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As we enter this second month of 2013, let us all remember that Christ should be number one in our souls, our spirits, and in our everyday dealings with the world.  Look with us at the Sunday School lesson for February 3, 2013; and watch Paul make an airtight case for why Christ deserves to be #1 in both your life and my life.      God Bless you.  -Pastor Ken

(Colossians 1:11-12) May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

God gives us the strength to do right and avoid wrongdoing as we choose, because He has given us moral accountability. Just as Paul prayed for all of his readers (and that includes his readers today), we need to pray for one another and ourselves that when we experience pressures of any kind that cause stress or suffering that we keep our focus on God and doing right without complaining. God in Christ has prepared an inheritance for us that we receive partially in this life and will receive fully in the future.. Those loyal to Jesus Christ live as “saints in the light” living in truth; in the light of heaven.

(Colossians 1:13) He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son

This is like our recent Bible Study in Ephesians 2:1-3. Before we came to faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we lived as slaves who were subject to the will of the enemy. Our heavenly Father has transferred us from a life of slavery to evil powers into a life of liberty and truth in the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

(Colossians 1:14) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

If we have sold or pawned something and then have bought it back, we have redeemed it. When we sinned, we sold ourselves into a life of slavery to sin. Christ bought us back.

(Colossians 1:15) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;

Human physical eyes cannot see the invisible God, so God made himself visible to us through the life and ministry of His Son, Jesus Christ. On Earth, Jesus Christ lived and taught in such a way that we could learn about the intention, the purpose, the way, the love, and the truth about the true God, who requires Holiness. So Christ was born and lived Holy! (see 1 Corinthians 15:12-25 for a full explanation of this.)

(Colossians 1:16) for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.

The Son of God always existed as the Word of God (as the Gospel of John, chapter 1, described). The Son of God and God the Father created all things according to their perfect will: things we can and cannot see with our visible eyes (or with whatever we have created to see things far away or to enlarge so we can see small things). Evil powers make war against God the Father and His children, but the Bible makes clear that God did not create any evil powers or rulers. Evil powers or rulers chose to rebel against God. However, these evil beings or powers are and will become the occasion for Jesus Christ to demonstrate His unquestionable Holiness and power over all things whether on, above, or beneath the earth.

(Colossians 1:17) He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

As the Son of God, He was before and prior to all created beings or things before He came into the world as Jesus the Messiah to save His people from their sins. He created everything, and He holds everything together in each part by the word of His power.

(Colossians 1:18) He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.

Jesus created all things, and He holds together all things. He rules over the church. The church is the body of Christ on Earth. He controls and directs each part of His body without violating the integrity of any part of His body; therefore, those in the church can still choose to cooperate or not with the other members of His body. Jesus Christ was the first person to rise from the dead never to die again, and the first to receive a resurrected, glorified, human body. Jesus Christ is preeminent or superior in everything.

1. What do you think could be a reason why God orders (prioritizes)things in earth?

2. Can you think of at least one or two benefits that come with following God’s order?

3. How significant or meaningful is it to you that all things were made in Christ?

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John 13:34-35 A Love That Goes All The Way

What Jesus says is quite plain. We should love others in the same way that Jesus loves us. His love is sacrificial and self-giving. We see that on the cross.

He loved us so much that he willingly gave his life for us.

He had no thought for his own safety, but readily put his own life at risk.

He was prepared to risk pain and suffering, even death because of his love for us. He loved unconditionally.

His love is genuine, honest, caring and compassionate. His love is not turned off and on by fleeting passions, or emotional highs.

He didn’t draw a line and say that going beyond that line was too much to ask. His love knew no limits.

That’s how he commanded us to love – willingly and sacrificially. In fact, that’s why Jesus commands us to love, because he knew that we are happy with a love that is anything but unconditional and sacrificial.

But He COMMANDS us to love one another! That’s not a suggestion, not a request. That is a command. Love, my dear friend, involves choice and conduct. Choice and conduct. You can choose to love, and when you choose to love, love is not just how you feel, it is also what you do; and in it’s most mature state it begins to define who you are!

Now, the reason that we are so confused about it is that we use one word for love. The Greeks were more exact, and they used several words for love. For example, the word eros, the word we get erotic from, meant the kind of a love that a boy has for a girl, or a girl has for a boy, and that’s all right. But improper application is not good because it becomes addictive and the enemy will manipulate through it, because it involves flesh (think about the word EROSION) …

Now, we’re to love everybody, and this is the right love that is different from the exclusive intimate level that you share with your spouse. Is there anybody here that knows what I mean when I say Agape Love? You’ve got the right one now.

