Our Covenant of Faith, Part 10

Our Covenant of Faith, Part 10

            John 6:28-29 (Amp), then they said, what are we to do, that we may (habitually) be working the works of God? (what are we to do to carry out what God requires?)  Jesus replied, this is the work (service) that God asks of you; that you believe in the one whom He has sent (that they cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His messenger.

            To me, this is the whole matter of what our new covenant is all about – that we put our faith in what Jesus came to do.  We keep trying to find some kind of formula to make things work, when all we are asked to do is believe (have faith) in what has already been done.  Our righteousness has already been provided (by faith in Jesus).  Our justification has already been provided (by faith in what Jesus has already done).  Our healing has already been provided (by faith in what Jesus has done).  It’s not a matter of having faith (Romans 12:3 Amp: the degree of faith apportioned by God.  Romans 12:3 KJV: as God has dealt to each man the measure of faith).  It is a matter of what you put your faith into.  You can’t have faith for healing without faith in the healer who bore your disease.  It is not a matter of being righteous enough, or good enough, or doing enough to deserve to be healed.  It is a matter of finding out who our healer is and realizing that I get healed because of Him and not because of me or my good works.  We, as Christians, still try to base what happens in our lives by what we provide, instead of allowing God to do what He provides in our sacrifice Lamb.

            When our Father adopted us into His family, He took on full responsibility for us.  We have laws in this land about absentee fathers and make them provide for their own children.  God is not an absentee father.  Everything that was needed to succeed in life (according to the will of our Father) was provided in Jesus.  When you look up the word “salvation”, it means temporal as well as eternal.

            In Romans 10:8-10 Amp, we see the scripture that most of us use when leading someone into salvation.  In Romans 10:7, so faith comes by hearing (what is told), and what is heard comes by the preaching (of the message that came from the lips) of Christ (the Messiah Himself).  Jesus told His own disciples in Mark 16:15-20 Amp: go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature (of the human race).  Vs 16: He who believes (adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him whom it sets forth) and is baptized will be saved.

            Then He went into some of the signs that were to follow, not just His disciples that He was talking to at the time, but those that would believe what they preached.  Then in Vs 20 Amp, they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied it.  Amen (so be it).

            Did you notice that He didn’t confirm the man preaching, but only what they preached?  If faith in what God does comes by hearing what God does (Romans 10:17), then how can the people put faith in what they don’t hear?

            We have been hearing about going to heaven when we leave here, and that is a wonderful thing, but we still have to live here until that time.  Is God unable to take care of His children now?  Are they just left to the mercy of a diabolical enemy until then?  Have we been hearing about a father that will never leave us or forsake us or are we simply not hearing the whole message of salvation?

            The Gospel (Good News) is that there is nothing left for us to do but receive by faith what is already done.  Are we so proud that we will still blame our Lord for our own shortcomings instead of admitting that we haven’t believed in the full price of His blood?  The devil is very good at bringing condemnation on us every time we fail at something to the point that we won’t preach it so as to not upset the people.  If we don’t preach it, they can’t hear it.  If they don’t hear it, they can’t believe it.  If they can’t believe it, they won’t receive it, even though it is now already ours (through faith in the one that provided it).  We will never each out for it by faith and allow God to do what He set out to do from the start and bring man back to the full measure of His love.

            In Mark 5 Amp, we read about Jairus and his daughter and also about the issue of blood.  In  Mark 5:27 Amp, when she heard the reports concerning Jesus and she came up behind Him in the throng and touched His garment.  The results were that she was healed by having faith in what she heard concerning Jesus.  She had never been in one of His meetings because she couldn’t go out in public as she was considered unclean by the law.  She had never seen Jesus because of not being able to go out.  The only things she had was faith in what she heard.  Jesus didn’t go there to heal her, and it wasn’t even Him who instigated the healing; it was her faith in Him that loosed the healing (that was already available) her faith in what she heard rose up and received what Jesus had already bought.   You find that Jesus stopped and asked (who touched me?) of all the people that thronged Him that day, only two people are recorded that received from Him – both by faith in what they heard about Him.

