A Word About The Faith Log

About ten years ago I asked the Lord to teach me about faith. Now, don’t get me wrong. I grew up in a Christian home, received the Lord Jesus Christ at a very early age, and even went to Bible college, where I studied all the major doctrines of “the faith” (along with many minor ones). Even learned about apologetics and how to “defend the faith.”

But something was missing. I would see people who did not have anywhere near the Christian background or Biblical training that I had, and yet they knew how to grab hold of faith, step out on faith and accomplish great things with their faith. I envied them. Though I knew Jesus, and I understood and appreciated faith as a doctrinal matter, I did not know much about how to use my faith in the very practical way these folks did.

That’s when I asked the Lord, and He began to take me through the “School of Practical Faith.” He introduced me to what faith actually is, where it comes from, how it grows and develops and gets strong, and how it operates. He revealed the power of words — His words — in my mouth. He showed me how faith requires love and love requires faith. He also taught me how faith partners with patience and develops expectation. And He instructed me in the absolute necessity of forgiving others and how that sets my faith free. In short, He instructed me in the dynamics of faith.

As God has been teaching me, I have been taking notes and sharing with others what I have learned. These notes have taken the form of newsletters, articles, books, and most recently, this blog we call The Faith Log.

This is, of course, a work in progress, one that will take me the rest of my life. That’s because, now that I’ve learned how to use my faith as a tool, the Bible has become vibrant and exciting to me. I’m trading my thoughts for God’s, believing His Word for all its worth (and rejoicing at its infinite value). And I’m discovering a host of life-changing, world-changing truths — things I had never noticed before I learned how to apply my faith.

The House of Abraham

And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” (Genesis 18:17-19)

Noah is the tenth generation from God. Abraham is the tenth generation from Noah (Genesis 11:10-26).

1. Noah begat Shem
2. Shem begat Arphaxad
3. Arphaxad begat Salah
4. Salah begat Eber
5. Eber begat Peleg
6. Peleg begat Reu
7. Reu begat Serug
8. Serug begat Nahor
9. Nahor begat Terah
10. Terah begat Abram (later called Abraham)
    

When Abram came on the scene, the times had once again become evil. The scattering and confusion at the Tower of Babel had already taken place.

Terah, in the line of blessed Shem, turned out to be an a maker of idols. We find this in Joshua:

And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times and they served other gods.’” (Joshua 24:2)

Terah’s name means “delay,” and he certainly was a delay to the plans of God. Terah moved his family to Haran, a crossroads. The crossroads represents a place of dramatic decision. It was there that God called Abram, saying, “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house” (Genesis 12:1). The purpose of God to bless the world had been delayed at the crossroads long enough. So God called and Abram went.

Now, even though “Abram” means “exalted father,” his wife Sarai was barren, so there was no heir in his house. But God promised that Abram would indeed have a son and that he would be the father of nations. He even changed Abram’s name to Abraham (“father of multitudes”).

In Genesis 18:17-19, we again see the promise of a great and mighty nation coming from Abraham:

“For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”

The sense of “I have known him” does not mean simple knowledge, i.e. “I know that Abraham will command his children and his household, etc.” Rather, it means that God chose Abraham for that purpose. It was not about what Abraham would do, but about what God would do in, to and through Abraham. That is always God’s way — He initiates, we respond.

So God chose Abraham, so Abraham would command his household to keep the way of the Lord. Abraham believed God and received all that was promised.

When God calls you, He will empower to do everything He has planned for you. It will be an inheritance for all your house and a blessing to the nations.

The House of Noah

Then the LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.” (Genesis 7:1)

Continuing the generations from Adam — Enoch (“Dedicated”) was the father of Methuselah, whose name, roughly translated, means, “When he dies there shall be an emission.”

Methuselah fathered Lamech (“Powerful”) and lived to be 969 years old. When Methuselah died, the Flood came.

Lamech lived 182 years and had a son, Noach, whose name means “Rest,” for Lamech said, “This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands because of the ground which the Lord has cursed” (Genesis 5:29).

The time in which these patriarchs found themselves was a time of great and growing evil. The life of Enoch stood out in bold relief. The name of Methuselah was the omen of coming judgment.

