Keep the Word of God in Your Heart, and Bear Fruit with Patience (Part 3)

“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard THE WORD with a noble and good heart, KEEP IT AND BEAR FRUIT WITH PATIENCE.” (Luke 8:15 NKJV).

Beloved, we are continuing our series on the Parable of the Sower, and in this third part of the series we will unveil the revelation in the seed that “fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.” (Luke 8:7 NKJV). Jesus explained that “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who HEARS THE WORD, and THE CARES OF THIS WORLD and THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES choke the word, and HE BECOMES UNFRUITFUL.” (Matthew 13:22 NKJV). It is implied in this verse that this category of hearers also hear the Word alright, they understand the Word alright, and even believe the Word alright, but the Word does not bear fruit in them because the CARES (or worries) OF THIS WORLD, the DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, PLEASURES OF LIFE (see Luke 8:14), and THE DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS (see Mark 4:19) enter in and CHOKE THE WORD or make the Word of no effect. It is also implied here that this category of hearers become so preoccupied with the things of this life and the desires for other things (including not only material things, but the traditions, opinions and philosophies of men, and the praise of men), that they neglect the Word of the Kingdom and refuse to consistently put the Word into practice, and so they BECOME UNFRUITFUL; they, in the words of the apostle Peter, FORSAKE the right way and GO ASTRAY, “following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, WHO LOVED THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS" (see 2 Peter 2:15). Jude says,  "Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run GREEDILY in the error of Balaam FOR PROFIT, and perished in the rebellion of Korah." (Jude 1:11 NKJV). He says, “These are grumblers, complainers, WALKING ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN LUSTS...” (Jude 1:16 NKJV). And Jesus says of such people that, “Every branch in Me that DOES NOT BEAR FRUIT He (God) takes away…” (see John 15:2 NKJV, brackets and emphasis mine).

Indeed the Bible has many examples of such people who HEAR THE WORD, and THE CARES OF THIS WORLD and THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, PLEASURES OF LIFE, and THE DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS enter in and CHOKE THE WORD, and they BECOME UNFRUITFUL. The apostle Paul in his second letter to Timothy, mentioned Demas, who he said had forsaken him, “HAVING LOVED THIS PRESENT WORLD, and has departed for Thessalonica” (see 2 Timothy 4:9‭-‬10). Then, of course, there is the example of Balaam whom we mentioned earlier, “who LOVED THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS" (see 2 Peter 2:15). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself spoke against Balaam, that he “taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality." (Revelation 2:14 NIV). Thus Balaam, having heard THE WORD OF GOD, allowed the Word to be choked by THE CARES OF THIS WORLD and THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, PLEASURES OF LIFE, and THE DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS, so he became UNFRUITFUL; he cunningly went against the Word of God by coveting the prize Balak was offering him to curse the children of Israel. The Bible says that Balaam was GREEDY FOR PROFIT (see Jude 1:11), and LOVED THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS (see 2 Peter 2:15). How tragic!

JUDAS ISCARIOT is yet another example in the Bible, of a man who heard the Word of the Kingdom, and THE CARES OF THIS WORLD and THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, PLEASURES OF LIFE, and THE DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS, entered in and choked the Word, so that he BECAME UNFRUITFUL. Judas (the son of perdition) betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ FOR MONEY, for THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER. Oh, what ruin the deceitfulness of riches brought upon Judas! Peter said that Judas “became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.” (Now THIS MAN PURCHASED A FIELD WITH THE WAGES OF INIQUITY; and FALLING HEADLONG, HE BURST OPEN IN THE MIDDLE AND ALL HIS ENTRAILS GUSHED OUT. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)” (see Acts 1:16-19).

The apostle Paul says of those who HEAR THE WORD, and THE CARES OF THIS WORLD and THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, PLEASURES OF LIFE, and THE DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS choke the word, and THEY BECOME UNFRUITFUL, that they “are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is  their belly, and whose glory is in their shame— who SET THEIR MIND ON EARTHLY THINGS.” (see Philippians 3:17‭-‬19 NKJV). Thus, the root of the problem such hearers of the Word have is that THEY SET THEIR MIND ON EARTHLY THINGS; they love the things of this present world. And so the apostle Paul offers a preventive measure for this condition; he says, “If then you were raised with Christ, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH.” (Colossians 3:1‭-‬2 NKJV). Then he adds, “Now GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN. For WE BROUGHT NOTHING INTO THIS WORLD, and IT IS CERTAIN WE CAN CARRY NOTHING OUT. And having FOOD and CLOTHING, with these WE SHALL BE CONTENT. But THOSE WHO DESIRE TO BE RICH FALL INTO TEMPTATION AND A SNARE, and into many foolish and harmful lusts WHICH DROWN MEN IN DESTRUCTION AND PERDITION. For THE LOVE OF MONEY IS A ROOT OF ALL KINDS OF EVIL, for which SOME HAVE STRAYED FROM THE FAITH in their GREEDINESS, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (I Timothy 6:6‭-‬10 NKJV).

Indeed, the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and therein lies the deceitfulness of riches, which chokes the Word of God in some hearers and they become unfruitful. Therefore beloved, examine yourself and determine where your love and loyalty is; is your love and loyalty toward God and His Word, or toward the world and the things in the world? Paul said, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are IN THE FAITH. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified." (II Corinthians 13:5 NKJV). Truly, “if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.” (see I Corinthians 8:3 NKJV). Jesus said, “NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS; for either HE WILL HATE THE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER, or else HE WILL BE LOYAL TO THE ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER. You CANNOT SERVE GOD and MAMMON (money). “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND His RIGHTEOUSNESS, and ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:24‭-‬34 NKJV,  brackets and emphasis mine). In other words, Jesus wants us to set our mind on things above, and not on the things of the earth, just as the apostle Paul said.

