is stored energy while kinetic energy is energy in motion. Faith is released primarily two ways. Faith filled words and faith filled actions.

1. Faith filled words.

So Jesus answered 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.

Mark 11:23 NKJV

The Bible says we are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26). God released His power through His words. According to Jesus we have the same ability to release the power of faith through our words.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21 NKJV

2. Faith filled Actions.

For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead.

James 2:26 Amplified

And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.

This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

Acts 14:8-10 NKJV

Notice this man had faith to be healed but was still crippled. He had to act on the faith that was in Him.  If we want deliverance in our finances we have to tithe and give. When we give we are releasing our faith. We have to lay hands on the sick to see them recover (Mark 16:18). An act of unbelief separated man from God initially in Adam. An act of faith will reconnect us to God and His provision in Christ, who is the last Adam.

When you know the Definition of Faith, Faith will work for anyone who will put it to work.

Definition of Faith.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

“The beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms” ~Socrates

One of the most common errors in Christianity is not allowing the Bible to define itself.  Although I am grateful to live in a predominately Christian nation, one of its unfortunate side affect is that everyone has an opinion about what the Bible says. We have to examine, however, where we got our ideas about the Bible.

We should view Bible study as divine communication. When we study our Bible see it as God speaking to us personally. Ed Cole said that, “Communication is the Basis (fundamental ingredient) of life”.  In any communication, however, there is always an understanding gap between the speaker and the hearer. The more you get to know the speaker the narrower the gap gets. When we hear things they go through our filters of experience, religious teaching, and other contexts so that many times the intent of the speaker is skewed. This fact is illustrated in the word “Logos” which is translated “Word” in many of our English Bible translations. According to W.E. Vine “Logos” is “a word, account, etc.,” sometimes denotes “a reason, cause, intent,”. Another words, it goes beyond merely the words spoken, to the words with the thought and intent behind it. We have to be sure God’s Word spoken to us resonates in us the way He intended it. For illustration purposes, consider Genesis 24:64.

And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

Genesis 24:64 KJV

The uninformed American reader could easily mistake this passage for smoking a cigarette. In an attempt to look seductive to her suitor, Rebekah fired up a stogie. Conjuring up images of old black and white 40’s bombshell flicks.  Actually (as I am sure you probably know), “lighted off” is just a real Elizabethan way of saying “She got off of her camel, man.” I know this is a silly illustration, but not as strange as some I have actually heard from people!

The New Testament teaches that the whole world system is flowing with the Satanic influence (Ephesians 2:2, 1 John 5:19). One of the attempts of Satan is to replace biblical words with counterfeits. He does not take them out of our conversation but replaces them with watered down versions. For example, consider the word “believe”. In the Bible it is the verb form of pistis (faith), pisteou. Americans, however, use the word “believe” as “I think so” or “maybe so”. Someone asks, “Are you going to town tomorrow?” To which you answer, “I believe so.” By believe you mean “I think so” or “maybe so”. This is not how the Bible uses that word.

It is much like carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide kills an average of 1500 people a year. The reason carbon monoxide is so lethal is because it so closely resembles a oxygen molecule that the red blood cells readily take it in. Yet being more dense than an oxygen molecule it gets lodged in the red blood cell thus suffocating it. This is the way it is with misunderstood biblical terminology. Because it is a biblical word or phrase we innately are drawn to it and take it in. Yet, their religious tradition distorts the original meaning and it is destructive to the hearer not allowing the truth to come into their heart thus suffocating their faith.

making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

Mark 7:13 NKJV

“Faith” is one of the most understood of biblical words. The following are some misconceptions of faith.

1. Faith is not merely the belief that there is a God.

We have all experienced it. We share the love of Jesus with someone and encourage them to have faith. To which, they respond, “But I believe in God”. To which I usually respond, “Congratulations, you have attained to devil level faith”.

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

James 2:19 NKJV

Do not get me wrong. Believing there is a God out there beyond Pluto somewhere is a form of faith. It is just not Bible level faith. The implication in the previous passage is believing in God is not enough.

2. The Cessationist misconception of Faith.

Cessationism is the belief that the supernatural gifts such as divine healing, prophecy, and tongues have passed away. There are many strands of this line of thinking of which an exhaustive study is not the purpose of this article. Some teach that God withdrew the supernatural gifts when the last apostle John died .  Others teach that they passed away when the canon of scripture was complete. Regardless of when, they believe it has passed away. Bottom line, according to them, the supernatural is not happening now.  Maybe at some future point I will demonstrate how both scripture and history easily disprove this line of thinking.  The following is an exerpt from the writings of Augustine.

