Faith in fullest expression

James 2:20-22

“You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that  his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” NIV

We are still on giving the exercise of your faith its fullest expression, and it is by sacrifice. From our text, you can see that it says so of Abraham, but let us see two more examples in Scripture. 

Luke 19:8-9

“And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, “This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.” KJV

Zacchaeus  was seeking the Lord, but he was someone very notorious in the neighborhood. Finally, he got to the place where the Lord mat him and came to his house. But, his sins still caught up with him because the people were not going to allow him forget easily. Then Zacchaeus stood and made the pronouncement above. Immediately, he made the declaration, Jesus announced, “ This day has salvation come into this house.” I like the way the Living Bible translation puts the verse 9:  

“Jesus told him, "This shows that salvation has come to this home today.” 

What was it that showed that salvation has come into Zacchaeus’ household? The sacrifice he did when he made the declaration to give away the stuff he gave away.

Hebrews 2:10

“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” KJV

This is talking about God. To have many sons and daughters today, God’s faith for that had its supreme expression when He sacrificed His Son Jesus Christ. Remember that before then God had been speaking about the coming of the Messiah, that is, He had been confessing it. So also, you too go and do likewise.

Faith has a starting point

James 2:20-22

“You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that  his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” NIV

Faith in the life of a believer has a starting point. You have heard the statement and if you have not heard it before, let me tell you what it is, “faith begins where the will of God is known”. This is how faith begins. Then we also know from Scripture where faith has to begin from; “…for with the heart man believes unto righteousness…”.  Our text for meditation introduces something more, it talks about faith being made complete. What does the Scripture mean by faith being made complete?

“You fool! Faith that does nothing is worth nothing. Do you want me to prove this to you? Our father Abraham was made right with God by what he did. He offered his son Isaac to God on the altar.   So you see that Abraham's faith and what he did worked together. His faith was made perfect by what he did.”

“Was not our forefather Abraham [shown to be] justified (made acceptable to God) by [his] works when he brought to the altar as an offering his [own] son Isaac? You see that [his] faith was cooperating with his works, and [his] faith was completed and reached its supreme expression [when he implemented it] by [good] works.” AMP

We see from the amplified translation that his being made complete meant the exercise of his faith was perfected or reached its supreme, full or highest expression. What brought the exercise of his faith to its supreme, full or highest expression? Corresponding actions! But I believe specifically sacrifice! You see there are different things you can do as actions that back up your faith, for example, confession of God’s word is a corresponding action. 

But actions that are sacrificial in nature is what brings the exercise of faith to its full expression and sometimes in your exercise of faith, it will be stretched to that level where a sacrifice will be required. That is the corresponding action will cost you something.

Faith receiving precedes actual receiving

Mark 5:25-29

“Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years.  She had endured a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet instead of getting better, she grew worse. 

When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,   for she kept saying, "If only I touch his clothes, I will be healed."   At once the bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.”  The NET Bible®

Did you notice the process of her healing? The Scriptures say, “at once the bleeding stopped and then she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease”, this tells you faith receiving precedes actual receiving. Putting it another way, faith comes before feeling. This is the order in receiving from God in every area and it is more practically played especially in the area of receiving healing for sick bodies as it was done in the case of the woman with the issue of blood. 

Mark 11:23-24

“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” KJV

In the passage above, in both instances, whether in speaking to a situation or in praying, you receive by faith first before you see manifestation. Too many want to believe they are healed after they have the feelings and they want to believe they are prosperous after they have seen their bank account reflect it. No faith precedes feelings, manifestation and physical evidence. Until you can accept this reality of faith before feelings you will not be able to receive from God

Attitude on serving God

Isaiah 1:19

“If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land.” NIV

We are still looking at attitudes and how they affect us in having the best from God. I want you to know that your attitude will not be automatically good because you are a Christian, it is something you decide to have, I mean right attitude. Let me just pick two areas:

Attitude on serving God: Some people have a bad attitude when it comes to serving God and this is not acceptable to Him. When your attitude is wrong you cannot have the best from God or even from your employer. God has a way He wants to be served.

“Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.” Psalm 100:2

When our attitude in serving God is different than what the above passage says we do not get the best from Him.

