Established in Faith

Romans 1:11 
"For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established;" NASB

“For I am yearning to see you, that I may impart and share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen and establish you;” Amplified

This is an interesting passage of Scripture. We are established and strengthened by receiving a spiritual gift.

Are we established by having the gift, or are we established by using the gift? Our righteousness is not based on works but on faith. But if we have faith, works will follow. So works play into our faith.

When we have faith, we are confident, we have assurance and quit striving. We rest with this confidence and assurance. Hebrews 4:2,3;11:1

Using our faith with the gift we have builds confidence with the success that comes from the grace of God. If we don't use our gift the assured confidence slips away. It is important to use what we have received from the Lord. Now if we don't have opportunity to use our gift then the assurance will stay with us.

Christians are known by their love. When we are able to minister to others in love, we are expressing our Christianity. (working in love and faith.) Ministering to others in love establishes us in the faith.

Further reading:

Romans 16:25

1 Thessalonians 3:2;12,13

2 Thessalonians 2:17;3:3

James 5:8

1 Peter 5:10

2 Peter 1:12

Encouragement: Key to Spiritual Growth

Encouragement is key to spiritual growth. We are encouraged by the promises in the Bible. We are encouraged by the love God has shown for us by Jesus' death and the resurrection life. We are encouraged by the word of God and how it changes our life by becoming part of us. We are encouraged by the Holy Spirit as He brings the word real to us. We are encouraged by the hand of God as He leads us and protects us day by day. We are encouraged as we gather together with other believers and share how life is happening with us. We are encourage as Jesus is with us. The Scriptures encourage us. People with their testimonies of God working in their lives encourage us.

Have you ever been working and the motor of your equipment breaks down? Work stops and the hope of advancement, the hope of finances stops. Then when the equipment is started, when the equipment is fixed and starts again, the hope is restored. The power of being able to work encourages.

When we share of God's power in our lives we encourage others that God will move in their lives also.

Isa 35:4,5,6  This passage shows that speaking to the needy brings healing and deliverance.

Isaiah 49:9 speaking to the captives, prisoners those who are bond, will give them freedom.

V10 he who has compassion will feed them. It is the courage of speaking the promise and having compassion on the bound that will free them to feed and have abundant waters.

Then in verse 12 it says to behold. To look into the future with the eyes of your heart. In Ephesians 1:18 Paul prays that the eyes of our understanding will be enlightened. Why pray for the eyes to be understanding instead of just the understanding to be enlightened? It is because the ability to see in the spirit will work for the answer to come. In Isaiah 62:6,7  the watchman are reminding the Lord of the promise. They are seeing the answer coming form he Lord, waiting for it.

There is a time to see. A time to wait. A time to speak and a time to reap.

If we are about the Lord's business and are bring the people to the good waters and good pastures of the word of God. What are we to do before?

Encouragement comes after the time of seeing the answer and reminding the Lord and declaring the promises to the heavens. Eph 3:9

How are the encouragers encouraged? They are encouraged by waiting on God and meditating on the promises of God which allows them to see the answer in the spirit. Then they declare it to others to encourage them.

To preach the gospel, the good news from God and of God, comes from living the gospel and abiding in the gospel. Then we can proclaim the gospel.

Live the gospel. Abide in the gospel, then we can preach the gospel, the good news from God.

Do We Walk by Faith or by Sight?

Walking by faith vs. walking by sight. 2 Cor 5:7 Our goal, our direction from the Bible, our plan, our strength is to walk by faith.

What is the difference between walking by faith and walking by sight? To walk by faith is to walk by the promises of God and not by experiences or what is possible. To walk by sight is to walk in the natural. It is to walk in the possible. Christianity is an impossible life. We are now in the Christmas season, and thinking people reject the Christmas story because of the virgin birth of Jesus. That is impossible they say. How can a baby be born if Mary did not have relations with Joseph. Thinking people say Joseph and Mary must have had relations and they just covered it up with this wild story.

This is why I say Christianity is an impossible way of life. That is unless there is a God who is not dead. We believe this story of a virgin birth and go even further and believe that Jesus was not only born of a virgin but also raised from the dead.

Thinking people just mock these ideas. These are ridiculous ideas if all there is, is the natural.

Then Christians go on to say the Bible was written by God through man. Jonah and the whale. Noah and the ark. Moses parting the Red Sea. Jesus walking on the water. I could go on and on about the miracles in the Bible. These are just stories, they are just children's fairy tales, thinking people would say. The Bible can't be believed,

In 2 Tim 3:16 it says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;” Thinking people would reject that and say it is just man's attempt to present morality. Accept the morality but reject the stories. That is what thinking people would say.