“We still do what the apostles did when they laid hands on the Samaritans and called down the Spirit on them…It is expected that the converts should speak with tongues.”

Augustine (4th Century)

Keep in mind this is fourth century. Long after the gifts had supposedly passed away. The Bible does not speak of a day of miracles but a God of miracles who never changes.

“ For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob…”

Malachi 3:6 NKJV

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 NKJV

Although most followers of the cessationist doctrine trace their origin to John Darby and C.I. Scofield the fingerprints of this deception trace back to even Jesus’s day.

We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”

John 9:29 NKJV

Notice the mentality. We know God spoke back then but not now. This way of thinking has tainted many people’s concept of faith. They are convinced that the fact that they believe that Jesus healed the sick two thousand years ago is the same as biblical faith.  They say, “I believe Jesus healed the sick, Amen”. “I believe Jesus walked on the water, Hallelujah”.  They are convinced that makes them a faith giant. The entire thrust of their faith is rooted in the past. Another symptom of cessationist thinking is future based.

Jesus said to her, “Your brother (Lazarus) will rise again.”

Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

John 11:23-24 NKJV

Martha would fit in well in many modern churches today. Jesus is talking to her about raising Lazarus from the dead right now. Yet, she gets religious and says, “I know he will be raised  up in the last day. In the sweet by and by, when we all die or fly, but ‘til then we are going to cry because all we can do is try.” Jesus had to refocus her faith from being future oriented to present tense oriented.

Those are the two ditches that cessationist find themselves in. I know God did something back then and I know He will do something again when I get to heaven. But, according to them, if you need something now you are sunk because that all passed away. According to the Bible that is not faith. Bible faith is always in the now.

Now faith is (present tense) the substance of things hoped for…

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

But without faith it is (present tense) impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is (present tense), and that He is (present tense) a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray (present tense), believe that you receive them , and you will have them.

Mark 11:24 NKJV

(Parenthesis mine)

When we put everything we receive from God off into the sweet by and by , we will faint and lose heart.

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13 KJV

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13 NKJV

Can you see how the cessationist mentality has created weak and discouraged Christians. They have no faith nor hope of anything that pertains to this life. If we want to be victorious and pleasing to God (see Hebrews 11:6), we must appropriate the faith of God in all of our present circumstances.

3. Faith verses Fate/Fatalism.

Fate- 1.something that unavoidably befalls a person; fortune; lot: It is always his fate to be left behind.

2.the universal principle or ultimate agency by which the order of things is presumably prescribed; the decreed cause of events; time: Fate decreed that they would never meet again.

3.that which is inevitably predetermined; destiny: Death is our ineluctable fate.

Fatalism–noun 1. the acceptance of all things and events as inevitable; submission to fate: Her fatalism helped her to face death with stoic calm.

2.Philosophy . the doctrine that all events are subject to fate or inevitable predetermination.

(Dictionary.com)

The belief that all events are decided in advance by God or Fate so that human beings are powerless to alter their destiny.

The Definition of Faith is Not Fate or Fatalism

What many people, even Christian, call faith is actually fate or fatalism. We can easily see how the two could be confused by the fact that they even sound the same. Fatalism says, “Ca sara, sara, what ever will be will be.” Many call this a Christian doctrine but it traces to Greek and Roman mythology. According to Greek and Roman mythology, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos control human destiny and are referred to as “the Fates”. I am embarrassed as a Christian that much of the professing Christianity could be hoodwinked by mythology. Let us look at some fatalistic phrases.

a. “God is in Control”

We see this phrase everywhere from songs to bumper stickers yet it is an unscriptural concept. I know this flies in the face of everything  you have ever heard from religion. But we have to see what the Bible says. Dominion over this earth was originally given to man.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26 NKJV

The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.

Psalm 115:16 NKJV

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 (literally-Elohim-God), 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,

Psalm 8:4-6 NKJV

All dominion over the earth was given to Adam and he bowed his knee to satan and forfeited his dominion to him.

Then the devil, taking Him (Jesus)up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

Luke 4:5-6 NKJV

Had this statement not been partialy true, it would not have been a valid temptation. This authority was delivered when Adam bowed his knee reliquishing his authority . This is how satan became the “god of this world”.

