This is “Pastor Vic’s Nuggets of Truth”, podcasting from Historic Hyde Park, NY. I’m your host Dr. Vic Torres. My focus will be on the love, forgiveness and acceptance found in Jesus Christ which enables us to live the victorious life. For more information go to www.PastorVicsNuggets.com

Grace – “For by grace you have been saved through faith”

Now, what is this thing that we see in Ephesians called Grace? Grace in the biblical sense is the highest expression of love. The Greek word for Grace is “Charis” and is most often defined as an “unconditional gift”. 

We could spend a lifetime trying to figure out what this magnificent thing called God’s grace is. Grace is so awesome, so unexpected and so undeserved. God’s grace in the area of salvation is that if we put our faith in Jesus, we are forgiven of all our sins and receive the guarantee that we will go to Heaven and spend eternity with Him. In other words, Heaven is actually a free gift to those whose faith is in Jesus! 

To truly understand God’s Grace, you must understand God’s kind of love. In the New Testament there are three important words that are translated from the Greek into the word “Love”. This means that every time you see the word “love” in the New Testament it could be one of these three words.

1. Storge:  This is the type of love signifies the natural affection between family members.  Siblings, relatives, parents. We all know that kind of love.
2. Phileo:  This Greek word for love signifies, to be a friend to…fond of an individual or object; having affection for; an or feeling.
3. Agape: This Greek word for love appears most frequently in the New Testament.  It is most often understood in the Bible as “unconditional love”, or a decision to love.
   1. Agape love is a love that is the outcome of a moral principle, rather than a feeling of liking or affection such as Phileo love. As a result, Agape love means to love the undeserving, despite disappointment and rejection. But, at the same time it does not mean to love as a duty or a cold religious obligation.

Parents of children can appreciate this kind of Agape love. You know that no matter what your children do, no matter how they may disappoint you or even hurt you… you still love them and want the best for them. That is the kind of love God has for you. No matter what you have done, no matter what kind of person you have become… God sent Jesus just for you, because He loves you! 

Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love (agape) toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Jesus paid the price for sin and the result, because we trust in what Jesus did, we are forgiven and cleansed of all of our sins. 

God’s nature is Agape love, 1 John 4:8 tells us that, “He who does not love (agape) does not know God, for God is love (agape)”. This doesn’t mean that God is capable of love, it is more than that. He is the embodiment of Love! Everything He does is from the perspective and motivation of Agape love. God loves His creation even when that same creation rejects Him. This kind of love is quite foreign to our life’s experience. Honestly, most of us have experienced a performance type of love. If we are “good” we experience love. If we are not “good”: we are punished or rejected.

Saved – “you have been saved through faith”

The Greek word here is the word Sozo, which means to be healed, delivered, made safe, or rescued. What do I need to be rescued from you might ask? How about rescued from Hell! I know that the common thinking is “I hope that I’m going to heaven”, “I’m trying to be good.” Or, “I’ve never killed anyone or robbed a bank or anything like that”! Well, the fact of the matter is that while it is a good thing to try and be good and it is a good thing that you’ve not committed any major crimes. These are not the issues that determine salvation or being saved. The real issue is do you believe that Jesus is God, that He died for your sins and that He rose again from the dead? If you believe these three points, and are living your life in a way that reflects these facts,then you are saved or have salvation! Your final destination is Heaven and God has placed His Holy Spirit in you to teach you, guide you and comfort you in your time of need. 

• Listen to what the Gospel of John 3:16-18 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 
• Then verse 17 says, For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
• And finally, verse 18, He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”. 

Can you see it? Jesus didn’t come into the world to condemn people to Hell. People are already destined to Hell because they refuse to believe in Jesus and what He did on the Cross of Calvary. Some people choose to live in denial of Jesus because they are afraid that they will have to change. The fact is you don’t change to become good enough to accept Jesus as Lord, you accept Jesus as Lord and then you will be changed!

Now salvation assures us of two important things, 1- Heaven is ours, 2- God wants to lead us into an abundant life right here on earth!

Faith – “you have been saved through faith”

So here are love and grace, two things that are quite impossible to fully understand, God’s love, and God’s grace. They are difficult to understand with our natural minds or intellect because they are spiritual principles. How then do we comprehend them; it must be by faith! When we accept by faith that God loves us, it then naturally follows that we can then accept that He wants to bless us.

Now the word faith does not mean hoping or wishing. Faith in a spiritual sense is the “substance of things hoped for; the assurance of things unseen” that’s Hebrews 11:1. This verse is the perfect way to describe true faith. You see faith is the reality of things hoped for. It is as if you see it as existing before it actually exists. Faith is the assurance of things unseen which clearly describes the spiritual realm. 

In Romans 4:20 Abraham is described in the following way, “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform”. It is the promises of God that produce godly hope and faith is the assurance that He will perform it.

