Faith - I need more faith

Faith is like flying gracefully against the wind.

Let Faith Do The Work

Watching over the bay on a windy day, I observed how easy it was for a seagull to glide against the strong wind without flapping its wings. I saw other birds vigorously flapping their wings in an attempt to move against the wind. The wind was too strong for them in some instances, so instead of gaining ground, they lost some. Observing the seagull gracefully glide compared to the awkward attempt by the other birds flying against the wind brought faith into my mind. 

So many Christians attempt to apply faith to their lives in a time of difficulties. However, some end up struggling to the point of discouragement and fall short of rising above. The emotional feeling is more of a battle to make faith work rather than to let faith do the work. 

"Believe me when I tell you, if your faith is only as big as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. You will be able to do anything,” Matthew 17:20 ERV

Some Christians are like birds that flap their wings hard and vigorously yet become tired and lose ground instead.  I was one of those birds and still am on occasion. My mind was full of anxiety, doubts, and fear. I wanted to believe, yet I failed miserably. I would not write this commentary unless I’ve learned an important lesson. This is not to put down Christians but primarily an exhortation. I share freely, as God intended all Christians to do.

Once in a while, we see a Christian going through life as if the wind was behind his/her back when, in fact, the wind is strongly against him/her. He/she mastered flying like a seagull going through all obstacles life throws at him/her. How does he/she do that? What makes this seagull so different from the other birds? 

What makes some Christians face life so differently than any other Christians? Is it all in the technique?

Ray Stedman explained it this way:

“Some seem able to learn it, and from time to time we see someone virtually come alive and their Christian life is simply transformed by learning to operate on this principle. They lose their egotism, as extroverts; or they lose their introverted feeling of self-consciousness...They begin to do things and to enjoy them, experiencing the blessing and excitement of Christian living. Others say, "I see all this, and I want to do it too. I know what is said about how to rest, but I try it and it doesn't work. Why? Why do we fail?”

What principles have they learned to apply? They learned to rest in the Lord, but how? This is where most Christians hit a hurdle. It is like an athlete who practices improving his/her skill yet has shown no improvement, no gain in performance. Why? Is it because he/she practices under the same principle and the same technique? 

In (1 Timothy 6:12(a)), we received this analogy: "Keeping your faith is like running a race.  (b) Try as hard as you can to win that race,"(ERV).  What does it consist of? An athlete is up early in the morning practicing all day long, putting great effort to follow precisely the instruction given, yet by the end of the day no gain, no personal record broken. So many athletes believe they have reached their full potential and accept the status quo. But then, this one athlete refuses the status quo and will question the technique and look elsewhere for resources.

This is why some Christians fall into a rut. They keep applying the same principle taught over and over again without showing any improvement in their Christian lives, living a defeated life as if it was intended to be, according to God’s will. I myself experience being stuck in a rut. 

Some are exemplary Christians; nonetheless, they are not at rest. When life conditions challenge them, they feel defeated, and some burn out. The feeling of abandonment is great, and rejection from God sinks in. They question everything, and many doubt their salvation status and seek answers. They consult, only to be told to keep on going, double the effort, and blame Satan for causing these defeated feelings.

James described these Christians has to be like waves of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. They are double-minded Christians, unstable in all their ways (James 1:5-8).  Doubts cause them to be unstable.  I know! I was exactly like that and still am on some occasions.  

What caused me to doubt? I doubted due to the principles that I lived by.

Ray Stedman described a Christian living a defeated life:

“I'm afraid most of us fit the self-description of someone who said he was a mouse studying to be a rat. By our best efforts we can rise to a high level of mediocrity -- inadequate, unable. Why? Simply because we are depending on our effort. We are either extroverts, confident that we can do things and therefore frequently falling flat on our face; or we are introverts, so afraid to try anything that we don't even dare show our face. It is all because we are looking to ourselves as our resource; our background, our training, our gifts, our talents, our education, etc. It either results in feeling that we have what it takes and can be confident, able, and powerful; or, as we look at ourselves we say, we don't have what it takes and therefore we can't take it and we won't even try. So, we become either over-confident and under-equipped, or under-confident and overworked, trying constantly to make up by activity what we lack in results.”

Does this describe a bird attempting to fly against the wind? Is this what life is to you, a constant struggle? Is it time that you question the principles you are constantly applying daily? Some of those principles are taught in some churches (not all). This is one of the reasons I am so against some church denominations' “Statement of Belief.” It’s served its purpose to guide its members; unfortunately, the “Statement of Belief” becomes a cap to further understanding God’s word. Most “Statement of Belief” has never been reviewed since the church's foundation.