In the same vein, the apostle John also says: “DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD. If anyone LOVES THE WORLD, the love of the Father IS NOT IN HIM. For ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD —the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—IS NOT OF THE FATHER but is of the world. And THE WORLD IS PASSING AWAY, AND THE LUST OF IT; but HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER.” (I John 2:15‭-‬17 NKJV). Therefore, let us set our mind on things above; let us set our mind on the Word of God and continually DO THE WILL OF GOD by putting the Word of God into practice, and never departing from it. For God says, “My son, GIVE ATTENTION to my words; INCLINE YOUR EAR to my sayings. DO NOT LET THEM DEPART from your eyes; KEEP THEM in the midst of your heart; For THEY ARE LIFE to those who find them, AND HEALTH to all their flesh.” (Proverbs 4:20‭-‬22 NKJV). Indeed it is only by keeping the Word of God in the midst of our heart, and being doers of the Word that we can bear fruit a hundredfold. Let us also turn away from those in our assembly who are “LOVERS OF THEMSELVES, LOVERS OF MONEY, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, LOVERS OF PLEASURE RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD, having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (see II Timothy 3:2‭-‬5 NKJV).

In the concluding part of this series, we will discuss the seed that “fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” (see Luke 8:8 NKJV). Please return to this Page in two days to read Part 4, for I am confident that by the end of this series you will fully understand how having heard the Word with a noble and good heart, you can keep it and BEAR FRUIT WITH PATIENCE. 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).

To learn more, order my glorious book, "Spirit Life"

Keep the Word of God in Your Heart, and Bear Fruit with Patience (Part 2)

“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard THE WORD with a noble and good heart, KEEP IT AND BEAR FRUIT WITH PATIENCE.” (Luke 8:15 NKJV).

Beloved, we are continuing our series on the Parable of the Sower, and in this second part of the series we will unveil the revelation in the seed that “fell on (rock -- Luke 8:6, or on) stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.” (Matthew 13:5 NKJV, brackets and emphasis mine). Jesus said, “But the ones on the rock are those who, WHEN THEY HEAR, RECEIVE THE WORD WITH JOY; and these HAVE NO ROOT, who BELIEVE FOR A WHILE and in time of temptation FALL AWAY.” (Luke 8:13 NKJV). You will notice here that this category of hearers don't just receive the Word into their heart, but they receive it WITH JOY, and even BELIEVE IT FOR A WHILE. They would shout the loudest Amen and then praise the Word when the preacher is preaching, they would receive the Word with gladness. But because they have no root in themselves, because they are not grounded in the truth of the Word, they only BELIEVE FOR A WHILE, they only endure for a while, until PERSECUTION or TRIBULATION arises BECAUSE OF THE WORD (see Mark 4:16-17; Matthew 13:20-21), until TEMPTATION comes because of the Word, then they stumble, they stop believing it, they fall away. How tragic!

What Jesus is saying here also is that when you hear and receive the Word of the Kingdom, temptation, persecution or tribulation MAY ARISE BECAUSE OF THE WORD (see Mark 4:16-17; Matthew 13:20-21; Luke 8:13). And when temptation or persecution or tribulation comes because of the Word, Jesus says, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” (see Mark 5:36; Luke 8:50). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself presents a classic evidence of this truth. The Bible says that after Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan and the Holy Spirit had descended upon Him, “Then a voice came from heaven, “YOU ARE My BELOVED Son, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.” (Mark 1:11 NKJV). Then, “IMMEDIATELY the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, TEMPTED BY SATAN …” (Mark 1:12‭-‬13 NKJV). In this temptation, Satan went straight after the Word which Jesus had received from God the Father: “YOU ARE My BELOVED Son, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.” Satan came to Jesus and said, “IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, command that these stones become bread.” (Matthew 4:3 NKJV). But as the story relates, Jesus did not succumb to the temptation of Satan, because not only had Jesus heard the Word of God, not only had He understood the Word, not only had He received or believed the Word, He also had root in Himself and so He kept the Word in His heart and bore fruit WITH PATIENCE -- He believed steadfastly that He was the Son of God, regardless of what charge the devil would bring against Him. Indeed, when temptation came because of the Word, Jesus was not afraid; He only believed, He submitted to the Word of God, resisted Satan, and Satan flee from Him. The Bible says that Jesus “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (see Hebrews 4:15 NKJV). Indeed, in time of temptation, Jesus CONFESSED His faith in the Word of God, and CONFESSED His dependence on the Word of God by declaring to Satan that “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but BY EVERY WORD OF GOD.’”(see Luke 4: 4). And so Jesus lived by every Word of God.

Evidently, Jesus was also continually PERSECUTED, and eventually given over by the Jews (the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and chief priests) to be CRUCIFIED, because of the Word which He had received from the Father, which He had kept in His heart, which He had lived by, and which He had continually confessed with His mouth that He was THE SON OF GOD. The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to our law He OUGHT TO DIE, because He MADE Himself THE SON OF GOD.” (John 19:7 NKJV). And so they accused Jesus of blasphemy and killed Him. Jesus’ truthful confession that He was the Son of God, had Him falsely convicted of blasphemy and crucified. It was Jesus’ confession of the Word of God that infuriated the enemy and got Him killed, because the enemy couldn’t stand it! Today Satan still can’t stand to hear us confess who we are as new creations in Christ. He can’t stand to hear us confess that we are the beloved sons of God who are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. (see John 1: 12; 1 John 3: 2, with Ephesians 1: 3). Satan can’t stand to hear us confess that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 5: 21), and that there is therefore now no condemnation for us because we are in Christ Jesus. (see Romans 8: 1; Romans 8: 33-39). Satan can’t stand to hear us confess that sin shall not have dominion over us because we are not under Law but under Grace. (see Romans 6: 14). This is why the Bible tells us to hold fast our confession. (see Hebrews 4: 14). We have to continually confess who we are in Christ according to the Word of God. Indeed, we overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb, and by the WORD (logos) OF OUR TESTIMONY, not loving our lives UNTO DEATH. (see Revelation 12: 11). Jesus wasn’t afraid to confess who He was even if it meant death, and neither should we be afraid to confess who we are in Christ, even if it means death, because that is how we overcome the enemy.