Attitude on Giving to God: This is another major area that some people come with a wrong attitude. The Scripture says God loves a cheerful and prompt to do it giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7

“Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver [whose heart is in his giving].” AMP

What is your attitude like in these two areas? Change your attitude as regards serving God and giving. Determine to have the best attitudes in these areas and watch God give you His best. Remember this: Your attitude is a reflection of what is really going on deep down on the inside of you. It reveals what you are and draws to you what comes to you. And your actions flow out of your attitude and your actions create your destination.

What attitude is

Isaiah 1:19

“If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land.” NIV

Someone once said life is a series of decisions, and everyday we are making them from the mundane to the serious. It’s the decision you made today that determines where you will be tomorrow, what you will have tomorrow and the kind of life you’ll live tomorrow. So to receive God’s best, it must begin with you, your decision. You must decide you want to have God’s best in life and you are not settling for less. In deciding to have God’s best you do the following:

1.     Believe that God wants YOU to have His best.

2.     Make a commitment to give your best in everything you do.

3.     Stay focused on pursuing God’s best for your life.

4.     Be willing to walk uprightly or strive for excellence. Be willing to go beyond all your previous efforts.

5.     Be obedient to the leading of God the Holy Spirit in your life.

The second thing that is important in you having the best of God is your attitude. If you want to receive God’s best then you must make sure your attitude is right. As the famous saying goes, “Your attitude determines your altitude. 

Attitude is defined thus: “a position assumed for a specific purpose” and  “a mental position with regard to a fact or state.” According to John Maxwell,  your attitude determines your approach to life and your relationships with people. The Scripture has this to say about attitude:

“A Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” Philippians 2:5 NASU

“…to be made new in the attitude of your minds…” Ephesians 4:23 NIV

“A relaxed attitude lengthens a man's life; jealousy rots it away.” Proverbs 14:30 TLB

“May God who gives patience, steadiness, and encouragement help you to live in complete harmony with each other-each with the attitude of Christ toward the other.” Romans 15:5 TLB

Expect a miracle

Judges 6:13

“And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.” KJV

Gideon recognized that if God be with you then miracles should also be present in your life. As a child of God you can have a miracle in your life, so I want you to expect a miracle today.

A miracle is when time and space and natural processes are compressed to make something happen for the individual. In some cases, time stands still. It is also when something that defies natural explanation happens. Examples are the parting of the red sea, the turning of water into wine.

It is also something that jumps or compresses the natural processes as though they don’t exist or are needful for you to get there. For example; the miracle of the drought of the fishes, moving from no catch to a boat breaking catch, also the miracle of multiplying the little boys lunch inspite of contradicting circumstances. God is a miracle working God and you can have one.

These are five keys to receiving a miracle:

1.     Get a word from God. Every miracle is birthed by a word from heaven.

2.     Guard your heart. When a word has been received, the scriptures say satan comes immediately to steal it. This is why people receive a word in a church service or in a time of the move of the Spirit and afterwards act as though nothing happened or say they are not sure it was God who spoke to them.

3.     Accept God’s method. Do not dictate how the miracle would come.

4.     Cast away fear. Fear is a robber, do not allow it, do not give room to it.

5.     Have patience.

The act of giving thanks

Ps 100:4-101:1

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. NIV

Thanksgiving can be defined as:

1.     The act of giving thanks – the doing of giving thanks, it is an action word.

2.     A prayer expressing gratitude

3.     A public acknowledgement of divine goodness and

4.     A celebration of divine goodness

What we are doing when we give thanks is:

a.     We are acknowledging God as the source of the blessings we received

b.     We deny the circumstances the right to dictate to us how to respond to them.

c.     We acknowledge God as the one who gave ability for whatever it is we were able to achieve or accomplish.

d.     We are reminding ourselves of the faithfulness of God

e.     We open up ourselves for God to do more for us and in us.

f.      We give hope and encouragement to others.

Thanksgiving is to be an ongoing thing in the life of the believer. Give Him thanks today.

Making a difference

Luke 7:1-3

“When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.” NIV

Being a value adder is nothing but being someone that makes a difference, a good difference.  The Scripture in Matthew 5 that we saw yesterday, says that you are a light, therefore shine. It says you are like a city set on a hill, you cannot be hid; so make a difference you already have been put out there for people to see. So what are the things you can do?