            If we don’t preach the word, faith won’t come.  We have to be patient and steadfast enough to feed the people until they know.

Redeemed Lesson #1

             REDEEMED   Lesson 1  

     Psalms 107:1-2 (Amplified Bible) says "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary."

     Galatians 3:13 (Amplified) " Christ purchased our freedom (redeeming us) from the curse (doom) of the law (and it's condemnation) by (Himself) becoming a curse for us, for it is written (in the scriptures) 'cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree Is crucified).'" Deuteronomy 21:23 (Amplified).  Galatians 3:14 says "To the end that through (their receiving) Christ Jesus, the blessing (promised) to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might (all) receive (the realization of) the promise of the Holy Spirit."

     We've been speaking of our covenant of faith in previous teachings.  Here we clearly see that in verse 14 we must receive this blessing by faith.  Psalm 107:2 says that "we are to proclaim this redemption by speaking (by faith) what Jesus has done on our behalf."

     Why is it that we have such a hard time speaking and believing what Jesus has done?  Revelations 12:11-12 (Amplified)  says that "Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying 'Now it has come-the salvation and the power and the Kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of his Christ (the Messiah) for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing God, charges against them day and night, has been cast out." verse 11 "and they overcame (conquered) him by means of the Blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death."

     Jesus declared in John 5 and 6 (Amplified) that "we who are dead can receive life in Him.  If we try to save our life, we will lose it, and if we lose our life, we will save it."

     In Revelations 12  he was talking about the time of the new covenant (after the resurrection) those people who had been under the accuser of the brethren, would now have authority by the name of Jesus, to speak out our testimony and overcome him."  "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." Psalms 107:2

     1Peter 5:6-9 (Amplified) tells us that "If you will read these scriptures carefully, you will see taht (the accuser of the brethren) the adversary is even now trying to take back authority over the redeemed of the Lord." "We are to withstand him in faith." verse 9.

     When the adversary comes in "like a roaring lion," do you proclaim your redemption or do you back off?  Are you the redeemed of the Lord who "says so?"  Or are you the one who lays down?  Do you "overcome by the word of the Lord" and the "word of your testimony?"  Your word should be Jesus Christ, Him crucified and risen, and His victory for you.  Your testimony is not who you used to be, but who you are now In Him.

     Is your testimony "by the blood of the Lamb" and your redemption in Him?  If not, then you are not resisting the enemy, but yielding to the same accusations that you always received before Jesus redeemed you.

     Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!  You are redeemed from the curse and now walking in the blessing, if you will proclaim it.

Our Covenant Of Faith Lesson 9

 
     We have tried and tried to do what we were taught and what we thought was required of us to be and  what we thought God expected us to be.  We have subjected ourselves to dress a certain way, to keep our hair a certain length, to abstain from wearing make-up, and we even tried to change the days we worship to correspond to what we thought God expected.  Many of us have put aside the things we eat or don't eat because of laws that regulate our food.

      There's nothing wrong with watching what you eat, but not because of law.  We have done some pretty foolish things because we thought that's what God was requiring of us.  So many people have been wounded and frustrated by following some of the rituals that man placed on them from the pulpit.  Most of these men thought they were doing right by what they did; but not at all.  Some of the things we believed would set us free simply placed us under a new bondage.  No matter what we did, it seemed we could never measure up to what was taught.

      I walk in a liberty that seems to almost frighten some people.  But, it's this very liberty that allows me to walk in the power of God.  I don't get involved in what people think, but only what my Father thinks.  I've put my hand to the plow and I don't look back.  Nobody knows better than I do where I came from or who I used to be.  I've put my faith in the truth of the sacrifice that God meant when He said in II Corinthians 5:17-21 (Amplified)  that  I "am a new creature in Christ."

      In the Gospel according to John 6:28-9 (Amplified) Jesus' disciples asked Him the question that ran through my heart for a long time.  Thus in verse 28  they asked, "What are we to do, that we may (habitually) be working the works of God?  What are we to do to carry out what God requires?"  In verse 29 (Amplified) Jesus answered, "This is the work (service) that God asks of you;  that believe in the One whom He has sent (that you cleave to, trust,rely upon, and have faith in the messenger)."