Thus the Bible tells all believers to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (see Ephesians 6:10), exhorting us to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through MANY TRIBULATIONS enter the kingdom of God.” (see Acts 14:22 NKJV). “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION.” (II Timothy 3:12 NKJV). So we are to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (see Hebrews 12:1‭-‬2 NKJV). But unfortunately there are many who fall away or reject the faith in time of temptation, persecution or tribulation, and of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom Paul delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme (see I Timothy 1:20 NKJV).

There are many today who hear the gospel and receive it with joy; they hear or read John 3:16 and receive it with gladness: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH in Him SHOULD NOT PERISH, but HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.” (John 3:16 KJV). Oh, what joy, what great news! They are also told that if they will sincerely confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in their heart that God has raised Him from the dead, they will be saved (see Romans 10:9). So they gladly receive the Word, and FOR A WHILE they BELIEVE the Word, and they believe that they are saved because of their faith in Christ, until they are TEMPTED and they sin, or until PERSECUTION or TRIBULATION ARISES BECAUSE OF THE WORD, until the people who seek to put us back in bondage to the Law, whom Paul refers to in Philippians 3:1-11 as “dogs,” “evil workers,” “the mutilation,” and later in verse 18, “enemies of the cross of Christ,” come along to condemn them and persecute them for believing that they are saved by faith alone in Christ alone, and then THEY STOP BELIEVING THAT THEY ARE SAVED, and start working FOR their salvation, they start seeking the righteousness that comes through the Law, instead of laying hold on the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ Jesus; they fall away. To such people the apostle Paul says, “You have become ESTRANGED FROM CHRIST, you who attempt  to be justified by law; YOU HAVE FALLEN from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Galatians 5:4‭-‬5 NKJV). Then he asks, “This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the WORKS OF THE LAW, or by the hearing of FAITH? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3: 2-3). “For by grace you have been saved THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8‭-‬9 NKJV).

Indeed, the Christian walk is a walk of faith. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (II Corinthians 5: 7 NKJV). To the Corinthian Church, Paul said, “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, BY WHICH ALSO YOU ARE SAVED, if you HOLD FAST THAT WORD WHICH I PREACHED TO YOU —unless you BELIEVED IN VAIN.” (I Corinthians 15:1‭-‬2 NKJV). Thus, those who, WHEN THEY HEAR, RECEIVE THE WORD WITH JOY; and these HAVE NO ROOT IN THEMSELVES, who BELIEVE FOR A WHILE and in time of temptation FALL AWAY, have BELIEVED IN VAIN. “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence STEADFAST TO THE END ” (Hebrews 3:14 NKJV).

There are also those who are well-rooted in the elementary principles of Christ, the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. Yes, they steadfastly believe that they are saved by faith alone in Christ alone, and yet they do not believe in some of the benefits or the fruits of redemption -- for instance, they do not believe in the healing that is theirs by the stripes of Jesus, they do not believe in prosperity even though the Bible says our Lord Jesus Christ though He was rich became poor that we through His poverty might become rich, and John also prayed that we may prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers, they do not believe in speaking with new tongues even though it's among the signs Jesus said will follow those who believe, neither do they believe in miracles, and so they do not enjoy any of these benefits.

Beloved, is there any remedy for this category of hearers of the Word of the Kingdom? Indeed, there is. Jesus implied in the Parable that their problem is not that they do not understand the Word they hear; their problem is not even that they do not believe the Word, for they believe it alright. But their problem is that THEY HAVE NO ROOT IN THEMSELVES. Now, what does Jesus mean by this? He means they are not deeply-grounded or rooted in the truth of the Word, they are not fully submitted to the Word, they do not give themselves entirely to the Word, they do not put the Word into practice. And so such people are easily tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting (see Ephesians 4:14). Having no root in themselves, they only BELIEVE THE WORD FOR A WHILE, not putting the Word into practice, not being doers of the Word, for they stumble or stop believing the Word and fall away WHEN TEMPTATION, PERSECUTION OR TRIBULATION ARISES BECAUSE OF THE WORD. You would remember that Jesus had said earlier, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and DO NOT DO WHAT I SAY? As for everyone who comes to me and HEARS MY WORDS and PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE, I will show you what they are like. They are LIKE A MAN BUILDING A HOUSE, who DUG DOWN DEEP and LAID THE FOUNDATION ON ROCK. When A FLOOD CAME, the torrent STRUCK that house but COULD NOT SHAKE IT, because IT WAS WELL BUILT.  But the one who HEARS MY WORDS and DOES NOT PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE is like a man who built a house on the ground WITHOUT A FOUNDATION. The moment THE TORRENT STRUCK that house, IT COLLAPSED and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:46‭-‬49 NIV). What this means is that only those who hear the Word of the Kingdom AND PUT IT INTO PRACTICE become rooted or have root in themselves. Jesus said that such people are like a man who has built his house on a rock, who has dug down deep and laid its foundation on rock, and is thus unshakable by the flood or torrent when it strikes. Beloved you will not be shaken by temptation, or tribulation or persecution, when you hear the Word of the Kingdom, understand it, believe it, keep it in your heart, and put it into practice. Submitting to the Word of God and putting it into practice will give you root in yourself, so that you can resist all the temptation, persecution, and tribulation that the devil might throw at you. James says, "Therefore SUBMIT TO GOD. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 NKJV). Submitting to God is the same as submitting to the Word of God, for God and His Word are one (see John 1:1). Indeed you need to believe the Word of God enough to be moved to confess what it says, to do what it says and to claim what it says, regardless of what temptation or persecution or tribulation the Word might bring.