So, faith in operation is when a person behaves as if he has the promise before it has come to pass. Remember, the world says, show me and I will believe, Jesus said believe me and I will show you!

Gift – “It is the gift of God”

Ephesians 2 says that salvation, “is the gift of God”, The word “gift” makes it undeserved and unearned. In the Greek, it is the word- dōron; which means a present; a sacrifice or offering. Jesus was the sacrifice that enable the gift of salvation, eternal life to be given to those who receive it by faith. in John 1:29, John the Baptist says, “‘Behold’! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”! it was clearly understood that the lamb was Jesus and at the same time a sacrificial lamb!

Works – “not of works”

The word “works” is taken from the principle of the Old Testament “works of the Law”. Righteousness or being in the right place with God under the Law, depended on obedience to the Laws of the Torah, the first five books of the Bibles. These Laws had to do with the performance or practices of certain or acts dictated by the Torah. Therefore salvation, under Old Testament Law, was based upon how well or honestly you observed the Laws.

The phrase “Not of works” clearly means that it is not based on your behavior or performance as to “how good you are”! For most of us we are taught and go through life believing that if we are good, we will be rewarded. While there is a practical and natural truth to this it does not apply to God’s view of us. John 3:16 clearly shows us what motivates God to give us wonderful gifts, “For God so loved or Agape the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. You see, God gives out of unconditional love. God’s love is unearned and undeserved, it is a gift of Grace. The Greek word for work is Ergo and is defined as to toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, it is an act: — deed, doing, labor, work.

Boast – “lest anyone should boast”

The phrase “lest anyone should boast” simply means that you can not take any credit for what God has so graciously given. You see, there is nothing you can do to save yourself, other than to put your trust or faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 3:23 makes it clear that none of us deserve salvation, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.  It is that word “all” in all have sinned. You can look it up in the Greek or Hebrew, and no matter how you “slice it” all means all. When you put your faith in Jesus, God the Father sees you as innocent and clean!

Conclusion

“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

Take these steps of faith today see yourself, not as the world sees you, but see yourself as God sees you… you are loved by the Father, forgiven by Jesus and accepted into the family of God by virtue of the Holy Spirit living in you. 

Thanks for listening to Pastor Vic’s Nuggets of Truth. If you like our show and want to know more check out our website at www.PastorVicsNuggets.com or www.PastorVic.com. Please leave a review on iTunes, etc. 

Faith in the original Greek is “pistis” and a Bible Dictionary defines faith as; persuasion, credence, moral conviction, assurance, belief or, fidelity. 

Faith is Spiritual

In our last post we looked at the definition given by Hebrews 11:1, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. So, faith for a Christian is believing in the spiritual or unseen. You put your faith in Jesus and your hope in His promises. Again, it is not faith in faith or even faith in the promises found in the Bible, but faith in the one who made the promises in the Bible.

So, faith is not wishing, hoping or wanting something to be. Instead, it is the confidence and assurance that because of the love of God He will not leave you or abandon you to your circumstances. The Apostle Paul says in:

Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Do you believe that… that nothing can separate you from God’s Love?

It is your faith in the Lord that causes you to behave or act in a manner that shows you have already received that for which you are believing. Now that was a mouthful! The world says, “Show me and then I will believe!” God says, “Believe in Me and then I will show you!” Genuine faith released God’s promises.

Abraham of the Old Testament is called the “Father of Faith” because he acted on what God said even before there was physical proof. God spoke to Abraham that he would be the “father of many nations” even before he had any children of his own. 

Abraham received the promise of a son when he was 75 years old and was reminded of that promise when he was 90, but it wasn’t until he was 100 years old that the promise was fulfilled. During all that time Abraham believed in what God said. Listen to what Genesis 5:19-22 says about Abraham:

“And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He 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. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

You see faith is believing that you have it before it comes to pass. When you believe that way you are in a righteous position with God.

An Acrobat, A Wheelbarrow, and a Challenge of Faith

Taken from: Creativebiblestudy.com

The story of Charles Blondin is a great illustration of faith!  Not only was he a fascinating man, but the story of his pushing a wheelbarrow across Niagara Falls is one that all can identify with in seeing the difference between mere belief (head knowledge) and true faith (belief in action; heart knowledge).

Can you imagine a tightrope stretched over a quarter of a mile and spanning the breadth of Niagara Falls?  The thundering sound of the pounding water drowning out all other sounds as you watch a man step onto the rope and walk across!

This stunning feat made Charles Blondin famous in the summer of 1859.  He walked 160 feet above the falls several times back and forth between Canada and the United States as huge crowds on both sides looked on with shock and awe.  Once he crossed in a sack, once on stilts, another time on a bicycle, and once he even carried a stove and cooked an omelet!