      Once I realized that my part was to have faith in His part, it became so simple to me.  My part of being righteous was to believe in His righteousness.  My part of being justified was to believe that He is my justification.  Everything I needed to be, He became for me.  There were no more dots to connect or hoops to jump through, but only to put my faith in Him and believe He did it all for me!

      I found that the answer to stopping the devil from tormenting me was to use the "shield of faith."  Ephesians 6:16 (Amplified) says to "lift up all over the (covering) shield of 'saving faith,'  upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked one."

     Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) says "for this is by the free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment) and made partakers of Christ's salvation through your faith.  And, this (salvation) is not of yourselves (of your own doing),  it came not through your own striking bit it's the gift of God."

     In Galatians 5:6 (Amplified)  we get some insight into what John said about "Perfect love casting out fear."  1 John 4:18 (Amplified)  says" there is no fear in Love (dread doesn't exist) but full grown (complete,perfect) Love turns fear out of doors, and expels every trace of terror, for feqr brings with it the thought of punishment, and (so) he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of Love (is not yet grown into Love's complete perfection)."

     Now we what I was talking about Galatians 5:6 (Amplified) "for (if we are) in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through Love."

     If I put my faith in His Love for me, then I don't have to be thinking about whether God's mad at me or whether He's punishing me or whether I'm measuring up or whether I'm good enough or any other lies the devil can come up with to try and get me to drop my shield of faith (in His Love for me) nothing can get into me.  I don't worry about all the religious rules and reasons why the Word doesn't work.  I just put my faith in Him and it always works.

     All the rituals and religious rules have gone and I strive for one thing.  Romans 1:3 (Amplified) says "It is through Him that we have received grace (God's unmerited favor) and (our) apostleship to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His namesake among the nations.'

Our Covenant of Faith Part 8

     In the new covenant that the Father set up through Jesus, everything that is to be received must be received by faith.  There is no more sacrifice in this new covenant, but everything depends on our faith in the one sacrifice for all time. Hebrews 9:24-26 (Amplified Bible).  Verse 26(Amplified) says "then He often had to suffer (over and over again) since the foundation of the world.  But as it is now, He has once for all the consummation and the close of the ages appeared to put away and abolish sin by His sacrifice (of Himself)."
 
    Through the ages men have tried to live up to the expectations that they placed on themselves by our own sin conscience.  No matter what we did we always fell short in our own eyes of measuring up to what we and the Father wanted.  Romans 3:10 (Amplified) declared that "none were righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no not one."  In Hebrews 10:1-4 (Amplified)  especially verse 3 even though they made the sacrifice it only brought a fresh remembrance of sins (to be atoned for).

     We find this truth of the new covenant in Hebrews 11:1(Amplified).  The thing that sacrifice and offerings of bulls and goats couldn't bring to pass (which was acceptance before God and our own conscience was now obtainable by faith.  In Hebrews 11:1 we read that "now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things (we) hope for.  Being proof of things (we) don't see and the conviction of our reality (faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses)."
   
      So we see now that the ability to be able to approach the Father (as our Father) doesn't come by works, sacrifice or any other means but faith.  So now through the sacrifice of Jesus, everything we (and God) ever wanted (to become in right standing with Him) has been granted; but only by faith.
   
      This covenant of faith has with it, one drawback  found in Hebrews 10:35-36 (Amplified) which says "Do not therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carried a great and glorious compensation of reward verse 36 for you have need of steadfast patience (the word patience is translated to the word consistence) and endurance so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God and thus receive and carry away (and enjoy to the full) what is promised."  Verse 37 says that "all the things He promised would be fulfilled when Jesus actually returns."  That doesn't mean that the promises are all laid up for that  time,but that the fullness of the promise can't be accomplished until then.  The promise of the resurrection of the dead and the body of glory that Jesus promised isn't obtainable until His coming according to 1 Thess. 4:13-18 (Amplified).  This promise is the one that we wait for and hold onto to by patience and faith.  All of the other promises of this new covenant are for here as well as there.
   