In Part three (3) of the series, we will discuss the revelation in the seed that “fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.” (Luke 8:7 NKJV). Please return to this Page in two days to read Part 3, for I am confident that by the end of this series you will understand how having heard the Word with a noble and good heart, you can keep it and BEAR FRUIT WITH PATIENCE. Remain blessed.

To learn more, order my glorious book, "Spirit Life"

You are Dead to Sin, So Live For Righteousness

As new creations in Christ, the Bible says that we were baptized into the death of Christ (the death He died to sin once for all); then we were buried with Him through baptism into death, “that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life.” (see Romans 6:3-4). Hence we are dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ. (see Romans 6:11). Because we died to sin (with Christ), we can no longer live in sin. (see Romans 6:2). We have been raised with Christ to walk in love, to walk in the light, to walk in good works, to walk in the newness of life. Jesus Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, so that we, having died to sins, might LIVE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (see 1 Peter 2:24). "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry." (Colossians 3:5 NASB). If in this life, we call ourselves believers and desire to be vessels for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, then we have to depart from iniquity and live a life that brings glory to God our Father. Paul in his second letter to Timothy said, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “LET EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY.” But in a great house there are NOT only vessels of gold and silver, BUT also of wood and clay, some FOR HONOR and some FOR DISHONOR. Therefore IF ANYONE CLEANSES HIMSELF from the latter (that is, dishonor), he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and USEFUL for the Master, PREPARED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK. Flee also youthful lusts; but PURSUE righteousness, faith, LOVE, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:19-22). When we walk in love, we will not walk in selfishness, envy and pride; we will not sin, and we will flee youthful lusts — we will depart from iniquity, and make ourselves useful for the Master as vessels for honor, prepared for every good work. The Bible says, "For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there." (James 3:16). This means that self-seeking, together with envy is the opposite of everything love stands for. Hence, the Bible says, “Owe no one anything EXCEPT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, for HE WHO LOVES ANOTHER HAS FULFILLED THE LAW. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, ARE ALL SUMMED UP in this saying, namely, “You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore LOVE IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us CAST OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS, and LET US PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT. Let us WALK PROPERLY, as IN THE DAY, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, and MAKE NO PROVISION for THE FLESH, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:8-14).

Beloved, you cannot walk worthy of your calling in Christ or walk in the newness of life without first putting on the Lord Jesus Christ or knowing and being conscious of who you are in Christ, without first knowing that you are the light of the world, without first knowing that you are a new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5:17) created in true holiness and righteousness (see Ephesians 4:24), created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that you should walk in them. (see Ephesians 2:10). Throughout the New Testament epistles, we are exhorted to rest in the reality of our NEW NATURE in Christ and to “die daily” and allow Christ to live in us. (see Galatians 2:20). We don’t have to struggle to be like Jesus, because we are already as Jesus is in this world (see 1 John 4:17) — He is the Vine and we are the branches (see John 15:5); He is the Head and we are the Body. (see Colossians 1:18). All we need to do then is to remain in Him and allow His life to flow in us and through us. This is our true calling, and this is true Christianity! We are to walk worthy of our calling (see Ephesians 4:1) — walk in love as Christ has loved us (see Ephesians 5:2); walk as children of light (see Ephesians 5:8-14); walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise (see Ephesians 5:15); walk in newness of life (see Romans 6:4); walk in good works (see Ephesians 2:10); etc. Unfortunately believers who don’t have a full revelation of who they are in Christ would approach every one of these instructions as a law or work to be accomplished by self-effort. But for the New Covenant believer, these are all good works that God has prepared beforehand for us to walk in them, through the power of the Holy Spirit that is in us.

In Ephesians 4:17-24, Paul tells believers: “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should NO LONGER WALK as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, BECAUSE OF THE IGNORANCE THAT IS IN THEM, because of the BLINDNESS OF THEIR HEART; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. BUT YOU have NOT so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you PUT OFF, concerning your former conduct, THE OLD MAN which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND, and that you PUT ON THE NEW MAN which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:17-24). The legalistic or carnal Christian, or believers who walk “in the flesh” will read these verses and say, “You see, we must behave as Christians; we must work hard not to be lewd, unclean and greedy. This is what God requires of a Christian. We must keep the Law to be righteous and holy. If you do all of these in obedience to God, you will be blessed.” Have you encountered that kind of thinking? That kind of approach would be similar to a baby trying to walk before learning how to sit!

When read in its context, however, it becomes clear from the verses that unbelievers walk in lewdness, uncleanness and greed because they DO NOT have the revelation of the gospel. Their MINDS have been DARKENED. You, however, HAVE the revelation of the gospel. When you believed in Jesus Christ you became a new creation. You received a new nature in Christ — the new man. This new man is created in true righteousness and holiness (in the same nature as God). Your sinful self — called the old man has been crucified on the cross and no longer exists. Because you have this revelation, you have learned how to sit. Hence, these verses are not about a Christian trying to keep the law to try to be righteous and holy. Rather, it is about what Christ has already done — He has made you righteous and holy so that you can live a life of holiness, and practice righteousness. Therefore, your part is to know and believe (or rest in) this truth and be perpetually conscious of your holy and righteous identity. When you are conscious of your new identity in Christ, it means you have put on the NEW MAN. And the Holy Spirit (who is at work in you with the full power of God — see Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 3:20) will cause you to walk in your new nature — in true righteousness and holiness. This is what it means to walk in the Spirit and be “led by the Spirit.” Those who keep the law to be righteous are walking “in the flesh” (or self-effort) and are not led by the Spirit. The Bible says that all of us who are led by the Spirit are not under the law (see Galatians 5:18). And because the Spirit leads us, we walk in the Spirit, and do not walk in the lusts of the flesh. (see Galatians 5:16). Galatians 5:24 emphasizes that, “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Thus, because we’re led by the Spirit, we do not fulfill the desires and passions of the body; we walk in the fruit of the Spirit, which is LOVE, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (see Galatians 5:22-23). And the Bible says against the fruit of the Spirit, there is no law. In other words, the fruit is greater than the law. For example, the law says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” but it does not empower you to obey it. Nor does it empower you love your spouse. Only the Spirit can empower you to both stay away from adultery and love your spouse at the same time, as you get a revelation of how much Christ has loved you, and allow His love (which is the fruit of the Spirit) to flow through you to your spouse and to others.