 A messenger from God instructed Daniel that knowledge will increase at the end of time (Daniel 12:4). We are instructed to seek God and learn from Him. Doesn't the bible teach that we wrestle against principalities, (Ephesians 6:12), against the wrong technique that we were made to believe that if applied correctly we will have victory over all hurdles? Wrong principalities have crept into the body of Christ- its foundation nonetheless; many are unchallenged.

In many cases, it is not the church leaders' fault but the members who are benchwarmers and refuse to apply the good teachings of their ministers or pastors.

In my commentary title, “What kind of truth do you want God’s word to be?” I point out that most Christians are victims of their own demise. Most Christians do not question what is being taught or live by. What principalities and beliefs had they accepted as God’s word when actually it is not?  For example, “God helps those who help themselves” is not in the bible. Another one is, “Faith and obey to keep your salvation,” which is also not in the bible. Both statements implied that work (a condition) is needed either to gain and keep your salvation or work is required to have your prayers answered. How many pay tithes to buy favour from God? How many people promise to do something for God if their prayers are answered?


Some Christians will even quote you that “faith by itself if it does not have works, is dead,” (James 2:17).  What is misunderstood is that it is a faith that produces work, not the other way around; works that produces faith. As pointed out in (1 Thessalonians 1:3), “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Even with this understanding, most of us will pray and ask God for His intervention, yet do not wait. Most of us will act like Sarah, Abraham's wife, taking the matter into her own hands, guessing God’s will. This is where the wrong principle, “God helps those who help themselves,” is applied. The Bible is specific. It instructs us to wait on the Lord. “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him,” (Lamentations 3:25) and “Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him,” (Isaiah 30:18).

The specific reason why God wants all Christians to wait is so that no one can boast of their own works that they received His blessing. To wait on the Lord is to show the world, your friends, and family members that it is God who did all the work.  God wants you to testify by doing nothing but wait on Him. “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith,” Romans 3:27

The Perfect Law of Faith

To see the perfect law of faith at work, we are to go to the Old Testament, in the Book of 1 Samuel, chapter 17. David, son of Jesse of Bethlehem, was the youngest of all his sons. Let us take the time to read the whole story. This is a commentary.  It is not a daily devotional study.  This is for Christians who seriously want to make a difference in their life. Therefore, it is important to view this lesson from all perspectives. The ERV will be used to make it easy to read. As you read, please look for David's motive in battling Goliath and what gives him the assurance of victory.

1 Samuel 17 - Goliath vs. David

1 The Philistines gathered their armies together for war. They met at Socoh in Judah. Their camp was between Socoh and Azekah, at a town called Ephes Dammim.

2 Saul and the Israelite soldiers also gathered together. Their camp was in the Valley of Elah. Saul’s soldiers were lined up and ready to fight the Philistines. 

3 The Philistines were on one hill. The Israelites were on the other hill. The valley was between them.

4 The Philistines had a champion fighter named Goliath, who was from Gath. He was over 9 feet tall. Goliath came out of the Philistine camp. 

5 He had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a coat of armor that was made like the scales on a fish. This armor was made of bronze and weighed about 125 pounds.  

6 Goliath wore bronze protectors on his legs. He had a bronze javelin tied on his back. 

7 The wooden part of his spear was as big as a weaver’s rod. The spear’s blade weighed 15 pounds. Goliath’s helper walked in front of him, carrying Goliath’s shield.

8 Each day Goliath would come out and shout a challenge to the Israelite soldiers. He would say, “Why are all of your soldiers lined up ready for battle? You are Saul’s servants. I am a Philistine. So choose one man and send him to fight me. 
9 If that man kills me, he wins and we Philistines will become your slaves. But if I kill your man, then I win, and you will become our slaves. You will have to serve us.”

10 The Philistine also said, “Today I stand and make fun of the army of Israel. I dare you to send me one of your men and let us fight.”

11 Saul and the Israelite soldiers heard what Goliath said, and they were very afraid.

12  David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was from the Ephrathah family in Bethlehem, Judah. Jesse had eight sons. In Saul’s time Jesse was an old man. 

13 Jesse’s three oldest sons went with Saul to the war. The first son was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah. 

14 David was the youngest son. The three oldest sons were in Saul’s army, 

15 but David left Saul from time to time to take care of his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

16 The Philistine came out every morning and evening and stood before the Israelite army. Goliath insulted Israel like this for 40 days.

17 One day Jesse said to his son David, “Take this basket of cooked grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers in the camp. 

18 Also take these ten pieces of cheese for the officer who commands your brothers’ group of 1000 soldiers. See how your brothers are doing. Bring back something to show me your brothers are all right. 