1.     You must be a highly skilled worker

2.     You must be a problem solver

3.     You must know how to be a team player and you must play in line with the over all vision of the organization.

4.     You must be a learning worker, acquiring the knowledge necessary for your productivity.

5.     You must be performing, delivering results.

6.     You must be profitable to the place

7.     You must be faithful.

8.     You must be quick to serve.

9.     You must be trustworthy, you must be faithful.

10.  You must be able to work without supervision

11.  You must take ownership of your own development.

You have it you to make a difference where you, make Jesus proud by just doing that.

A man’s value

Luke 7:1-3

“When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.” NIV

Have you ever thought of it? What will make a centurion break protocol, break tradition, come off his high horse to go look for Jesus, not on behalf of a family member but on behalf of a servant. The answer is there – this was a servant he valued highly. Some translations say he was a highly prized slave, another said, he was a slave held in high honour. To be valued or prized highly or held in high honour means the servant was someone of  value.value

A man’s value is his worth. It is the gauge of his importance, relevance,  usefulness and general worth. And this is what you have been called to be as a child of God working in God’s vineyard or anywhere for that matter. You have been called to be someone that will be prized highly. You have also been called to create value where there is none or increase or add to wherever you find some. The believer must be a value adder wherever you find yourself. That is the only way you will be true representative of almighty God and His Son Jesus Christ.

"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand — shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 THE MESSAGE

Be a value adder!

Different compartments of the soul

Proverbs 23:7

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” KJV

Romans 12:2

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” KJV

Let us conclude this meditation on the mind by bringing to you the different compartments of the soul.

Firstly, there is the mind which is the seat of knowledge. It is made strong by receiving information. So feed on the word of God and books generally.

Secondly, you have the will. That is the seat of your convictions, where principles are formed and held unto. 

The knowledge you have and the experiences of life help to form your principles and convictions. So if you feed on the right knowledge and your experiences are filtered through correct information, you will end up with good convictions and right values.

Thirdly, in your soul also is another part that is the seat of your affections, or emotions. This where anger, your ability to like and love, etc. reside.  All of these are fed by words. Right words will stir up the right emotions and wrong words will stir up wrong emotions. The Scripture enjoins us to exercise control over our emotions.

“It is better to be slow-tempered than famous; it is better to have self-control than to control an army.” Proverbs 16:32 TLB

“A man without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls.” Proverbs 25:28 TLB

Fourthly, you have the part that stores which is called memory. This is the place where all experiences of life are stored, whether good or bad. This can also be put to good or bad use. Some are held captive of negative experiences that had happened in the past, it has become their prison. But that is not what God intended for it.

 “The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!"

Lamentations 3:19-25 NLT

Last but not the least, is the imagination. This is the seat of creation, the place where ideas can be born that will change your life and change your world and even the world. Imagination does not flourish on emptiness, it flourishes where the mind has been fed with proper knowledge. Your imagination will flow out of what your mind feeds on. Feed on garbage, it will multiply and bring rottenness to you. But feed on right things and you will be inspired to great things.

May your mind be a place for great ideas to be born that will change the world.

The power of the mind

Proverbs 23:7

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” KJV

Romans 12:2

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” KJV

The mind is a powerhouse and we need to continue to use our minds to glorify God. You have to take deliberate steps to take advantage of the power of the mind. The Scripture has said it that the end result of the carnal mind or the unregenerated mind is death because it is an enemy of God, so we are talking about the believer who wants to glorify God with his mind. This is what to do with the mind so that it can be productive positively.

  1.     Feed on the word of God – Knowledge is the food of the mind, therefore, knowledge of God’s word will do two major things. 

    (a) James 1:21

“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” KJV

The word will cleanse your mind and deliver it from the pathway of destruction you have set it on. 

(b). It will also free your mind from the clutter in it and you will be able to easily tell what the perfect will of God is in any given situation.

        The Scriptures gives you what to think on.

“For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].” Philippians 4:8 AMP 

  2.     There are gateways to the mind, these are, the eye, the ears and the mouth. Be careful what goes through them and you will have a positive mind. You are victorious or defeated more by what is on your mind than what is on your spirit. This is because an un renewed mind can hinder the treasure in your spirit.