On July 15, Blondin walked backward across the tightrope to Canada and returned pushing a wheelbarrow. The Blondin story is told that it was after pushing a wheelbarrow across while blindfolded that Blondin asked for some audience participation.  The crowds had watched and “Ooooohed” and “Aaaaahed!”  He had proven that he could do it; of that, there was no doubt.  But now he was asking for a volunteer to get into the wheelbarrow and take a ride across the Falls with him!

It is said that he asked his audience, “Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?”  Of course, the crowd shouted that yes, they believed! It was then that Blondin posed the question – “Who will get in the wheelbarrow?” Of course, …none did.

Aside: Later in August of 1859, his manager, Harry Colcord, did ride on Blondin’s back across the Falls.

The Charles Blondin Story – a Picture of Faith

The story of Charles Blondin paints a real-life picture of what faith actually is. The crowd had watched his daring feats. They said they believed, but their actions proved they truly didn’t.

It’s one thing for us to say we believe in God. It’s true faith though when we believe God and put our faith and trust in His Son, Jesus Christ. Don’t worry, Jesus has carried many across to Heaven’s gates. He can be trusted!

Believing with your mind is not the same as demonstrating faith with your actions! True faith gets you into the wheelbarrow!

Start your adventure with God today by remembering that “we walk by faith and not by sight! (2 Cor 5:7)

Faith and Experience

The three most common areas in which we seek God’s blessings are health, relationships and finances. God promises us that all of our needs will be met in Christ Jesus (Matt 6:31-34), but we must come to Him in faith, that is trusting that He will provide.

We are trusting in Him to deliver what He has promised, because He is faithful and true. We sometimes get off-track and put our trust or faith in the promise and forget about the one who made the promise. We should hope in the promise which produces an expectation, and faith in Jesus who gives us the assurance.

The point that faith requires doing something is well made in the book of James. First look at James 1:6-8,

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways”. 

We must not doubt or waver in our faith!

We must be steadfast in our faith in God. If our faith is in the promise then circumstances will cause our faith to waver, but if our faith is in Jesus and our relationship with Him then we will be steadfast. It is very much like being a passenger in a plane, is your trust in the advertising promise that you will have a safe flight or in the pilot to make it a safe flight?

Become a Doer of the Word!

The second point is found in James 1:22, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves”. If we are not doing or responding according to the Word of God; then we are hearers only! Don’t deceive yourself in thinking that you have faith if there is no out-working of that faith. It is like the person who believes it is going to rain but doesn’t bring an umbrella along. Let your actions correspond to what you are believing for!

Justification is by faith not works!

The third point if found in James 2:24-26. This section of scripture is sometimes misunderstood in particular verse 24 which says, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only”. It is a tragic mistake to think that James is saying that salvation or any other area of spiritual life is by works and faith. In the context of verses 24-26, James is saying that faith must have some evidence or outworking that points to faith in God. Just doing good deeds or good works, while noble and should be encouraged, by itself will not justify you. However, believing in Jesus and as a result you are led to do good deeds… well that is the evidence of Faith! 

Now there will be times when we must wait upon the Lord to do His part, but this by no means suggest that we do nothing. Resisting the temptation to sin is an important faith action. Resisting doubt and fear is also an important action. The Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 6:13,

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand”.

Too many interpret this to mean I do nothing, and God will do it all. Yet Proverbs 16:9 states, “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps”. We need to walk it out or as the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “we walk by faith and not by sight”.  

Finally, what’s “the story” when what we are believing for doesn’t come to pass. Sometimes it is just a timing issue. God is always at work and the promise is on its way. Remember God is not limited by time and space. However, it could be that as it says in,  James 4:3, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures”. In other words, God can’t bless those things that are contrary to His nature of love, forgiveness and acceptance.

Emotions and Experiences

Earlier we used the Bible Dictionary to define faith as; persuasion, credence, moral conviction, assurance, belief or, fidelity.  Then we looked at how the Bible defines faith, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Emotions

Notice that in both cases there is no mention of feelings or emotions. Faith is a decision and commitment to believe not a feeling. If you rely on feelings, you will be “tossed” about by doubt. One moment you will feel like you are in faith, then the next you will doubt. Remember,  James 1:6-8, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways”.

Experience

The same is true of experiences. They can be misleading. I am sure everyone has experienced disappointment when you were believing for something to come to pass, and it didn’t! A sick person doesn’t get healed or even dies. A relationship is not restored! Or a financial disaster actually comes to pass! 

Faith is easy when everything you pray for comes to pass. True faith comes through the trials and tribulations of life. We live in a “fallen world”. The scriptures are clear that Satan is the ruler of this world in the sense that the world is still characterized by sin.