19 Your brothers are with Saul and all the Israelite soldiers in the Valley of Elah. They are there to fight against the Philistines.”

20 Early in the morning, David had another shepherd take care of the sheep while he took the food and left as Jesse had told him to. David drove their wagon to the camp. The soldiers were going out to their battle positions just as David arrived. The soldiers began shouting their war cry. 

21 The Israelites and Philistines were lined up and ready for battle.

22 David left the food with the man who kept supplies. Then he ran to the place where the Israelite soldiers were and asked about his brothers. 

23 While David was talking with his brothers, the Philistine champion fighter came out from the Philistine army. This was Goliath, the Philistine from Gath. Goliath shouted things against Israel as usual. David heard what he said.

24 The Israelite soldiers saw Goliath and ran away. They were all afraid of him. 

25 One of the Israelite men said, “Did you see that man? Look at him! He comes out each day and makes fun of Israel. Whoever kills him will get rich. King Saul will give him a lot of money. Saul will also let his daughter marry the man who kills Goliath. He will also make that man’s family free from taxes in Israel.”

26 David asked the men standing near him, “What did he say? What is the reward for killing this Philistine and taking away this shame from Israel? Who is this Goliath anyway? He is only some foreigner, nothing but a Philistine. Why does he think he can speak against the army of the living God?”

27 So the Israelite told David about the reward for killing Goliath. 

28 David’s oldest brother Eliab heard David talking with the soldiers and became angry. Eliab asked David, “Why did you come here? Who did you leave those few sheep with in the desert? I know why you came down here. You didn’t want to do what you were told to do. You just wanted to come down here to watch the battle.”

29 David said, “What did I do now? I didn’t do anything wrong! I was only talking.” 

30 He turned to some other people and asked them the same questions. They gave him the same answers as before.

31 Some men heard David talking. They took David to Saul and told him what David had said. 

32 David said to Saul, “People shouldn't let Goliath discourage them. I am your servant. I will go fight this Philistine.”

33 Saul answered, “You can’t go out and fight against this Philistine. You’re not even a soldier! Goliath has been fighting in wars since he was a boy.”

34 But David said to Saul, “There were times when I was taking care of my father’s sheep that wild animals came to take some sheep from the flock. Once there was a lion and another time, a bear. 

35 I chased that wild animal, attacked it, and took the sheep from its mouth. The wild animal jumped on me, but I caught it by the fur under its mouth. And I hit it and killed it. 

36 I killed both a lion and a bear like that! And I will kill that foreigner, Goliath, just like them. Goliath will die because he made fun of the army of the living God. 

37 The LORD saved me from the lion and the bear. He will also save me from this Philistine.”  Saul said to David, “Go and may the LORD be with you.” 

38 Saul put his own clothes on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and armor on his body. 

39 David put on the sword and tried to walk around. He tried to wear Saul’s uniform, but David was not used to all those heavy things.  David said to Saul, “I can’t fight in these things. I’m not used to them.” So David took them all off. 

40 He took his walking stick in his hand and went to find five smooth stones from the stream. He put the five stones in his shepherd’s bag and held his sling in his hand. Then he went out to meet the Philistine.

41 The Philistine slowly walked closer and closer to David. Goliath’s helper walked in front of him, carrying a large shield. 

42 Goliath looked at David with disgust. He saw that David was only a handsome, healthy boy. 

43 Goliath said to David, “What is that stick for? Did you come to chase me away like a dog?” Then Goliath used the names of his gods to say curses against David. 
44 He said to David, “Come here, and I’ll feed your body to the birds and wild animals.”

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come to me using sword, spear, and javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD All-Powerful, the God of the armies of Israel. You have said bad things about him. 

46 Today the LORD will let me defeat you. I will kill you. I will cut off your head and feed your body to the birds and wild animals. And we will do the same thing to all the other Philistines too. Then all the world will know there is a God in Israel. 

47 All the people gathered here will know that the LORD doesn’t need swords or spears to save people. The battle belongs to the LORD, and he will help us defeat all of you.”

48 Goliath the Philistine started to attack David. He slowly walked closer and closer toward David, but David ran out to meet Goliath.

49 David took out a stone from his bag. He put it in his sling and swung the sling. The stone flew from the sling and hit Goliath right between the eyes. The stone sank deep into his head, and Goliath fell to the ground—face down.

50 So David defeated the Philistine with only a sling and one stone! He hit the Philistine and killed him. David didn’t have a sword, 

51 so he ran and stood beside the Philistine. Then David took Goliath’s own sword out of its sheath and used it to cut off his head. That is how David killed the Philistine.