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV

in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (satan), the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Ephesians 2:2 NKJV

We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

1 John 5:19 NKJV

When Jesus raised from the dead he stripped satan of all authority and regained the authority Adam had lost.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Matthew 28:18 NKJV

Because of what Jesus did we as individual believers have our authority restored. We can take dominion over the elements of the curse operating in our lives. However, the earth will not be back under God’s dominion until Jesus sets up His earthly kingdom during the millinial reign. So all of the disaster happening on the earth is not the will of God. It is, rather, the work of satan who is the “god of this world”.

Some say, “Then why don’t God just hurry up and kick the devil out”? The answer is that when God finally judges satan and removes him from the earth all those who  have not accepted Jesus as their personal saviour will be judged as well. It is spiritual law that people receive the same judgement as their lord (which if you have not received Jesus as Lord, satan is your lord by default). God is holding back in His mercy to give everyone ample opportunity to avoid judgement.

If everything that happened was the will of God we would not be commanded to submit to God and resist the devil.

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you

James 4:7 NKJV

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 NKJV

Jesus says that everything that steals, kills, and destroys if from the devil (John 10:10). There fore we must resist anything that steals, kills, and destroys.

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Acts 10:38 NKJV

And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.  But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”

Luke 13:11-13,16 NKJV

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

Proverbs 10:15 NKJV

Since poverty destroys then we know it is from the devil and must be resisted.

b. “It must not be God’s time.”

As innocent as it may sound, this second phrase (or any dirivative of it) is another form of fatalistic thinking. In the general will of God, covered in the Bible, God’s time is always now.

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2b  NKJV

Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.

Psalm 118:25 NKJV

c. “God works in mysterious ways”/ “You never know what God is going to do.”

Once again, very religious sounding but not biblical.

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

1 Corinthians 2:10-12 NKJV

that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God.

1 Corinthians 2:12 Amplified

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:17 NKJV

God would be unjust to command us to know His will if it were not possible to do so.

d. “…if it be thy will.”

Many sincere believers tack this faith destroying phrase at the end of their prayers. The implication being, if they receive what they pray for it was the will of God. If they do not receive, it was not the will of God. I have heard many Christians say, “God answers three ways. Yes, No, and wait a while.” But this violates the clear teachings of scripture.

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV

For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 1:20 Amplified

All of God’s promises have their yes in him. That is why we say amen through him to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 1:20 Common English Bible

Christ says “Yes” to all of God’s promises.

2 Corinthians 1:20 CEV

We have to know the will of God before we pray or we will not have confidence.

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 NKJV

If we put an “if”in our prayer, we are not in faith.

Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.”

Mark 9:23 The Message

e. “This must be happening for a reason”/ “I must be suffering for God’s glory”.

It is human nature to try to find some high spooky spiritual reason for their suffering. The reason they are suffering is that satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Others are even as arrogant to say that their suffering is somehow redemptive. This implies that, first, you are qualified to redeem mankind with your suffering. This is the height of spiritual pride. Secondly, it implies that Jesus’s sacrificial work was not enough without you adding to it. The New Testament teaches that we will suffer persecution. But anything Jesus suffered for us we need not suffer. Jesus was made poor with our poverty (2 Corinthians 8:9) so we need not bear it. Jesus was made sick with our sickness.

He is despised, and left of men, A man of pains, and acquainted with sickness, And as one hiding the face from us, He is despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, And our pains — he hath carried them…

Isaiah 53:3-4a YLT

Jesus bore our sickness so need not carry them and to do so would be to belittle Jesus’s sacraficial work. Jesus was made sin with our sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) so we need not carry the penalty of them.

