God's Solution

This world has many ideas of what is needed. Men think if we learn enough, or work enough. If we take the best of everything that is with-in the realm of man. Then put it to good use then we will have improved and eliminate all the things that plague man. Sorry, it won't work. By the efforts of man we have come to this place in which we are now living. It doesn't appear to me that it works at all. There is more distress now than ever. More plagues, more fears, more threats, more chaos.

There is a solution and only one and it's of God. The answer to every question, the answer to every need. The triumph over every plague, and fear, and threat, and perplexity. The only answer is; Jesus. And Jesus is always the answer. There is no other answer period. Sickness; the answer is Jesus. Not doctors, nor medical research. God said; "I am the Lord that healeth thee." There is no other healer. Doctors are used of God as his hands of mercy does the healing. Ask any doctor if he can heal! If he's an honest man, he'll say definately not.

In Jesus, God has deposited the fullness of the God-head. With all authority in heaven and in the earth. He is the answer to all things, for by Him they were created and have there substance. He does not give the answeres, He is the answer. His own being becomes our answer. For He will not share His glory, He is the glory.

Take healing for example. When a person is healed, it's the person of Jesus coming into the flesh of man to remove the sickness. It is the virtue of His person. Isn't He called the quickening Spirit? He doesn't give healing, He is healing. The same in all of life. As it says, "in Him we live and move and have our being." Not apart from Him, but "in Him, and Him in us."

So here is the verdict from God; "this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear you Him." God is not pleased to do or say or act apart from His Son. Only in Him, and always by Him. God has given us all things pertaining to life and Godlyness in His Son. "IN" His Son. Only, always, forever. Jesus is the way. The very person, presence, and power of Him whom we have recieved.

If we ask anything of God, He will say, have you considered my Son? Then the Lord will open to us the revelation of the Son and show us how that need (what-ever-it-be) is met in Christ. All wisdom, all knowledge, all power, all honor and glory, belong to Him. They are in Him, and He is in us.

The Nature of the Father

"The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin."

This is the record that God gave of himself. In the heart of believers God wants this truth to be the anchor for the soul. We can't come to God in confidence if we have not this revelation. There are those who have painted a very different picture of God. When we were in the world we were God haters. Being lawless, and lost. Now that we are in Christ, we need to look at the true nature of God. We see that the world hates Him with-out a cause or reason. But we have to renew our minds to the truth.

"thou Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee."

Those who have this in there soul are awake to the blessing of the love of their Father. The ones who are instant in prayer, who are confident in troubles, and are not moved from the truth by the wiles of the devil. These have put their trust and hopes in the living God. The light of the world dwells in them to display His goodness, and to show them His life and glory. They are taught of the Lord and in him is their strength. They worship God in spirit and truth, and delight in His presence, and put no confidence in the flesh.

"in this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him; herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

Different ones at times have majored on minors. The justice of God is only for the unbelievers, who refuse the love of God in the face of Jesus. It's the goodness of God that leads to repentance. We cannot rewrite the truth. The Lord is long-suffering and of great mercy. God's delight is to be merciful, and that all would come to repentance. The gospel is good news. Today is the day of God's favor. The love of God is the motive and the reason. The church is the vehicle for His words and works. The message is "who-so-ever will may come and drink of the living waters." Let us make this the mark of our service and life. That we would manifest the love of God so that men may be saved. And above all know that God who spared not His own Son, will with Him freely give us all things.

God is not mad at man, He loves them and desires to help, to heal, and to save. Let's tell them the truth.

"the gospel of the grace of God."

The Measure of Your Life

The Lord said, "according to your faith be it unto you." I was considering this fact. Your whole life will be always the result of your faith. Why some grow in the Lord and others don't can not be some arbitary reason. It's that those who have great experience and blessing are those who believed in the rewards of God. Some may disagree, but I ask you, what do you expect? The expectation of your life is the amount of faith you have in God.

Not that your way will be easy or trouble free, but that you will be victorious through it all because God is with you. There is no other standard. We know that God is good and impartial in bestowing his blessings. Of course we all will have different gifts and callings. But we can have God's fulness in our walk even if we are the least of the least.