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:5-8)

Noah has favor in God’s sight. He was pleasing to God — he must have been a man of faith, for without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

So the LORD told Noah, “I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your son’s wives with you” (Genesis 6:18).

As the narrative continues, God gives Noah instructions about the ark, the dimensions, the design, and all the animals he was to bring inside. The judgment of God was about to fall, as it must, in order to set things right. For, in the beginning, God established a destiny for the house of Adam, and He was not about to see it fail. So Noah is a figure of God’s redemption, a fore-shadow of God’s promised Messiah.

Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord. It was by faith, then as now, for by grace are we saved through faith — the gift of God, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

But what I really want you to notice is how the faith of Noah brought with it the destiny of his household. Noah was the one who found favor, but it affected his whole house. Noah was the only one found righteous in his generation, but his wife, sons and daughters-in-law reaped the benefit.

Remember that the house is a place of destiny and inheritance. By his faith, Noah not only established his own destiny, but by inheritance he passed that destiny on to his children.

God always honors His inheritance through the generations. That is, He works through fathers, who impart to their children. That is why the genealogies in Scripture are important (“these are the generations”). They show the line of inheritance and connect us to the purposes God has always had for the house of Adam (of which we are all a part).

What is the inheritance you are passing on to your children? Is it faith and the promises of God? Will it bring redemption for the world? The answer is found in your own relationship with God.

The House of Seth

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” (Genesis 4:25)

The house of Abel — gone! The house of Cain — on its way out! How would the house of Adam now be fulfilled in its destiny. Who would receive its inheritance to be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and exercise dominion?

Enter Seth, whose name means “appointed,” for he was appointed by God.

When Adam and Eve disconnected from their divine source and fell into sin, God made a promise, putting a curse on the deceiving serpent — that is, cursing the one who had introduced the curse — saying,

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel. (Genesis 3:15)

This is called the “protoevangelion,” the first mention of the Gospel. It refers to the Messiah who would come and bring redemption.

Not long after, when Cain was born, Eve said, “I have acquired a man from the LORD” (Genesis 4:1). No doubt, she understood this to be the “seed” promised by God. But she was mistaken, as history soon revealed.

When Seth was born, she said, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” There is a difference in her attitude. No longer was it about what she had acquired, which soon turned to dust. Now it was about what God appointed.

And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and name him Seth. After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters. (Genesis 5:3-4)

When Adam was 130 years old, he fathered Seth, then lived 800 more yeas. Seth was begotten in the likeness and image of Adam, just as Adam was created in the image and likeness of God. Seth was like Adam, not in Adam’s original state, but in his fallen state. By these words, “likeness” and “image,” the Scriptures are alerting us that this is the seed-line through whom Messiah would come, the seed-line appointed by God.

Consider the house of Seth. He was 105 years old when he fathered Enosh (“man”). He lived for another 807 years and had other sons and daughters.

Enosh, at age 99, begot Cainan (“possessor” or “possession”) and lived 815 more years.

Cainan was 70 years old when he begot Mahalalel (“praise of God’) and lived 840 more years.

Mahalalel was 65 when he fathered Jared (“descent”), then lived 830 more years.

Jared, at age 162, fathered Enoch (“dedicated”) then lived 800 years more.

Consider the house of Enoch. Enoch lived 65 years and begot Methuselah. Then for the next 300 years, he lived in complete and constant fellowship with the Lord. “And Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:24).

The testimony of Hebrews is that Enoch pleased God. Therefore, it must have been a matter of walking in faith, for without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:5-6).

Now, Enoch did not die as the others had done, but went on with God without experiencing death. God took him. Enoch simply entered into the glory realm of God and never came back.

In his walk with God, Enoch became aware of how far the house of Adam and its subsequent generations had missed the mark. He realized that there would have to be a judgment to set things in accordance with the rightness of God.

The naming of Methuselah reveals this with prophetic significance. The interpretation of this name is varied:

• Brown-Driver-Brigg’s and Strong’s both render it as “man of the dart.”
• Hitchcock says, “he has sent his death.”
• Jamieson, Faucett and Brown says “he dies, and the sending forth.”
• Gill relates the meaning as “when he dies there shall be an emission,” and the significance as “sending forth of waters upon the earth, to destroy it.”
  

