Beloved in Christ, we all need to walk by faith and learn, like Paul, to be content no matter the circumstances we face, and thus praise God through it all, knowing that there is a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory awaiting us. We need to have a deeper and complete understanding of what happened in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Jesus triumphed over the devil and his cohorts (see Colossians 2:15) on our behalf. He won victory eternally for us; He delivered us from this present evil world (see Galatians 1:4) and seated us with Christ in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (see Ephesians 2:4-6 ). So every Christian begins the Christian life already seated in victory. We begin by sitting (or resting) in a position of victory, and then we walk in that victory by accessing (by faith) all the spoils (or benefits) of that victory (some of which are listed in Psalm 103:5-12). As long us we believe the Word of God, we can appropriate all the benefits that are wrought in Jesus’ redemptive work. It is by believing and claiming the promises of God that are in His Word that we become partakers of the divine nature. (see 2 Peter 1:4). This is why Satan’s utmost strategy (which he perfected in the garden of Eden) has always been to shift man’s focus away from the Word of God. The Bible says the Word of God is the sword of the spirit (see Ephesians 6:17), so without the Word, the believer basically has no offensive weapon with which to attack Satan the adversary. And that is exactly what Satan desires. Satan’s strategy is to disarm Christians by replacing the Word of God with the philosophies and traditions of men, so that our faith will be in the wisdom of men and not in the power of God. And so Paul warns believers to “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8). And when Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church, he again emphasized the need for our faith to be in the Word of God, and not in the wisdom of men by saying: “And my speech and my preaching were NOT with persuasive words of HUMAN WISDOM, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, THAT YOUR FAITH SHOULD NOT BE IN THE WISDOM OF MEN but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). Many believers today lack the knowledge of the pure Word of God, because many churches have replaced the pure Word of God with the traditions and philosophies of men and the doctrines of demons. And so there is no demonstration of the Spirit and of power in many churches today. Indeed many believers don't even know about the victory and blessings they have in Christ, let alone claim them. No wonder the Bible says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (see Hosea 4:6). It is disastrous indeed for a believer to lack the knowledge of the Word of God. It is equally disastrous for a believer to doubt the Word of God, because the Bible says that it is through faith that we overcome the world. “And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (see 1 John 5:4). Noah also overcame or condemned the world by his FAITH. (see Hebrews 11:7).
The story of Israel entering the promised-land illustrates the utmost necessity and importance of faith, of knowing and believing/trusting the Word of God, or walking by faith. We can read the story in Numbers 13:17–14:9. Israel had received the Word of God. They had the Word that promised them that the land had been given to them. It was theirs for the taking. All they had to do was to consider it done, to go in and possess or lay hold on the land. But when Moses sent the twelve (12) spies to survey the land, ten of them came back with a bad report that caused Israel to be defeated in faith. They focused on how big the giants that occupied the land were, and how they themselves were like grasshoppers in their own sight. And by so doing, they started to doubt God's Word or God’s promise that He had given them the land. They underestimated God by overrating the giants who occupied the land; they failed to magnify God, and magnified the giants instead.
The Bible says that as a man "thinketh in his heart, so is he" (see Proverbs 23:7). What this means is that if the devil can make you feel defeated in the thoughts of your heart, then, for him, the battle is already won. Thus, the key to seeing the blessings of God and the solutions to your problems manifest in your life is to begin changing the way you think in your heart. Begin to align the thoughts of your heart with the Word of God. Begin to anchor your thoughts on the unshakable Word of God and His precious promises to you, so that your thoughts will line up with God's thoughts of peace and not of evil, of hope and a bright future (see Jeremiah 29:11). The Bible says that “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.” (see Philippians 4:8 NIV). You need to keep your thoughts on Jesus and begin seeing yourself in possession of all His blessings, just like two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, who were full of faith. Unlike the other ten spies, Joshua and Caleb saw by faith how big their God is, and they saw the "giants" that occupied the land as their “bread.” And because of their faith, they entered the promised-land, whereas the other ten didn't. The Bible says Joshua and Caleb had a different spirit (see Numbers 14:24). They had a spirit of faith and focused on the promises and goodness of God while the others cowered in fear, because they walked by sight, and walked in unbelief.