My walk can have the same blessing of His presence as the Apostles. The same as Paul, or any of the great men of God, past or present. The difference is; what do I expect? According to my faith be it unto me. We know that we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. Do we believe that we can know and walk in them? Of course, God's word is truth. So then the problem is with-in ourselves, or rather that we are depending on ourselves, when we ought to be looking to God. For it is God at work in us both to will, and to do His will.

By faith we can say that what-ever Jesus is, can be true of me. What-ever is His becomes ours. With His infinite resources at our disposal, more than that, His very presence in us to do His will. This is the gospel. "Not I but Christ who liveth in me." Can we doubt it, No. "My word shall never pass away." "My word shall accomplish that for which I sent it".

"My just shall life by faith". This takes on the whole of our life. It's by faith from start to finish. "From faith, to faith, and from glory to glory." Jesus asked a man; "believe that I am able to do this." Today He by the word and Spirit is asking us the same thing. His answer is the same; "according to your faith be it unto you." So let us rise up in this new life and say, Yes Lord, I know that you are able, and even more I know that you have answered. And I rest in you knowing by faith that the work is complete and you will manifest it in my life. Because this is your plan, and you have given me faith to know for a certainty you will finish it. "Your word is truth."

Show us the Father

In my last post I pointed out the powerlessness of the religions of the world to prove there teachings. This is not to say they have no power, but limited and not of any help to man. As there were magicians in Pharaoh's court, and in Peter's day with Simeon. Even so today that spirit is still in the earth. This only exaltes the man, not of help to man, even though it may amaze some. These are counterfiets of the power of God. Who's gave of Himself to lift man back to sonship and fulfillment of God's original plan and purpose.

God has established a pattern for his work. He works by his word. Man is the only creature on the earth who can speak. The only one who can hear and comprehend what has been said. Man is the instrument of God's chosing to work through. That is the purpose for which he was made.

This is nothing new, and yet it is new. The bible was written by man! It was God at work in man. The story's of Enoch, or Noah. These were men to who God make Himself known. Abraham was a man to whom God made Himself known. All the people of the Old and New Testament, were real people like you and I. To whom God made Himself known. The thing that sets these apart from the others is, to whom God made Himself known.

Jesus said, "of myself I can do nothing". And; "what I see of the Father that I do, and what I hear I speak." Jesus followed the pattern. This is a great comfort and encouragement to me. Jesus was a man; to whom God made Himself known. Yes, He was and is the only begotten of God, but his ministry was that of a MAN. It had to be, it was the pattern of God. The word and works of God administered by a man. Didn't He call Himself, "the Son of Man?" Yes, so then the result is any man to whom God makes Himself known, has the right to speak and to do the works of God. Even more, for this purpose YOU WERE MADE. Isn't that right, "Christ in you, the hope of Glory".

So man is the instrument in the hands of God to speak forth what God has done, and will do according to His word. According to the pattern of God, Yes! It's the word of God in our hearts and in our speech and in our actions. The same as Jesus. "As He is, so are we in this world."

A lot of us have hang-ups about our qualifications. We suppose that God has better or more gifted or elouquent men. We think that the saints of old or the disciples were in some way more usefull. Wrong, God can't use human talent, or knowledge, or charisma. He uses the weak, the lowly, the foolish, and the humble. And reveals Himself to them, and they become spokesmen for the word of God, and hands through which He can do His work. Those who will become fools for Christ!

What then does this mean. We should be alive to God. We should be looking for God to speak to us, and to show us dreams and visions. Looking for God to reveal great and wonderous things that we know not of. We should walk knowing that we are God's instrument in the earth to bring in the lost, and to help those in need. We should know that the word of God will bring forth fruit.

Will He speak to us? Yes, you are in Christ. Will He work through us? Yes, you are in Christ. All the promises are yes, and amen. What-ever you have need of is already given in Christ. Jesus at the well in Samaria knew the womans history. And she believed. Jesus saw Nathaniel, and knew him to be with-out falsehood, and he believed. Jesus saw Simon and knew him and his father Jonas, and also knew his purpose and changed his name to Peter, and he believed. Jesus knew were the gold coin was, where the upper room was, where the donkey and fold were, that water would be wine, that five loafs of bread was enough. Besides all the healings, resurrections, deliverances, and teachings.

