Paul speaks to the Church in Colossi ans 1:9-10(Amplified) saying, "For this reason we also, from the first day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make special request for you, asking that you may be filled with the full, deep, and clear knowledge of His will in all Spiritual Wisdom (in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and in understanding and discernment of Spiritual things." Paul goes on to say why we need this "knowledge, Wisdom and insight into God's will and purpose," in Verse 10, "That you may walk, live, and conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God, with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance and recognition."
There is so much to learn about our God and Father, that is seems to be more than we can hope for in life. However, we can continue growing and seeking Him and be pleasing to Him, with all we do know. We seemingly believe that "we've figured it all out" and coast in the knowledge we've gleaned from man's past knowledge. When we reach this point, we simply become religious and steeped in tradition.
God's Grace is such a part of His will for His family, but we've missed the full idea and purpose of Grace. Abraham's Blessing was based on his complete faith in God and God's full response to his faith was total Grace. Everything that came from God's covenant with Abraham was based on total Grace.
Everything the Israelites received from God came by Grace, until the people would no longer allow God's Grace to operate in their lives. They didn't need to fight their own battles or enemies, until the Israelites disobeyed God, creating the gold statue at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Joshua had to take the land by combat, after that time, according to Exodus 14:13-14 (Amplified) which says, "At the shores of the Red Sea, Pharaoh's army was bearing down on Moses and the people. Moses heard from god, and spoke to the people, Fear not, stand still (firm, confident, undismayed), and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. For the Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest."
This is the good fight of faith that Paul writes about in 1Timothy 6:12 (Amplified) saying, "Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold of the eternal Life to which you were summoned and for which you confessed the good confession of faith before many witnesses." This faith was in God's Grace to deliver and bring victory in the lives of those who hold the faith. God's will was that by His Grace would provide everything that was needed to sustain His children. God would protect, feed, clothe, heal, guide and be with and among His beloved family.
Even when God was preparing to take the Israelites into Canaan Land, He never intended them to need to fight for it. This happened because the people wouldn't allow God's Grace to provide, but desired Laws they could perform, in order to insure that they could obtain His Blessing and His provision. In Joshua 2:10-11 (Amplified) the Canaanites said to Joshua, "For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Ammorites who were on the East side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og whom you utterly destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted, neither did spirit or courage remain anymore in any man because of you, for the Lord your God; He is God in Heaven above and on earth beneath."
The covenant of Grace made between God and Abraham, carried the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan and God provided their every need, including the victory or the Egyptians at the Red Sea. The Canaanites had heard about God's provision and protection of the Israelites and would have given up Jericho without a fight, if the Israelites had remained in faith in God's Grace. The Law came through Moses, because of their unbelief. Grace could no longer be just given, but had to be worked for by Law.
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received (all had a share and were all supplied with), one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor, and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor and Spiritual Blessing) and Truth came through Jesus Christ." Being the Seed of Abraham, Jesus restored us to Grace, returning God's Grace upon us again without works or Law. Grace comes by our simple faith in God's ability to provide.
While watching Jesus during His earthly ministry, we find that Jesus never had to provide for Himself or any others. Everything in Jesus' life was provided by God's Grace. The tax money and loaves and fishes were provided by the faith Jesus had in His Father's Grace to provide for Him. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 (Amplified), "Do not think that I have come to do away with or to undo the Law or the prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo, but to complete and fulfill them."
Jesus completed and fulfilled the Law and has placed us in the position with the Seed of Abraham, putting us back into the covenant of faith and Grace. We've never been taught enough about this covenant or Blessing, so that we might apply faith in God's Promises to us, through Jesus. We've walked with one foot in the Law and the other foot in Grace, without understanding either. By His Grace, the Law is fulfilled in our lives. By faith, the Promise of Grace is now ours to operate in once again.
Jesus instructed in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at and strive after first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and all these things taken together will be given you besides." "His way of righteous or being right" is faith in the righteousness we obtain through Jesus. Faith in the Promise by Grace is "His way and His Kingdom." Everything in God's Kingdom is now available to His children, by faith in His Promise to Abraham and his Seed. This lets us understand what Paul said in Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified), saying, "But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must necessarily believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him out."
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