God has always counted faith in Him as righteousness. Abraham, the father of many nations, lived long before Jesus walked the earth, and yet God considered Abraham to be a righteous man. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed in (trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living and right standing with God) (Rom. 4:3). God considered Abraham as righteous because Abraham trusted God absolutely. But Abraham was not the only person in the Old Testament (OT) that God considered righteous. In fact, anyone living in the time of the OT that trusted God and relied on Him was considered by God as a righteous person. In the book of Habakkuk, for example, we are told to Look at the proud; his soul is not straight or right within him, but the [rigidly] just and the [uncompromisingly] righteous man shall alive by his faith and in his faithfulness (Hab. 2:4).

Thus, one of the features of righteousness is living in absolute trust in God. What then was the purpose of the Law? It was added [later on, after the promise, to disclose and expose to men their guilt] because of transgressions and [to make men more conscious of the sinfulness] of sin; and it was intended to be in effect until the Seed (the Descendant, the Heir) should come, to and concerning Whom the promise had been made. And it [the Law] was arranged and ordained and appointed through the instrumentality of angels [and was given] by the hand (in the person) of a go-between [Moses, an intermediary person between God and man] (Gal 3:19). The promise referred to in this verse is the promise God made to Abraham that he would be the Father on Many Nations (Gen. 17:4). This promise was fulfilled in Christ Jesus who was a descendent of Abraham (Gal. 3:29).

It is interesting that faith leads to righteousness, but righteousness also leads to faith. For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith (Rom. 1:17). Righteousness leads to faith because Jesus is both the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). That is, Jesus’ death on the cross allowed Him to send His Holy Spirit to us (John 16:7) to convict us of sin (unrighteous living) (John 16:8). It is that conviction that causes us to accept Jesus’ offer to free us from our slavery to the Evil One (John 8:34, 10:10, 16:33). Further, once we are freed from the power and control of Satan, God pours into us the same honor and glory that He gave to Jesus (John 17:22). This is almost too much to clearly understand or accept, but it is absolutely true.

He does this because another benefit that Jesus bought for us through His death is true citizenship in the Kingdom of Love and Light. Citizenship that makes us re-born children of the Living God (Eph. 5:1, 1John 3:1). It makes us heirs of God and brothers and sisters of Jesus, co-heirs with Him (Rom. 8:17). As co-heirs, we get to share in Jesus’ inheritance. That’s a most astounding statement, but absolutely true. In fact, God seated Jesus at His right hand (the position of power) (Eph. 1:20, Col. 3:1, Heb. 8:1, 10:12, 12:2, 1Peter 3:22), and then seated us right there along with Jesus (Eph. 2:6). Our righteousness springs out of our citizenship in God’s Kingdom (1Peter 2:24), and is given to us because by faith we have become brothers and sisters of Jesus, the supreme example of righteousness (Heb. 1:8-9, 2Peter 1:1). It is our faith in Jesus that leads to our righteousness and our righteousness that leads us to live in the Truth as God intends. As His children, we have direct access to His Throne, and when we go to Him in absolute trust, He counts that to us as righteousness, making our prayers most powerful, indeed (James 5:16).

We understand that faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word (Rom. 10:17), but God’s Word brings us far more that just faith. Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work (2Tim. 3:16-17). Scripture is not only the story of Jesus Christ and His saving grace, but it is our instruction book on living the kind of life that God has for us—a life of righteousness fully imbedded in His Truth (John 8:31-32).

Righteousness, which we can define as living in total right standing with God, is achieved by living our lives in faith according to the principles set forth in the Word. When we live as righteous children of God, we live by faith and not by sight (2Cor. 5:7). We are to Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves], That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world (Phil. 2:14-15).

We also need to understand that living in faith, which makes us righteous before God (He sees us in the same light as He sees Jesus), leads to true peace. Righteousness is therefore, also a state of peace with God, achieved by our absolute trust in Him. Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God (Rom. 5:1-2).

Righteousness in a product of our faith, and can be defined as “right standing with God.” It is living a holy life, free from the slavery to sin. It is a gift to us from God who counts our faith as our being in right standing with Him. Our righteousness, the right to stand before Him and act in concert with Him as His child, leads us to trust Him all the more. Dig into God’s Word and allow it to dwell richly in your heart so that His righteousness may penetrate every aspect of your life.

Key Verse: Rom. 1:17

Associated Keys: Hab. 2:4, 2Tim. 3:16-17, Rom. 5:1-2

Using the Key: Gracious King, Father and Lover of my life, Thank You so much for declaring me righteous before You. Help me to live totally in Your righteousness by walking by faith and not by sight. In Jesus Name I ask that You make it so.

There are four aspects of love’s work that affect faith. First, our absolute trust in God is activated by love. Each of us was given the measure of faith (Rom. 12:3) that allowed us to accept Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords in our lives (Gal. 3:22,26, Heb. 12:2). It is the Holy Spirit Who convicts us of sin (John 16:8). When we understand that we are living in the kingdom of darkness and in rebellion against God, and we choose to make the transition into the Kingdom of Light, it is our absolute trust in God’s promise of salvation that prompts us to ask for forgiveness and to become His child. This faith for transformation comes to us because God loved us even before we knew about Him or loved Him (1John 4:10, 19). That faith was activated by God’s love for us.