Don't you think we can show the Father, just like Jesus. Yes, the same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead is living in you and me. Doing the same works, testifing to the resurrection of Jesus. For this purpose you were made. How? By faith, trust in the Lord to give you what-ever you need to complete your task. To Peter the healing of the lame man at the gate. To Paul cloths taken from his body. To Phillip the casting out of devils. All these by the one and same Spirit that we have received. This is only the tip of the iceberg that we may believe. And believing we also may do the works of God by the Spirit.

Now What?

I want to suppose a typical problem. Let's say you have a good friend. You have known this person for a couple years, either thought work or some social organization. This person knows your family, knows you're a christian. You have witnessed to this person the gospel as best as you can. You've been sincere and honest and open about the word of God. About the way of faith. And the goodness of God.

He/she has discussed all of these things with you, and has tried to grasp the truth. They understand your position on all of the benifits of being a christian. But they are not sure of the reality.

Now he/she has come to you and asked you "is there some way that you can show me that this is the truth, and not just a really good ideology, can I know it's real?

At this point the person's entire existence is in your hands. They have come to you for help. They have some confidence in you. And they are hoping that you can bring them to faith, the same faith that you have. If you can't then they may never look to the Lord again, this is the burden of the believer.

What do you do?

There is an answer, do you have it?

I might add. Other religions offer there followers joy and peace, and even a resurrection. Can you prove yours is the truth.

If not, don't try to be a missionary, or a minister.

And if you know, leave your answer in the comments so all can learn and be effective witnesses.

I will give my own answer in a couple of days if no-one else answers.

You ask what is this about? There are thousands of ministers, and thousands of missionairies. Millions of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. But as a whole we are not effective witnesses. If we were then the world would have already repented, and we would be on our way to glory with the Lord.

We have allowed deceiving religions to copy the truth. To the point that even promises are made that are only possible with God. And we haven't shown them to be false, by showing the true way of the living Lord.

This is my effort to put the truth to work and show that there is a difference. The Lord has made a way. He has never been taken by suprise, he knew from the beginning.

The Big Picture

There are two kinds of people in this world. Only two, no more no less. Those who are born again of God through Jesus by the Holy Spirit, and those who are not. The one is dead to the world, and alive unto God. The other is dead to God, and is of this world which is passing away through the coruption that is in it by sin.

An interesting thing; those in Christ may think that they are a mixture of both. You are not. Your old life died, and you were given a new life. The life of Christ. This life is the nature, the spirit, and the inclinations of God. A holy life with the desires of pleasing God. Just like Jesus. In thought, in word, and in deed.

The trouble is we don't see who we are. We look at things from a reasoning stand-point. God declares us from an eternal stand-point. He knows what has been accomplished, and calls it done. We are to take His word for it, and by faith also to reckon it done. To take God's word for it and accept it by faith, and declare what God has said is so, the Amen in our heart. Not according to our reason, but by His word.

To obtain to the life we now have in Christ, we have to agree with God. We have to re-think ourselves to be what God says. It is not reasonable to think that a man can be one with the Father and Jesus by the Holy Spirit. But it is scriptual. To say anything else is a lie. Jesus said; "I and the Father are one." Again; "that you may be one with me". Not two, one in life, one in thought, and one in deeds. As in marriage, the two are one. You have your own identity and mind, but your thoughts and words and actions are submitted through your partner to see and be sure that he or she is in agreement.

In the churchs case, the will to be of service and pleasing to God is the formost thought in the minds of the people. All of our thoughts and words and action are submitted to the Father to see if they are approved and will bring forth fruit. Always with the willingness to change direction or stop. And to receive better instruction from God.

To walk in the fulness of the Lord we have to lose our view of things and look to the word to find out who we are and stop short-circuiting the work of God in our lives. In other words, get rid of our unbelief. Every-thing we could ever need for life and godliness has already been given. Hasn't God said; "I will walk in them, and be their God, and they shall be my people." Aren't we the temple of God? What does that mean? The all knowing, all powerful, every-where present God, is alive and living in me! In His fulness and wisdom and power.

The mind of man can not grasp the significance of this. But by faith I can confess that it is so. And by faith I can walk in the reality of this. And watch and look and listen to the promting of God with-in me. To give me direction, and wisdom, and power to defeat all my enemies. And to show me the wonder of this reality. That God is in me to reckoncile the world unto Himself. To carry forth the work that Jesus began in his body of flesh, and now in my body of flesh. That the world may see the manifestations of God, with signs, wonders, and miracles. These are the proofs that it is Jesus in me and that He has risen from the dead. And been exalted by God who has placed all things under His feet. So that men might seek Him and be saved.