Old testament God as Creator of Heaven and Earth, who formed man from the dust of the earth, and breathed into his nostril the breath of life. Then He commanded through Moses.commandments (which upheld the covenant God made to Abram)  Here are some examples of the love that Old Testament believers had for God, and what it brought them:

Respect, Trust and Praise Me ——— I will Protect and Provide

Honor Me —– I will Honor you and make your name great

Give your first fruits to me—-I will Bless and multiply you

Worship me —– and I will show you my thoughts

Draw near to me —- I will draw near to you……..

But then we start to see prophetic glimpses of a more intimate relationship.

 Song of Solomon 8:7 “Many waters cannot quench this love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy this love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.”

(this is a more intimate love that went beyond obedience to God as Creator of Heaven and Earth)

Even beyond devotion to Him as Covenant keeper. The Song of Solomon points the way to Agappe love, undying love, deep abiding, unshakeable, love that is alive, and grows and sees, and encourages and heals and forgives, and goes all the way to save and set free!!

So you have Eros on one end of it, then You have God and His Divine Authority as Creator, then in a New Testament which is The Word of Jesus Christ we have a new commandment to Love one another as Christ has loved us. This is Agape, which is a perfect love that comes from an inward baptism ()

　of  The Holy Spirit.  Acts 2:38 shows this as a requirement of New Testament relation with God through Christ.       Agape Love is The Love Jesus is talking about here in john 13:34-35

It is Visionary (Christ knows God’s plans because He is one with The Father)

It is Intimate (He knows and understands your issue and has established righteousness for you)

It is Caring (Lukes Gospel really shows The Lords Humanity)

It is Truth (We serve an Awesome God, and that truth must be shared)

It is Obedient (Christ’s love went all the way for me, even death on the cross)

It is Redemptive (He made everything that God said about me come true and become real)

It is Yours (He lived, died, and Rose for YOU, sent His Spirit for You, This Love is YOURS!)

 These qualities of Christ and His Agape Love spell VICTORY!  I love you, and God Bless

 you.  -KBT

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As we look at God’s Word, we see a lot of facets to faith. In the Old Testament, we see demonstrated faith which caused Abel to give God very best, which caused Seth and Enoch to seek God for a better way of living, caused Noah to build for his future as if his very life depended on it; caused Abraham to move even though he was in a place of comfort; caused Moses to go back into Egypt strong enough to lead others out of Egypt; caused Joshua to lead the nation into the promised land by carefully listening and carrying out God’s exact Words  . You see different aspects of faith. Faith caused the Shunamite woman to mount a donkey and ride to find the prophet to bring her son back to life (love and faith), caused  Jael in Judges 4  to take a tent peg and… (action and faith)…

We know how important faith is because the Bible says, Apart from faith, it is impossible to please God.” That’s in Hebrews 11:6.  Our action prompts Him to step in (Moses parted sea; Hebrews circled Jericho; Esther approached King; in the New Testament people sought Christ in faith, turning it over to Him…woman with the issue of blood, I will draw nigh unto my healing, because I know that if I could just touch,….)

In Ephesians 3, Paul is winding up his prayer, which is a lengthy prayer here, to the Lord on behalf of the Ephesians.

Ephesians 3:20 – Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to his mighty power that worketh within us.

I stand to encourage you today  that God is able. Whatever your situation is in these remaining few weeks of 2012, God is able!
And He operates thru Covenant (agreement) which means when you know He’s able to begin to think that He’s able, know that He’s able, talk like He’s able, and act like He’s able.
In the Amplified version Ephesians 3:20 says:

…His power is able to do superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think {infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams}

He holds supernatural abundance (it’s real–)

Numbers 13:27 The 12 spies gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit that God provided for them.     The problem comes in v. 28 —-”BUT”   Never use “But” as an answer to what God has declared for your life!

Abundant Blessing is  what God wants to do in your life and in my life (Jeremiah 29:11) – that which is infinitely beyond all our highest prayers or desires. In other words, God says, ‘Think of the greatest need in your life/ Think of the greatest desire of your heart.” God says, “Think of the greatest thing you can imagine that I could do for you,   and I can top that if you come to me and ask me. I can do superabundantly beyond that. I can do infinitely beyond your highest prayers or desires, or hopes or dreams.”