These are just a few examples of fatalistic phrases that even Christians use. I will leave you with one final thought.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

If you try to discern the will of God by what is manifest in the seen realm you are walking by sight and not by faith. The only trustworthy guide to finding the will of God is His written word.  Learn how the accurate Definition of Faith will work for you.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING LED

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Romans 8:14 NKJV

I want to say first of all that this is by no means an exhaustive study on being led by the Spirit. This is such a vast subject I am only giving a representative overview to get you started in the exciting, fulfilling life of being led by the Spirit. We spend our life learning to be led by the Spirit and developing sensitivity through relationship with the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us that one of the primary marks of our sonship is the ability and willingness to be led by the Spirit of God. It is possible to know the principles of redemption, faith and confession and not be led and still fail. Many believers are trying to override God’s leading with confession (don’t get me wrong, confession is a vital part of walking in victory). I heard a good example of this from Bro. Keith Moore. He was working for Kenneth Hagin Ministries taking calls for prayer. A lady called and said that she claimed Psalm 91 over herself and got mugged anyway. She wanted to know why her angel did not protect her. After questioning her for a few minutes he found out that where she was mugged was a rough part of town. He then asked if she felt she needed to go there, to which she responded not only did she not feel she needed to go, she actually got a check in her spirit about going from the Holy Spirit. Please understand me, I am not being critical, I have done it. Many of us has done it. But let us not kid ourselves. We cannot override God’s leading with confession. This is why some people go home to heaven early.

We Are To Be Led By The Spirit And Not By Need.

Many ministers in particular wear themselves out because they are not led. They never have time for their own families because they are not led in to whom they minister to. I realize I am not called to help everyone. We would be a lot more effective if we were led. Many bankrupt themselves ministering to the poor. Jesus said that the poor we would have with us always (Matthew 26:11). So if we are led by need there will never be enough. There are also many worthy causes that need millions of dollars of support. So the answer is be led. If everyone does what God leads them to do, God’s purpose will be carried out in the earth. God himself is not and cannot be moved by need. Jesus is touched by the feeling of our infirmities (Hebrews 4:15) but not moved by them. God can only move through our faith in the Word of God. If God was moved by needs there would not be a need in the world. Our need moved God 2000 years ago when He sent His Son to the cross. In that act of redemption every need of ours was met in the mind of God. We have to appropriate it by faith. So if we are going to be led by the Spirit we cannot be led by need.

We Are To Be Led By The Spirit And Not By “Fleeces”

Many believers are “putting out fleeces before the Lord”. If you are not familiar with this line of thinking it comes from a misappropriation of the story of Gideon in Judges 6.

So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said—  look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water.  Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.”  And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.
Judges 6:36-40 NKJV

Although it is true that Gideon did ask to be led by wet and dry fleeces and God honored it, we have to view this story in light of its historical context. First of all the Bible is progressive revelation.

But the word of the LORD was to them, “ Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little,”… Isaiah 28:11 NKJV

Simply put the characters in the Old Testament did not know everything we know under the New Covenant. Both Paul and Jesus said they were revealing mysteries kept secret from the foundation of the world. So we cannot get away with doing some of the things people did under the Old Covenant because they were walking in all the light they had. We, however, should know better.
The second thing to consider about Gideon, as well as all other Old Testament believers, is they were spiritually dead. The New Birth was not available as we know it until Jesus presented His blood on the Heavenly Holy of Holies. That is why God had to deal with His people in such drastic ways. They did not have the Spirit of God residing in their spirit to the same degree we do under the New Covenant.

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:38-39 NKJV

The Holy Spirit would come upon the prophet, priest, and king to accomplish a particular task. Jesus had the Spirit of God come upon Him and remain.

And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.  I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’  And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:32-34 NKJV

Jesus also said when we receive the Holy Spirit under the New Covenant, that He would remain with us.

Now that we have the Holy Spirit we should flow with God’s process under the New Covenant which is being led by the Spirit.
The third fact about Gideon is that his whole nation was out of fellowship with God. The whole reason God called upon Gideon to deliver His people is because they had gone into captivity because of their rebellion.
You may say, “Well brother that is all well and good, but I have never put out a fleece.” There are different variations of the fleece that believers use all the time. The underlying principle of the fleece mentality is trying to determine the will of God through natural circumstances. Some say, “Lord, if this is Your will, open the door, if not close it.” That is a fleece prayer. We are led by the Spirit, not opportunities. Satan will always offer a shortcut to your divine destiny. This is what satan did when he offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus would ultimately gain authority over the world through His death burial and resurrection. Satan was offering it to Him without having to pay the price for it. So if we require evidence in the seen realm to follow God’s leading Satan can compensate us with a counterfeit. On the other hand we are not to be led by “closed doors”. If you are led this way, all satan has to do is throw up a few roadblocks and you will say, “well, it must not have been the will of God after all”. No! If we have God’s Word and leading on it we should keep standing and keep knocking until the door opens.