Jesus said. “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over Me” (John 14:30). This title of “ruler of this world” suggests that Satan is the major influence over our world. Scripture teaches that the whole world is in his power. “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the evil one” (1 John 5:19).

Sometimes bad things happen to good people, but despite the evil that sometimes befalls Christians our position must be a position of faith, which is to not doubt God’s Word. We should never succumb to the temptation to “rewrite” the Word of God based upon personal experience. 

I pray that you will be able to say, in the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”.

1. Through the illumination of the Word – this is when the Holy Spirit “lights up” a passage of scripture to you and makes it understandable and relevant for you.
2. Through personal revelation that is when the Holy Spirit reveals a truth about Jesus and the Word of God.
3. Through the Rhema Word, the Holy Spirit brings back to memory a scripture that is relevant for a decision or direction to follow in.
4. Through circumstances and opportunities, God can open and close doors as a means of directing your path.
5. Through the “still quiet voice” when God speaks to you either audibly or in your mind giving you direction for or encouragement. 

Hearing God, then what?

As God reveals His will or plan to us, what are we to do with what we know? The simple answer is to “just do it”! In the late ’80s and early ’90s, a well-known slogan for Nike Sneakers was used to almost triple their sales for Nike sneakers. It was, “JUST DO IT!”. In other words, don’t just think about it or talk about it… Just Do It!

When it comes to the things of God many people live in the place of “let’s think about this and see if it really makes sense! If you are waiting for things to make sense you are missing the point of what Faith is! Because faith is spiritual, faith will not necessarily make intellectual sense or make sense in our minds. You see, God is able to see the whole picture you can only see a part. The central issue of faith is, “do you trust God to do what He says He will do”!

Faith is one of those seemingly simple words that gets “thrown around” by Christians. Statements like a measure of faith, get more faith, faith moves mountains, faith as a mustard seed, and finally, faith pleases God. All these statements are scriptural and therefore true and yet it is important that we understand that faith isn’t something you can generate or muster-up in an emergency or on-demand! Faith is an outcome of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

To understand faith fully we need to recognize that faith has deep spiritual roots into spiritual terms like righteousness, justification, works, and grace!

When you made your commitment to Jesus Christ there were two spiritual transactions that took place. 

1. You believed that Jesus died for your sins and you are now totally forgiven of ALL your sins, most importantly the “sin” of not believing in Jesus, to begin with.
2. You also believed that although Jesus died on the cross, He rose again and sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. 

At the moment you believed you were “Justified” and therefore made “righteous”. Justified in simple terms means that there is no charge against you. You have been found innocent in God’s eyes. Let me explain, as a result of this justification, which by the way is the opposite of condemnation. Before Christ you were condemned now you’ve been justified.  The Holy Spirit came to live in you. The third person of the Godhead is called the “Holy” Spirit because since He is God, He is holy, pure and undefiled. Because of this fact He is able to live in you because you are now a holy place a temple of God. 

Let me express this a different way. Justification is a legal term and means that as far as God is concerned it is as if you never sinned at all. (“Just-if-ied” never sinned). This state of justification means that you are “righteous”. This righteousness, or being right before God, is not of your own effort, but God’s. The moment you believed Grace was in operation, which means that your salvation is a gift of God and that’s what grace means… it is a gift of God. 

Ephesians 2:8-10. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

There are three takeaways that we need to be careful that we don’t miss from Ephesians.

1. We are saved by grace and grace is a gift of God.
2. It is through faith that this grace becomes effective.
3. God has plans for you that He wants you to walk in.

The kind of faith we are talking about is “saving faith” it is the faith by which you became saved. As a result of this salvation, you are justified and not condemned to Hell. This justification also means that you are righteous in God’s eyes, the Holy Spirit living in you. 

Now let’s look at Faith in the context of everyday living as a Christian.

In human history, God has always wanted a people that He could call His own. As in the Garden of Eden before the Fall, He wanted a people that He could fellowship with and a people that would obey Him. In the Old Testament, it was the Jews of Israel; in the New Testament, it was the believers in Jesus Christ. We know that both the Old and New Testaments are 2 separate covenants with God.

Old Testament Covenant– it’s all about the Law. The Law was passed from Moses to the people of Israel and an important point to keep in mind is that the people of Israel agreed to abide by the Law. They agreed to the Ten Commandments and all of the regulations that Moses received from God when Moses was on Mount Sinai (Mount Horeb in Deuteronomy). 

The Hebrew Bible is called the Tanakh. It is composed of three parts; the Law or Torah (the first five books of the Bible [Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), the Prophets (of which there are 5 major and 12 minor writings), and the rest of the books of the Tanakh which were called the Writings. So, you have the Torah or Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. The entire Christian Old Testament Bible and Hebrew Tanakh, which are the same but in different order of books, are about the Law or Law of Moses.