Methuselah was 187 years old when he fathered Lamech, then lived another 782 years. And now the significance of his name comes into play: At age 969, Methuselah died — and the Flood began!

Even in the midst of great descent and decline in the world, and looming judgment, there is still hope and the possibility of walking with God in the world, and even pleasing Him, but it is only by faith.

The House of Adam

A house is a place of destiny. The destiny of Adam and Eve was to “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28).

However, that destiny was subverted when the devil came baiting them with fear — “God is holding back from you” (rough paraphrase).

You see, the house is not only a place of destiny, but also of inheritance. So the devil came whispering doubt into the ears of Adam and his wife about the inheritance of God, implying that God was somehow trying to cheat them out of their full portion.

Adam and Eve bit.

Because of their disobedience, the purpose of their household was now undermined, and they missed their inheritance — not because God reneged, but because they disconnected from the promises of God (faith) and hooked up with the lies of the devil (fear).

This faithlessness hit the family hard, bringing immediate death in spirit and body. It now became the inheritance of the household and was passed on to the next generation.

Adam and Eve lived long and had many sons and daughters (Genesis 5:4), but only three sons are singled out by Moses in the Genesis account: Cain, Abel and Seth.

“Cain” means “acquired.” Eve gave him this name, saying, “I have acquired a man from the LORD” (Genesis 4:1). “Abel” means “vapor, breathe.” It speaks of a very transitory destiny.

Recall the story of Cain and Abel. Though Abel offered a sacrifice by faith (we know it was by faith because it was pleasing to God, and without faith it is impossible to please God), Cain did not. The rejection of his faithless offering seethed within him until he compounded his fault by murdering his brother, Abel.

By this faithless act, the house of Abel was immediately cut off, but so was the house of Cain, although it was not immediately apparent. We see a few generations of Cain, and the inheritance of murder was passed on, after which, this line is spoken of no more.

The third son was Seth, whose name means “appointed,” because Eve said, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, who Cain killed” (Genesis 4:25). Notice the distinction between the naming of Cain, “I have acquired,” and Seth, “God has appointed.” One is about us and our works; the other is about God and His works.

The Genesis narrative now shifts to the inheritance and destiny of the house of Seth—and there is a hope for redemption for the house of Adam.

God has appointed you for an inheritance and a destiny. Will you believe His promise? Your life will be a blessing for those who come after you, and a redemption for those who have gone before.

Let Not Your Heart Be Slammed

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. (John 14:1)

There are no chapter breaks in the original text. These were added later by translators as a reference help, but sometimes they get in the way and obscure the message. So let’s back up a few verses to discover the context.

Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”

Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”

Jesus answered Him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times. Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me”

(John 13:36-14:1).

Jesus was about to be handed over for an unjust trial, abuse, severe flogging and finally, crucifixion. He was betrayed by Judas. But He also knew that Peter would betray Him by denial — He even prophesied to Peter about this.

But in that same moment He said, to Peter and all the others, “Let not your heart be troubled.” On this, the darkest night of His life (and the darkest time for His disciples, as well), He speaks a powerful word of comfort and hope.

The Greek word for “trouble” here is tarraso. It means to be stirred up, agitated, and disturbed, to lose calmness, be disquieted and made restless, to be stricken with fear and dread, and perplexed with doubt. In other words, Jesus was saying, “Don’t let your heart be slammed!”

It does not matter what your circumstances are. It does not matter what your failures have been. Don’t let them slam into you and send you into despair. Don’t let them overwhelm your heart and fill you with doubt and fear.

But that is only half the prescription. The other half is even more important:

Believe in God, believe also in Me.

The Greek word for “believe” is pisteuo. It is the verb form of pistis, the word for “faith.” It is dynamic — faith in action.

Our natural tendency is to keep focusing on our circumstances and our failures. That’s just the way the enemy wants it, so he keeps whispering those things in our ears. But Jesus wants us to direct our attention to Him, because He has destroyed the works of the devil and taken care of everything that pertains to our wholeness and peace. All we need to do is to exercise our faith and trust fully in Him.

• To Martha, Jesus said, “Don’t let your heart be crowded — focus your heart on Me” (Luke 10, rough paraphrase).
• To Peter, Jesus said, “Don’t let your heart be slammed — focus your faith on Me” (rough paraphrase).
  