“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.
Matthew 7:7-9 NKJV

Another example of a fleece prayer is, “Lord, if this is really you, let three men with red hats walk by.”  Once again, if you are looking in the natural seen realm, you are opening yourself up for deception.

If you want to be in position to expect to receive God’s leading, you must be led by the Spirit.

Another way God led his believers that was valid under the Old Covenant was casting lots. This is how the apostles selected Matthias.

This part is a little blind to us in English. In the Greek the word “sons” is the word “Huios” (pronounced whee-os). It literally means mature sons. Contrast that word with “children” in Romans 8:16.

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Romans 8:16 NKJV

The word translated children is the Greek word “teknon” which simply means offspring. In Hebrew culture when a son reached maturity his father would take him to the city gates, where all the business of that day was carried out (much like city hall or the courthouse of our day), and would say, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Hear him.” From that day forward when the son spoke it was as if the father was speaking. He carried all the clout of the father. He would give him his signet ring that acted as a stamp that is just like the fathers signature. This is when he transitioned from a child (teknon) to a son (huios). So according to Paul, being led by the Spirit is one way we are released into greater measures of responsibility.

Not Seeking God’s Leading Is A Manifestation Of Pride.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know whatwill happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”  But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

James 4:13-17 NKJV

When we refuse to seek God’s direction we deny His Lordship which is the height of arrogance thus causing God’s grace to wane off of our life.

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “ God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:6-7 NKJV

It is also not wisdom to not seek counsel from someone eternal when we are finite (see James 4:14).

God’s Provision Is Tied To His Leading.

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Psalm 23:1 NIV

To the degree we submit to God as our Shepherd is to the degree we can expect to walk in His provision. We see this illustrated in the life of Elijah in the time of famine.

“Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.  And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”

1 Kings 17:3-4 NKJV

The provision was at the Brook Cherith. Had he not gone there he would  not have received God’s provision. Just when he started to get settled in God led him to move again.

Message Continued on Part 2.

Message Completed on Part 3.

²¹ And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”– Luke 4:16-19,21 NKJV

There are many great lessons of faith that we can glean from this passage of scripture and volumes of great teachings taken from this text. I want primarily to focus on how Jesus found himself in the Word of God. Since Jesus was our example, there are principles from His life and ministry that will help us find ourselves in the Word also.

The first key to finding ourselves in the Word is not on the surface in this passage but comes from history. Many assume since Jesus deliberately turned to what we now know as Isaiah 61, that He was acting independently. I assumed for years that Jesus turned there for no other reason than as a text for a sermon. However, the truth is the scripture reading in the synagogue in those days was very structured. There were certain scripture passages that were to be read on certain days. So the Father God worked it out by divine providence that Jesus read that particular scripture on that day! You may be thinking, “That is interesting, I guess. But, what does that have to do with me?”  The principle I want to draw from our example, the Lord Jesus, is also our first key.

*You will never miss God by submitting to the leadership, especially the Pastor, in the local church.*

Not submitting to leadership takes many forms. Some think it is not necessary to go through any proving period the local church requires before getting to serve.  You may say, “I already know everything in that foundational class that the church requires. I need to be about preaching to the multitudes.”  The point is not what you know or do not know. It is do you have the humility to submit to the protocol laid down by church leadership. It is, after all, the humble that get the grace.

⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud,  But gives grace to the humble.”- James 4:6 NKJV

¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. – I Corinthians 15:10 NKJV

We will never know who we are apart from God’s grace that increases through exercising humility.

² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.- Romans 5:2 NKJV

We cannot stand apart from God’s grace.

Others may say, “I can play the guitar a whole lot better than Brother Doo-didley. Why can’t I get on the platform? I’ve been here three whole weeks.” The very fact that you have that attitude proves you are not ready to serve in the local church. You are serving your own agenda not the agenda of the Kingdom of God expressed through the local church.

The truth is that God will often test your character. Don’t get me wrong, God does not send calamity, sickness and car wrecks to teach us. Nevertheless, sometimes, He will seem to promote someone you think is less qualified than yourself so you can see what is in your heart. The Holy Spirit spoke to me a while back and said, “Any chance to exercise humility is good for you” (It was not what I wanted to hear but it is true nonetheless).  Proving time in the local church, be it through time or a foundational class, also gives you a chance to catch the vision of that particular local body. It is important that all the members of that local body say the same thing.

¹⁰But I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissensions or factions or divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and in your opinions and judgments.- I Corinthians 1:10 Amplified.