  3.     You also need to develop your mind along natural lines. That is your field of endeavor, educate your mind by reading books.

Thoughts

Proverbs 23:7

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” KJV

Romans 12:2

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” KJV

What we examined yesterday was more like a side journey from our focus which I believe the Holy Spirit had me take because of you, so let us go back to our focus for meditation. Our Scripture for meditation in Proverbs lets us know what we think is important. I heard somebody say this, “you are not what you think you  are but what you think you are.” In other words, your life is what your thoughts make it. 

You are what your thoughts are because your life goes in the direction of your most dominant thoughts. So don’t be fooled to think you can dwell on something in your thoughts and it would not be acted out in real life by you. 

This is because your thoughts affect your focus, your focus is where your energy is channeled and where your energy is channeled determine the direction that you go. The mind is a powerful part of you, which can be a tool in the hand of God for good or in the hand of the devil for evil.

Romans 8:5-7

“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God.” NIV

When a man is born again, it is the spirit that is changed, but change on the outside or transformation can only be seen when the mind has been renewed. That is the power of the mind. So what is on your mind is what you will act out. The question is what is on your mind. The Scriptures say, set your mind on what the Spirit desires. In another place it says, set your affections on things above.

Man is tripartite being

Proverbs 23:7

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” KJV

Romans 12:2

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” KJV

Man is tripartite being, he is a spirit, who has a soul and lives in a physical body. God is interested in all parts of our being. Some behave as though, it is only the spirit that God is interested in. In fact let us look at some
Scriptures to bring this home.

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” KJV

1 Corinthians 6:17

“But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him.” AMP

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.” AMP

1 Thessalonians 5:23

“And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).” AMP

When you were ransomed , you were ransomed spirit, soul and body. You are required to serve God with your spirit, soul and body.

Matthew 22:37

“And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect).” AMP

I hope by now you can see clearly, that there is no part of you that is yours to use as you so desire, Jesus paid for you wholly, so give yourself wholly to God.

Walk!

John 5:1-9

“After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 

For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man  was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, 

Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.” KJV

The last instruction Jesus gave to the man that will make him whole is WALK. This means among other things to make a headway, advance by steps, and to pursue a course of action or way of life. This is a command Jesus gave him and so to you in other that you be made whole. Begin to take steps, one day at a time, one step at a time in the direction of that desire. 

He is also saying to you, pursue a course of action, stop waiting on somebody else. You walk! The only person you need to be made whole and He is standing before you and saying to you, RISE, TAKE UP THY BED AND WALK! That is all you need to be made whole of whatever and in whatever situation you are in right now.  Would you be made whole?

Take up thy bed

John 5:1-9

“After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 

For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 

The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.” KJV 

Will you be made whole is the question still. Yesterday, I said what Jesus said to the man at the pool of Bethesda is still relevant to us today if we are to be made whole. He said, rise, take up thy bed and walk. We have examined RISE. Let us examine the remaining today.

TAKE UP THY BED – what is the implication of this, why must he take up the bed? He surely does not need that to walk. The bed represented every excuse the man ha d used as a crutch to lean on. What was supposed to give him temporary support became his stumbling block.  He became comfortable on the bed to the extent that he became too lazy to go after the reason for which he came to the pool. The man had other excuses that he used as a crutch, “I have no man…” What excuses have held you down from rising up, take up thy bed and walk, it is what you allow that will hold you captive. It is time to say no.

“You'll live by your sword, hand-to-mouth, and you'll serve your brother. But when you can't take it any more you'll break loose and run free.” Genesis 27:40 THE MESSAGE

“You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck." NIV

This is what Isaac said to Esau after Jacob had stolen the blessing of the first born. When you get to the point, you can’t take it anymore, you’ll break loose and run free. What will get you to that point that you will grow restless, when you feed on the word of God. There is no person that feeds continually on the word of God that does not get to the place you begin to get restless where the yokes of the devil are concerned.

Would you be made whole?

John 5:1-9

“After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 

When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.” KJV

Jesus asked this man, “would you be made whole?” That is a question I want to ask you too today. Would you be made whole? In our text, the man answered he had no man. To be whole your attention should not be on a man, when the King of kings is before you. You will notice Jesus did not pay attention to his response, instead He just told the man to rise, take up his bed and walk. Today if you want to be whole too you have to do those three things: rise, take up your bed and walk. What do they mean?