Don’t be distracted and discouraged by your situation, however dark it may now seem. Don’t let your past sins, failures or mistakes steal your attention away from Jesus. Focus your faith on the solution — Jesus — not the problem. Let not your heart be troubled.

Is Your House Crowded?

And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.” (Luke 10:41)

You remember the story of Mary and Martha and the day Jesus came to their house. Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus as a disciple (which was a very brazen thing for that time and place).

Meanwhile, Martha was banging around the house, “distracted with much serving” (Luke 10:40). The Greek word for “distract” literally means to “drag all around.” Picture her with many implements of service, dragging them all about her house. She let herself become distracted from the glory of Jesus’ presence and become encumbered with other things.

Finally, Martha was upset enough that she went to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me” (v. 40).

That’s when Jesus answered and said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.” To be worried means to be anxious about something, to focus attention on something with anxiety. Have you ever noticed that you cannot be worried about something without focusing your attention on it?

Not only was Martha anxiously focusing her attention on many things, but she was also “troubled.” The Greek word here, turbazo, literally means “crowded.” Martha was focused on so many things that she was filled with anxiety and her thoughts were crowded. No wonder she was overwhelmed.

All the while, the answer to her problem was sitting quietly before her, untroubled and at peace. Jesus was there in her midst. Mary had already tumbled onto the secret of quietness. Jesus said, “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (v. 42).

The house of Martha’s soul was crowded with many things; Mary chose the one thing that was needed. Martha was focused on the worry of many things; Mary was focused on the presence of Jesus.

Nine centuries earlier, David was surrounded by enemies and foes. An army was encamped against him from without, and adversaries were breathing out threats and violence and false reports (that might have been from within his camp).

David could easily have let himself become overwhelmed, and perhaps for a time he was. But he did not let the house of his soul remain crowded. He sharpened his focus. “One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek” (Psalm 27:4).

In the midst of all this turmoil, what do you suppose was the one thing David desired?

That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple.

That was all he needed, all he wanted — to dwell in the house of the LORD and behold His beauty. All questions would be answered there. For the house of the LORD is spacious and bountiful, and not crowded at all.

Is your house crowded? Are you full of anxiety? It is because you are focused on many things, and only one thing is needed. If you will turn you attention to Jesus and dwell in His presence, you will be choosing the good portion, and it will not be taken from you — and the LORD your Shepherd will take care of you.

What’s in a House?

A house is a an abode, a dwelling place. It is a place of decision and destiny. Don’t think “building,” think “family,” for a house is a place of relationships, a place where inheritances are imparted. Every house bears a name, and that name establishes the family.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Amen.

Love and the Right Hand of God

I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;
  Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
  O You who save those who trust in You
  From those who rise up against them.

(Psalm 17:6-7)

David was in a jam and he needed help — pretty quickly! So he cried out to the Lord, very fervently and with great intent, but also with great confidence that God would give close attention to him.

“Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand.” He is calling for a very distinct display of God’s hesed, His steadfast loving and covenant mercy. “Do wonders for those who are the objects of your great mercy.”

“By Your right hand.” David is looking for a very practical display of God’s love demonstrated through His power.

The word for “trust” (“O You who save those who trust in You”) means to flee. As David’s enemies rose up against him, he was fleeing to the LORD for refuge — “ LORD, help!”

When the chips are down, you can run to the LORD and look to Him for refuge and help, and He will back you up and bring you out. He will demonstrate His great love and mercy in very practical ways, by the might of His right hand.

The Algebra of Effective Faith

Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:8)

Faith works through love (Galatians 5:6). Without love, faith is meaningless — a failure.

Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2)

So let us now speak of faith in terms of love. First Corinthians 13, the “Love Chapter,” will be a very helpful guide. It extols the virtues of love throughout, but since faith works through love, it gives us some powerful insights into the effective, meaningful exercise of faith.

• Faith working through love is patient and kind (v. 4).
• Faith working through love does not envy, does not parade itself, is not puffed up (v. 4).
• Faith working through love does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil (v. 5).
• Faith working through love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth (v. 6).
• Faith working through love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (v. 7).
• Faith working through love never fails (v. 8).

Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (v. 13)

Love never fails. Faith works through love. Faith working through love never fails.

I Have Come Down From Heaven

And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, “I have come down from heaven?”

(John 6:42)

There are a lot of things Jesus said that really bugged people — made them downright angry. This is one of them.

Jesus said, “I have come down from heaven.” What? How can this be? We know his father, his mother. He grew up around here. How can he say he came down from heaven?

They knew Jesus only in the natural realm and thought they knew all about Him. But they did not understand the spiritual realm, and so they missed His true identity.

You see, Jesus is fully human (still is, by the way, even though He has ascended to heaven) as well as fully divine. But even in His humanity, He has a spiritual dimension — He is spirit, soul and body, just as you and I.

Many people did not understand Jesus in His divinity or even in His full humanity.

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

(John 1:11-13)

Though many considered Him only in His earthly dimension, and rejected Him, His coming has opened up wondrous possibilities. As many as receive Him, He gives them the right to become the children of God. It is not about physical birth but about spiritual.

In John 3, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (v. 3). The words “born again,” literally mean “born from above.” This is spiritual birth, and happens by an action of the Holy Spirit giving new life to our spirit.

All those who have this new birth from above now have the ability to see the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God in heaven and on earth. Those who are born again can see it because we are part of it—not only because we are in it on the earth but because we were born there in heaven.

All those who receive the Lord Jesus Christ has the right to be children of God. We are born from above. Not only that, but Paul tells us that we are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20).

Even more, we are seated in heaven together with Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). This is not a future event but a present reality. You may have thought you were simply here on the earth and of the earth. But the truth is much greater than that—you are of heaven and seated in heaven with Jesus on His throne

(Makes a great deal of sense, when you think about it. Jesus is the head of the Church, His Body. You don’t imagine that only Jesus’ head is seated on the throne of heaven, do you? No, His body is there as well.)

Now, brace yourself, because here is a real mind-blower for you: If you have received the Lord Jesus Christ, and are therefore born from above, and have your citizenship in heaven, and are currently seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, you can say, just as Jesus did: I have come down from heaven.

Selah on that for a while and let it change your thinking in a radical way. The word “radical” comes from radix, which means “root.” You may have thought that your roots were on the earth (and they are, but only after the flesh). Your real roots, however, are in heaven. You come from a heavenly family, with a name and an inheritance from heaven. You have a heavenly bloodline, a royal bloodline from God’s own throne room.

You are not limited to your viewpoint from earth, you can now view things from heaven, where you are seated. You can see what is going on in heaven and give the command, as Jesus taught us,

Kingdom of God, come!
Will of God, be done on earth as it is in heaven!

You are no longer simply on earth, looking toward heaven. You are of heaven, fully authorized to bring the reality of heaven down to earth.

If you have received the Lord Jesus Christ by faith, you are now born from above. You have the ability to see the kingdom of God at work on the earth because you have come down from heaven.

Asking Into the Glory Realm

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13)

Here is the promise of answered prayed. There is only one condition, but with two parts: 1. Ask. 2. In the Name of Jesus

Many people do not have what they desire of God simply because they do not ask. Others ask and do not receive because they ask amiss (James 4:3). Or as T.D. Jakes says, they ask like a fool.

Now, to ask in Jesus’ name does not mean to tack “in Jesus’ name” on at the end of your request. Rather, it means to ask as He would ask, for His purposes. In order to do this, you need to know Jesus’ heart. You need to get into your relationship with Him — an ongoing, vital, ever-growing relationship. God is a person, not a cosmic ATM.

Whatever you ask in Jesus’ name, Jesus says He will do. That’s the promise, now take a look at the reason: “That the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Notice that Jesus did not say, “That My Father,” but “That the Father.” For He is the Father of all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ. “But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become the children of God” (John 1:12). If you have received Jesus, I hope you are exercising that right and are claiming God as your Father.

Whenever you see God spoken of as the Father, pay close attention, because the Scriptures are telling you something about your inheritance in Him. When you ask anything in Jesus’ name, you are interacting with the inheritance God has for all His children.