As believers in Christ, our understanding is now enlightened so that we can walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise. (see Ephesians 5:15). We cannot be friends with the world  (its lusts and pleasures) anymore, because we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God. (see 1 Corinthians 2:12). The Bible says that friendship with the world is enmity with God; and so whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (see James 4:4). As believers, we are in the world but not of the world (see John 15:19; John 17:16); we are of God. (see 1 John 4:4). God has put His Spirit in our hearts (see 2 Corinthians 1:22), so we have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to open the eyes of our understanding. When we walk in the wisdom that the Spirit gives, it will reflect in our conduct. James asks, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show BY GOOD CONDUCT that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom." (James 3:13). Many Christians, rather than walk in the wisdom and understanding of God, try to walk in their own wisdom and understanding (that comes from self) — be it from their education, or years of life experiences. But the Bible says, “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. Do NOT be wise in your OWN eyes; Fear the Lord and DEPART FROM EVIL.” (Proverbs 3:5-7). A person who trusts in his own wisdom will naturally reject the wisdom of God when God gives a new revelation or direction. Needless to say, that is a dangerous way to live. In all the wisdom of the learned Pharisees, they did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah (or the Christ). In all the wisdom of Saul (Paul), he persecuted the church of God, and he did it in all good conscience. (see Acts 22-23:1).

Before we can walk circumspectly as wise, we need to rest (or trust) in the fact that Wisdom is a person, that Jesus is our wisdom. Paul says, “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us WISDOM from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30 NASB). Jesus is our wisdom, and since Jesus lives in us, wisdom lives in us. The Spirit of wisdom and revelation is at work in us, and the Bible declares that we have the mind of Christ. (see 1 Corinthians 2:16). So when we rest in the reality of Christ living in us, when we depend on the Holy Spirit who is in us, we will begin to walk in true wisdom which is of God. And when we walk in the wisdom of God, we will not behave as fools by living in sin. We will walk as children of light, which we truly are. (see Ephesians 5:8-9). 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).

To learn more, order my glorious book, "Spirit Life"

How To Walk in the Truth

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (III John 1:4 NKJV).

Beloved, in the previous post entitled “Choose to Be On The Side Of Truth,” we emphasized how important it is for every man to know the truth and to be on the side of truth. We noted that there are two kinds of knowledge or information in this world: Facts, and Truth. And we explained that Facts are primarily based on scientific research and investigation, whereas Truth is from God (and is revealed in the Word of God or the inspired Books of the Bible). We also mentioned that all truth are facts, but not all facts are truth. Then we explained (with examples) that Truth never changes, but Facts do change. Today we will continue that discussion by explaining how those who have come to know and to be on the side of truth ought to walk in the truth.

Just like the apostle John, I have no greater joy than to hear that believers walk in truth. To walk in truth is to walk in love or in the light of God’s Word; it simply means to walk just as Jesus walked. (see 1 John 2:3-10). Jesus walked according to the truth of God's Word. He said during His earth walk that He came to do the will of the Father (see John 6:38), and that the words that He spoke were not His own, but the Father's words. (see John 12:49-50). And so our emphasis in this post will be on speaking and doing the Father's words as opposed to speaking the world’s words. In other words, we will explain in this post how important it is for us to always confess or speak (and act in line with) the truth (which is God's Word) and not the facts (man's wisdom or knowledge).

Obviously, you cannot speak the Father's words unless you know and understand the Father's words. And so the first step to walking in the truth or walking as Jesus walked, is to know and understand the Father's words (or the Bible). The Spirit, speaking through Paul, said, “LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY IN ALL WISDOM, teaching and admonishing one another...” (see Colossians 3:16 NKJV). The Word of Christ is the Word of God the Father, because Christ spoke the Father's words. (see John 12:49). When you know and understand the Father's words, when the Word of Christ dwells in you richly in all wisdom, you will also know the Father’s will, because God's will is revealed in His Word. But how can God's Word dwell in you richly in all wisdom? Paul again gives us the answer in his second letter to a young pastor named Timothy. He said, “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). This is right in line with what God told Joshua in the Old Testament. He said, “This Book of the Law SHALL NOT DEPART FROM YOUR MOUTH, but you shall MEDITATE IN IT DAY AND NIGHT, that you may OBSERVE TO DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT IS WRITTEN IN IT. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8 NKJV, emphasis mine). In other words, Joshua was being asked to study the Word of God and meditate on it until the Word becomes his consciousness, until everything he spoke and did was right in line with the Word of God. Joshua was to make his home in the Word of God. God is telling all of us the same thing. In fact, Jesus said to His disciples that we are to abide or make our home in Him (and of course, He is the Word, just as John 1:1, 14 says); we are also to allow His words to abide or make their home in us. (see John 15:7). We are all to STUDY the Word of truth or the Word of God to understand it so that we can rightly divide it in a way that is approved by God. We are never to speak anything that is not in agreement with the Word of God, but are to meditate on God’s Word day and night, that we may be doers of the Word. (see Joshua 1:8, with James 1:22). And we have the Holy Spirit to help us to accomplish this. The Bible says, “the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as THE SAME ANOINTING TEACHES YOU CONCERNING ALL THINGS, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” (I John 2:27 NKJV). Thus, the first step to walking in truth is to STUDY the Word of God with the help of your Teacher -- the Anointing or the Holy Spirit -- who abides or remains in you. You have to let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.