Rise – this word mean to get up from the inside. You see this man was not just lie down physically, he was also lie down emotionally, in his heart and mind. He is in a position described by Isaiah 60:1 (amp):

“ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you — rise to a new life]…”

Circumstances of life, in this case, his thirty eight years infirmity has brought him to a prostrated position and depression. Note that the Scripture said, “when Jesus saw him lie and knew that he had been a long time in that case…” So he needed to get up first from his inside, no man can be helped who has lost hope, who has given up on the inside. 

Therefore, if you want to be whole spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially and financially (for that was what the man was offered), you have to rise. Get up! There is a meaning of the word rise in the dictionary, it means to come into being. This is what happens when you rise up, when you refuse to stay down by whatever contrary force that is acting against you, you are on the way to coming into your own. So RISE!

Direction of your faith

Colossians 2:11-12

“In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” NIV

Yesterday , I showed you that your faith is important. Today I also want you to see that where you direct your faith is also important. Our text revealed that we became one with Christ in death and resurrection through our faith in the power of God. It is important that when you exercise faith, that you exercise it in the direction of God and His power not in the words of man or the ability of man or the faith of man but in the power of God. Ultimately that is what will bring you the healing, the deliverance or whatever it is that you have the need of. Paul by the Holy Ghost said it again that the essence of preaching is so that the faith of people can be in the power of God.

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.” NIV

When some blind men came to Jesus for healing, he asked them, “Do you believe I am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:38) In other words do they faith in His power? When they answered yes, he said to them, according to your faith, be it done unto you. Your faith has to be in the power of God.  

Having faith in God’s power will not come to you automatically though; it will come because you did things deliberately for your faith to be directed properly. What are these things?

 1.     Feed your faith on the miracles of Jesus in the gospels

 2.     Feed your faith on God’s demonstration of power in the old testament.

 3.     Feed your faith where God did miracles, signs and wonders in the Scriptures

 4.     Study the gifts of the Spirit.

 5.     Pray in the Spirit a lot.

When you constantly feed on these things, your faith will easily be developed towards God in the area of miracles, signs and wonders and its direction will be towards God and His power when you exercise it.

Your faith is very important

Col 2:11-12

“In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” NIV

Your faith is very important. Some people have more confidence in other people’s faith than their own. They have more faith in their Pastor’s faith, or other men of God. But the Scripture above shows clearly that the individual’s faith is important. Here it shows that you became one with Christ through your faith in the power of God. Now that is the greatest miracle you can ever experience, if that happen through your faith, what can’t you have through your faith, absolutely nothing. Jesus said, “if you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.” 

It is if you can believe. When the woman with the issue of blood was healed, Jesus told her, “daughter thy (your) faith has made thee whole. When blind Bartimeaus was healed of his blindness, Jesus said to him, “thy faith has made thee whole.” When the Samaritan leprous man came back to give thanks, he was told by Jesus, “thy faith hath made whole.” Lastly, when some blind men came and asked Jesus to heal them, he told them, “according to your faith be it done unto you.” 

What I am showing you is this, your faith is very important and get you the results you desire. If you will do the same thing with your faith as those people you look up to did, your faith also will be strong and bring forth the results you desire. What did they do with their faith? 

 1.     They used it, I mean, they exercised it. So matter how small you feel your faith is today, begin to use it, exercise it and your faith muscles will begin to grow stronger and stronger.

 2.     Feed your faith on the word of God for faith comes by hearing the word of God.

 3.     Guard your faith from things or people that will negatively affect your faith.

 4.     Guard also what you say with your mouth, for as the mouth can an instrument for strengthening your faith, it can also be a medium through which your faith leaks out and become weak.

Reconcilaition

1 Corinthians 1:18-19

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” NIV

The third major thing I believe that the cross represents is RECONCILIATION. 

Colossians 1:20-22

“…and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” NIV

The cross is the place of reconciliation, not the resurrection tomb, it is on the cross that God met man. You have to come to the cross to meet with God, acknowledge your sin, lay it down there  and turn around (or repent) and go the other way. It was on the cross God became one with our sin and peace was made. Now the rift between God and man is the greatest rift that can be but the cross brought that to an end. If the cross can reconcile man to God, it can reconcile husband and wife, parents and children, siblings, tribes, nations and races. 