Now let’s talk about glory. Glory is the manifestation of the greatness and goodness of God. Jesus said, “That the Father may be glorified.” In other words, answered prayer is about the Father’s glory — His greatness and goodness being made known — and it happens when you ask in Jesus’ name. Your prayer becomes an opportunity for His glory to show up in the world. When you pray with the heart of Jesus, you are entering into the glory realm of God.

“That the Father may be glorified in the Son.” You see, Jesus is all about the Father — glorifying and making Him known, saying what He says and doing what He does, pleasing Him in all things. If you are all about Jesus, and Jesus is all about glorifying the Father, then you will be all about glorifying the Father, too.

When you understand what Jesus is all about, begin asking in His name, and whatever you ask He will do. You will be entering into the realm of your inheritance in God and you will see the glory of the Father show up all over your life.

The Eyes of Your Understanding

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.
(Ephesians 1:15-18)

This is one of Paul’s powerful pastoral prayers. He was offering it for a young church learning to walk in faith and love. It is a Trinitarian prayer. That is, in it we see the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory and the Holy Spirit.

• Jesus is the basis of our fellowship with God because of His what He came to do for us.
• The Father of Glory speaks of the family we are now a part of, because of Jesus, and the inheritance of glory we now have in Him. Glory is the manifestation of God’s greatness and goodness. (See A Partnership in the Glory Realm)
• The Spirit is given to us to impart wisdom and revelation, so that we might know God more and more intimately.
  

As gifted as Paul was at teaching and preaching, he realized that what these young churches really needed was the wisdom and revelation that comes directly from the Holy Spirit. That is something that happens, not in the mind, but as an activity of the Spirit of God at work in our spirit. Paul calls this an enlightening of the eyes of our understanding, therefore it has to do with seeing in the spirit, seeing the kingdom of God.

The purpose, as Paul continues in Ephesians 1:18, is “that you may know.” This is not theoretical knowledge, merely something to which you give mental assent. No, it is practical, intimate knowledge that comes out of vital relationship, in this case, relationship with God.

There are three things Paul wants the Holy Spirit to reveal to you and me, and they are all about God and how He is at work in us:

• The hope of His calling (v. 18). It is His calling, His initiative, not ours. He is the caller, we are the callees. He is calling forth something in us — something wonderful — and He will bring it all the way through to completion.
• The riches us of the glory of His inheritance (v. 18). There is an inheritance at work in us, the inheritance we receive from God, and it is full of His greatness and goodness.
• The exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe (v. 19). Theologians call this the omnipotence of God — His all-powerfulness. That is awesome in itself, but what is even more magnificent is that God applies that exceeding great power on our behalf. It is the exact same power that raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him high above all principality, power, might and dominion, and every name that is named (v. 20-21). This is the power that is at work in us (see Ephesians 3:20).
  

Father of Glory, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I ask You to give wisdom and revelation by Your Holy Spirit to the one who is reading this today. That they may know You more and more intimately, experience Your love and grace, the wonderful destiny to which You have called them, the tremendous inheritance which You desire to place within them, and the exceeding greatness of Your mighty power, at work in them to fulfill Your great goodness in their life. That they may see Your kingdom breaking forth into their world. Amen.

The Progression of Boldness

All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD,
  When they hear the words of Your mouth.
Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
  For great is the glory of the LORD.

(Psalm 138:4-5)

We are coming into a time when all the kings of the earth shall hear the words of the LORD. Hearing, they shall believe, for faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Believing, they shall rejoice and sing praises to the LORD.

How shall this be? How is it that they shall hear the words of God’s mouth? Through you and me. Notice the words of David in verse three:

In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.

Boldness is the answer. Boldness is strength of soul, and it comes from the LORD — all we have to do is ask.

Look at what happened in Acts 4, when Peter and John were admonished by the magistrates to cease preaching the name of Jesus. They gathered with he believers of that city and cried out to the LORD:

“Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.

(Acts 4:29-31)

Boldness comes from the filling of the Holy Spirit. It is the courage to speak the Word of God without fear, for it is accompanied by the authority of God. As the Word goes forth, all the kings of the earth shall hear and give praise to God, for the glory of the LORD shall be revealed in healing, signs and wonders.

Cry out to God for boldness to speak His Word with great authority. Ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit, and you will receive power for bringing evidence — signs and wonders that demonstrate who Jesus is and why He came. Many will come to the LORD in this hour.