      Certainly the promise of healing will be fulfilled when we reach heaven, but that part of the covenant is also for our mortal bodies.  As Jesus rose from the dead and entered into the Heavenly Holy of Holies by His own blood, we have received by faith what nothing else can accomplish, the clear conscience and boldness to dare and believe that through Jesus we are accepted and welcomed by the Father.  Hebrews 10:18-23(Amplified).
   
       Now it's not a matter of not being good enough or too unworthy or being left behind and included into.  It's simply having faith in the sacrifice that God Himself has provided.  Hebrews 10:5(Amplified) tells us "Hence when He (Christ) entered into the world, He said 'Sacrifices and offerings You have not desired, but instead You have made ready a body for me (to offer).'"
 
        What's left for us to do is to believe in that sacrifice.  Romans 10:6-9 (Amplified) tells us  "the righteousness based on faith (imputed by God and bringing right relationship with Him) says, ''Do not say in your heart, who will ascend into heaven?  that is, to bring Christ down.'" verse 7 "or who will ascend into the abyss?  that is to bring Christ up from the dead (as if we could be saved by our own efforts."  verse 8"But what does it say?  The Word (God's message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart;  That is the Word (the message, the basis and the object) of faith which we preach."

        When I got born again, Jesus didn't have to go to the cross again.  I only had to have faith in the fact that He went for me.  When I needed healing, Jesus didn't have to be whipped again.  I only had to have faith in His sacrifice.  When I needed to be forgiven, made righteous and acceptable,Jesus didn't need to be sacrificed all over again.  I only had to have faith in what He had already done.  As we saw before in Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified) "Now faith ( in the sacrifice) is the substance of things hoped for."  My faith in His sacrifice is the only evidence I need.  He doesn't have to come down from heaven and touch me.  And, He doesn't have to be raised again from the dead to bring my healing.  All that is required of me is to have faith that the sacrifice of Jesus is more than enough for my every need to be met.

       The first covenant was made with men who couldn't fulfill it.  The second covenant (faith covenant) was made between God and Jesus.  Hebrews 6:16-18 (Amplified) says "by two unchangeable things (His promise and His oath) in which it's impossible for God to ever prove false or deceive us, we have fled (to Him) for refuge that we might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hoped appointed for us and set before us."