 When the other Philistines saw their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 

52 The soldiers of Israel and Judah shouted and started chasing the Philistines. The Israelites chased them all the way to the city limits of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. They killed many of the Philistines. Their bodies were scattered along the Shaaraim road all the way to Gath and Ekron. 

53 After chasing the Philistines, the Israelites came back to the Philistine camp and took many things from that camp.

54 David took the Philistine’s head to Jerusalem, but he kept the Philistine’s weapons at home.

What made David so different in the Israeli army under Saul’s command? To David's brother Eliah, David was cocky, snotty, and full of himself. David kept asking the same question concerning the reward given to the one who would defeat Goliath. The king would offer his daughter to marry, the highest position of command within his army, and the victor’s parent would be exempted from all taxes. Wow! That last one would make a daddy proud.

Sources: MGB

What was David’s motive behind questioning the men facing the Philistine? Was David interested in the reward and receiving honor and glory? Let's read that verse 26 again: David asked the men standing near him, “What did he say? What is the reward for killing this Philistine and taking away this shame from Israel? Who is this Goliath anyway? He is only some foreigner, nothing but a Philistine. Why does he think he can speak against the army of the living God?”

As you can see, David was not interested in the reward. David was offended to hear Goliath insulting his God and God’s people. He loved so much the Lord that hearing Goliath speaking against the God of Israel made his blood boil in his veins. You should know how it felt to David. It felt the same as you feel when you hear someone swearing and using God's name in vain, doesn't it? Why did David keep questioning the men? I believe that is because David saw the fear in Saul’s army, the hopelessness, and the lack of conviction toward God of Israel.



Of the thousands of Saul soldiers, only David had the audacity to confront Goliath. David's faith was exceptional. Why was David's faith so different than all other soldiers? Did they not hear the same stories of what their God did to the Egyptians and to the inhabitants of the land promised to Abraham and his descendants? Yet these stories did not give any of them the courage to confront Goliath. Jack Kelly from gracetrufaith.com hit the nail right on the head.  David had a purpose. This is how Jack explains it in his commentary titled David’s Story Part 1 by impersonating David:

“ Now before you accuse me of an excessive dose of youthful bravado, consider this. The Lord had sent Samuel to anoint me as Israel’s next king. Then he empowered me to kill a lion and a bear, showing me that he wouldn’t let anything happen to me before His promise came true.”

http://gracethrufaith.com/the-bible-thru-the-eyes-of-its-writers/davids-story-part-1/

David's faith was based on God’s promise.  He believed that he had a purpose in life ordained by God. David believes in God’s words. He literally took God by His words.  He chose to believe. He took the decision to believe.  That is the principle that Christians are to apply. It is to make a commitment to trust in the Lord as He commanded in (Pr 3:5-6):

Sources: www.biblebios.com

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

This is not a suggestion. It is a commandment to believe. It offended our Lord when the Israelites refused to enter the Promised Land. The consequence was 40 years in the desert until the unbelief generation died.

God’s mercy never fails. 

His grace endures forever.  Although they refused to trust the Lord, the Lord cared for all their needs for those 40 years.  The same Jesus is with His Church.  He takes care of each individual, no matter what level of faith each is experiencing. He will never forsake His own.  Once saved, we are always saved. Inasmuch Israel is God’s people to perpetual, so is anyone who, by an act of faith, believed that Jesus is the one sent by God to forgive our sins and believed that Jesus is God, that He died and bodily resurrected.

We are sealed with the presence of God’s spirit in us. (2 Cor 1:22, Eph 1:13). The Oxford Dictionary defines a seal as a device or substance that is used to join two things together to prevent them from coming apart, a design resembling a seal embossed in the paper as a guarantee of authenticity, and a thing regarded as a confirmation or guarantee of something.

Only Jesus has the heavenly authority to remove any seal (Revelation 5:5) or to ascribe a seal (Revelation 7:3, John 20:22). Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). We are at one with Jesus.

So, as much as Saul’s soldiers were of God’s army, no one trusted God. So it is among Christians where few commit by faith to trust Jesus in all parts of their life.  A seagull was taught young to fly gracefully against a strong wind. Few Christians, once born again, learned to trust in the Lord. Jesus commands us to learn from Him early in our Christian life so that we might be prepared to face the difficulties that life challenges us (Matthew 11:29). We are not like a seagull who learns by instinct. Yet, we have been given a teacher named the Holy Spirit to help us along the way (John 16:13). Enoch lived 365 years. He walked with the Lord for 300 years.  It took him 65 years to learn to trust God. Do you have 365 years to live? No, life is much shorter.

