Set Free

Faith is a word that I have always been fascinated with. In the church, we hear this word often. Pastors and teachers have used the word over and over. Even we ourselves use the word regularly. I wonder sometimes if we really know what faith is. In the dictionary the definition for the word, "theological", is the secure belief in God and acceptance of God's will. This is one big mouthful. I want to think that most of us have very little problem believing in God, but the second part of this definition is another thing…Accepting God's will. Let’s look at the word accepting. Its definition says, to receive willingly, to regard as proper or true, or to answer affirmatively.

The scripture tells us many truths about our Father. We know that God has created all things. We know that God has control over everything. That would include mine and your life as well as everything that our lives consist of. I have often wondered if we truly believe that God is really involved in all our life. Does He walk every step with us? Is He really in control? I think for most of us, we think that God is only involved in what we allow Him to be involved in. Think about that statement. If that were true, then we would be more powerful and stronger than God. We can tell God what He can and cannot do! Saying it that way sounds ridiculous doesn't it? Yet, for most of us, we probably feel and think that way. Fortunately for us, God does not operate who He is based on us. In spite of us, He continues to be the God He says He is. God is in control. He is perfect in all His ways. If we believe the scripture is the inspired word of God and all that is written is true, then we have many scriptures by which we can stand on all through life that can provide us with that peace and contentment we seek in spite of any obstacle that gets in our way, including ourselves.

Hebrews 13:5 says, "for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee". Psalms 37:28, "For the Lord forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved forever". I Chronicles 28:20, "Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be dismayed; for the Lord God, he will not fail thee; nor forsake thee". As I read these scriptures, I find no where that God put a condition that He could or would do these things only if I allowed Him. We, so many times, put all the emphasis on ourselves. We make it out that the only way God can fulfill His work is by me allowing God to do so. God is God!! His perfect will and love can be nothing other than that. If only we could see this. May God open all our eyes to His mighty truth. When Jesus said in John 19:30, "It is finished;" that was His shout of victory. Jesus said in John 4:34, "My food is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work". Hebrews 10:10, "By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all". Again, as I read the scripture, I see all that was done had nothing to do with me. Jesus did it all. Our Father is the true God. He always fulfills His promises and the things He has said.

I want so much for the Holy Spirit to take these words and allow them to make sense to us. You see, our lives are in His hands. We can be rest assured that nothing goes on in our life that our Father is not involved in. God allows many things to come our way. Some seem to be good to us, while others seem to be bad or hard. But God is a God of victory. That includes everything. Problems, all problems, health, finances, relationships, hardships, the economy, world issues, I don't care what it is our Father provides us victory in them all. Those of us who are His children need not be dismayed by anything that comes our way. We can stand on His promises and His word and know that all is well in spite of what it might look like.

Now here’s the excitement of this message. We might be thinking right now, my faith is just not strong enough. Many of us have probably asked God to strengthen our faith so our life can be more victorious. To me, that is a foolish prayer. Stay with me here, and this roller coaster ride we are on can come to a halt. Let’s go to 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". Let’s break this down. "I am crucified with Christ". Sometimes it's all in the way we read the word. Let’s take the word "with". We could say me and Christ are crucified, or we could say it's with Christ that I am crucified. Let’s add another example. Me and the stove were burnt or I was burnt by the stove. The scriptures intent here is for us to understand that we are crucified with Christ. "Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me". Even though I have been crucified, I still live, I am alive. But it’s not me, it's Christ that lives in me," and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son Of God". This is a major point. Go back to the prayer of asking God to strengthen my faith. We don't live by our faith. We live by the faith of the Son of God, Jesus!! There is no power in my faith. But faith is complete in its power and strength when it is Jesus'. We can count on His faith. It always works! Praise the Lord!

So, you see, all this time we have thought that it was up to my faith. No wonder we have been on the roller coaster ride for so long. My faith just won't work. But His faith will and does! Now we can relax and just count on Jesus. I am certain that's what the scripture means when it says, "deny ourselves and take up the cross and follow Him". We truly need to surrender this battle we fight each day and accept the will of God. We need to enjoy every moment of our life. We can count On Him! "Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world". Eternity is ours forever because our Father wants us to be with Him. He has conquered it all. Nothing can take us down. Nothing can defeat us. All because of who He is. Praise God with me right now and let’s thank Him for who He is.

Till next time---God loves you!Stan