Beloved, spiritual warfare basically takes place in the mind (or in our thoughts), as Satan and his demons try to cause us to doubt what the Word of God says about us, and to believe what we see, feel, and hear in the natural realm. (see 2 Corinthians 10:3-6). We fall into the trap of the enemy when we move away from the truth of God's Word. So the good fight of faith spoken of in the Bible (see 1 Timothy 6:12) is the fight to walk according to what God's Word says, regardless of what our circumstances say, or what other people say. It is a fight to walk by faith, and not by sight. Indeed, it is Satan’s wish that believers would walk by sight, and not by faith. But the Bible admonishes us above all, to take “the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (see Ephesians 6:16). Satan often throws fiery darts by causing us to look at the physical mountain or storm and away from the Savior. He did this to Peter when he was walking on the water to meet Jesus. As long as Peter kept his eye on Jesus, he was able to walk on water (see Matthew 14:29). But the moment he looked away from Jesus to look at the storm, and saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid and started to sink (see Matthew 14:30). Satan's strategy is to get you to look away from Jesus so that you will become afraid. His utmost weapon is to lie and sow thoughts of doubt in your heart. These thoughts can rob you of your faith and ultimately make you respond just like Peter and those ten spies of Israel. But if you hold on to the shield of faith (if you put your faith in Jesus’ finished work), if you saturate your mind with thoughts about our beautiful Savior and His goodness, none of Satan's negative thoughts can shake you. Like Joshua and Caleb, you will reject every negative thought and confess your faith in Jesus. You will not give place to the devil. (see Ephesians 4:27). Indeed you will submit to God; resist the devil and he will flee from you. (see James 4:7). And when you do so, the fiery darts will be quenched and you will stand in victory.
Joshua and Caleb entered the promised-land by faith. Jesus said we should come to Him, all of us who labor and are heavy laden, and He will give us rest. (see Matthew 11:28). The only way to enter into the rest offered by Jesus' finished work is by faith. Hebrews 4:3 says, “For we who have believed do enter that rest.” Just like the other ten spies of Israel, it is unbelief that will prevent us from entering into the rest offered by Jesus' finished work. Hence the Bible says, "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (see Hebrews 4:11 KJV). Our only labor then is to believe that Jesus meant it when He said, "It is finished.” (see John 19:30). Thus, to rest is not only to enter into faith; it is also to demonstrate proof of that faith by ceasing from the works of the law. This is why Hebrews 4:10 says, "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS, as God did from His.” (KJV). The Bible also says, “The law is not of faith.” (see Galatians 3:12). So when we try to keep the law to be righteous, we do not believe in Christ for His righteousness. Walking under the law presumes that we are unrighteous, for "the law is not made for a righteous man." (see 1 Timothy 1:9). Therefore, walking by the law is the opposite of walking by faith; it is the opposite of walking in the Spirit. Under the New Covenant, Jesus has fulfilled the law for us. Our part therefore is simply to believe in Christ, and as we believe that we’re righteous in Christ, we will produce the fruits of righteousness, because the fruits of righteousness are by Jesus Christ (see Philippians 1:11) and not by our self-efforts. We don’t have to labor under the law anymore. When we believe in the finished work of Jesus, we honor Jesus, and it pleases God the Father.
Indeed we all as believers experience the promises and blessings of God in proportion to our level of faith. The Centurion who needed healing for his servant (see Matthew 8:5-13) and the woman who needed deliverance for her demon-possessed daughter (see Matthew 15:21-28) experienced their miracles because they had great faith. Conversely, Jesus could not heal many in His hometown because He was limited by their unbelief (see Matthew 13:58). Jesus said in Matthew 9:29, “According to your faith let it be to you.” Faith is always the first step, and the only step. The Bible says, “These signs shall follow those who believe…” (see Mark 16:17). Strive or Labor to be among those who believe. Mark 11:24 says when we pray, we are to believe that we have received; then we shall have it. Yet, many people want to see first before they believe. That certainly isn't faith, and it isn't how we walk in the Spirit. May you always walk by faith and not by sight. Remain blessed.
I share this message, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 KJV).
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