The Hebrew Law was how the Jewish people could enter into and maintain their righteous relationship with God. Observance of the Law justified the Jew. This observance of the Law meant that there were many things that Jews could do or not do- these were acts or actions and could be described as “works of the Law”. When one of the commandments of the Law was broken an elaborate system of sacrifices was instituted to restore the right relationship with God. 

Here is an interesting thought, was it the strict observance of the Law, the “letter of the Law “so to speak, or the “spirit of the Law that God was looking for? The letter of the Law was by works or the effort of the individual, the spirit of the Law was to walk by faith. You see even the Mosaic Law was intended by God to promote faith in God. 

New Testament Covenant 

The New Testament Covenant is referred to in the book of Hebrews as the “better covenant”. It is better on so many levels as chapters 8,9 and 10 of Hebrews points out. 

The New Testament points out that what the Law, under the old covenant, was incapable of producing righteousness. All the Law showed was mankind’s inability to keep the Law perfectly and the sacrificial system introduced by the Levites was unable to produce the kind of change that was permanent and pleasing to God. The Apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear that “we are justified by faith”, and not the Law. 

The weakness of the Law was that it was based upon “works” the human ability to observe the Law. Paul makes it clear in the book of Romans that it is by Grace that we can draw close to God. Works just makes us aware of our inability to keep the Law, in Paul’s words, the Law simply made us aware of how sinful a person was. 

The gift of Jesus Christ to humanity was part of God’s unfolding plan, love and grace to mankind. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (justified)” John 3:16-17.

We are saved when we believe in Jesus, that is God’s gift. What ties us to Jesus is our faith in Him. Faith in what He accomplished on the cross of Calvary and what He accomplished when He rose again, three days later. Forgiveness of all of our sins, that is we have been justified and made righteous. When Jesus ascended from the grave, the Holy Spirit descended to live in the Believer. 

Our faith is in Jesus and Him alone. What Jesus promised through the Father he will fulfill. Be careful now, our faith is not in the promise, but in the one who makes the promise. It is always about relationship, not cold religion. That is what separates the followers of the Law from the followers of Grace. The Law resulted in Legalism, true Grace results in freedom.

Faith

For some Christians, faith is seen as something to employ in order to get God’s attention. We may have a need, desire or some impending health crisis. Don’t get me wrong when we have needs, we should bring them to the Lord. We are encouraged in the Word to bring our issues to the Lord. But faith is not something we turn to only when we are in trouble. 

Faith is the continual manifestation of our righteousness before God. In other words, I am trying to live in a way that is pleasing to God and therefore I know that I have access to Him. 

It is because of my fellowship or intimacy with God that I am confident, sure that He hears me and will answer me in my time of need. He is my help as I walk by faith in Jesus.  “Paul says in Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure”.

As in the Garden of Eden, before the Fall, God wants to walk with you and fellowship with you. As you see your relationship with Him in this manner… you will find that your faith will grow and all of the promises that faith brings will be yours.

Thomas A. Edison said, “The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work”. The challenges that God puts before us will often seem greater than we can accomplish. It is important to remember God doesn’t call the capable He calls the available. If He has “called” you then He will enable and empower you to do His will. 

Realize that some of our important opportunities have a time–line. If we delay a decision, the opportunity may be gone forever. Sometimes our doubts and fears keep us from making a choice that involves change. therefore, the opportunity may be missed. 

I want to remind you of the wisdom found in Proverbs 3:5-12. This is a paraphrase from the Message Bible:

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.

Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!

Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over.

But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this”.

The bottom line is that God loves you and wants the best for you. His best will lead to meaning and purpose in your life and honor Him.

Some might be surprised that God has a plan or call for your life!

Yes, He has a plan for you! In Psalms 139:16 the psalmist says, “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed, and in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them”. You see God knew you even before you were born and even then, had a plan established for you. 

Then of course there is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”. 

What is so important to realize is that God is for you and not against you. He wants you to prosper in all that you do, because when you follow Jesus Christ it glorifies Father God.

Hearing God and Faith

So, the key to a blessed life is that you must know His plan for you. Because God is spiritual or unseen 2 Cor 5:7 tells us that we must learn to walk by faith and not by sight. Now, what do I mean by walking by Faith? First of all, to walk by faith means that you know God’s plan and purpose for your life, for as someone once said, “Faith is impossible unless the will of God is known”! That’s why hearing from God is so important to success in life. 

The second point is, what are you to have faith in? Your faith should not be in “faith”, meaning that you can’t will your faith into being. You can’t just grit your teeth, clench your fist and make faith a reality. Your faith must be in Jesus Christ and Him alone. Jesus is the one who died for you, cleansed you of your sin, accepted you into the family of God and has given you a purpose for life.  Your faith will grow as you continue in your relationship with Him. Your relationship involves prayer, learning to hear Him, spending time in the Word, and fellowshipping with other believers. 