What is the wrong principle you are living by that keeps you from trusting God?  What causes you to doubt?  The consequences are that when a storm shows up in your life, you are too weak to fly in faith and, therefore, fail.  In your feeling of failure, you asked why God allowed difficulties in your life. You can’t have one foot in the church and the other in the secular society. The teaching principle of the secular society is 180 degrees opposite to Jesus' teaching. 

Christians live with a purpose: We are the beacon of hope.

Yes, Jesus is merciful, yet He commands us to grow in trusting Him, to let Him live through us, and that is for a purpose, which is so that we may be a beacon of hope to this world, to let our light shine so that whoever sees us may ask us what make us so different.  That is how we can give glory and honour to Jesus. Not by attending church service once a week but by letting Jesus live in us daily. That, my Christian friend, is what we called 'bearing fruits'. The promise made to David also applied to us. God will never forsake us, for we have a purpose, even to death.

Sources 

As long as we fulfill God’s purpose in our lives, God will bless us, even when living in poverty.  James explained that “if a believer is poor, he should be proud because God has made him spiritually rich,” (James 1:9).  It is not your lack of faith that makes you poor, for it is God's purpose to make you spiritually rich in the knowledge of His words. Wealthy or poor, God has a purpose for each one of us, and that is to bear fruit no matter what the circumstances and conditions we find ourselves in.  No matter what life throws at us, we learn to fly like a seagull gracefully against the wind. How do we do that? By letting Christ live in us (Gal 2:20). Did we not die in Christ (Romans 6:8)?

By Jim Richardson

Therefore, ask the Lord to show you the wrong principles, the false teachings, and the myths that cause you to struggle in your life.  Please read my article titled, "What kind of truth do you want God’s word to be?  I promise you that God will answer your prayer.  I encourage you to read my commentary titled “Rest”. 

 Everything that I have written I personally experienced; therefore, be assured that this is a testimony of God working in my life. Everything I share is free. It is my way of sharing God’s blessing with you. As my commentary titled “Faith applied is faith invested “ suggests, it is my goal to live by what I preach. Growing in faith is continuous (Romans 1:17, Romans 10:17).

LET FAITH DO THE WORK

Sources:

What type of Christian are you?  http://www.lamblion.com/articles/articles_questions3.php

Late Ray Stedman, at http://www.raystedman.org. His library is full of commentaries, available in audio also.  

Lambert Dolphin, at http://www.ldolphin.org/.  Very resourceful website.  I suggest that you download a free book titled, “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done”

Jack Kelley, at http://gracethrufaith.com/, offers a question-and-answer session. He will reply to any scriptures that you have difficulty understanding. He also offers Bible study in MP3 format and ebooks. I recommend that you read this excellent commentary, "Cognitive Dissonance." 

SUICIDAL?... STOP!...

Jesus wants you to "REST"

Are you tired of going through it all alone?

This is for my Christian friends and anybody who experience anxiety toward their future, their finance, their job, their health, and their marital relationship. This is for all who seek rest.

Matthew 11:28

“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

To Rest In The Lord Is Simple. All You Need To Do Is To Choose To Take Him by His words. When you do, you choose to believe and to hope, and that is called "Faith".

If it’s that simple then why are we not at rest? Why are we full of anxiety?  Because we are human beings living in a world of human doing.  Many such as I, have brought hardship to ourselves.  The old tradition was that a man must be well-established before he married. For that reason, many women became widows at a young age. A woman would accept marriage only to a man who could provide for her and give security and that would usually be an older man.  Wisdom came before love.

Today’s fad is to put emotional love (or hormones) before wisdom.  Is it not an act of love to use wisdom to prepare for such a responsibility to care for a family?   Nature itself teaches that lesson; birds prepare their nest, and foxes prepare their den.  A big contrast compared to today's costume. We lived in common-law first to see if we were compatible, and moved into an apartment.   We get married, get a mortgage, car, maybe 2 since both got to work to make payments. Children if any, are sent to daycare by 6 am, pick them up at 6 pm. eat, clean up, and go to bed. Start all over the next day.

...Hmmm, there is wisdom in tradition don't you think?  Maybe you were wise and did all the right things yet are full of anxiety. 

I, as for so many lacked wisdom, nevertheless, there is hope. “Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”.   ‘ALL’ which includes the wise and the not so wise. In as much deliverance became available to the tribe of Israel, and slaves to Egyptians, deliverance from anxieties is available to all of us now. It is Jesus’ will to deliver us from the care (yoke) of this world. It is part of our long Christian life experience to ‘trust’ in our Lord.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”. Matthew 6:33…all these things shall be added to you, ALL, which means all, not just a little here or maybe. Jesus meant ALL. All You Need To Do Is Take Him by His Word.

