Somehow, we have more faith in the fallen, first Adam's sin than we do in the Last Adam's righteousness. We identify more with sin than righteousness because we don't allow the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus from faith to faith. We are righteous because of what Jesus did for us and not because of anything we've done...this is faith. Do you have more faith in your past than you do in your future?
The Lord revealed one of the steps of faith found in the 23rd Psalm. Many only read this at funerals. The Lord spoke to me saying, "This isn't a funeral passage, but a living promise." Psalm 23:4 (Amplified) says, "Yes, though I walk through the (deep, sunless) valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for you are with me; Your rod (to protect) and Your staff (to guide) they comfort me."
The Lord told me that this earth where I'm now walking is the Valley of the shadow of death. God also said that when He's there with me, there are no shadows because He is Light and Life. And, God promised to guide and lead me in this valley and that He's provided a table of covenant of the Bread and Cup where we can fellowship in peace. Even in the presence of the enemy, there is a place of communion with Him that the enemy cannot penetrate.
He is my Shepherd. If you know anything about livestock (especially about sheep), then you know how a shepherd would never lead his sheep to anything other than good pasture land. If you lead sheep into briars and thorns, then their wool would become tangled to the point where could die if not found in time. Genesis 22:13 (Amplified) says, "Then Abraham looked up and glanced around, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns."
Good shepherds would always lead their sheep to clean, still waters. If you lead sheep into swift currents or rapids, then they could drown when their wool gets soaked. The rapids would saturate their wool and make them become too heavy to swim out. Do you honestly think that our Shepherd is not wise enough to know this?
Our Shepherd "leads us" and doesn't drive us "into paths of righteousness (uprightness and right standing with Him-not for our earnings it, but) for His Name's sake." Our Shepherd is the Shepherd of our souls and He "restores our souls." Thus, Psalm 23:3 (Amplified) says, "He refreshes and restores my life (myself)." The restoration of our souls or inner selves is something we haven't allowed the Holy Spirit, by faith, to bring to light in our lives.
Before being saved, I smoked cigarettes and I enjoyed doing so. I wanted to quit smoking after being saved, but felt powerless to do so. I tried sheer willpower to stop, but I couldn't throw away my Lucky Strikes and would buy another pack. I didn't believe God would reject me for smoking, but I found myself blowing smoke into the faces of those I was witnessing to. I felt like my witness for Christ was being compromised by my bad habit.
I went to the Lord with my problem and He delivered me from smoking. I no longer had any desire for a smoke, but maybe even greater than this, the Lord restored my soul. I wasn't seeking cigarettes, but I wasn't repulsed by them either. I was restored to a place of innocence like I had never ever smoked. I discovered that by putting faith in my Shepherd, He would do the same for my sin conscience if I allowed Him to do so. I had to allow Him to do so, by faith.
He restores my soul, my mind, my will and my emotions. The old covenant people in Hebrews 10:2-3 had a fresh remembrance of sin conscience every time they made a sacrifice. By faith, I came to the Lord knowing that I was a sinner and was lost. By faith, I received His gift of grace that not only removed my sin, but my old life as well. By faith, I allowed my old self to die with Him on the cross. By faith, I allowed the Holy Spirit to show me the new creation that was raised with Jesus at His resurrection. And, by faith, I have allowed the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus as the Shepherd of my soul.
In each of these steps, the Holy Spirit has by faith, revealed Jesus in my life. This might seem like boasting, if so, then let me boast in Him. I am what I am because "He made me to be one with Him like He is One with the Father," according to John 17 (the entire chapter). The only way of enjoying life like John 10:10 says, is by allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal how life in Him is supposed to by lived.
The Holy Spirit has come to reveal and continue to reveal Jesus in all His glory, to the Church. It's only then that the world can see the Light we are called to be. His Name and faith in His Name, has made this man whole from faith to faith, like in Acts 3:16. Amen.
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