Faith and the scriptures

You may be encouraged by the scriptures, but your faith cannot be in the words on a page… your faith must be in Jesus and Him alone. There is an interesting episode in John 5:39, Jesus is speaking to the legalistic Jews, who are opposed to Him and He says to them, ”9 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life”. In other words, the religious Jews were so in love with the scriptures that they forgot who the author of the scriptures was, Jesus- God in the flesh.

The Bible is a book filled with the promises of God some theologians say that there are over 1000 promises, others say that there are over 5000 promises in the Bible, but again our faith is not in the promise, but in the one who makes the promise- God!

Remember if God is for you who could possibly be against you! Listen to what Romans 8 says beginning in verse 31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things”? In other words, if God would give us Jesus, why would He hold any good thing back from us? 

Listen to what the apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”. In other words, you can’t imagine what God, with all His power and authority, wants to do in you and through you!

Open and closed doors.

Christians often use the phrase, of God that he “opens or closes doors”. When God opens a door it usually means an opportunity to fulfill His plan for you, whereas when He closes a door it means that the path you are thinking of is not part of His plan, or He is not in that plan. In either case, opening and closing doors, is for the fulfillment of His plans for you. Just as a side note, let me remind you that God will never force you to make a decision, right or wrong! Your choices are yours to make.

Coincidence and God-incidence

It is important to distinguish between a co-incidence and a God-incidence. A coincidence is random and can be beneficial or harmful. It is strictly by chance. A God-incidence is, as the name, implies a circumstance God has orchestrated. It is a God “set-up”! Remember, as Romans 8:28 states, “all things work out for good to those who love Him and are called to his purpose. Love in this context means that you obey Him. Called to His purpose means that you sense God’s calling to some purpose he has for you.

Paul, Silas and Timothy

A good scriptural illustration of this is found in Acts 16. The Apostle Paul along with Silas and Timothy were sharing the Gospel in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). They also visited the churches that had been established, during Paul’s first missionary journey. The Bible then says that at some point they were forbidden (the was door closed) by the Holy Spirit to continue preaching the word in Asia or modern Turkey. Then they “tried to go into Bithynia (another area in Turkey), but the Spirit did not permit them”, the door was closed to continue their original plan.

It was in Troas (bordering Greece) that a vision appeared to Paul in the night. The vision was of a man from Macedonia (modern day Greece) who stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, they immediately made their way to Macedonia. You see Paul’s conclusion was that the Lord was calling them to preach the gospel in Macedonia or Greece.

What is so significant about this journey or event is that Paul established 7 important churches in Macedonia or Greece. These are the very same 7 churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation chapter 2 and 3. They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

God’s plan was that the Apostle Paul was to establish these churches in Macedonia! Paul could have resisted the closed door but then he would not have accomplished God’s best! In God, nothing happens by accident.

Personal Testimony

In my life as a Christian, God has invited me to walk through doors of opportunity. I can remember clearly sensing God’s presence and urging to go through the door. To be honest, I wasn’t always filled with faith and boldness. In my case, I always tried to make sure that I wasn’t trying to do something I wanted to do. What I mean is that it wasn’t something that would appeal to my ego. Deception is at the core of ego.

There was always a sense of, “really God”! Is this you, because this isn’t part of my plan. As I stepped through the open door, I would often encounter obstacles. The scriptures state that God is for you, but remember the Devil is against you! Don’t be surprised if it isn’t “smooth sailing”. Don’t quit! 

As an encouragement read 2 Kings 6:15-17. In that account, the prophet Elisha and his servant are being pursued by the King of Syria. They go to sleep in a hut for the night and the next morning the scriptures say, “15 And when the servant of Elisha the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

16 So Elisha answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha”.

When you are in God’s plan you need to look to the spiritual and see the chariots of fire surrounding you and protecting you. Fear not because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world!

As a final note once you start the journey into God’s provision for you, don’t turn back. In a sense, you are half-way there! It is the same distance if you go back as it is to go forward, so go forward and fulfill your destiny!

In closing, it is important to note that while God may open or close a door, He will not force you to go through the open door or prevent you from opening a closed door. A very important truth about God is that He has given you Free Will! Faith requires free will, love requires free will, obedience requires free will. 

We always have a choice! Recall Joshua’s words in Joshua 24:15b, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” As Joshua made a decision to put his faith in God, I encourage you to do the same. 

Learn to hear God’s voice through the scriptures, the Holy Spirit, through the circumstances of life and allow the peace of God rule (or be the umpire) in your hearts, Colossians 3:15a. This means you need to work through the fear, confusion or doubt. Remember fear, confusion, and doubt are the opposites of Faith.

What Prophecy is not.