There have been a multitude of sermons, commentaries, books, songs, and hymns written on the subject, all expressing individual experiences in resting in the Lord. Yet when difficult circumstance appears most of us fall into doubt and fear.   We seem to have difficulties to apply rest. Why? Because we doubt?  When things go well, all we want is to be independent and take care of ourselves. We do not accept the fact that Jesus proposes to take care of all things in good times as well as bad times.  In good time Jesus proposes to even make it easier. The time to learn to rest in the Lord is when things go well. But most of us never learn. The statistic shows that 90% of Christians live in a state of uncertainty.

This commentary is for someone desperately seeking an answer to the dilemma he/she finds himself or herself. My dear American Christian friends who are experiencing being let down by your government and who are going through the worst recession ever and only to get worse. This is for my Christian friends who experience anxiety toward the future, their finance, their job, their health, and their marriage. This is for all who seek rest yet are full of fear and anxiety. This is Jesus' call to you, “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,”  (Matthew 11:28). 

To rest in the Lord is to trust in the Lord. To trust in the Lord is to believe in the Lord’s words. To believe in the Lord’s words is to apply faith in the Lord. Faith is a gift. The gift of faith comes from God’s grace. God’s grace comes from His mercy. His mercy comes from His love.

The most important gift ever given is the gift of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. All this for one purpose; to help us to seek first the kingdom of God so that you may know God and that you… “may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God,” Ephesians 3:18-19.  

Listen to the word of the Holy Spirit, and read the whole chapter of the book of Proverb 8.  Is it not wonderful? Not only have we not received the gift of eternal life but also the presence of the Holy Spirit in us. We have everything going for us. We have the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit desires that we succeed, not fail.  Our inheritance is to reign with Jesus.  After salvation, which qualified us into the family of God, we are trained for, a king and priest position.

It took 65 years for Enoch to learn to walk (at "rest") with God.  "After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and begot sons and daughters.  So all the days of Enoch were 365 years" (Gen 5:22-23).  It took me 56 years to learn to "rest" in the Lord, and still in training.  How long will it take you?

What is God's will? “For this is the will of God, your sanctification”, (1 Thes 4:3). This means that we are set apart, and belong to God. It is God’s will that we enter into His rest. “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience,” (Hebrews 4:11). What kind of rest is the author of the Book of Hebrews talking about? It is more than resting from all the works of attaining our salvation, it is by grace alone that we are saved. Jesus calls us to a perpetual Sabbath rest. It means a rest from all worldly works. That "rest" is available now while we are waiting for Jesus's return.

Suicide & Depression TRUTH - Mental Health Industry Lies Does The BIBLE Endorse It?

Source: Nephtali1981

Do you know what is so ironic? It is that the people of Israel had a strong witness of God's power and glory. God liberated them from slavery from the hand of the Egyptians and yet refused to enter the land promised to them.  They refuse to enter His rest.  What were the consequences? See Hebrews 3:11, forty years in the wilderness. And yet, once in the promised land, they continually refused to let God take care of them so that they could fulfill their real purpose, and that is to represent God’s kingdom here on earth. They refused to enter into God’s rest. Why? Hebrews 3:19, “because of unbelief”.  They refused by not seeking God and His righteousness. That is the main reason why they were led in captivity in Babylon. They experience the wrath of God, which is tough love. Their captivity was of their own doing, living their own choices. As a good father, God gave us freedom of choice. 

Beginning Of Sorrows: As The Tension Rises, Don't Give Up!

Are we any different? We suffer the consequences of our choices. We are experiencing God’s tough love also. We have been liberated from slavery from the hand of Satan yet refuse to enter God’s promised rest.  We were like chickens living in a hen house that the fox had built and that fox is Satan. We are free yet refuse to get out of the hen's house.  Jesus pleads to the Jews by sending a multitude of prophets inviting them into His rest, yet refused.

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"  (Matthew 23:37).  

What's good for the gander is good for the goose. That invitation to the Jews as a nation is now available to both Jews and Gentiles as "The Church" There is a time shortly when Israel as a nation will accept Jesus's invitation, but for now, that invitation is for all Gentiles.

Many Christians do not realize that we are commanded to enter His rest. I never could understand as a Christian why I was as miserable and insecure as so many Christians. The reason is that it is not taught in most secular denominations. Most denominations concentrate more on developing social activities than teaching God's way of life.  See my commentary title, “Why is Jesus’ Church Divided?  Christianity is like the menu of an Ice Cream Parlour.”

First, we must understand that rest was instituted from the beginning, (Heb 4:3b) 

“…although the works were finished from the foundation of the world”.

Adam was living in a state of rest, "the works were finished."  