*See yourself doing the works of Jesus.*

The second key to finding yourself in the Word of God is to look at what Jesus did. Many people who have bracelets that say W.W.J.D. (What would Jesus Do for those of you who have been vacationing on Mars the last 20 years or so) have a very limited view of that concept. They see doing what Jesus did as simply being good to your neighbor and not stealing his mule. We should be good to our neighbor and love one another. However, there is more to W.W.J.D. than just not being mean. We are to do the works Jesus did in His earthly ministry.

¹² “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. ¹³ And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.- John14:12 NKJV

I know this is hard on religious thinking. But, as John Osteen used to say, if the Word of God rubs the cat the wrong way, let the cat turn around. This is Jesus. He will not have to give an account to himself for idle words (Matthew 12:36). When Jesus says “most assuredly”, that is big. Many Christians make the mistake of worshiping the works of Jesus. We are to worship the person of Jesus while demonstrating and duplicating the works of Jesus. Others believe that Jesus did the works He did because He was the Son of God. Yet Philippians 2:7 lets us know that Jesus emptied Himself of all His divine privileges in His earthly ministry.

⁷ but made Himself of no reputation (mar- emptied Himself of His privileges), taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. -Philippians 2:7 NKJV

⁷But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. -Philippians 2:7 Amplified Bible

⁷but did empty himself, the form of a servant having taken, in the likeness of men having been made,-Philippians 2:7 Young’s Literal Translation

Although Jesus never ceased being God, He willfully laid aside His divine privileges and operated as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was totally dependant upon the Father and the Holy Spirit in His earthly ministry.

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.-Acts 10:38 NKJV

¹⁹ Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.- John 5:19 NKJV

Jesus demonstrated the faith life through His earthly ministry then died and rose again in redemption so that the faith life can now be duplicated in millions rather than just one man. The Book of Acts chronicles Jesus’ followers doing the works of Jesus. We are to be a continuation of the Book of Acts.

*Find yourself in the New Testament Epistles.*

Thirdly, you need to find yourselves in the New Testament epistles (letters) (Romans to Jude). You need to understand that the New Testament is written to us. It is a handbook for New Testament life.

Many times at shopping malls or amusement parks, you come across these large maps to help you get where you want to go. There is usually an arrow pointing to a certain spot on the map with a caption saying, “You are here.”  I used to look around suspiciously as if to say, “How do they know where I am. They must be watching me.” (I’m being a little silly but stick with me it will turn out all right.) Then later my lightening fast reasoning figured out that if I am reading that sign, then I must be standing there. The same is true concerning the New Testament. If you are born again and you are reading the New Testament then you are in those promises. You are In Christ and therefore rightful heir to everything promised in those letters.

⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.- John15:7 NKJV

¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.-   II Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

¹⁸And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.- II Corinthians 3:18 Amplified

*Find yourself in the Old Testament.*

Fourthly, we need to learn to find ourselves in the Old Testament. Now, don’t let me lose you now. We’ve made it this far. Some New Testament believers think that the Old Testament has nothing to offer them. It is just good history that gets us to the important stuff. Others believe that it only applies to the Hebrew race and we Gentiles are left out.

Let us let the Bible speak for itself. First, consider the initial call of Abraham, through whom God initiated the Old Covenant.

¹ Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.  ² I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.  ³ I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” –Genesis 12:1-3 NKJV

See, that verse was sounding very Jewish to start with, (“I will make you a great nation”) but then he brings us in with “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”. Therefore, God’s blessing coming to all families was God’s plan from the beginning. This principle is also illustrated in how God built Abraham’s mental image.

¹⁷ blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. Genesis 22:17 NKJV

I always assumed that both the stars and the sand represented the same truth. According to *Kevin Connor, the sand represents Abraham’s natural, earthly seed and the stars represents his heavenly seed.

*Interpreting Types and Symbols, Kevin Connor

The heavenly seed is you and I who are born again.

³Jesus replied, “I tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God’s kingdom!” John 3:3 Contemporary English Version

In Christ, we have a right to claim all the promises of the Old Testament.

¹³ 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”), ¹⁴ that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.-Galatians 3:13-14,29 NKJV

According to this passage, we have the right to claim all the blessings of the Old Testament and none of the curses!

