Works of Righteousness?

Or works for righteousness?  There is a subtle, but very important difference.

"This living flame of love is so untouchable, so unquenchable, that it is virtually impossible for us to ever draw near without being consumed. This is why it is ultimately necessary that God Himself becomes our righteousness. We are incapable of reaching that place of purity and perfection which He requires of our own accord. And so Christ must positionally become our "right living" so that we can freely enter the love of God."      ~John Crowder

This has been a theme that's really been impressed on me in the last couple weeks.  I've been holed up at home, cleaning, organizing, sweeping, building, planting, vacuuming...you get it.  But there's been a lot of seemingly 'mundane' activities going on.  How to stay content?

Remember that Yahweh has gifted us fruit that remains (John 15:16).  And this fruit of peace, love and joy is found in His son.  It's found in focusing on Jesus.  

To 'do' works of righteousness, you need to abide.  And to abide in divine Love, you need to believe. That's why Jesus stated that the work of God could be boiled down to the effort of believing.  If we fall out of communion and try to earn our own righteousness, then we've fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4).  We've started to work for something we already have.  How crazy is that?

God wants us to be working into a labor of love.  He wants us to have such a divine sense of purpose in our lives that even sweeping the floor is fun.  There is a pleasure found in partnering with Him in even the smallest task.  You life may look pretty similar to that of an unbeliever.  The difference is that you are a friend of God within your mind (Colossians 1:21)!  The difference is that your joy can always be complete (John 15:11).  

Having your heart fixed on God, overwhelmed in Him, is enough to call the Glory down.  Staying in the Love of God is a training process, and we've got out entire lives to fully learn it (Luke 6:40).  I know I mess up sometimes.  But even our own failures ultimately point us to a greater reality, which is the limitless, immeasurable, too-good-to-be-true grace that we must be reminded to rely upon.  

"For we are Yahweh's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Yahsua Messiah, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."       ~Ephesians 2:10 

 

The Faith of God

"Yahshua answered and he said to them, 'May the faith of God be in you.'"                      ~Mark 11:22

Most translations of the above verse say 'faith in God', but that's not the most accurate translation. See, in recent times scholars and translators have discovered that the many verses that talk about our 'faith in Jesus' should really be translated as 'faith of Jesus'.  It's more about what God thinks about you!

This is one thing that I've been learning recently.  Our Heavenly Father wants us to be able to conceptualize what it would look like to have His faith--the faith of His Son.

If we constantly rely on our own faith in God, we may get burnt out.  Having faith in you own faith is not enough.  That leads to striving and pressure!  God wants us to experience His faith overwhelming and swallowing up our own.  This is what Reese Howells referred to as "the grace of faith" (Reese Howells: Intercessor

Just Imagine how situations would break out and how lives would change if we could just get out of the way and come to know the Faith of God.  What would Jesus do?  That's what Yahweh would like us to walk in.

It helps to see people as He sees them--as true sons and daughters who have wandered away from ever coming to know their true potential.  Jesus was moved with compassion (Matthew 14:14), and you can be too!

Check out how this verse flows when translated more correctly:

"Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through the faith of Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified."

~Galatians 2:16

The Gift of Faith in Prayer, Part Three!

God gives good gifts to us--liberally and without finding fault!  And He wants to give us the gift of faith to empower us to reach others for Him.

The gift of faith moves us to simple and restful prayers.  We need to realize the power of simply saying our Master's name!  As we do, the supernatural will just start to flow.

The Word says we prophecy in accordance with our measure of faith, and it is the same with healing prayer.  The more faith we have, the more we'll see, because our own unbelief can hinder God.  We can all acknowledge God's power, and as we do, the more we'll see His power at work.

It's for freedom that we've been set free.  We are free to eagerly desire the gift of faith.  Desire leads to the revelation that God's been holding out the blessings to us all along.

Double Grace and Beyond the Law

For some time now, I've been seeing the number 55 so often--and I'm not talking about speed limit signs!  No, it's mostly been coming up in a time on the clock or in verse numbers in the Word.   55's even been coming up through TV shows and phone numbers.  I've been seeing it pretty regularly.  So I really felt the Lord was unearthing something.  But what does this all mean?

In Christian symbolism, 55 is associated with "double grace".  Praise God!  And that's what it's been recently--His grace has been a major encouragement.  Grace upon grace and mercy upon mercy--that's what the Lord gives us.  The mercy is new every morning (Lamentations 3:23), and the grace allows us to get through the day and persevere.

Now, God gives grace to all without finding fault (James 1:5).  Praise God!  But I feel like grace is not rightly conceptualized by much of the American Church today.  Grace is for gifting, not for sinning.  Let me elaborate--we all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and it is indeed grace that allows us to be redeemed from sin.  But more than that, grace is also meant to allow holy gifts to rest in impure vessels.  Grace is meant to have the gifting rest in us!