When we accept God’s saving grace and become His children, His Holy Spirit pours God’s Agape love into our hearts (Rom. 5:5). It is there for eternity. God does not take it back. It is put there so that we, as ambassadors, can reflect that love to others around us and help them see God (2Cor. 5:20). It is there so that we can worship God in spirit and absolute truth (John 4:24). It is there so that we clearly understand that God has only good for us (James 1:17). God’s love for us activates our absolute trust in Him, giving us that ability to live according to His design for us and not according to the ways of the world (Rom. 1:17, 2Cor. 5:7).

God’s Agape love energizes our faith because we understand that God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him (1John 4:16). We know that we have become the very righteousness of God by our trust in Jesus (Rom. 3:21,22) so that our prayers will avail much (James 5:16). We work with God by knowing His Scriptures and praying in His will in absolute trust that He will, indeed, do as He has said because He loves us (1John 5:4-15). We are empowered in our union with God through Christ Jesus (Eph. 6:10); and through Him have the strength to do everything that He has for us to do (Phil. 4:13).

Third, our faith is expressed through God’s love in us. We want to operate in faith because we love God and want to do what pleases Him. And we know that without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Heb. 11:6). Faith is not just something that we just have, it something that we use. We are to use it for all of life’s situations. James clearly understood the difference between the intellectual recognition of faith and the actuality of it in our day-to-day lives. He very wisely pointed out that someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works. Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith (James 2:18). Then he went on to, again, very pointedly note that as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead (James 2:26). If we really love others as God loves us, then we must act in faith to help them become all that God intends for them.

And fourth, faith works through love. Agape is giving the best you have without regard to the consequences to self. It is desiring the best for others. We cannot really use our faith to help others unless we truly desire the best for them. Not only that but we cannot expect the Holy Spirit of God to work through us to help others if we are not operating in God’s love. For, if we are not operating in God’s love, then we are operating outside His system, and God will not honor such activities. The Holy Spirit will not aid us in bearing fruits of the world or of the Evil One. The fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge] (Gal. 5:22,23).

Whoever says, I know Him [I perceive, recognize, understand, and am acquainted with Him] but fails to keep and obey His commandments (teachings) is a liar, and the Truth [of the Gospel] is not in him. But he who keeps (treasures) His Word [who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its entirety], truly in him has the love of and for God been perfected (completed, reached maturity). By this we may perceive (know, recognize, and be sure) that we are in Him: Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself (1John 2:4-6). Certainly Jesus lived His life in constant, absolute trust in the Father. And if we want to be all that God intends us to be, we need to live our lives in the same manner.

God’s love has been placed in all of us. Allow His love to fully activate your faith, energize your faith, help you express your faith, and cause it to work to its fullest capacity.

Key Verse: Gal. 5:6

Associated Keys: 1John 4:16, James 2:18, 1John 2:4-6

Using the Key: Gracious Father, in Jesus; Name I ask You to help me live my life, every day, in Your all encompassing Love. Please activate and energize my faith through Your love in me, and help me express my faith and use it to carry out Your will in my life. I love You and give You praise and thanks for all You have done, and continue to do, in my life. Amen.

We all want to do great works of faith. But is that to prove how much we love God, or perhaps, is it to prove how important we think we are? God has given us the ability to operate in, and “see” into, the spirit realm so that we might carry out His will for our lives. When we accept Christ as Lord and Savior, we are saying to God, “You know more and understand more than I do, and I want to do things Your way.” Faith is given to us so that we can participate with God in His great, eternal plan, not so we can run off and do things our way.

Since faith is absolute trust, we must understand that there is no way to increase absolute trust. Absolute is absolute. Faith is faith. However, we can expand our absolute trust in God to more and more areas of our lives. That’s what the disciples were asking Jesus to do for them. Not to somehow make absolute trust more absolute, but to help them apply their absolute trust to another area of their lives—forgiveness. That’s the way we “increase our faith.” When the father was imploring Jesus to help his son, who was having seizures, Jesus told him, You say to Me], If You can do anything? [Why,] all things can be (are possible) to him who believes! (Mark 9:23). The father, then cries out with tears of joy and overwhelming conviction that Jesus can and will help him, Lord, I believe! [Constantly] help my weakness of faith! (Mark 9:24). The father was not asking Jesus to help in not believing. He was imploring the Lord to help him expand his faith to encompass the healing of his son. Do you think that Jesus did just that?

Step one on the road to increasing our faith, then is to very clearly understand where this ability to operate in the spirit realm comes from.

Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:1-2 NKJV). Our faith comes to us from Jesus. When we make the transition from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light, we do so because the Holy Spirit has convicted us of our rebellion against the King of kings (John 16:8). And when we act on that conviction, it is Jesus Himself that sponsors us, giving us the faith we need to make the move from darkness to Light. But there’s more. He is also the “finisher” of our faith, polishing it and extending it to every area of our lives. For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith (Rom. 1:17). And this faith comes by direct contact with Jesus. Our faith comes from hearing, and hearing comes from the words that Jesus has given us (Rom. 10:17).

However, and this is the BIG however, we have to want to have our faith extended to every area of our lives, AND, we have to choose to work with Him to get this done (Deut. 30:19). We can apply faith to every area of our lives and remove even the largest strongholds that the Enemy has established in us. For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) (2Cor. 10:3-5). Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, if someone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mark 11:22-24).