When the Word of Christ dwells in you richly in all wisdom, it will show in your speech and your actions: you will be a transformed man; you will not speak like the rest of the world do; your speech and actions will not conform to the speech and actions of unbelievers or those who are of the world. (see  Romans 12:1-2). You will be unique and distinct from the world, because you will be a man sanctified (or set apart) by the truth, which is the Word of God. (see John 17:17). You will have the mindset of the righteous. You will be as separated from the world as light is separated from darkness. (see 2 Corinthians 6:14-15). Your light will so shine before men, that they will see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven. (see Matthew 5:16). This is the reason Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14 NKJV). You will SHINE in this world and STAND OUT as a city on a hill, when you walk according to the truth of God's Word. When Jesus walked on this earth, He stood out as Light in this dark world, because not only was He the truth, He also walked in the truth. To the Jews who did not believe in Jesus and sought to kill Him, Jesus said, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and DOES NOT STAND IN THE TRUTH, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44 NKJV). Here, Jesus gave us a very important revelation about Satan (the devil), and the revelation is that the devil DOES NOT STAND IN THE TRUTH. This means that when you stand in the truth (of God’s Word), Satan will not stand with you. When you walk in the truth (of God's Word), Satan will not walk with you. In other words, Satan is afraid of the truth. This is why every believer must stand and walk in the truth. The only safe ground in this world is the truth, and the Truth is Jesus Christ (see John 14:6); the Truth is the Word of God (see John 17:17). James says, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 NKJV).

Many people often quote the last part of James 4:7 and ignore the first part. But the truth is that you cannot resist the devil without first submitting to God. To resist anything, you must first be leaning on something stronger. For instance, in order for you to successfully resist a strong wind, you must be holding on to and allowing yourself to be held by a rock or an object which cannot be moved by the wind. Similarly, God and for that matter, our Lord Jesus Christ, is our Rock (see 1 Peter 2:6-8; Isaiah 26:4), and we have to submit to and lean on Him in order to successfully resist the devil. Submitting to God and to the Lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ is accomplished by submitting to the Word of God, which is the Truth. We have to submit to or agree with and walk according to what God’s Word says about who we are in Christ, what we have in Christ, and what we can do through Christ and with the power and authority that we have in Christ. When we believe God's Word and do (or act on) God's Word, then have we submitted to God, then are we leaning on the immovable Rock, then are we walking in the truth or standing in the truth; and Satan will not stand with us, because he does not stand in the truth. Satan flees when we resist him with the truth of God's Word. When we walk in the truth, we can successfully resist the devil; we can successfully resist every attack and every temptation of the devil. Indeed, we know we have truly submitted to God when we have full assurance in our heart that the Bible is in truth the Word of God, and thus renew our minds with what the Bible says. We have to make God’s thoughts our thoughts and His opinions our opinions. After all, the Bible says we (i.e in our spirit) have the mind of Christ. (see 1 Corinthians 2:16). We should make this truth manifest in our body. When Jesus walked here on earth, He was able to resist the devil by leaning on the truth of God's Word when the devil tempted Him in the wilderness. (see Luke 4:1-13). Because the devil does not stand in the truth, he fled when Jesus continually confessed and did what the Word of Truth says, as opposed to what Satan wanted Him to do. Confessing and doing the truth (which is God's Word) is how we resist the devil. Satan may also know the written Word of God and may even quote it sometimes, but the truth is that he does not have the revelation and an understanding of the Word, so he cannot rightly divide the Word of truth; nor does he stand in the truth or do the Word. This is why the ministers of Satan who have infiltrated Christian churches today are not able to preach the truth and do the Word. Yes, they can quote the Scriptures alright, but because they themselves don't understand it and cannot rightly divide it, they deceive their followers with their teachings. On a certain occasion, when the disciples of Jesus asked Him why He spoke the way He did (and in that particular context, why He spoke in parables) to the people, “He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, BUT TO THEM IT HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN.  Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, NOR DO THEY UNDERSTAND.” (Matthew 13:11‭, ‬13 NKJV). Indeed it has been given to every believer to know and understand the Word of God, and by submitting to it, resist the devil, and he will flee from us.

Beloved, it is important that you study the Word of God to acknowledge and become CONSCIOUS (or aware) of who you are in Christ, and what good things are in you. Paul said to Timothy, "MEDITATE on these things; GIVE YOURSELF ENTIRELY to them, THAT YOUR PROGRESS MAY BE EVIDENT TO ALL." (1 Timothy 4:15 NKJV, emphasis mine). MEDITATION brings CONSCIOUSNESS, and thus PROGRESS. Staying conscious of who you are in Christ, what you have in Christ, and what you can do in Christ (which was also Paul’s prayer for the Church of Ephesus -- see Ephesians 3:14-19), can be achieved through constant meditation on the Word of God. (see Joshua 1:8-9; Psalm 1:1-6; Proverbs 4:20-22; Acts 20:32). Give yourself entirely to the Word of God. When you meditate on the Word of God and know the truth, you will not focus on the lies of this world that are told through the philosophies of men, and through your own adverse circumstances or afflictions. When you know and are constantly conscious of the truth of God’s Word, you will come to understand like Paul, that every affliction is light and momentary (see 2 Corinthians 4:17); that every affliction comes not to stay, but to pass, and to work for your good. And so you will not look at these temporary afflictions. You will not look at what is seen. You will not walk by sight, but by faith (or by the Word of God). And so we all as Christians should heed to James’ admonition when he says, “My brethren, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO VARIOUS TRIALS, knowing that THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PATIENCE.” (James 1:2‭-‬3 NKJV,  emphasis mine). Indeed, no trial can overcome the child of God. All trials work to perfect us or bring us to maturity in the faith, to the stature of the fullness of Christ. And so we have to look at all trials through the right lenses. Face all trials with the right attitude. The Bible says, “And WE KNOW that ALL THINGS work together FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NKJV). “And we (believers) KNOW... “ Beloved, what do you KNOW? We know that ALL THINGS work together for OUR GOOD. What you know can make or break you. Know the truth and walk in it.