Now God gives us, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, dynameous power. Listen in  Acts 1:8, Receive Power, after that (WHEN) The Holy Ghost has come.  Acts 2:2 The SOUND; Acts 2:6 When they heard THE SOUND (He empowers me through His Holy Spirit and Activates me through The Sound of His Word, The Sound of His thoughts, The movement of His will in my life) How did Jericho fall?- SOUND, How did Gideon defeat the Midianites?- SOUND, . So, God has provided the power for us and we must tap in to those tremendous resources. And our voice must agree with His Voice, That is why we have what we speak (life)……(Proverbs 18:21)

There is a wicked sound covering the earth, right now -bad news, sickness, people giving up and allowing themselves and an entire generation to be lost it’s in words; it’s in the beat of the music, it’s also imagery (but thats for another Sermon—-)

Daniel 3:5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up;   11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.

Real Faith —Honors God v. 18 they were not budging one inch in believing His Will (His Word  was all the sound they were interested in)

Real Faith –Reveals God’s Character in you

Real Faith –Sets the stage for God to take over your situation ( four men loose, Nebuchadnezzar issues a decree not to speak against TRUE GOD;   Shadrach, Meshach, Abendego promoted)

The power of God is alive in all who believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God; who came that we might hear the truth, who suffered that we might have access, who died that I might live, who rose to give me hope, who ascended to show me the way Home, and poured out His Spirit to give me power…….

That’s why I’m  not worried about the things in the world, nor of the world, I  just turn away from evil,  and steal away to myself, lift up faith in the Father and talk with The Son…..

See I don’t have to understand all the doctrine of escahtology, pneumetology, etc..

I just know that when I was down He picked me up, when I was sick made me well, His Sacrifice for me means everything to me!!

SIX WORDS–When I am at my limit,—six words, when I have come to the end of me….

NOW UNTO HIM, I take the focus off of myself—six words—  NOW UNTO HIM WHO IS ABLE>     (God Bless you, please follow us on Wave 94.1 FM Tallahassee and visit us on facebook.com/trinityrevival.churchtallahassee )

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‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.’” (Acts 2:17 )

God blessed the early Church — the first community of believers we read about in  Acts 2.  They grew exponentially (that’s God’s Math). The first church was powerful even on the very first day of its existence; 3,000 people came to faith in Jesus Christ!

The early Church made a monumental difference in the world.  Well Jesus said in John 14:12 that we as modern-day saints would do even greater.  If our churches are going to have an influence greater than the early Church, we need to seek and pursue The Lord like never before. This is what is meant  in Joel 2:23 when The Word of God says:

“Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he has given you the former rain faithfully, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.”     This is the time of refreshing….the time of The Latter Rain.  It is a time to rejoice and seek Him fully.

This means we need to mobilize every member as a servant in our Father’s Vineyard. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy: “In the last days, God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams” .                                                              Young, old, sons, daughters — everyone took part in the outpouring.   God’s Spirit is still pouring out and anointing believers today, to be refreshed, renewed, and revived.

Listen beloved, because of the amazing love of Christ, there is an important place for everyone in His Church today, too. If you’re in the family of God, He wants you to take part and rejoice! Our Father knows that there is something great and special about you.  God can use whatever talent you have for His glory. Remember, when we sincerely serve to give Him Glory, we ourselves are also caught up in His glory.  There is no place I would rather be than standing with fellow believers in The Latter Rain, Glorifying *The Father in the Grace and Goodness of *His Son, by The Power of *His Holy Spirit (As all three agree that you are loved and have purpose for your life)  The best is yet to come.    -Pastor Ken

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You esteem a person’s word in direct proportion to the level of esteem you have for that person. Put another way, you esteem a person’s word because you esteem the person. For example, if the person you voted for is elected as President of the United States, more than likely you will tune in to hear their acceptance speech. This is because you esteem what the president-elect has to say. You esteem what he/she has to say because you esteem the person.

Here’s another example: If a stranger on the street comes up to you and says, “You know what, I love you with all my heart”, you are not going to esteem their words because you don’t esteem them. In fact, you may think that the stranger is a bit squirrely. In comparison though, if someone you’ve secretly been romantically adoring comes up to you and says the same thing, “You know what, I love you with all my heart”, you are going to esteem that person’s words precisely because you highly esteem that person.

Hopefully, my point is coming into focus in your mind: When you esteem a person, you esteem their words.

The dictionary defines esteem as:
1. to prize
2. to regard with respect
3. favorable regard

Do you esteem the Word of God above all else? If so, that’s evidence that you esteem God himself above all else.

Do you esteem God above all else? If so, you will esteem His Word above all else.