"And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all."                        Acts 4:33

Great power calls for great grace!  Otherwise, the Lord's power would be too much for us to contain. We have His treasures in jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7), and grace is what allows us to experience the gifts nonetheless.  We need the grace to accommodate the gifting.  We need God's grace to operate in power while staying in purity.  (For more on purity and power, see this post.)

If we have double grace, good!  That means we'll need it to attain to the gift of God.  There must be a big gifting, a big mission, and a big mandate ahead of us.  We have all been called to mighty things, and between us and that attainment, there is a reservoir of grace awaiting our use.  And there is some distance between where we are now, and the fullest extent of what God wants us attaining!  We have some catching up to do.  The gift needs to be fanned into flames (2 Timothy 1:6), and our character has to be brought up to a higher standard, also.

And we also have this grace to allow us to fulfill the law.  It's not easy to fulfill the law!  It takes grace.  It takes grace and God's goodness that leads us to repentance.  Now in the Old Testament, the Israelites  had all those things.  But they didn't have within them He who is greater than the sin of the world (1 John 4:4).

But Jesus came so that we could fulfill.  With the Holy Spirit, we can do more than fulfill the law--we can transcend it.  In a sense, we are above it.  Keep in mind that we do follow the law--that's important.  But now, we have a list of "do's", not a list of "do nots".  Now we can live out the law in an expression of love--a new commandment.  We can embrace the Spirit of the law, not just the letter.  We can have the law of liberty written into our spirits (James 1:25), and we can receive a double portion of grace in getting there.  Hallelujah!

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."                                                 John 13:34

Snapshot: To Separate The Wheat from The Chaff

Yesterday the Lord gave a vision of a wheat plant.  And I saw the branches--the leaves that produce the fruit--of the plant.  Some of these leaves were doing just fine, and being left alone, while others were being sifted through a little combing machine.  This sifting machine just took the chaff right out of the wheat.  About a third of the entire plant was being sifted and sorted so that only the wheat remained.

I realized that God was showing me the work He is doing in my own life.  Sifting out the unfruitful parts, so that the parts bearing fruit--bearing wheat--have room to grow and become even more productive.

"His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."                 Matthew 3:12

Let's look at the context here.  For believers, for those already saved, this is what the baptism in the Holy Spirit and His fire does to us!  This is a work of God, not in judgement, but in refining.  God takes away the hindrances and sifts out the impurities.  He cleanses us initially, and that process never stops.

"You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you."             John 15:3

We are clean because He's spoken and told us so.  Praise God!  It's a real revelation to know the righteousness He's given us.  And then what?

"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."                                                John 15:2

We have been clean since salvation.  But have we been perfectly clean?  Not yet, not unless God makes us that way.  We may still have personal issues that need sorting out.  We probably do!  If we have issues, then we have need of a sifting.  (Luke 22:31)  So God takes these things and combs them off, cuts them off, burns them up.  He burns them away in His purifying fire.  We don't need to have issues any more!  We can be made perfectly whole.

"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness..."
Malachi 3:3

This is what God does to all who accept His gift of grace.  He purifies us so we can give purity to Him.  It's time to accept holiness.  It's time to accept purity.  It's time to accept that biblically, we are all saints.  It's time to walk worthy of the calling with which we've been called.

"...so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God..."                               Colossians 1:10

Hope For The Future, Part One: Godly Confidence

"You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways. When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, And the humble person He will save. 
He will deliver one who is not innocent, And he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."                                               Job 22:28-30

Love hopes all things (1 Corinthians 13:7).  Even when we are cast down, we can be still have hope.  We can be strong and hope in the Lord (Psalms 31:24).  And hope is what makes us confident IN GOD.  Hope is what allows us to expect good things of Him and good things of the life He's given.

That is godly confidence.   If we are in His Love, we can love the idea of our future.  We can love the idea of a new day tomorrow.  We can look at every new opportunity and every new day with godly confidence.  We can be confident that God will save every part of our lives as we take on humility.

We may get cast down--Job did.  But let's put our hope in His faithfulness!  We may enter into a trial, and then God comes in and allows our words to change our reality.  He allows us to come up before His throne with boldness (Hebrews 4:16).  He allows us to ask Him, be led by Him, and then speak what He speaks and want what He wants.  He allows us to speak the future into existence.  He will partner with us in the future, and His light will shine on our ways.