Operating in faith and growing it into every area of our lives cannot be a haphazard process guided by a hit-and-miss approach that stumbles and falls at every other turn. It needs to be carefully orchestrated and applied so that we can carry out what God has made available for us to do. To do this we must keep our eyes on Jesus and not look away (Heb. 12:2). When we look away, when we take our focus off Jesus, when we allow thoughts other than those given us by God to invade our understanding, then we will not operate in absolute trust. Our faith will be tainted by doubt, by fear, by pride, by distrust, and other attitudes not from God.

Jairus had come to Jesus for healing for his daughter, but while he was talking to Jesus several came from his house and said that his daughter had died. Talk about introducing doubt in to a person’s mind! Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing (Mark 5:36). Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, and we need to keep our eyes focused on Him and not the things of the world. Faith is what inspires God and allows Him to work in our lives. Jesus, teaching in His hometown of Nazareth, was unable to do any miracles except heal a few of the sick because the people did not believe in Him (Matt. 13:58). What makes us think that God will somehow be able to do more for us if we don’t trust Him absolutely to do what He says He will do?

Step two in growing our faith is to turn our lives over to God, every day. “But, but, but…” you say, that requires serious discipline. Well, Jesus told us that if we remain in His Word then we would be His disciples (John 8:31). A disciple is one who is disciplined, one who is able to control his/her mind, will, and emotions, and do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. So, every day, as in every day, turn your life over to God and ask Him to put His thoughts into you so that you are doing His will (Prov. 16:3). Then truly believe He will.

Jesus told us most provocatively that He had overcome the world for us (John 16:33). That’s why John could write so convincingly. For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith. Who is it that is victorious over [that conquers] the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact]? (1John 5:4-5). It is faith that makes us victorious.

Step three in growing one’s faith is to begin applying it. Start small and work outward to more and more things in your life until you encompass everything in your spirit, soul, body, finances, and social life. Study God’s Word daily and allow it to dwell in you. As it does, you will develop true Bible Hope, and begin to act on that Hope in true faith. For example, pray for a parking space, and really believe that God will give you one. Claim it on the promise in Deut. 28:6. When you get the space, praise God and thank Him for it from a sincere and honest heart, and ask Him to help you expand the faith that you used for the parking space into other areas of your life. Keep at it on a daily basis, and don’t allow the Evil One to dissuade you for pursuing God with full heart, mind, and spirit.

Key Verse: Heb. 12:1-2

Associated Keys: Mark 9:23-24, 1`1:22-24, Rom. 1:17, 1John 5:4-5

Using the Key: Loving Father, help me to extend my faith in Your Son, Jesus, into all areas of my life—spirit, soul, body, finances, and social life. Help me to walk hand in hand with You in all I do, so that my life of faithful dependence on You for all my needs will help others see Jesus in me, to Your honor and glory. In His precious name, so be it.

Without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out] (Heb. 11:6).

Above all else God wants us to trust Him; not just trust Him, but trust Him absolutely and seek him as if our life depended upon it (which it does). He does not want us to do this as some sort of talisman, nor is it an obligatory response to make Him feel good about Himself, or satisfy some mystical condition which we will never understand because God is “to big to understand.” God does not want a bunch of “bow and scrape” subjects held in the tight grip of a tyrant king. Nor is God to big to understand. In fact, Jesus very clearly told us that There is nothing hidden that shall not be disclosed, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come out into the open (Luke 8:17). And then again, He told us, To you has been entrusted the mystery of the kingdom of God [that is, the secret counsels of God which are hidden from the ungodly]; but for those outside [of our circle] everything becomes a parable (Mark 4:11).

Jesus died on the cross so that the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all] receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit (Gal. 3:14). The blessings of Abraham are the physical blessing of this life. They are detailed in Deut. 28. 1-14. These are good and necessary: a place to live, food and clothing, prosperity, healing and health. But Jesus’ death on the cross gave us so much more. All who come to believe in Him also are be-born into eternal life with a new spirit linked eternally to the spirit of Christ Jesus (2Cor. 5:17, Gal 2:20). And then, we further have the opportunity to receive the infilling, empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, even as He was first given to the 120 in the upper room (Acts 2:1-4). God is no respecter of persons (Rom. 2:11), and what He gave to the 120, He will give to anyone who truly desires it nad earnestly seeks it.

The Holy Spirit is not some spiritual magician; rather, He is God’s Spirit, sent to help us be everything, have everything, and do everything that God intends for us. One of the most significant passages in the New Testament is 1Cor. 2:9-16. It opens with a statement of such astounding revelation that it seems nearly impossible to believe. As the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny] (1Cor. 2:9-10).

God has no intention of being a lofty, unreachable Being whose only concern is His own self-aggrandizement. God is exactly the opposite of that. His concern is for our betterment. His concern is that we be made able to take complete advantage of all the blessings that He has available for us. His over-riding desire is to “give us the best He has without regard to the consequences to Himself.” Agape, totally unselfish love, is what drives God. In fact, Agape is the His single over-riding characteristic. So much so, that John defined God as Agape love (1John 4:8, 16). When we finally and really understand precisely Who God is, then we can begin to really relate to Him in a meaningful way; a way that brings honor and glory to Him.