Prophecy is one of those terms in Christianity that is often misunderstood. There are at least two incorrect concepts about prophecy. 

The first is that it is a type of “fortune telling” or looking into the future for answers. We are influenced by the media (movies, TV, and books) to believe that it is real and ok.  Prophecy is not “fortune telling” as much as “forth-telling”. Fortune telling is predicting what may happen based on spiritual insight or “gifting”. Prophecy, on the other hand, is stating what God says will happen. The difference may seem slight and the origins may be spiritual in nature for both, BUT and a big but is that fortune telling, is not from God- it is actually demonic.  

The second issue is that we often take the model of a prophet from the Old Testament. God always wants communication with His people, the covenant of the Old Testament was with the Jews. God chooses certain individuals to be His voice among His people. It is clear that the prophets of old did not have the Holy Spirit living in them, but the Holy Spirit of God was “upon” or “on” them. People of the Old Testament went to Prophets and Priest to hear from God.

The primary message a Prophet brings.

Another important point is that Old Testament Prophets were primarily used by God to give direction to the rulers or kings of the Old Covenant. Here are some examples of those Prophets, Eli, Samuel, and Nathan?

Prophecy and Prophets were very important to Israel. The evidence of their importance is in the fact that 17 of the Old Testament books (Major and Minor Prophets) were inspired and written by Prophets. The primary function of these prophets was to warn the people of Israel to the consequences of walking away from Him and worshipping other gods.

New Covenant Prophets and Prophecy.

As New Covenant believers we don’t see the same emphasis on prophets as in the Old Testament. This can be understood by the fact that as believers in Jesus Christ His Holy Spirit lives continuously in us, not simply upon or onus on certain occasions. 

God has chosen to speak to us directly about His plans. I am not saying that prophecy is unimportant today, but it has a different function and that is primarily to confirm what God has already said. 

It appears that prophecy has two functions in the new testament:

1. to confirm what God has said
2. to build up an individual. 1 Corinthians 14:3 “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men”. 

Prophecy can be for an individual (1 Cor 12) as well as for a group of believers as in the local church.

I need to be careful here, I am not saying that New Testament prophecy is only personal prophecy, God can and does use the prophetic gift to speak to the Church in general.

The New Testament makes it clear that prophecy is a spiritual gift and part of God’s plan to communicate with us: 

1. Romans 12:6 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith”. 
2. 1 Corinthians 12:10, “to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills”.
3. 1 Corinthians 14:1 “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy”.
4. 1 Timothy 4:14 “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership”.
5. 2 Peter 1:19-21, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit”.

Three parts of Prophecy:

In practical terms, we can see that prophecy has three parts, revelation, interpretation and application. This is true of the New Testament as well as Old Testament prophecy. 

1. Revelation-This is the actual impartation from the Holy Spirit to whoever receives the prophecy, it may be:
   1. audible (as in a voice), 
   1. visual as in a vision, 
   1. in dreams, 
   1. and in messengers (Angels). 
   1. In other words, God is communicating to us His plan and purpose.

• Interpretation –Since the Revelation may be symbolic, it means the prophet must interpret the message that is being conveyed. In other words, what is God saying?

• Application –The prophet or the one the prophecy is for must interpret the prophecy in other works what do you do with the interpretation? This is often the most difficult part because there may be a subjective clouding or influence by the person’s own point of view. There may be more than one way to interpret and therefore apply. 

Old Testament Examples

Joseph’s Dream

A very important account of Jacob’s son Joseph is given in Genesis Chapter 37. Remember Jacob had 12 sons and God changed Jacob’s name to Israel. So this is a significant account of one of those sons, Joseph.

At the time Joseph was the youngest son and Jacob’s favorite. His other brothers “hated him” (verse 4) because he was the favored one. As time goes on Joseph has a prophetic dream and he shares the dream with his brothers. The following is the prophetic dream: ”5 Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. 6 So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf. 8 And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words”. 

As you can see, they could not see the truth because their hatred clouded their minds. So, from that day forward all they could think about was how to get rid of him first by killing him but eventually selling Joseph into slavery. 

Later when Joseph becomes the second most powerful man in Egypt the brothers, in fact, bow down to him. Joseph then rescues the family from sure death and brings them into Egypt.

You see, this is the point, God’s word was fulfilled. Joseph knew it from the beginning, his family came to know it in the end. 

Another example, Nathan confronts King David.

Another example is in the life of King David. In this case, a Prophet named Nathan confronts David with the truth. Remember David is described by God, “as a man after my own heart”. despite this closeness between God and David, David sinned before God in the situation with Bathsheba.

You may recall in 2 Samuel 11, David used his authority as King to seduce the wife of one of his soldiers, Uriah. Uriah wife was Bathsheba. She became pregnant. What follows is a tragic story of ruthlessness and betrayal on David’s part. King David sent Uriah on a suicide mission upon which he is killed. Then King David takes Bathsheba to be his wife. 

