godwords.htm

Taking God at His Word

Those of us who believe that we are born again, who lead changed lives out of conviction, who have the evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives; why is it that we can't take God at His word, believing that what He says in the Bible is true - and doing what He says?: For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.; (Titus 3:3-7)

To recap on the teaching in Heart of the Gospel:
Once we repent, confess our sins and submit ourselves so that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Master, we have accepted God's conditions and He comes into Covenant with us by His grace. This is an unending Covenant on His part and He assumes that we shall each do likewise; in fact, our faithfulness shall only be judged on that day unless we backslide and cut off the workings of the Holy Spirit.

That this reborn experience has happened in our lives is affirmed by the demonstrations of His love towards us, by the presence of the Holy Spirit and by His providence; manifested on a continuing basis - and yet, because of our soulishness and selfishness, we believe the evidence of our worldly eyes and fail to accept the spiritual reality that is there beyond mere sight.: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.; (Romans 8:1); For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.; (Romans 8:5-6); And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.; (Romans 8:10)

That we are expected to labour for Him is explained in other articles in this series, but let's briefly look at this parable as an example of what is meant:: He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.; (Luke 19:12-27)
Also: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.; (Ephesians 6:8); For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.; (1 Timothy 4:8-10)

To continue; what we must learn to realise is that God is really right next to us and that we must come to accept that He keeps His promises. If He says that He shall protect us, He will do just that.: I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.; (Psalms 121:1-8)

This means, for example, that we don't need motor, house or life assurance anymore and that if we take any out it's a sign that we don't trust our Heavenly Father enough.
This could be as a result of:

This basic lack of faith can be likened to the Christian continually consuming the milk of the word instead of moving on to the meat, and will slow down or stop our spiritual advancement right there and is something that must be overcome.

One of the most powerful examples of faith that is described in the Bible is that of the children of Israel crossing the Jordan river for the first time as shown in Joshua chapters one and three.
God and Jesus had been with them for forty years, they had the evidence of their worldly eyes of God's love towards them. They had been fed by Him with angel's food and given water by that Living Rock - and their herds and flocks had been fed and watered in a waterless wasteland; and so, when they were told that they were to cross the Jordan and in what order they were to do it, they literally stepped out in faith; and in the instant that the first foot stepped out over the water, the water supernaturally rolled back and they crossed over dry shod.

We who read God's word aloud in small doses on a daily basis receive God's faith in small doses on a daily basis:: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.; (Romans 10:17)
and eventually we should accept the truth of His word and act upon it's assurances.

For forty years the children of Israel had the worldly evidence of God's presence and power before their eyes. They had become so used to it that it was a way of life - most of them had been born under its influence - it was the normal day to day experience and so when God said shout, they shouted and the city walls of Jericho came tumbling down. Imagine the dust and confusion and fear within the city.
Imagine the feeling of peace and assurance when having God on our side!

Now, we don't have that attestation of God's presence, but being reborn we have the Holy Spirit, who is God Himself, within us, and we have the evidence of our changed lives constantly with each of us, as well as supernatural demonstrations of His presence and protection that we can spiritually discern.: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,; (Ephesians 1:13)

Why is it then that we fail to grasp the reality - the fact that nothing is impossible for our Heavenly Father and that when He stated:: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.; (John 14:26); Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.; (John 14:12-13); And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.; (Mark 11:22-24)
it shall be so.

We who are reborn into Abraham's family by our repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Master, have come into Covenant with God our Heavenly Father. He is our God and we are His people. We are under His protection because He said we would be.

Once we can accept this spiritual Truth and act upon it, like the mustard seed, our faith shall begin to grow.

How about starting off by believing that God hears our prayers:: For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.; (1 Peter 3:12); Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.; (Ephesians 3:20-21)
: Lord, I come before Your throne of grace, I find rest in Your presence And fullness of joy. In worship and wonder I behold Your face, Singing what a faithful God have I.
: What a faithful God have I; what a faithful God What a faithful God have I; faithful in every way.
: Lord of mercy You have heard my cry, Through the storm You're the beacon, My song in the night. In the shelter of Your wings, hear my heart's reply, Singing what a faithful God have I.
: What a faithful God have I; what a faithful God What a faithful God have I; faithful in every way.
: Lord all sovereign, granting peace from heaven, Let me comfort those who suffer with the comfort You have given. I will tell of Your great love for as long as I live, Singing what a faithful God have I.
: What a faithful God have I; what a faithful God What a faithful God have I; faithful in every way.

Someone once wrote:
Every year, I might almost say every day, that I live, I seem to see more clearly how all the rest and gladness and power of our Christian life hinges on one thing; and that is, taking God at His word, believing that He really means exactly what He says, and accepting the very words in which He reveals His goodness and grace, without substituting others or altering the precise modes and tenses which He has seen fit to use.

Learn the reality of this, and do it.: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;; (Ephesians 6:10-18)
And then:: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.; (James 4:7-10)

Once we start walking on this road, then the following Spiritual awareness becomes visible:: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.; (1 Peter 2:24-25)
: But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.; (1 Corinthians 12:7)