Vocabulary: boldness

boldness—strength of soul (Psalm 138:3). Comes as a filling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:29-31).

Wisdom 24/7

Wisdom is too lofty for a fool;
He does not open his mouth in the gate.

(Proverbs 24:7)

Yes, I’m making a play on words with the address of this Scripture (Proverbs 24:7) and the popular numeric expression for doing something around the clock, that is 24/7 (24 hours a day, seven days a week).

Wisdom is a 24/7 affair. That is, wisdom is not something you dabble in, it is a way of life. Dabblers are like the blind hog who runs across an acorn every now and then. Sure, you may occasionally find a few cheap morsels that way, but it is wildly undependable — and who wants to be a blind hog, anyway?

“Wisdom is too lofty for a fool.” That is, a fool cannot rise up to that level, he is in over his head. The Hebrew word eviyl is one of the commonest translated as “fool:”

the idea conveyed by which is that of one who is hasty, impatient, self-sufficient, despising advice and instruction, ready to speak and act without thinking, quick to get angry, quarrel and cause strife, unrestrained in his anger, silly, stupid even with brute stupidity. He is associated with “transgression,” with “sin,” with the “scoffer.” [International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, s.v. “fool.” I’ve left out the Scripture references.]

A fool may be a person who has simply failed to lay hold of moral direction. Or he may be a person who has actively resisted such direction and is living in open rebellion to the way of God. Wisdom is freely available, but the fool either does not seek or does not accept it. He is unwilling to learn and walk in wisdom.

“He does not open his mouth in the gate.” The “gate” signifies the place of decision, authority and responsibility — a place that cries out for wisdom. The fool has absolutely nothing to offer in that venue. His life is a waste and he is headed for destruction.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10). If you want to be a world-changer, ask God and get the wisdom that comes from walking in the fear of the LORD.

Vocabulary: Wisdom

wisdom—(wise-dom) the domain or territory belonging to the wise. Comes by asking God in faith (James 1:5-8).

Vocabulary: Fear of the LORD

fear of the LORD—to live in absolute awe of God and trust Him implicitly, to love what He loves and hate what He hates, to treasure His favor above all things and avoid His displeasure at all costs, to take pleasure in His word, His will, His ways and His works and to honor them in everything you do.

Vocabulary: mountain-moving

mountain-moving—accomplished by faith, hindered by unforgiveness, meaningless without love.

Strength for the Day of Adversity

If you faint in the day of adversity,
Your strength is small.
(Proverbs 24:10)

To Hebrew word for “faint” means to slacken, abate, be feeble, fail, forsake, give up. The word for adversity, tsarah, literally means “tightness.” By usage, it refers to an adversary, affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation or trouble. Strength is your firmness, capacity or means. The Hebrew word for “small,” tsar, means “tight” or “narrow.”

In other words, if you give up in the day of tightness, it is only because your capacity to overcome is too tight and your inner resources too narrow.

What to do? Go back a few verse for the answer:

A wise man is strong,
Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength.

(Proverbs 24:5)

A wise man is strong and by knowledge increases strength. This word for “strength” in verse 5 is the same as in verse 10. It is exactly what you need to overcome.

So now the answer is simple — if you know how to get wisdom. But that is simple, too. Wisdom comes from the LORD, and if you ask, He will give it freely to you:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will received anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-18)

Once again, it all comes down to faith. Ask in faith, with no doubting. God will freely give you wisdom and He will not reproach at all for asking. He is glad to impart it to you — He wants you to overcome and enjoy the victory.

God gives us wisdom through His Word. “The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7).

God gives us wisdom through His Son. “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). Wisdom is about Jesus and the glory realm of God.

God gives us wisdom through the Holy Spirit. “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Ephesians 1:17). Here again, wisdom is about Jesus and the glory realm of God. It is also about inheritance, because Paul is speaking to us about the Father. This inheritance of wisdom leads us to the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Go to God for wisdom. Ask in faith, and you shall receive. You will begin to enter into the glory realm of God — Father, Son and Holy Spirit — where wisdom flourishes. With this great wisdom you will begin to increase in strength for the day of adversity. “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).