God wants us to have absolute trust in Him for exactly everything, because that is the way whereby we attain the greatest number of blessings in our lives, and can therefore be of the greatest value to the Kingdom. When we give our lives to God through the sacrifice that Jesus’ death on the cross bought for us, then we are no longer “citizens of earth”; we are citizens of heaven, and God has given us all the rights in His Kingdom. Jesus made this crystal clear when He told the disciples, Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom! (Luke 12:32). We no longer have to function under the system that the Evil One set up for us. In His last will and testament, Jesus very specifically requested, I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one (John 17:15). Furthermore, all who are re-born into Christ Jesus have ben given victory over the world and its system; and this is done totally by faith. For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith. We need to trust absolutely that God will honor His promise to give us the Kingdom and that He will honor the request that Jesus made of Him on our behalf.

God wants us to walk hand-in-hand with Him in all things in our lives. He has no interest in spending an hour with His children each Sunday morning, and then being put aside like until the next weekend. He wants His children right there with Him every hour of every day. The just shall live by faith [My righteous servant shall live by his conviction respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it]; and if he draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him (Heb. 10:38). By this God does not mean that we simply believe that He exists, but that we really do live by faith. You see that a man is justified (pronounced righteous before God) through what he does and not alone through faith [through works of obedience as well as by what he believes] (James 2:24). If we really believe that God exists, then we must believe what He says. We must believe that He has given us the power and authority to do what He has asked us to do. Living a life in confidence and trust in God is living a life to its fullness.

Key Verse: Heb. 11:6

Associated Verses: Luke 12:32, John 17:15, Luke 12:32, Heb. 10:38

Using the Key: Loving Father, I want to be all that You intend for me. Please help me to walk in faith in all that I do, day in day out. Help me to help others realize Your endless and matchless love for us. In Jesus’ Name help me to be pleasing to You in all I do. So be it.

Our desire, as God’s children, should be to do things that reflect Jesus in our lives. If we are sincere in our goal to make disciples, then as Paul wrote to the Colossians, As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him (Col. 2:6). Note particularly the phrase, “in conformity to Him.” We are supposed to conform our lives to Jesus’ life. Too often we merely want Jesus to approve of what we do, regardless if it lines up with His will or not. Unfortunately, that type of thinking doesn’t get us very far with Him. When we get off into our thorn patch, we are thinking like the people of the world, falling victim to its fears, its mores, its emotions, its economy, its shallow thinking, its disbelief and distrust of God. All the while, we are supposed to be examples against such living. Any wonder that the world mocks us as hypocrites?

When the Pharisees were questioning Jesus, trying to trip Him up so they could find a lever to get rid of Him (boy were they stupid!), they mocking asked Him what they were supposed to be doing if it was different that what they were doing. He told them in no uncertain terms, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger] (John 6:29). This is not just a taunting reply that Jesus made to put down the religious leaders. It is a simple statement of fact that indicates what all of God’s children should be doing, every day. We are supposed to grow in who we are and how we operate in the Truth of God’s Word. That’s what sanctification means—growing up in Christ Jesus. We are not supposed to stay babies. We are not supposed to get stuck in adolescence. We are to become mature adults who have the ability to do what is right before God, in all instances. God’s Word translation states it this way, Assume your own responsibility (Gal. 6:5 GWORD).

God is not, I repeat NOT, responsible for our actions. We are responsible, no one else (Deut. 30:19). We are the ones that have to choose to do what God asks. He cannot, and will not force us to do anything, no matter how much He wants us to do it, and no matter how much it would bless us if we only would do it. We are responsible, period, so assume your own responsibility.

That responsibility is to walk in faith and not by sight. We are to use our faith to go into the spirit realm, talk to God, examine ourselves in the Light of His Word, and seek His counsel in our lives. That’s walking by faith. Imagine if we could only operate fully in what He wants, and operate completely in 1John 5:14-15. And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.  And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

God wants us to walk and live in the Holy Spirit, listening carefully to what He has to say to us, and allowing Him to guide and control us. If we will do this, then we won’t allow the things of our old human nature to control us. We need to clearly understand that the things of God are in direct opposition to the things of this world because this world is under the guidance and control of the Evil One. So, when we walk in the precepts and power of God, being lead through absolute trust by His Spirit, we are free of the cloying grasp of the Evil One (Gal. 5:16-18).

Jesus had cursed a fig tree, and later when He and the disciples passed by, Peter noticed that it was dried up, and had to point it out to Jesus (as if Jesus didn’t know it was dead and dried up). As always, Jesus’ reply is not aimed at Peter’s astonishment, but rather it is aimed at all who become God’s children. Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God! I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn’t doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done for him. That’s why I tell you to have faith that you have already received whatever you pray for, and it will be yours. Whenever you pray, forgive anything you have against anyone. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your failures” (Mark 11:22-25 GWORD).

This passage is so powerful and so dramatic that most people simply dismiss it. Don’t. This is the key to really understanding living by faith. Notice specifically that Jesus says to believe that what we asked for in prayer is already ours. This is precisely what the Holy Spirit directed John to write in his first epistle (see 1John 5:14-15, above). Faith, as we have noted is absolute trust, not partial trust, not “I’ll give it a try, but it probably won’t work for me.” It is absolute trust.

Note also that Jesus ties in this rather amazing statement to forgiveness. Clearly, Jesus understood that unforgiveness is the number one reason that Christians fail in their ability to walk by faith. Unforgiveness is a sin, and we need to get rid of sin before our prayers become functional. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working] (James 5:16b). One who is righteous is in right standing with God, one who has the right to stand before God. In other words, the righteous are His children who has asked to be cleansed of their sins. He always does so because He is just a faithful to forgive (1John 1:9).