Ephesians 2:13-19

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” KJV

On the cross it was not only the enmity between God and man that was slain, the enmity and division between men too was slain. Christians who are racists in any form either have not been to the cross or are not walking in the reality of it. When you look at people through the cross, you will see that there is no Jew or Gentile, black or white, male or female but all fellow citizens and members of the household of God.

Message of the cross

1 Corinthians 1:18

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” NIV

In our meditations we have been looking at the message of the cross and its implication in the life of the believer. I want to bring to you by the help of the Holy Spirit how you can by faith work these things out in your life for these things are also by faith. Remember what was said of Moses?

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.” Hebrews 11:24 KJV

“[Aroused] by faith Moses, when he had grown to maturity and become great, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.” AMP

So Moses walked that path of the crucified life by faith, so you too can live it by faith. Some words Paul by the Holy Ghost used give us an understanding how to live this out by faith.

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:11 KJV

“So look upon your old sin nature as dead and unresponsive to sin, and instead be alive to God, alert to him, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” TLB

“Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.” AMP

Firstly, the word “reckon” as it is used means count it as so. What does it mean count it as so? It means call the things that be not as though they were(which by the way is a faith language). This means even though you feel as though sin still has you in it’s grip, count your body dead to those desires, declare that you are dead to those desires and unresponsive to the pull of sin upon your flesh. Then you also do this:

“Do not continue offering or yielding your bodily members [and faculties] to sin as instruments (tools) of wickedness. But offer and yield yourselves to God as though you have been raised from the dead to [perpetual] life, and your bodily members [and faculties] to God, presenting them as implements of righteousness.” Romans 6:13 AMP

You keep at doing these two things everyday and before long, you will have the reality of the victory that Jesus won for you on the cross.

Living the crucified life

1 Corinthians 1:18

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” NIV

To conclude on this, let me introduce something here regarding living the crucified life. I believe that when you hear of something like this, some people have the mistaken idea that living such life means you go through life suffering not enjoying the abundant life. You are not the only one to think like this, there is someone just like you in the Bible. Have you heard about the rich young ruler?
Mark 10:17-22

“And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.” KJV

This man came asking from the Master what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. On a final note he was asked to sell his possessions and give to the poor but he went away grieved. If you stop there, you can go around preaching the gospel of impoverishment. But that was not the end of the story, Jesus was only trying to make him fulfill Matthew 16:24-25. If you want to follow him, lose your life first, deny yourself first. Now look at the end that Jesus was planning for him:
Mark 10:28-30

 “Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” KJV

Jesus was trying to bring him to the place where he would reap a hundred fold return.

What have you left for the gospel’s sake? Who has left you because of the gospel? Get ready for a hundred fold return in Jesus name.

Denying oneself

1 Corinthians 1:18

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” NIV

Another major message that we get from the cross of Jesus Christ is the message of SELF DENIAL or SELF SACRIFICE.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 KJV

The believer who wants to experience the fullness of the life in Christ must be willing to deny himself or be willing to sacrifice his life. To get a true picture of what this is all about, let us look at the above text in other translations:

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]. For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].” Matthew 16:’24-25 AMP

“Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.” THE MESSAGE

From the above translations, we can deduce that to deny oneself means to disregard yourself. Forget yourself and your interests get off the driver’s seat of your life and embrace suffering. Another translation says to say no to things you want. Listen if your walk with God has never brought to the place where you say no to things you like then it is still a babyish Christianity.

“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.  He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” NIV

Love not the world

1 Corinthians 1:18

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” NIV

The third thing you die to is the world.

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14 KJV
What is the world, you ask?

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1John 2:15-17 KJV

“Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world — wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important — has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out — but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.” THE MESSAGE

“Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love these things you show that you do not really love God; for all these worldly things, these evil desires-the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you, and the pride that comes from wealth and importance-these are not from God. They are from this evil world itself. And this world is fading away, and these evil, forbidden things will go with it, but whoever keeps doing the will of God will live forever.” TLB
James 4:4

“You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.” AMP

When you are dead to the world, you do not get involved with the rat race that people get into, you do not get into bondage of the fashion of the world or the world’s system of doing things.