Everything was provided for him. He/she sought after God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Humanity lost that condition of "rest"? It was lost when Adam disobeyed. His mind became distorted when he chose to be self-directed. He is the originator of the spirit of "self-provider”. It was then that Adam entered a state of restlessness, and we followed. To know more about the intended rest I encourage you to read my commentary I wrote, titled, “Economic Crisis: As Christians what are we do? "REST"”
  
Here is an excerpt:

"Rest" is available now as it was with Enoch, Noah, Job, Abraham, Moses, Daniel, and many more.  "Rest" always was available; furthermore, because we have been separated from the fellowship with God for such a long period, we needed a helper to teach us to attain that "rest".  How do you acquire "rest"?  It is simple.  This might be a surprise, but that too is Jesus' work.  You need to be attentive to the following:

Once you have accepted Jesus as your personal saviour and redeemer, it is His responsibility to bring you to a green pasture (rest).  Jesus is our Good Shepherd.  "He looks for a good pasture for His sheep.  He found good pasture with plenty of grass" (1 Chronicles 4:39).  "The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want (Ps 23: 1)".  "I am the Good Shepherd.  The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn 10:11).  Not only did He lay down His physical life for us, but He also gives all His time and attention to teach and provide us "rest".

By grace, you are saved and have guaranteed everlasting life, but you are not at rest.  Jesus will be looking for you.  Actually, He is at work right now in your life to bring you into His "rest".  "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen" (at "rest").  If you are not at rest now, you are not of His pen.  “I must bring them also.  They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd,” Jn 10:16.  His sheep are members of His Church.  Some are already of His pen, they are the ones at "rest". He is going after those members (other sheep) who are not at "rest".  The "other sheep" are not "the unsaved" as some have been taught.  His sheep are inside and outside of His pen.  They are part of the same body, the farm property (among the good ground, and among thorns, (Matt 13:7,8).  (Luke 15:4-7), shows how much more Jesus rejoices after one of His stray sheep is found and returns to rest with the other sheep.

Some Christians are in a peaceful and restful mind setting and others are not.  That is the reason why some members of your congregation seem to function stress-free in their life and others do not.  It is not necessarily sins that keep us from receiving His "rest" daily, but a matter of not learning the principle of coming at "rest" in the Lord.  Sin confessed is sin forgiven.  That is the first fundamental part of learning to "rest".  "Rest" is, learned.  That is moreover Jesus's responsibility to teach you.  Are you a good student?  Do you pay attention to Jesus's life lesson?  Are you conscious of Jesus's presence and at work in you, in your life?  Eventually, He will get your attention.  Invite Jesus to live in your life daily, and be conscious of His presence.

"Rest is the secret of human fruitfulness. As you consent to this, a wonderful thing will begin to happen. You will find the rest. Jesus said you would. "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest," Matthew 11:29. Rest, with all it implies in terms of fruitfulness and dominion; reigning, ruling, producing that which is worthwhile and satisfying in life. That is the secret of life. This is why Jesus said, "If any man will save his life, he shall lose it. But if he shall lose his life for my sake, he shall find it," (Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24). He will find rest; he will fulfill the Sabbath rest for that is what the Sabbath is. It is God's divine provision for us".

Recessions come and go.  Jesus "rest" is permanent and sure.  You do not have to wait for His return to benefit from His "intended rest".  The "Law under Christ" as Paul expressed "I am under Christ's law", (1 Corinthians 9:21) gave me not only freedom but also "rest". Invite Jesus to live in you.  Increase awareness of Him working in you.  Learn to "rest".  “For we who have believed do enter that rest”, (Heb 4:3a) “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”, Ephesians 3:20.

Now let's put each statement in perspective, one by one. To rest in the Lord you must trust Him, believe in Him, and apply faith in the Lord.

Trust

God gives us free choice. Most Christians choose to doubt God.  Yes, choose. It is His words against your reasoning. We do not “Take Him by His Word”.  The factor that helps us to achieve trust is by understanding that God knows our destiny, (1 Tim 6:15,  1 Cor 4:8).  He knows what is important to us, (Matt 6:32).  Therefore let us trust Him with all our needs, (Proverb 3:5,6).  

You may not be aware of, or perhaps you were taking God’s mercy for granted but showing a lack of trust toward God is an act of disobedience, therefore, a sin. It offended God when Israel refused to enter the land promised to Abraham. It offended God when Saul did not keep the instruction to wait on Samuel, (1 Samuel 13:13).  Even Job offended God in not trusting God.  Oh yes. It was not only self-righteousness that caused Job suffering but doubt. 

Job said, “ For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet, yet trouble came,”  (Job 3:25-26). 