Are we thinking people or people of faith? Now I am not saying people of faith do not think. On the contrary people of faith do a lot more thinking than the so called thinking people do.

God speaks and interjects His power on earth daily. The Bible is true and every man is a liar. Romans 3:4 If the Bible is true would we not be wise in waiting as it tells us to?

The natural man lives by what he sees and what is possible. The man of faith lives by the teachings of the Word of God and obeys the leading of the Holy Spirit as He is directed to. The Holy Spirit brings to us the word of God and teaches us the Scriptures. In John 6:63 it says, “"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”

We can live and walk by the promises of the Bible. 2 Cor 1:20 says “For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.” and because of this we can be assured in God and walk in the confidence and rest of faith.

And so when we walk by faith and not by the natural what are doing? We are trusting in, relying upon, and clinging to Jesus that He will back up His word in our life. Jeremiah 1:12 “Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it."

The fight of faith 1 Timothy 1:18 is the rejection of all the doubt that comes when we walk by faith. This is explained in 2 Cor 10:3-5

Are we people of faith or do we just live like the so called thinking people?

God will enable us to live for Him and not live in the past. Let us be obedient to God in faith today!

Hearing God's voice, what is involved?

John 10:27

"My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me.”

Hearing God's voice, what is involved?

My sheep. It is God's sheep that hear God's voice. Are we God's sheep? Many would say yes but don't try to hear His voice. It is not just that the sheep of God will hear His voice if they need to. They will also hear His voice when God wants to direct us.

It says that the sheep of God will follow Him. Are we following Jesus? When God moves do we move with Him? He may want to do something and we aren't listening. We need to be listening to hear.

Is there so much noise in our life that when God speaks, we can't hear? I know in my experience there is. I need to get the noise out of my life so that I can hear. What do I mean by noise. It is not just TV, Internet, movies, sports, music that I am talking about.

Our flesh screams loud if it is not under subjection to our spirits. Romans 12:1,2 talk of making our life a life a sacrifice for God instead of living for the lusts the world offers. It is putting aside the lusts of the flesh that will make a major step in being able to hear God.

We listen to what we want to listen to. Change your wants by putting your mind on the things of the Spirit instead of the things of the flesh. Romans 8:5-8.

And God knows us. Our knowing God and His knowing us is important in this hearing business. Hear God and talk to God in prayer. Do we have time for God? Do we have time to read the internet, or watch movies? I would say most do. Then we have time for God.

Earlier in this chapter it says Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Life with God is better than life away from God. Serving God is better than serving yourself. We were made to live for God. Freedom comes as we live for what we were made for.

Live for God and you will come to know God better. You will talk with Him and be His friend. In John 14 it talks of the Father and Jesus coming to live with us as we live for God. Then we will commune with Him and He with us and there will be life.

You will hear God then. You will hunger for God and seek for Him by reading His word.

Highway to Zion

How blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; In whose heart are the highways to Zion! Ps. 84:5
Are we considering the Lord in all that we do? Or are we so consumed with the cares of this world we forget the Lord. It is God who enables us to get all we have. Do only problems cause us to turn to the Lord? Remember where you have come from and be thankful. God has blessed us and continues to bless us. Come to Him and receive all. If we come to know Jesus, we will have peace, joy, fulfillment, direction, victory and life eternal.

How blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; In whose heart are the highways to Zion! Ps 84:5

What does it mean to have strength in God? It means we go to God, whenever there is a need for strength. When do we not need strength from God? Always go to God. This well traveled path to the Lord is the highway to Zion. Always turn to God for direction, strength and fellowship.

Going through the valley allows us to become strong. No one gains strength by taking it easy.

A runner becomes stronger by running many miles a week and adding to the number of miles he runs as he gets stronger. It is not easy to increase the distance, but strength comes through the pain of exercise. Football players get better as they lift weights in the weight room, practice many hours on the field and spend time studying the play book. The vision is to play well, but it takes many hours of preparation to get there.

This is the meaning of "without a vision the people perish." Without a vision you will back away from the hardship you face. With a vision you press on through the problems to win the contest you are preparing for.

Return to God on the highway that is within your heart. Gain strength from Him and let Him lead you. Then you can say trouble is a learning process to strengthen and not a loss.

Isaiah 40:3-5 It is going down this highway that we will see His glory. The grace and glory of God will supply us with spiritual ability to live and serve.

The Zion highway is traveled many times because of the source of supply at the other end. Go back down that highway where your true home is. Return every day to relax, to enjoy, to be refreshed. Return down that highway to be with Jesus. Go back home to Jesus.

How blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; In whose heart are the highways to Zion! Ps. 84:5

Other Scriptures to read:
Isaiah 35:8
Isaiah 40:3-5
Isaiah 62:10

Old post from wftr http://wftr.webs.com/highway.htm

The work of Ezra compared to the work of Nehemiah.