Walking in faith is involving God in what we do. It’s a matter of applying Prov. 16:3 to our lives on a moment-to-moment basis. Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed. By moment-to-moment basis, I don’t mean to pray Prov. 16:3 every moment. I mean to turn over your work to God on a daily basis and ask Him to put His thoughts in you so that you do things that day the way He would want you to do them. Then, throughout the day remember that you asked Him to help you, and walk in faith that He is there with you giving you the help that you need. If you run into a problem or rough spot, stop and thank God for helping you, ask Him to give you guidance and direction to get through the difficulty, and then start working through it.

Key Verse: 2Cor. 5:7

Associated Keys: Col. 2:6, 1John 5:14-15, Mark 11:24, Prov. 16:3

Using the Key: Precious Father, thank you for helping me to walk by faith and not by sight. Thank You that You have made provision for me to receive by faith those things for which I have established true Bible Hope, and thank You for giving me the ability to operate in the sprit realm. Help me to live every day in this power and authority that You have given me. In Jesus’ precious name, it is so.

Paul, writing to the Colossians, is very clear about these two realms when he says, See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah) (Col. 2:8). Now please note. This passage does not say that the “teaching of the universe: (science) and tradition, and philosophy, are necessarily wrong (they are human and so there can and will be some mistakes). Not, what it says is don’t allow these human pursuits to prevent you from also seeking Christ and His wisdom. The problem with most intellectual pursuits is not the material under investigation, it lies with the fact that gaining such knowledge pushes Christ aside as human thinking puffs up the person with self gratification.

Read very carefully what God says about knowledge: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you that you shall be no priest to Me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children (Hos. 4:6). He says that His people are destroyed because of lack of knowledge. This means first and foremost, a lack of knowledge of Him. But it also means a lack of knowledge in general. God has only good things for us, period (James 1:13). It is the Evil One who kills, steals, and destroys (John 10:10). Thus the great advances that we have made in medical science, in our basic understanding of the way the world works, our understanding of the universe, our exploration of the mind and the way it works, advanced agricultural practices, mass transportation, better building methods, and on and on, came from God. His intent is to create a better life for everyone, and that means everyone (Matt. 5:45). We need to tightly embrace all that God has given us the capacity to know and understand, but we must always remember to put Him first in our lives (Ex. 20:3, 23:19, 1Chron. 28:9, Ps. 69:32, Jer. 2:19, Mark 12:30, 1John 5:21).

Putting God first means knowing Him personally. This is His greatest desire for each of us. He doesn’t want all our “sacrifices”—those things that we do in an inept and futile attempt to “make Him love us.” We don’t have to do anything to gain God’s love; He most distinctly loves us and wants only the very, very best for us (Jer. 33:11, Rom 5:8, 1John 4:16, 19). God has specifically, very specifically, told us, I desire and delight in dutiful steadfast love and goodness, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of and acquaintance with God more than burnt offerings (Hos. 6:6). Look at that phrase, “knowledge of and acquaintance with.” That says it all! His number one, not number two, but number one, desire is to know us intimately. He wants to be the very best of the very best friend—a Friend with knowledge, wisdom, and ways so far beyond ours that we pale to insignificance in its light (Isa. 55:8-9, 1Cor. 3:18-21).

In one of the most powerful passages in the entire Bible, God clearly spells out the ability to communicate with Him, one-on-one that He has given us through Christ Jesus. For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man’s thoughts except the man’s own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]. But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him]. For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart (1Cor. 2:11-16).

When we become God’s children (Rom. 8:16-18, Eph. 1:5) we are given a new spirit (2Cor. 5:17), linked eternally to the Spirit of Christ (Gal. 2:20). And with that comes that the ability to think God’s thoughts and do what God asks in order live the life of rich blessing that He has for us. And with that, comes the ability to communicate with Him through His Spirit. We do this totally by faith. That is, we absolutely trust (Bible faith) that God has given us this ability, and we use it with absolute expectation (Bible hope) that it works. In our spirits we can commune with God anytime and all the time that we want, and if we are open to it, God can commune back! That’s what He wants more than anything, and if we really search our hearts we will discover that this is what we really want more than anything.

The ability to “see” into the spirit realm, and the ability to operate in the spirit realm are ours. They have been given to us by God as a result of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Seize hold of what is rightfully yours, bought for you at a horrid price (Matt. 13:46, 1Cor. 6:20, 7:23), and honor God by communicating everything to Him, and by living a life that operates freely in the spirit realm.

Key Verse: Heb. 11:1

Associated Keys: 1Cor. 2:16, 2Cor. 5:17

Using the Key: Gracious Father, You have made provision for me, as Your child, to operate in the spirit realm. Please help me to full understand all that this means, and to be in touch with You every moment of every day of my life. Help me to “see” with my spiritual eyes and hear with my spiritual “ears’ so that I make do Your will in all things. In Jesus’ wonderful name, I ask that You make this so.

Well, the definition is two-fold. Both of these are clearly set forth for us in Heb. 11:1–NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. The first half of the definition relates to all the things that God has made available to us—and it’s a big pile. What the first part of the definition says—faith is the substance of the things hoped for—is that we get everything that God has for us by one simple process: we develop Bible Hope in our hearts and then bring it into being by faith.