As believers, the Bible says that even though our outward man (or body) is perishing, our inward man (or spirit) is renewed day by day. (see 2 Corinthians 4:16). Whenever you look at that pain or sickness in your body, you are looking at the wrong thing. Whenever you look at the negative balance in your bank account, you are looking at the wrong thing. Stop looking or focusing on your outward man and start focusing on your inward man. Be conscious of the inward man, and see (or focus on) how he is faring, because the inward man is the real you, and he is doing REALLY WELL; he is healthy and prosperous (see 3 John 1:2; 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 8:9), and he is blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. (see Ephesians 1:3). When you are constantly conscious of who you are on the inside, you will live the life that your inward man lives -- a life of victory, a life of prosperity, a life of abundance, a life of joy, a life of peace, a life of good success. Indeed the life of your spirit (which is the life of God) will manifest in your body as you walk in the consciousness of who you are in the spirit.

Beloved, this is so important that I will repeat it: Don't look or focus on your body and your outer circumstances; don’t focus on the negative report (or those things which your adverse circumstances tell you), because those things are temporary. You need to focus instead on who you permanently are (in the spirit). Focus on the things which are not seen. Paul said, "While we LOOK NOT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN, but AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN: for THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN are TEMPORAL; but the things which are NOT SEEN are ETERNAL." (2 Corinthians 4:18). Look at the things which are not seen. And that can only be done through faith. Through faith you can see who you are in your spirit. Your spirit is prosperous and always flourishing. It is renewed day by day. When you are conscious of this, of the good things God has blessed you with in the spirit, of how your spirit is being renewed day by day, (then in your body also) your youth will be renewed like the eagle's. (see Psalm 103:5). The Psalmist says, "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance." (Psalm 16:6 NKJV). You need to have the same attitude, and say the same thing, because you have a good inheritance. The Bible says that in Christ, "WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE." (see Ephesians 1:11). It is a good inheritance. It includes every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. (see Ephesians 1:3). It includes all things that pertain to life and godliness. (see 2 Peter 1:3). Indeed it is a good inheritance that must be unpacked and possessed. As Paul puts it, this inheritance, this package of salvation must be worked out. (see Philippians 2:12). It must be unpacked and possessed. Just as God gave the children of Israel the (promised) land and told them to go in and possess it (see Deuteronomy 1:8), we are being asked to do the same thing -- to possess or lay hold on our inheritance in Christ. This is where we separate the real or practicing Christians from the lipservice ones (or those who just profess to be Christians, but are not Christians in deed or are not doers of the Word). Beloved, you have to be a doer of the Word. James said that only the doers of the Word will be blessed in what they do. (see James 1:25).

The Bible makes it clear that there are two main opinions in this world: God’s opinion and the world's opinion (or Satan's opinion). God's opinion can be found in His Word (the Bible). And the world's opinion (or Satan’s opinion) is every opinion that is contrary to the Word of God. And so every single moment, you have a choice between God’s opinion (the Truth) and Satan's opinion (the Lie). The Bible makes a clear distinction between these two opinions. On a certain occasion in Israel, the prophet “Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between TWO OPINIONS? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if BAAL, follow him....” (I Kings 18:21 NKJV). From this verse, it is clear that there is the opinion of God, and the opinion of Baal (or Satan). As believers we are always compelled to choose between these two opinions. God's opinion is in His written Word – the Bible. And the world's opinion or Satan's opinion often includes what is communicated to us by our own physical circumstances, doctor's reports, news media reports, and the opinions we get from the world through our five senses – hearing, seeing, smelling, feeling or touching, and tasting – and from friends, family and everybody. God wants us to always choose to believe His opinion and to conduct ourselves or walk according to His opinion. That is what it means to walk in truth. This is called faith. And it is the only way we can truly walk with God, because faith is the only language God understands. The Bible says without faith it is impossible to please God. (see Hebrews 11:6). God does not want us to falter or waver between two opinions. He wants us to be fully persuaded about His opinion, and to always walk in line with His opinion. Whenever you choose another opinion over God's opinion, you choose a lie over the truth (or the reality), you choose Satan's opinion over God's opinion, because, you see, lies are from Satan. The Bible says Satan is a liar from the beginning; he is the father of lies, and there is no truth in him. (see John 8:44; ). But God does not lie. (see Titus 1:2). The Bible says, “God  is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19 NKJV). God’s Word is truth. (see John 17:17). His opinion is truth. Hence, the Bible says we are to walk in the truth. (see 3 John 1:3-4). Walking in the Truth is walking in the Spirit.

