The Missing Link

For as long as I can remember, I have always sensed my understanding in any matter was incomplete. In every situation, I always sensed there was something more, some kind of understanding that explains it more fully, more simply, more elegantly. This could make me feel anxious at times. I always knew there was something more. As Paul says…

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 1 Cor 13:12

It is this desire to find understanding that led me to the truth in Christ. But it has also made me feel very insecure, unsettled in everyday life. But now I think I “understand” how to close this gap, By faith! First, I cannot possibly understand every situation, and two, God does, So, the only way I can close the gap is by faith. Faith-based understanding.

Ironically, I have such confidence for this in tech / business meetings where my understanding is woefully incomplete. He will drop a word of knowledge, understanding in my spirit. I must believe for this well proven relationship to be everywhere, and every situation. Faith is how I can enter His rest as described in Hebrew’s 4. God is not striving, neither should we. Let Him bring it to us when we need it. He knows.

Supernatural Forces at Work

When we speak God’s word, supernatural forces go to work on our behalf.

Bless the Lord, you His angels, mighty in strength who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word! Psalm 103:20

After fasting and being alone in the desert for 40 days, the devil tempted Jesus three times. Each time, Jesus spoke scripture from the Torah (Old Testament) to defeat the devil. This is one reason it is important to read the bible. It is a very powerful tool in our life.

There is one catch. You must speak these words with some degree of faith. Ask God for this.

When God Moves, We Want to Run

When Mary found out she was pregnant, she could have freaked, knowing that being pregnant and unmarried could result in death, and at the very least, losing the man she loved. But as Elizabeth spoke…

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord. Luke 1:45

To stop natural law from killing her she could have tried to take the natural solution and kill her baby. She could have run and hid, then given the baby away. I’m sure many ideas raced through her mind in the dead of night. So many paths she could direct and be in control. Anything other than the unnatural walk of faith. In many cases, faith means do nothing except trust God. In Mary’s case, to save her life. How could he?

For nothing will be impossible with God. Luke 1:37

Who are You?

Do not be defined by your sin.

I know from my own experience, that when I have a nagging sin that I cannot get victory over, I tend to get a sense of self condemnation and unworthiness. But I can’t do it myself. The illusion that I can, the attempt to do so makes me self-righteous. The truth is, even in our best moments of righteousness, we fall way short of God’s righteousness.

For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment… Isaiah 64:6

Rather, see yourself as already righteous. See yourself as God already sees you. How’s that? As a believer in Jesus Christ, Father God sees you through Jesus’ blood of atonement. He sees you as He sees Jesus — perfect, whole and complete.

Jesus was crucified alongside a two thieves — both guilty as sin. One saw Jesus, by faith, as his Savior. Jesus said to him, “today you will be with me in paradise”. We too, as believers, see ourselves should see our selves the same. As worthy of life with Him. The Apostle Paul had the same view…

…and [we] may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith…” Phil 3:9

It is our own vanity that wants to build a bridge to righteousness. Why? So we can be in control. That is the opposite of faith.
God does want us to pursue righteousness…

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11

If your righteousness is not built on this foundation of the faith through the blood, through the cross, then it is destined for repeated failures and the accompanying corrosive emotion of condemnation. That’s no way to live.

Faith Based Age

Last night I was watching the Teen Choice Awards. Things haven’t changed much since the sixties, except that it’s all now just been branded.

This morning the Lord told me not to interpret my age in the context of contemporary culture. My age says I am out of date, unable to connect, irrelevant. Hollywood will not accept me as a relevant producer. God’s word says different…

A grey head is a crown of glory; it is found in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:31

So I must train my mind to not see myself in the negative, even though Hollywood does discriminate. But God… He does not conform to culture, and He does not expect us to, either. He is the grand exception to the world system. That is one way our faith comes into play. We must believe that we, too are the grand exemption. But the exemption only happens when we are standing, thinking, doing by faith.

So too, do not allow yourself to “think” that your faith makes you irrelevant to the people. The irony is, it does in fact make you irrelevant to the culture, but your are not irrelevant to people; you are actually more relevant.

Do not play the voices of other people in my head, what I think they are saying about me… they wag on and on about my weaknesses and faults. Or they complement me in my carnal vanities, reinforcing my fallen nature. Either way, they separate me from what God thinks about me. And, God thinks I am wonderful. Train your mind on His word, what He says. For example, as lost and fallen, apart from his blood, He loved me enough to die for me. As a believer, under His blood, God sees me perfect, righteous and actually “unfallen”. God has made me a joint heir with his son Jesus Christ. I am entitled to everything He has given Jesus. I am now a child of the King.

I really should “think” that way.