This sounds really simple, but it is anything but. The reason that it’s not so easy is that most people don’t clearly understand Bible Hope and don’t know how to go about developing it. Bible Hope is not human hope. If it were, Abraham would not have been able to hope against hope (Rom. 4:18). Abraham’s human reason for hope in God’s promise was obviously gone. He was old and Sara was barren. How was God going to get a baby for them? But Abraham trusted God more that he trusted his own human understanding (see 2Cor. 5:7), and stood solid in God’s promise. His Bible Hope was fully developed, and in the end he received the child of promise—Isaac.

Bible hope is absolute expectation that God will do what God says He will do. Careful now, it is not just expectation, it is absolute expectation. As in absolute, meaning to the very highest degree possible, none higher, the ultimate ultimate, none surpassing (1Thes 1:3). Human expectation is often tainted with doubt, past experiences of failure, opinions of others, feeling of inadequacy, and other killers of expectation. As a consequence, these emotions, past experiences, and outside input often color our expectations of God. In other words, our Bible Hope is really just human hope, and when we try to apply faith to such hope, nothing happens.

Bible Hope come from the same place that faith comes from—God’s Word (Rom. 10:17; Rom 5:5, 15:4). The more we stay in the Word, reading, studying, meditating, memorizing (2Tim. 3:16, 2:15), the more we will grow in our Bible Hope concerning who we have become as God’s children. And the greater that understanding becomes, the easier it will be to see that absolute Truth upon which our Bible Hope is built. It is only by staying in the Word and allowing it to grow and live in us that we will ever be freed by the Truth (Heb. 4:12, John 8:31-32).

Once we have secure true Bible Hope pertaining to something that God wills for us, then we can ask for it and receive it by absolute trust that we will get it. Such absolute trust is true faith. John clearly described this process when he wrote, And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him (1 John 4:14-15). In the first half of this passage (v. 14) John describes hope—our absolute assurance that God hears us when we ask anything in His will. In the second part (v. 15), he describes faith, since we positively know He listens (absolute expectation—hope), we know with absolute knowledge that we have it granted to us (faith).

In order to employ these power twins of hope and faith, it is essential to get them in order and use them in order. First come hope. It has to be fully developed in us and ripe for the use. God’s Word is indeed alive and will grow in us, but we have to allow that. We can’t simply read a verse in the Bible and try it to see if it works in our lives. We need to dig and find everything in God’s Word about that topic that we can, then read them, study them, meditate them, and pray about them until they become reality in our lives. When the verses live in us, then we will have true Bible Hope.

Think for just a moment or two. If just hearing God’s Word was all that was necessary for people to make the move from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light. But most people that hear preaching of God’s Word for salvation simply dismiss it. They have to listen in a way that allows the Holy Spirit to touch their hearts, but usually they are listening with resistance in their hearts. So, God’s children need to work at it in order to develop Bible Hope and allow it grow to maturity.

For example, probably the single hardest thing for a Christian to do is to truly forgive—our human nature really rears its ugly head concerning forgiveness. But Jesus told us most emphatically and sincerely, For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses (Matt. 6:14,15). In order to develop true Bible Hope relative to forgiveness, we can’t just read this passage and say, “Yup, that’s what you need to do, alright.” And then excuse ourselves from the discussion.

The only way to really get this in our hearts is to read and re-read these two verses, and then dig out other verse such as Mark 11:25-26, Luke 6:37, 17:3-4, Col. 3:13, 1Peter 4:8. Read them all and note the context in which they are found. Dwell on what it is that God is saying in these verses. Think about what forgiveness really means and what it will cost you (giving up bitterness, giving up resentment, living with the effects of what others have done to us). Can we really say, and really mean, “Father forgive them”? When true Bible forgiveness becomes a Truth to us, then we can, honestly, apply that forgiveness by faith and bring it into reality. That’s the way we deal with all of God’s promises.

Key Verse: Heb. 11:1

Associated Keys: Rom. 10:17

Using the Key: Gracious King, thank You for Your Word that builds true Bible hope and faith in me. Help me as I read, study, meditate, and memorize the Word to develop Bible Hope in all Your promises and then by true Bible faith apply them in my life so that I may bring honor and glory to You and show the Truth of Jesus to others. In His precious name, so be it.”

Not only did Jesus make this connection between love and obey, but John did too. He told us For the [true] love of God is this: that we do His commands [keep His ordinances and are mindful of His precepts and teaching]. And these orders of His are not irksome (burdensome, oppressive, or grievous) (1John 5:3). Again, it seems that in order to demonstrate to God that we really love Him, we have to set our minds to dig in and obey His commandments.

But wait just a second. No one is ever saved by works (Gal. 2:16, Titus 3:5), and furthermore, God considers our works as no better than filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). One can keep every commandment that can be found in the Bible, and not love God in the least little bit. The great Love Chapter says it like this: IF I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody). Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing (1Cor. 13:1-3).

Jesus was very pointed about the value of works when He told the crowds, Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands] (Matt. 7:21-23).