 Job doubted. Job was not at rest.  As it turns out, in my opinion, his doubt of God's protection invited and warranted these tragedies.  While living a full life of health and prosperity, did Job fear that disasters could be not far behind? He expected them. Do you expect God's wrath toward you at the first moment you fall back and sin?  I was rear in the Catholic tradition of fearing God's wrath which is not true worshiping. Job's frequent burnt offerings could prove his insecurity toward God, believing that God is out to get him on the first sign of disobedience. Could it be that he did not understand God's grace and mercy? God is not out there to punish us but to help us grow as a loving father is toward a child.

What about us? Some not only doubt their salvation by fulfilling unnecessary works but doubt God's divine protection and blessing by working to please God so that His curse would not fall on us. We are no better than pagans who offer sacrifices to their idols to appease their anger. 

Believe

What is the root cause of fear? Doubts. What is the root cause of doubt? Not believing, not taking God by His Word. Here are some examples; Many doubt that God did not create heaven and earth and that it took 6 days to create the earth, all living creatures, and the universe.  There are many Christians who prefer trusting secular scientists who teach the theory of the Big Bang. Science did not intimidate Daniel who was surrounded by the best of king Nebuchadnezzar's consultant.  He trusted God to reveal to him the mystery of the king’s dream.  Please read my commentary title, "Mystery In The Trinity Revealed In A Molecule Of Water (H²O)" to help you understand the mystery of God's creation.

Many doubt the validity of the Adam and Eve story. It is a fairy tale for many. If it is a fairy tale, we would not need a redeemer. We would not need to be saved. Please take the time to read my article titled, “Simplicity In The Gospel…Step 1 Believe”.

What about the virgin birth of Jesus? What about Jesus, was He a man with special talents or was He really the Son of God? Did He really resurrect from the dead?  Why are you reading the horoscope?  Why are you buying a lotto ticket?  What is the motive?  Do you believe that it is Mother Nature that is in control of the weather?  Do you doubt God’s words?  Then how can you trust Jesus to take care of all things?

Faith

Please read the whole chapter of Hebrews 11.  It is all about faith.  Faith is a choice.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,” (Eph 2:80.  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”, (Heb 11:1).  It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. What are the things not seen?  They are His promises.  Faith is believing and hoping for God's promises.  The Bible is full of God's promises, and 'rest' is one of many.

To believe is a choice.  To trust God is a choice.  It is a choice to apply faith.  It is a choice. Here are the most common excuses that I hear from Christians; 

“ It is one thing to say, another to do”; "It is easier said than done";  “It is hard”; "You don't understand, my circumstance is different."  

Let me be very clear, most Christians sound exactly like the Israelites, they murmured and refused to enter the promised land. They refused to enter God's rest, (Heb 3:11).  To believe is a choice.  To trust God is a choice.  It is a choice to apply faith. It is a choice. It is not a physical afford. It is a decision, a choice. Therefore - Chose. (Heb 4:10):

• By (his choice) faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,

• By (choice) faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death

• But without (choosing) faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe (and no doubt) that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

• By (his choice) faith Noah… prepared an ark to save his household, and became the heir of the righteousness, which is according to (his choice) faith.

• By (his choice) faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place, which he would receive as an inheritance.

• By (his choice) faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country

• By (her choice) faith Sarah herself also received the strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child

• These all died in (their choice) faith, not having received the promises

• By (his choice) faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac

• By (his choice) faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come

• By (his choice) faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

• By (his choice) faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones

• By (his parent's choice) faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.

• By (his choice) faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

• By (his choice) faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

• By (his choice) faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

• By (their choice) faith they passed through the Red Sea as dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

• By (choice) faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.  By (her choice) faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe when she had received the spies with peace.

• And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through (their choice) faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.  Women received their dead raised to life again.

• Others were tortured, (by choice) not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still, others had trials of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, and were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

• And all these, having obtained a good testimony through (choice) faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.  'Do you understand that some by choice decided to accept death rather than deliverance knowing something better awaits them'.

 Hebrews 12

• Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight (disbelief), and the sin (doubt) that 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 (our choice), 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.

It is by choice that Jesus went on the cross.  Why would it be any different for us? We are to choose to believe, to trust, to hope, and therefore to apply faith to enter God's rest.  “Since therefore it remains that some must enter it (rest)”, Heb 4:6a. 
Now make it a prayer of choice to believe. 

Proverb 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

…and this is how we enter God’s rest.

CHOOSE TO BELIEVE

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus,”  (Philippians 4:19)

When ready to make a commitment, please print this contract with Our Lord and sign it.

“For we who have believed do enter that rest,” Hebrews 4:3a