Obviously, God was displeased with David’s treachery and sin. God sends Nathan the prophet to confront David. Nathan tells a story about a rich man and a simple farmer with only one lamb. To make a long story short (read the passage) the rich man takes the poor man’s lamb and uses the lamb in a banquet meal. 

Upon hearing this story, David replies in 2 Samuel 12:5  “ So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! 6 And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.” To which Nathan replies, “You are the man!”

Nathan then prophesizes that King David will experience war and bloodshed against his kingdom and that the child born of Bathsheba will die.

History shows that what was prophesized by Nathan all comes to pass.

Now for a New Testament Example

We see another example in Acts 21, a prophet by the name of Agabus meets with the Apostle Paul. In very dramatic fashion he takes Paul’s belt and ties his own hands and feet. And says, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

Now when the friends of Paul heard this prophetic word, they pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem”. (Wrong application!)

Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” So, when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”

What is critical to understanding in this event is to see that Paul already had a word from the Lord in the previous chapter. Chapter 20 starting at 22, “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 

As you can see, when the prophet Agabus spoke, Paul knew it was of the Lord. But Agabus’ interpretation was for Paul not to go to Jerusalem. However, Paul has already received a word form the lord that he was to go to Jerusalem in despite the danger that would befall him. That is why he didn’t let the cries of his friends dissuade him from his mission.

Conclusion

When you receive personal prophecy, it should be something that the Lord has already spoken to you about. Prophecy should be the confirmation of what you know God has said. Now it is also possible that the prophetic word reveals something that you are not aware of previously. In that case just “ponder it in your heart” until further revelations are made to you.

All prophecy must end with the individual asking with assurance the key question of, “Lord what are you saying to me…!”.

Then the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2, 

9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But (and a very big but) God has revealed them to us through His Spirit…

Then in verse 12

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

Verse 14

But the natural man (not born-again) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

And finally, in verse 16

For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Can you see it now, everything God wants us to know He reveals to us through His Holy Spirit, who lives in us!

Illumination and Rhema

Now recently we have been talking about how God speaks to us. In Episode 5 we introduced the idea of the Illumination of scripture by the Holy Spirit. In Episode 6 we talked about the power of “recalled” scriptures as we discussed the difference between the Logos word and the Rhema Word. 

Personal Revelation

There is a third way in which Jesus reveals, through His Holy Spirit, His truths to us and it is called Personal Revelation. Personal revelation is when you have a sudden insight into a truth that you could not have figured out yourself. 

It is not intellectual understanding, but it is an “ah-ha” moment when you see the truth and the truth sets you free from lies or untruths that have kept you blinded or in bondage. This revelation is divine in nature, that means it come from God. Jesus said to those who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” John 8:31.

I’ve chosen three examples or cases of divine personal revelation to help give us insight into what it is.

Case 1, Revelations of Paul in Galatians

Paul’s history: 

1. born after the crucifixion of Jesus, 
2. originally called Saul of Tarsus, 
3. a Pharisee, 
4. converted on the road to Damascus, Syria (Acts 9), 
5. now known as Paul. 
6. Wrote 13 of the books or Epistles of the New Testament.
7. New Testament 27 books, 4 gospels, 1 rev, 22 epistles, 13 by Paul
8. Apparently by Personal Revelation as we will see.

Galatians 1:

11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God in me.

Galatians 2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.

Communion…

Another example regarding Paul is the revelation of communion, one of the two ordinances given by Jesus, the other is baptism.

1 Cor 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 

24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 

Case 2, Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ the Messiah in Matthew 16:13-19

13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Peter had a divine personal revelation! He didn’t figure it out using logic, he simply knew the truth! The deity of Christ is a truth known only by divine revelation.

Case 3, “Doubting Thomas”, John 20:24-29.

The first time the risen Jesus appeared to the Disciples, the disciple Thomas was absent. Later the disciples said to Thomas, “We have seen the Lord.” Thomas replies, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” Thomas demanded proof before he would believe.

Eight days later the disciples were together again, and while Thomas was with them Jesus appeared in there midst, and said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing and Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 

In the simple statement, “My Lord and my God!” Thomas understood through personal revelation Jesus was God! Notice that Thomas didn’t say my Messiah, or Christ, or savior or deliverer! He says “my God!” (Joseph and Mary Christ?)

Now I will agree that seeing the Risen Jesus would help us with our faith in Him, but listen to what verse says, 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

 So, what is Personal revelation? It is when God through the Holy Spirit gives you the grace to believe (or have faith) in the revealing or revelation of His Truth. The truth is that Jesus is God and eternal life is found only in Him. He really is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).

My prayer for you is that you would receive the personal revelation that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.”