So what commands exactly is He talking about? First and foremost He is talking about believing that He is, indeed, the Son of God, Redeemer, Savior, King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is talking about putting all our hope and trust in Him and His redemptive power. That comes first. It is the only promise that God can keep to those that don’t know Him personally. And it is a promise without exclusion, For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved (Rom. 10:13). Once we have become God’s children, then the single, over-riding commandment that guides our lives is to believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger] (John 6:29b).

And this is not a burdensome command, rather it is an integral part of who we have become. Children carry the characteristics of their parents, and now that God is our Father, we bear His characteristics. Specifically we have been imbued with His Agape love (Rom. 5:5). This is not something that we have to choose to get. It’s put into us permanently when we are made new creatures in Christ Jesus (2Cor. 5:17). It is a part of who we have become—children of the King. And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father! Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant) but a son; and if a son, then [it follows that you are] an heir by the aid of God, through Christ (Gal 4:6-7).

As heirs of God we inherit His characteristics. Our new spirit is filled with Agape, and Agape is “giving the best we have without consequences to self.” This is the characteristic of God that compelled His to send Jesus to pay for our sins with His own life. This is the characteristic that compelled Jesus to do whatever God asked without regard to the consequences to Himself. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! (Phil 2:8). This is our Brother, Who willingly gave up His life that we might live. But not just live: live in all the fullness that only God can make available to us. And that’s why we got Agape.

Only Agape can provide the impetus that makes us want to do what God asks. Nay, more that want—desire with all our hearts, souls, and very beings to give God the best we have without regard to the consequences to ourselves. Only Agape can respond in kind to Agape. And we have it. However, and this is always the catch, we must choose to allow Agape to have it’s way in our lives (Deut 30:19). No one, not even God, can force us to live a life embedded in Agape. No, we have to do that. That’s the part that requires the new spirit in us to take control. That’s the part where the choosing comes in.

Paul told young Timothy, I am calling up memories of your sincere and unqualified faith (the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), [a faith] that first lived permanently in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am [fully] persuaded, [dwells] in you also. That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination] (2Tim. 1:5-6). We have the responsibility to “stir up” the Agape that God has empowered us with. No one else can do it for us. We have to reflect back to God what he has so graciously poured into our hearts.

And when we do, we will not just want to obey God because we fear Him, nor because we want to look good in front of others, nor because we can trick God into thinking that we love Him by keeping His commandments. No. We will keep His commandments because His Agape in us will compel us to obedience. We would not think otherwise. We would rather die than do things contrary to our Father’s wishes. We love God because He first loved us (1John 4:19). Our love for Him comes as a gift to us from Him. Our old human nature cannot love God (Rom. 8:7), but our new nature, reflecting God’s own perfect nature, not only can love Him, but loves Him “with all our heart.”

Agape in us is the reason we love God and the reason we keep His commandments. Walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16), and stir up the Agpae that He pours into us. Then, keeping God’s commandments will simply be the way we live.

Key Verse: John 14:15

Associated Keys: John 15:10, 1John 5:2,3

Using the Key: Dear, Loving Father, I am so humbled and so grateful that You would want to pour Your Agape into me. Please help me to use Your love in me to be all I can for You. I love You Father and want to show that love to others after the manner of my Brother, Jesus. Please help me to make it so. In Jesus’ precious name, so be it.

But not so with us. We can understand the plots of the Evil One., for while the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated, we can examine, investigate, inquire into, question, and discern all things, yet we are not to be put on trial and judged by any one [we can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into us] (1Cor. 2:14-15). God has given us the upper hand over Satan, and we need to be certain that we use our position of dominion wisely and fruitfully.

We use our authority by acting in faith in what Jesus did for us. When we are born of God we are victorious over the world. Who is it that is victorious over [that conquers] the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact] (1John 5:5). It is critical therefore, that we truly understand what it means to have dominion over the Evil One. It does not mean that we have the authority to bind him and cast him into the eternal pit of hell. That will be left for Jesus to do at the end of the Millennial Kingdom (Rev. 20:10). But we do have authority to bind Satan and his minions out of our own lives, and thwart the lies and schemes that he brings against us. This is our God-given right.

Authority is the right to rule, power is the might to rule. So when we apply the authority that God has bestowed upon us, then the Holy Spirit backs up that authority with the full power of God, power that no foe can withstand (Ps. 91:1). God’s Word is very clear on what Jesus has done for us in this regard. Not only is the One in us greater than the Evil One, but with God in us, we are conquerors (1Cor 15:57). Nay, we are more than conquerors, we gain the surpassing victory through Christ our Lord (Rom. 8:37) Who loves us and gave us up His Own life that we might become coheir of God with Him (Rom 8:17). Like Paul, we must be absolutely persuaded beyond doubt (absolutely sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:38-39). Satan cannot stand between us and God unless we allow it.

In order to stand against the wiles of the Evil One, it is necessary for us to understand that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and that God’s ways are not our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways higher than our ways (Isa. 55:8-9). That does not mean that we can’t think His thoughts nor does it mean that we can’t do as He wants us to do. It just means that the thoughts of the fallen human nature and the ways of fallen man are lower than, and contrary to, the thoughts and ways of God. The natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated (1Cor. 2:14).

But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart (1Cor. 2:16b). However, we still have to choose to use that mind, and to think the thoughts of God and act accordingly. No matter what it is that we do, the choice is ALWAYS ours. We cannot say in all truthfulness that “Satan made me do it,” anymore than we can say in all truthfulness that “God made me do it.” We can say in all truthfulness, “I choose to do as God asks, and not as Satan asks.” We can say in all truthfulness, “I erred, and did what Satan asked and not what God asked.” God has no evil and He does not tempt us with evil (James 1:13 ) But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions). Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death. Do not be misled, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse] (James 1: 14-17).