¹⁶ Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law (Abraham’s natural descendants), but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all ¹⁷ (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”)… Romans 4:16-17 NKJV

²⁰ For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.-II Corinthians 1:20 NKJV

*Finding your assignment*

Finally, I want to discuss finding yourself in the Word of God relative to God’s specific will for your life. Up to this point, we have talked about God’s general will for every believer. It is God’s will for every believer to be born-again, healed, prospered and victorious. This falls under God’s general will. How do we find what God has called us to do specifically in the Word of God? The first clue is desire.

⁴ Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.-Psalm 37:4 NKJV

When you are reading the Bible what passages strike a strong desire in you? That is a clue to what God has called you to do. I remember as a new believer listening to Bible on cassette (now I’ve dated myself). I used to get great joy listening to Jesus correcting the flakey doctrine of the Pharisees and building a scriptural defense from the Word of God. That was a signpost pointing me in the direction God was taking me in ministry. Much of the way I minister is apologetic. That is not to say I apologize for what I believe, but it is a term we get from I Peter 3:15.

¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;- I Peter 3:15 NKJV

The word “defense” in this passage (translated “answer” in the original King James) is the Greek word “apologion” which simply means to offer a verbal defense for what you believe. So, the passage that brought me joy and made me say “I want to do that” was one way I found myself in the Word. What scriptures bring you joy and sparks you to action?

²⁰ For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.-Ecclesiastes 5:20 NKJV

²⁰For he shall not much remember [seriously] the days of his life, because God [Himself] answers and corresponds to the joy of his heart [the tranquility of God is mirrored in him].-Ecclesiastes 5:20 Amplified

True contentment comes from doing what God calls you to do. If you are discontented, seek God and make sure you did not get off course.

The Second clue is anger. According to Mike Murdock, whatever angers you is what you are assigned to correct.  I get angry when I read about Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in Numbers 16. They rose up against Moses in rebellion. It angers me because I see so many people shipwreck themselves because they rebel against spiritual authority. This anger points to the fact that God has put a hunger in my heart to encourage believers to stay faithful to the local church and submit themselves to a pastor.

The third clue is the thing that grieves you. Whatever grieves you (also from Mike Murdock) is what God has assigned you to heal. I get grieved when I read Hosea 4:6 that God’s people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. So that points to my desire to teach. I also get grieved when Jesus sees the people scattered like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36). This points me to the fact that I desire to see those who have not heard the faith message to hear it. What grieves you?

Review: Steps to finding yourself in the Word.

1. Submit yourself to a man of God in the context of the local church.
2. See yourself in Jesus’ earthly ministry.
3. See yourself in the Epistles (letters) to the churches.
4. See yourself in the Old Testament.
5. Find your divine assignment by finding biblical accounts that bring you joy and make you say, “I want to do that”.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. – 3 John 2

You may have read this passage in John many times, but today, make an effort to really focus on what prospering means to you. Make it personal. Think about as you read these words, what prosperity, true prosperity, looks like or would like in your life. Get a mental picture of this and hold onto it. Don’t wait, do it right now. If you are truly prosperous, how to you act, who is around you, what do you have, where do you live, and most importantly why are you prosperous.

It’s Okay to Prosper

If you had a difficult time imagining prosperity in your life, you may need to renew your mind to what God has really said about prospering you. The best way to do this is to consider passages from the Bible. As Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Now, don’t let the scripture you are about to read just sink into your intellect, take hold of it and let it be absorbed into your heart. Then, as soon as you possibly can, act on the Word that you read.

Even though 3 John 2 clearly says it’s God’s will to prosper you, you may still be stuck on a familiar saying, which is “money is the root of all evil”. This is from the Bible but it is missing three critical words. Read the scripture directly from the Bible from 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Notice, that it says, the love of money. It doesn’t matter how much money you have, you can fall into the trap of loving it.

Quick Tip: Start thinking of money as a tool. If you use a tool in the right way, you can do amazing things. For example, if you use a hammer appropriately, you can build a house. However, there are many people who have used a hammer very inappropriate ways, even to commit murder.

God’s desire is for you to prosper. See, how the Psalmist states it in Psalm 35:27, “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” Think about that for a second, God gets pleasure when His servant prospers. You can make God happy by doing well. That is so awesome!

Prosperity Is More Than Money

When you envisioned what your life would look like if you were truly prosperous, did you see more than things money can buy? Did you see happiness and love? If you did, that is very good because prosperity includes every area of your life. You should experience prosperity in your relationships, in your emotional well-being, in your spiritual development, in your knowledge and wisdom, in your finances, and every other area of your life.