Ezra rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem. Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, and established the government with a standing army. Both men returned to Israel to repair the nation from the cycle of servitude.

Judges presents the cycle of servitude. 1st there was prosperity. Then the people sinned by turning away from God to serve the idols of the nations around them. Then there came a invading army to plunder the nation and put them in servitude. Then the people called out to God and God sent a judge to deliver the people from the oppressor. Prosperity resulted and the lack of vision of the people cause the cycle of servitude to continue.

The cycle of life can be like the cycle of servitude in the book of Judges.

I was driving by a forested area when I started looking for an interesting tree, I took a photo of in March 2005,  but I didn't see it. So I got out to look for it.
But the tree was not to be seen. Walking into the woods I found it now on the ground. This photo was taken in November 2007.




The cycle of nature happens just as the cycle of servitude does. This cycle happens through out history. It takes extraordinary people to not follow this cycle. People of faith. People of commitment. People that realize the consequences of their actions and look at the long range picture. People committed to God and not just going with the flow. The work of Nehemiah would build the walls of faith into people.

The issue is not only to stay out of trouble. But to storm the gates of hell, rescuing people from the fire of hell. Then to rebuild into their lives and pave the way to give them a life in God as well. To teach them to stand on their own and be adult Christians.

This rebuilding in the Old Testament is called discipleship making in the New Testament. The walls are salvation and the willingness to carry the cross of Christ. John 3:16 and; Romans 12:1,2

Nehemiah's role was putting stability in the people, while Ezra's role was establish the temple and worship. A pastor is doing the work of Ezra and a discipler is doing the work of Nehemiah. Some pastors do both jobs. In my experience, there is not much going on with discipleship.

I see Nehemiah's work mostly neglected by the tyranny of time. Sunday morning is the time for Ezra and Monday through Friday is the days most people work and establish their purpose in life.

Ezra would be a type for a  preacher today. The  Levites, the servants of the temple, would be an Old Testament type for the support staff of the preacher. Nehemiah would be a type of the New Testament counselor/discipler/leader to the people today. So they can be solders, business men, workers for the kingdom of God.

Ezra taught people to worship and provided a place for them to express this worship and learning. Nehemiah built protection and carried weapons to repel the enemy.

In the present, people see the church building and participate with those events. But they don't see the weapons, spiritual war or walls today. Like the days of old they lose sight of their purpose and focus on what is right before them. This weakens their life and they fall because of a lack of protection in their life. Women are more inclined to do the work of Levites in the temple, (church staff). While men don't see that role as appealing and quit for nothing of value to do.

The work of Nehemiah is the prayer meeting and teaching people how to get their prayers answered and to walk in faith, and the resulting service of evangelism and outreach, service in the community that builds into their lives and other peoples lives.

Is there a position for the Nehemiah ministry? Yes but most of the work should be done outside the walls of the church building.

For further reading on rebuilding:
Isaiah 44:26
Isaiah 49:8
Isaiah 58:12
Isaiah 61:4
Ezekiel 36:10
Isaiah 30:13
Amos 9:11

Light to the Nations

I like the way this tree continues to curve to find light. Most trees will curve until they get clear of obstructions. This tree seemed to have obstructions to the right and as it got taller it had obstructions to the left.

It appears now the tree is clear and can grow straight up.

Isaiah 49:6 “... I will also make you a light to the nations. ...”

God makes us light.

We are sent as Jesus was sent. 1 John 4:17 as Jesus was so also are we in this world.

How does light affect us? You can't see where you are going if you don't have light.

One time I was in a motel room and got up to use the bathroom. It was pitch black and I didn't want to wake my wife up by turning on the light. I was just groping around the walls not knowing where I was going because I was disorientated by not remembering which way the bed was located.

It is the same in the spirit. Without the light of Jesus we won't know what to do.

Jn 12:35,36 "Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

We should walk while we have the light. Jesus is our light.

John ;8:12 "Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

 Live by the guidance of Jesus from His word. Being a light is showing others the light you have. Use the opportunities you have to share the light with others. If we don't use the light we have we will lose it.

When we have the light we will love those who are around us.

Christians are known by the love they have for each other. That does not mean we do ignorant things to help others. But love will give a hand up for those in need. 1 John 2:10,11

If we turn away from showing love to others we lose our light to walk by.

It is our confession along with our care for others that brings light to others. Hold fast your confession. Continue to proclaim what Jesus has done for you, what Jesus is doing for you today and what Jesus will do for you in the future.

The works of love and the confession of Christ together, brings people to repentance of faith.

Further reading:
John 1:1-5
John 14:6