In the first paragraph of this blog, I asked the question, “If you knew that God was going to be speaking audibly at your church’s next Bible study, would you make every effort to be there?” If your answer to this question is yes, but you typically make no effort to go to Bible study otherwise, then perhaps you are not truly esteeming the written Word of God above all else. I guess my point is, as followers of Christ, I truly believe that we should be esteeming, valuing, prizing the written Word of God no less than the value we place on hearing the audible voice of God speak to us.

My point in this blog is not to condemn anyone. Please understand this. I’m simply sharing a revelation that I received this morning myself when I first awoke. It convicted me first!

So, for people who don’t esteem the written Word of God above all else (and therefore don’t esteem God above all else), what is it that they esteem above all else?…

…SELF

The majority of people esteem self above all else. Can anyone deny that secular psychology promotes self-esteem more than anything? Tragically, many so-called Christians swallow this foolish fallacy hook, line, and sinker. Should it come as any surprise then that so many so-called Christians are living in defeat? They’re esteeming the wrong thing.

I would like to challenge you to get excited about the written Word of God and about meditating on the written Word of God. Psalm 138:2 tells us that God magnifies His Word above His name. Ponder this, and really meditate on how much God esteems His Word. Take a look at Luke 7:1-9 too and see what it was that caused Jesus to marvel.

I’m not a proponent of New Year’s resolutions per se, but if you lack spiritual power in your life, why not be determined to esteem the written Word of God above all else during 2012, and watch what a dramatic difference it will make in your life? Remember, to esteem a person’s word is to esteem the person. Esteem/value God’s written word to the same degree that you would esteem/value hearing His audible voice, and I believe you’ll hear His still small voice when you least expect it, whispering, “You know what, I love you with all my heart.”

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Spirit, Soul, and Body

***We are three part beings, consisting of Spirit, Soul, and Body***
1 Thessalonians 5:23 – “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

***The spirit part of us is totally brand new!***
Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

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.”

Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

***The born-again spirit part of us is identical to Jesus***
1 Corinthians 6:17 – “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”

1 John 4:17 – “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

***Not only are we brand new and identical to Jesus in our new born-again spirit, but we are sealed by the Holy Spirit, protected from contamination and defilement.***
Ephesians 1:13 – “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise”

Ephesians 4:30 – “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

***We need this new born-again spirit man to be manifested in our souls, bodies, and every place our feet tread (in the atmosphere); this is one of the many powerful ways to promote that manifestation:***
Philemon 1:6 – That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
(Note: the dictionary definition of effectual is, producing or able to produce.)

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Scriptural mandate is also portrayed, prophetically, in the book of Ruth, where Ruth (prophetically, the church) covenanted herself to Naomi (prophetically, Israel).

Just as Ruth covenanted with Naomi (Ruth 1:16, 17), Trinity Revival Church covenants with God and Israel during this last days harvest. Through Harvest Covenant, we shall:

1.) Evangelize the Jewish community locally and internationally by presenting Christ to them scripturally as the Son of David and the Son of God, the only way to the Father.

a.) Proverbs 30:4 – “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if thou canst tell?”

b.) Psalm 110:1 – “The LORD said unto my Lord, ‘Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool’.” (see also Matthew 22:41-45)

c.) John 14:6 – “Yeshua (Jesus) saith unto him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’”

d.) Romans 10:9, 10 – “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Yeshua, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

2.) Enlighten churches to the Word that calls us to provoke Israel to jealousy.

a.) Romans 10:19, 20 – “But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, ‘I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.’ But Esaias is very bold, and saith, ‘I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.’”

b.) Romans 11:11, 12 – “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall, salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?”

Ultimately, our hearts desire in Harvest Covenant is that the world-wide Jewish community will finally recognize that Yeshua is their long-awaited Messiah, which is prophetically foreshadowed in the book of Ruth when Naomi recognized that Boaz was her near kinsman:

“And her mother in law said unto her, ‘Where hast thou gleaned today? And where wroughtest thou? Blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee.’ And Ruth showed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, ‘The man’s name with whom I wrought today is Boaz.’ And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, ‘Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead.’ And Naomi said unto her, ‘The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.’” Ruth 2:19, 20

In Matthew 5:14, Yeshua proclaimed that we are the light of the world. In Harvest Covenant, we acknowledge that Yeshua is the source, the light in us and upon us that shines in a dark and dying world. In His mighty name, we joyfully endeavor by the grace of God to fulfill the scriptural mandate conveyed herein, in His power, and for His glory.