Our job is to monitor the thoughts that spring into our minds and to evaluate them in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We do that by understanding what it is that has been provided for us through Jesus’ death on the cross. These things are spelled out in the God’s Word, that’s why I make such a point of reading, studying, meditating, memorizing, and then acting on God’s Word. We think with words and concepts. We cannot think with information that we do not know. We cannot believe what we do not know. We cannot act on principles that we do not know. Ignorance is surrendering to Satan. It’s giving up on God, and choosing to live like the world. Certainly no true child of the God of Love and Light (1John 4:8,16; 1:5), wants to live a life filled with the values and virtues of the god of this world, but that’s all that is left to those who do not know God’s Word.

God, not being a fool, plainly told us that My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you that you shall be no priest to Me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children (Hos. 4:6). And equally as clearly He told us, For I desire and delight in dutiful steadfast love and goodness, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of and acquaintance with God more than burnt offerings (Hos. 6:6). Get to know God on a personal level by staying in the Word and allowing it to stay in you (John 8:31-32).

Key Verse: 1John 4:4

Associated Keys: 1John 5:4-5, Rom. 8:37

Using the Key: “Gracious King, I yield myself to You totally, and ask that You help me to think Your thoughts and act in Your ways so that I might bring honor and glory to You; that others may see Christ in me. Help me to live every day with the clear understanding that greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the world. In Jesus’ Name, so be it.”

We work with Christ, not for Him. Here’s the way Jesus described our work for the Kingdom. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne (Matt. 11:29-30). We are not to act as free agents, out there on our own, doing things for God. We are to be yoked with Jesus, pulling our share of the load. That does not mean that our share of the load is equal to Jesus’ share. His share is always the greater share.

We are also told very specifically not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, making mismatched alliances with them. Such partnerships are like the linking of iniquity and lawlessness with the righteousness of God, or trying to blend light and dark (2Cor. 6:14). They are unholy and destructive. Now, let’s just halt in our thinking tracks right there for a moment and look at another verse from Paul’s writings. Not [meaning of course that you must] altogether shun the immoral people of this world, or the greedy graspers and cheats and thieves or idolaters, since otherwise you would need to get out of the world and human society altogether! (1Cor. 5:10). We are not told to avoid taking a job that is available in a company owned by a non-Christian. We are not told to avoid the company of non-Christians. We are not told to not buy food at a non-Christian supermarket. And so on. What we are told is that we are not to yoke ourselves mentally and spiritually to the things of the world. We are not, as the righteousness of God, to yoke our understandings to witchcraft, Ouija boards, fortune tellers, astrology, and other systems of simple-minded superstitions. Neither are we to link our understandings and efforts to those of gossips. (Oh, my goodness, what ever shall we talk about if we can’t talk about other people?) We are not to link our life’s worldview to that of the world, scrounging every waking hour for more things, bigger houses, faster cars, bigger parties, and so on.

If indeed we are yoked to Jesus—and we have the option to slip the yoke or leave it in place—then we are to pursue those things that gratify the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:5)–hospitality (Rom. 8:13), those things that make for harmony and for mutual upbuilding (edification and development) of one another (Rom 14:19), love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts), prophesy (interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching) (1Cor. 14:1), righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart (1Tim. 6:11), faith and peace (harmony and concord with others) in fellowship with all [Christians], who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart (2Tim. 2:22), the consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord (Heb. 12:14), undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts; do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!](1Peter 3:11), and all the other righteous attributes of God.

Notice the use of the word pursue. This is an action word. One does not pursue by standing still. It means actively seeking, hunting, searching, working, studying, meditating, memorizing, digging in and not letting go—you get the idea. It is only by yoking ourselves to Christ and then getting busy with Him that we can, in fact, renew our minds so that our lives become focused on God in Christ Jesus (Rom 12:2, Eph 4:23, Col. 3:10). In another great Key passage Paul directed Timothy to Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth (2Tim. 2:15). God’s Word is not to be taken lightly. It is the power of God working on our behalf to help us grow into the fullness that God intends (John 17:17, Rom. 1:16).

There are times when all of us have felt tired, useless, hopeless, exhausted, worthless, and other negative emotions and conditions, but God is always there to encourage and strengthen us. Even when it seems that nothing will ever get us back on the right track, we are to fall back on Him, for with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment (Luke 1:37, Job 42.2, Isa. 55:11). The writer of Hebrews (most likely Paul) clearly understood the need to “hang in there” and allow God to do His work in, for, with, and through us. As he ended his letter, he wrote, Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament), Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it) (Heb 13:20-21).

Key Verse: Phil. 4:13

Associated Keys: Luke 1:37, Job 42:2, Isa. 55:11

Using the Key: “Loving Father, I give You praise and thanks for giving me the ability to do all things that You call upon me to do through the strength of my Brother, Jesus the Christ. I know that with You nothing is impossible, and that You Word never goes out without accomplishing Your will. Help me to live in that understanding and truth so that I may ever bring honor and glory to You, and help others to come to know You. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the name above every name and the title above every title. Amen.”