Beloved, how long will you falter between two opinions? God's opinion is that if you believe in Jesus Christ, you will not perish but have eternal life. (see John 3:16). God’s opinion is that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (see Romans 10:13; Acts 2:21). God's opinion is that whoever has the Son has life. (see 1 John 5:12). God's opinion is that whoever believes in Jesus Christ has been forgiven of all their sins and declared righteous. (see colossians 1:14; Romans 3:22, 24; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:17; Ephesians 4:24; 1 Corinthians 1:30). God's opinion is that Jesus Himself took our infirmities and bore all our diseases, and by Jesus' stripes we are healed. (see Matthew 8:17;  Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24, ). God's opinion is that Jesus became poor on the cross to make you and I rich. (see 2 Corinthians 8:9). Do you believe God's opinion or do you believe the opinion your present circumstance is giving you? Are you faltering between two opinions or is your mind fixed on God's opinion? Are you fully persuaded about God’s opinion? You need to be, because no one can truly walk with God, unless they are fully persuaded about His opinion. The Bible says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3 KJV). We have to agree with God’s opinion. We have to walk with God just like Abraham did. The Bible says Abraham “did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” (Romans 4:20‭-‬21 NKJV). Be fully convinced about God’s opinion. You have to agree with God's opinion, because it is the only truth. God’s opinion is His Word. And God is His Word (see John 1:1). Therefore, anyone who doesn’t believe in God’s Word (or opinion) doesn't believe in God. Period!

Beloved, whose opinion would you believe today? Every single moment, you have a choice between God’s opinion and Satan’s opinion. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had a choice between God's opinion and Satan's opinion, and they chose to believe Satan's opinion over God's opinion. Like the sinners of today, they “exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever...” (see Romans 1:25 NKJV). And we all know the consequence of that choice. The person whose opinion you choose to believe or obey becomes your master or your god. (see Romans 6:16). This is why the Bible calls Satan the god of this world. (see 2 Corinthians 4:4). Adam made Satan the god of this world by choosing to obey Satan over God. But as believers, Satan is not our god. We are no longer in his kingdom. (see Colossians 1:13). We are in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son (the Kingdom of Light), and in our Kingdom, we only believe in one opinion – the opinion of God. Today, regardless of how you feel and what the doctor is saying, choose to believe and confess God’s opinion that by the stripes of Jesus you were healed and are healed. (see 1 Peter 2:24, with Isaiah 53:5). Regardless of the balance in your bank account, choose to believe and confess God’s opinion that Jesus though He was rich became poor that through His poverty you might become rich (see 2 Corinthians 8:9), and so you are rich. Regardless of your failings today, choose to believe and confess God’s opinion that you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 5:21), and that as Jesus is, so also are you in this world. (see 1 John 4:17).

Unfortunately, there are some “believers” who doubt the opinion of God; there are some who falter (or waver) between the opinion of God and the opinion of the world. And to such believers I ask, how long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Satan (the liar), follow him. The choice is ultimately yours. I choose to believe God’s opinion. I choose to obey God’s Word. And God’s opinion is that I am saved; I am righteous; I am blessed; I am highly favored; I am the beloved child of the Living God; I am healed; I am rich; I have all things that pertain to life and godliness; I am an heir of God and joint-heirs with Christ; the world is my inheritance; I lack no good thing; I eat the good of the land; I am a victor and a success; I am a world overcomer; all because I believe in Jesus Christ. He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world; and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Glory be to God! You have to make it a habit to speak/confess who you are in Christ and what you have in Christ. You confess because you believe it in your heart. (2 Corinthians 4:13). You don't confess in order for you to believe it or to have it; you confess because the Bible says you already have it, and you believe from deep within your heart that it is true. Thus when you confess, you say things like: eternal life is mine, prosperity is mine, good success is mine, righteousness is mine, victory is mine, divine health is mine, power is mine, all blessings are mine, the whole world is mine. Hallelujah! Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45; Matthew 12:34). He said,  “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART HIS MOUTH SPEAKS.” (Luke 6:45 NKJV,  emphasis mine). If you're a true believer (or Christian), you're a good man; you're the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). And so your words (which are spoken out of the abundance of your heart) will tell us if you are indeed a true believer or not. You have to choose to be sanctified (or set apart to God) by (speaking the truth, which is) the Word of God (see John 17:17; Romans 12:1-2), rather than defile yourself with the words of this world. (see  Matthew 15:11; Mark 7:15).

Beloved, you have to understand the power of your words and always speak or confess  faith-filled words or words that agree with the Word of God. The Bible says, "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, emphasis mine). Indeed, words are the most powerful things in the universe. The whole universe was created with words; God called things that did not exist as though they did. (see Romans 4:17). And they came into existence. In fact, without words, the entire creation wouldn't exist. The Bible says that Jesus holds everything in place by the Word of His power. (see Hebrews 1:3). And so all of creation responds to words. Therefore, the words that proceed from your mouth are important in framing your world or charting the course of your life. Negative or fear-filled words will bring you defeat, and positive or faith-filled words will put you over the top. Many people have habitually spoken Satan’s opinion (or the words of this world which are contrary to the Word of God), and by so doing, they have put themselves in bondage. But God's Word (or promises) when habitually spoken out in faith from the heart will produce liberty, success and victory in your life. Indeed faith-filled words on your lips will give substance to all of God's promises for you; they will cause God's promises to manifest or materialize in your life. Begin speaking faith-filled words over your life from this moment onwards, and you will see yourself rising higher in life each day.

Moreover, the Bible says that we are to hold fast our confession (see Hebrews 4:14). In other words, we are to continually confess what the Bible says about us, and what we want to see happen in our lives (in the light of the Word of God). We are to confess with our mouth unto salvation (see Romans 10:10) -- salvation from diseases, poverty, and every power of darkness or negative circumstance. Begin to use your mouth today to chart the course of your life. The Bible says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV). Determine today never to walk or judge by what you see or hear. Don't speak what you see; speak what the Word of God says; speak what you want to see, because the Bible says that you will have whatever you say. (see Mark 11:23). Speak life. Speak God's blessings or promises. Imitate your Father God by calling those things which do not exist as though they did. (see Romans 4:17). Begin to call health where there is sickness or disease, call life where there is death, and call the abundance of provision where there is need. Let the words you speak be the words of the Father, and the works you do be the works of the Father. That is how you walk in the truth. Remain blessed.

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