The Sense of Faith

The body of man has five senses with which to contact the physical realm. And two within him to contact the unseen realm, doubt and faith. The things of the world are all subject to the invisible realm. The reason is the things unseen are eternal. And by them the things that do appear were made.

The power of faith is that it allows us to grasp what is not yet seen and know that it is so. Just as by your eyes you can see a man in a red shirt. By faith you can see what is or will be even though your eyes would say "I see nothing".

As Paul said; "looking not at what is seen, but what is unseen". This faith is what "moves mountains". "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." If your eyes tell you that's a red shirt on a man, then the best arguer in the world could not convince you that wasn't so. You have the evidence of that sight in your mind and that's it, it's final. So with faith, when you get the evidence of the things hoped for in the picture of your soul, then you see it and know that you have it, it's final, and nobody can talk you out of it. And what is the substance that provided that? Your faith. The sense that knows and can see and understand the unseen.

Why this discussion on faith? You believe in Jesus, isn't that enought? Yes and No. God is a faith being, and produces after his kind, faith beings. "According to your faith be it unto you." This releases all the wisdom and power and life of God into your life. And; "without faith it is impossible to please God". I want to be pleasing to God, to develope in the faith.

"To them that believeth, all things are possible." We have been living far below what God intended. We have been tricked into believing that we are powerless and subject to the dictates of the world, and the circumstances of life. I've got news for you, THAT'S A LIE. If you were stranded on a mountain in a snow storm, if you have faith you'll be fine. If not you'll die, why? Spiritual law, fear or faith. As with Job; "what I had feared has come upon me". Fear is a magnet. Faith is a magnet. "The Lord will make a way". One is life one is death. We have the power to chose.

In the new birth into the kingdom of God, we were born again by faith. This faith is a gift of God, the very essence of God given to our spirit so that we may know the certainty of the things of God. Think of this; by faith we can obtain all the promises and the wisdom and blessing of God.

To show the practical use of faith let's consider this. Your life as it is now is the direct result of the things that you believed would be. Wheather for the good or for the bad. To change this you only need to change what you believe. We do this by the word of God, to conform to the will of God. The will of God for us is only good. "That we may know what is that pleasing, acceptable, and perfect will of God". In this we have a progression from the least to the greatest. When we are born of God we are pleasing to him. When we grow in the word, we are becoming more into His likeness and that is good and acceptable. When we mature and our will is molded into the will of the Father, then we are walking in the perfect will of God.

The spirit of man can be trained, just as we have schools to train the mind. The training of the spirit is the word of God. As we accept and drink from the word the power of that word will produce in our hearts the Amen. (the God said it, it is so). Then faith is of the heart and not the mind, it trancendes the mind, your mind might even disagree, but faith will hold to the truth of the word in your spirit. After we have come to this faith the Amen in our heart, then we can speak it forth and it will accomplish it's work, always. The Lord said; "if you believe, and not doubt, you shall have what-so-ever you sayeth".

Our problem is we have taken the word of men, and not the word of God. God said; "I am the Lord that healeth thee." Men say; your coming down with a disease. Who do you believe? Men say; "my father died of cancer, my sister died of cancer, so I'll have to watch for signs of cancer". The Lord says; "if you keep my word I will keep these diseases from you". Again, "they shall lay hands on the sick and the prayer of faith shall save them."

In the beginning of the church age all they had was the scripture. After a couple hundred years the church joined with the government of that day. Men were placed in the leadership and added false doctrines that put the church into darkness. These denied the power of God. Say all manner of falsehood to appease the nation, and make a man lead religion.

But God the Spirit is still the leader of the church to this day. And to this day all the scripture is the word of God, and not one word of it has failed, nor will ever fail. Neither can any take one word out of it, nor add one word to it. The same Holy Spirit that came at Penecost is still in charge and at work to show forth the finished work of Jesus. In the same great power and signs and wonders that always accompany Jesus's ministry. Any other, and it's not God's gospel. But the mere teachings of men, and the traditions of men who deny the power of God.