Our Covenant of Faith Part 7

     It seems hard for us to believe that God loves us so much that everything that was required to be right with him was provided by him.  He knew what all the requirements were to make things right. Since we didn't know(nor could we do on our own) what to do or how to do it, we set about to make our own way to reach and be right with him.  All that we have done and all that we put into motion only made it more difficult for us.  We established our own righteousness and began to develop faith to the point that what we had in mind became wrong, in our thinking.  Yet today, we have so many man made doctrines(that actually go against the word) we have trusted in for such a long time.  We have put our faith in these instead of his word.  Our misplaced faith has resulted in self righteousness instead of His righteousness.  We may not have done in on purpose, but none the less we have done it.
      In many places that I have preached, I have come across people that oppose what was said, even when they read it out of their own bibles.  All because it contradicted what they had been taught.  Jesus made a comment in Mark 4:13-25 amp about those that hear the word.  In verse 14-15 He said that Satan comes immediately to take away the word that was sown in their hearts.  Satan must get it out before it can take root.  It is a lot easier to dig up an acorn than an oak tree.  In vs 23, he said if any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend(Hearing and comprehending will result in faith) And then he said something that we seem to have missed in vs 24 Be careful what you are hearing.  He had just preached a message that words are seeds(not just the word of God, but all words are seeds)  one group of words is the seed of the Kingdom, one group of words is the seed of the world.  Each seed will produce in good ground.  The soil doesn't determine what the seed is, it will grow what ever you put in it.  The ground will produce poison ivy as quick as it will grow corn.  It is up to us to see to it that we use good seed that will produce to the Kingdom.
    In this same parable in vs 17 we built a doctrine about hard times and tribulation, that Goad was testing our faith bit if you read the word about persecution and trouble, we find the enemy brought it on us because of and on account of the word, we become offended and resentful and fall away.  We hear all the time about people(God's people) who "tried" this and it didn't work.  Even in this natural world most things don't work when you first begin.  Walking didn't work the first time you tried it.  Even when you saw other people walking, you got up on your feet and almost instantly fell down.  You didn't just sit there and say " walking isn't for everyone" you got back up.  Even after you could walk a little ways you stayed at it until you got better at it.  After a while there was little trouble with your walking.  It took most of us years to be able to tie our own shoes.  Why do we think that learning to trust in and walk in God's promises would not require diligence and patience.  We have reached the point in so many ways that we have just quit and made excuses as to why God doesn't do these things anymore.  Heb 13:8 amp.  Jesus Christ(the Messiah) is(always) the same yesterday, today, (yes) and forever(to the ages) in spite of all our excuses and denials, the word says that our excuses won't stand against the truth of the word.
     If something isn't working in my life the way the word said it should, I at least have sense enough to know that it's me that missed it and not God.  I see to many people that God healed, to deny healing.  I know to many people that speak with tongues to say its passed away.  I know to many people that walk to say walking doesn't work or is just not for everyone.
    I refuse to allow unbelief to take root in the soil of my heart and choke out the seed of faith.  One of the great things about the word of God is that, I am the only one who can stop it from working in my life.  Others may mock or ridicule me for where I walk with my Lord but they can't stop me from walking there.
    Dare to step out and let your faith begin to grow in other areas of the word.  The same Jesus that took your sin also took the rest of what God said he would take in ISIAH.  Read the word until it becomes one with you.  God's word can't fail.  Grow your faith in all that Jesus has done, not just heaven when you die.
 

Prophecy given at Christian Life Center

Prophecy given at Word of Life Christian Life Center

Explanation from Pastor Jim Hayes

            As the prophecy was spoken, the Father used the term, “He will HISS for His people”.  Not being familiar with this term, I was compelled to look it up before putting this on the blog. 

            We found where the Lord used this same word in Zech 10:7-9 (AMP):

⁷ Then Ephraim [the ten tribes] shall become like a mighty warrior, and their hearts shall rejoice as through wine; yes, their children shall see it and rejoice; their hearts shall feel great delight and glory triumphantly in the Lord!

⁸ I will hiss for them [as the keeper does for his bees] and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall increase [again] as they have increased [before, in Egypt].

⁹ And though I sow them among the nations, yet they shall [earnestly] remember Me in far countries, and with their children they shall live and shall return [to God and the land He gave them].

            Once we realized what He was saying, I understood.  I believe it to be a term that only those who know the sound will respond.

            When I was in Israel, I saw that they still have a sheep fold.  All of the bedouins that come to the city to get supplies leave their sheep there until they are done shopping.  Some leave 15 or so and others leave theirs as well.  Since the sheep are not branded, they all look pretty much alike.  The way they separate them is that the shepherd calls (hisses) to his sheep.  All of the sheep lift their heads when they hear the call, but only the sheep that belong to that shepherd will begin to separate and follow him out.

The Prophecy

Living Word Christian Life Center

4/21/13

            As I call My people together from one end of the planet to the other; from the North, the South, the East and the West, I have sent out a word.  I have sent out My voice from the heavens.  I am calling My people from darkness into the light.

            I have separated My people from the rest.  I have called them unto My table, unto My bosom and unto My presence.

            As I call forth the power of your name, saith the Father, in the majesty of the name of My Son; as I call my people from the 4 corners of the earth, there’s a meeting place that we shall be, saith the Father.  There’s a place that I have called that we’re reconciled into one place, in one accord, saith the Father.

            As I send forth the sound of the trumpet, I send forth the power of My Name and the power of My Word.  As I call forth; as I call My people unto Myself, saith the Father, set your heart, set your ears, set your mind unto the sound of the hissing of the Spirit, the calling forth of the family and the sound that will soon split the heavens.

            I receive you unto Myself, into My presence from this time forth and forever, saith the Father.