You have no doubt seen or know someone with lots of money who is miserable. If this is the case, then, you know that just having money is not really experiencing prosperity. In fact, with the exception of money, some of those people are experiencing lack in one or more of the other areas in their life. What good is money if you don’t have people around you who love you? What good is money if you are too sick to enjoy it? What good is money if it causes you so much stress that you have no joy in your life?

Use Your Prosperity to Bless Others

Instead of being a reservoir, which collects water, consider becoming a river, which channels water. When we are prospered, it is not only for us to enjoy the fruits, but it is also to share and help others.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.- 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

We are called to help those in need as Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” When you live in prosperity, which God wants you to do, then you will have the means necessary to help others. What a wonderful place that is to be.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

After Jesus’ resurrection in Luke 24, He gave the disciples some final instructions—simple instructions. He told them to stay in the city because He was going to send them what had been promised of the Father. He said he was going to send them power from on high (v.49). The disciples did not question or try to psychoanalyze this; they stayed continually at the temple praising God (v.53). Now, let’s look at Acts.

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk^[b] from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

—Acts 1:12-14; 2:1-4

Besides the obvious, there are two more things I want you to notice about this miracle. First, as with every miracle in the Word, it is preceded by human action. Not just any action, obedient action by faith. Additionally, all of them were filled! Not just the original disciples and not just the men. Later in Acts, gentiles also received this gift. So right from the start, God eradicates the idea that this gift of the Spirit was only for certain people. The steps are simple—are you ready to receive?

Step one. Ask God for the gift. Jesus said in Luke  11:13, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Step two. Praise God for the gift! Yes, it’s that simple. Remember what I’ve been telling you from the start. Look back at Luke 24:53. They continually praised God.

Step three. Get your spirit, soul and body on one accord (Acts 2:1). Basically, your thoughts and actions should line up with what you want and what your spirit needs. For example, if you wanted to lose 20 pounds, would you keep eating fast food and being sedentary? Keep your childlike faith and get yourself on one accord.

Step four. Receive it. As you pray the Psalms or simply thank God for His goodness, begin to sing your own song to Him. Begin to speak from your Spirit—the language is there, you just have to let it flow. Don’t let your natural ears deter you (or the enemy either for that matter!). It may sound and feel strange at first, but remember you are not of this world anyway! The more you hear the sound, the more comfortable you’ll become speaking. The presence of God will become more tangible to you. Do this wherever you feel comfortable. It could be in a worship service, in your kitchen or driving on the interstate (keep your eyes open while driving!). That’s simple enough—now take action.

Pitfalls and Further Instructions

When you are initially baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues, it will probably be a very emotionally moving experience. However, it will not be that way every time you speak in tongues. I pray this way daily, but I’m not crying or getting goose bumps everyday. It’s just like praying in your native language, sometimes you really sense God’s presence and other times you don’t. In fact, simply look at it that way—you’ve become bilingual.

Another practical piece of advice it this, don’t become a spiritual weirdo. We want to make disciples, not scare them off! Unless someone is comfortable with you praying in tongues around them, don’t. Here I’m speaking of situations in which you may be praying for an unbeliever. Inappropriate use of tongues can even stunt the growth of a new believer. If all you ever do is pray in the Spirit or go around talking about what the Spirit told you, you will put others off. This can create an inferiority complex or confuse the thinking of another person. Paul said, “But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue (1 Corinthians 14:19).” When you’re alone or in the company of someone in agreement, pray in tongues all you want, but use wisdom. We’ll study this more in another article.

Finally, don’t expect to hear instructions right away or on every detail of your life. Again, this is not complicated. Just live your life as you know to live it according to God’s Word. Remember and meditate on the verses above. He’s our guide; He knows all things. This means if we are headed in the wrong direction, He will point us to the right way—He won’t force us. Or, if we need help with a difficult decision, He’ll give us peace when we make the right choice. The more we follow His lead, the better we’ll become. Soon, you’ll be as I mentioned in a previous article—asking the Holy Spirit to help you find a lost toy!

The steps are simple: ask, praise God, get on one accord and receive! Then leave your praise reports as comments on this page! I’m excited for you already!

Be blessed friends, and have the perfect day everyday!

Psalm 138:8

—Shontta