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“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

“…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John3:8

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12

“The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Psalm 24:1

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, ‘Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God’.” Luke 18:16

“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19

“And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come”. And let him that heareth say, “Come”. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 54:17

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” Luke 4:18

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19

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Did you know that faith is a substance?

Substance as defined in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is:

1. a fundamental or characteristic part or quality

2. ultimate reality that underlies all outward manifestations and change

3. essential nature: essence

Without faith, the most crucial of all substances, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).  So fundamental and imperative is faith that God has given unto everyone a measure of it (Romans 12:3). This is an act of grace, and is a verifiable truth; just try living the next 24 hours without exercising the tiniest measure of faith.  It’s impossible to live a paranoid-free life without exercising faith (the verb tense of faith is “to trust”). You exercise faith every time you eat out, or eat food purchased in a grocery store, or drive your car, or take medicine (prescription or otherwise), or drink from faucets (including in your home), or use toothpaste, or use visine in your eyes, or fly on an airplane, etc., etc., etc. The list goes on and on. The point should be clear: though we’re usually not mindful of the fact, without constantly exercising a measure of faith in our daily routines, it would be impossible to live, unless you consider extreme paranoia living.  Meditate on this truth and thank the Lord wholeheartedly for the measure of faith He has given you.

Faith is absolutely fundamental to the everyday human experience of living. Faith is the substance that enables living. As we’ll see momentarily, it (faith) is also the substance that is used to reconcile us to God through Jesus Christ. In one sense, life is impossible without the substance of faith; in an ultimate sense, eternal life with God is impossible without the substance of faith. Consider this very carefully.    

Hebrews 11: 3 tells us, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”  Many glorious truths are contained in this verse of scripture; I would like to point out two. First of all, note that some things we can only understand “through faith”. Did you catch that: “Through faith we understand”.  The obvious implication here is that some things we cannot understand without exercising the measure of faith that God has given us. The deeper, eternal things of life cannot be comprehended and apprehended by the human intellect alone. In fact, in unregenerate people, the faculty of human reasoning (which came into agreement with the devil in the Garden of Eden), often works against faith. The mind of unregenerate, fallen man is at enmity with God (Romans 8:7); and as such, it constantly searches for “reasons” to reject his Creator. The devil is more than happy to provide unregenerate, skeptical people with these “reasons” that further poison their already darkened faculty of human reasoning, resulting in an ever-widening chasm between them and God that only Jesus can bridge.

The second thing that should be apparent in Hebrews 11:3 is the very faith of God Himself. Re-read the verse above, and then take a look at the creation account in Genesis 1 where we are told repeatedly, “God said, ‘let there be…’” 

When God created light, with perfect faith, He said, “Let there be light.” (Genesis 1:3)

When God separated the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth, with perfect faith, He said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” (Genesis 1:6)

When God pooled the waters of the earth into various seas, with perfect faith, He said, “Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear.” (Genesis 1:9)

When God created vegetation, with perfect faith, He said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind…” (Genesis 1:11)

The rest of the creation account (see the remainder of Genesis 1) confirms the pattern illustrated in the four scripture references above: In perfect faith, God spoke the world into existence each step of the way.

We see that not only is faith absolutely fundamental to the everyday human experience of living, but as revealed in the very creation account in Genesis, faith was absolutely fundamental during the creation of the world by God. Furthermore, as His image-bearers, we were made to operate by faith, like God Himself. Prior to Adam and Eve’s rebellion in the Garden of Eden, that’s the realm they operated in, the realm of faith (verb tense = “to trust”). They trusted God fully; that is, until the devil came and deceitfully sowed the seed of distrust (See Genesis 3). Consequently, man walked away from a faith/trust relationship with God.  Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there though.

In the fullness of time, God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus (The Restorer!), to suffer and die for the remission of our sins (though Jesus never committed any sins Himself). After His perfect justice was satisfied, Father God raised Jesus from the dead. Now, for those who turn away from a life of sin (repent) and trust alone in Jesus for salvation, the faith/trust relationship that once existed between God and man prior to the rebellion in the Garden of Eden is restored. Truly, it’s all about faith, the most fundamental of substances.

Much more could be said about the prominent thread of faith throughout scripture. In a future blog, we’ll take a look at the life of Abraham, who had radical faith, and who is identified in scripture as “…the father of all them that believe…” (Romans 4:11). Abraham’s faith was so radical that we’re told in Galatians 3:8, “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, ‘In thee shall all nations be blessed’”.

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