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."                             Philippians 1:5

Paul was full of godly confidence.  So was King David.  Confidence is knowing that God has saved us, protected us, and perfected us.  Confidence is trusting God's Word.  And His Word says that He will perfect that which concerns us (Psalm 138:8)  That's something to hope in!  That's something to be confident about.  Confidence comes from knowing that prayer changes things--once again, that God allows our words of faith and humility to move His hand.  Confidence is knowing what Jesus did for us, the fullness of eternal life that He attained on our behalf.   

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."                                      Jeremiah 29:11 

Most of of all, confidence is knowing the character of God.  He is gracious.  He is forgiving.  He is faithful to hear us. He has wonderful plans for us.  He is so full of love!

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."                                             1 John 5:14

Snapshot: Clinging to God

This morning I saw a vision that made me understand the importance of clinging to God.  When turbulence or testing comes, clinging to God is the best thing we can do.  And every morning, when we need a new dispensation of grace, we will receive it if we wait and cling to Him.  Clinging to the Lord is when we grow strong.  That's why God allows a sifting--so we can hold on tightly, anchor ourselves in truth, and then go on to a greater strength.

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."                
Luke 22:31- 32   

If we will cling to the Lord, then our faith will not fail.  If we cling to Him, we will not desire to turn back.  This is what's necessary to overcome any problems.  That's what's necessary to gain spiritual strength.

God should be our go-to in every situation--we need to always go to Him first.  And more than that, we need to realize that He wants to come to us.  He is our ever present help (Psalms 46:1).  He is always with us.  If we realize this, then let's also realize that clinging to Him is our ever present solution.


"For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.  My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me."                                          Psalm 63:7-8

 He has been our help, and He will be our help.  He's upheld us in the past, and He will continue to uphold us now.  What comfort!  We can go through a trial knowing that if we suffer, we can also reign with Him.  We can turn back, have our faith renewed, and go on to new heights with the Lord. The more tightly we try to hold on to Him, the more He'll let us do the same.  Let's allow Him to take us from strength to strength.

Snapshot: Making the Most of Your Time

Yesterday morning, I was given a vision where I received a very nice, golden and sliver watch.  I felt it was a symbolic gift from God.  As I was given the watch, I noticed that there was a price tag on the side--it said, 'FREE'.  The Lord began teaching me what all this meant, and soon enough He had shown me that there were two applications to this vision.  One is relatively simple and one is relatively specific to me--one thing He has spoken, two things I have heard (Psalm 62:11)...

Meaning #1:  Every gift God gives is free, beginning with salvation.  And He wants to 'save' every aspect of our lives--He wants to redeem everything we do.  I was watching Todd White later on yesterday, and he was wise to say that God wants to redeem the time.  That's the main principle shown by the vision.

Every moment of our existence can be used for God's glory and point to His Son, Jesus.  In everything we do, we can glorify God. This is an honor, and it in itself is a free gift.  Salvation of our soul is a gift, and so is salvation of our works.  Thank you Lord!

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil"                         Ephesians 5:16



Meaning #2:  Once again a free gift, the expensive watch represented God giving me prophetic insight into dates, times, and timings.  I've been praying for more and more words of knowledge, and God has been so gracious to start giving me these.  But there is no limit to the level of insight that God can reveal, unless we ourselves are the limiter!  So I was encouraged that God was showing me that He is increasing our insight into specific periods of time.  For example, I'd love to know when someone acquired a certain injury--I'd love to know through words of knowledge the time at which something occurred.  And whoever seeks finds!  I feel that God is saying that He is going to add a new, synchronistic element to the prophetic gifting.  Awesome!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."                  Ephesians 1:3

Grace to the Humble

God gives help to those who acknowledge Him.  He doesn't want us to turn away and be independent. Instead, He wants to help the humble.  If you ask for help, He will be quick to answer.

Today I was listening to Christian radio and heard James 4:6:  ..."God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble".  Those who have no desperation for God in their hearts, because of their own pride, will not have easy access to God.  Pride causes God to set Himself against us.  Now that can seem harsh, but it's the truth.  And the redemptive factor is that He is quick to relent once we realize our foolishness and commit to change!  

Confirmed:  Here is a recent article from the Elijah List by Phillis Ford.  There is a trend of humility, submissiveness and repentance in this word. Below is an italicized excerpt.  Later on, there is great insight into how God's great Grace allows us to come into His Glory.


As we cry out before the Lord with hearts of repentance, we will make great strides. As we embrace the truth of Jesus Christ, having passion for the things of God, we find the strength to dismantle feelings of complacency and battle weariness. The reality is that we shall be a people that the Lord is establishing now.

Those with the greatest passion will be on the front lines, but know that your position doesn't exempt you from going through more of the perfecting process of grace. Those will be led by the Spirit of God if they submit to the process to grow. These are major decisions that must be determined in the hearts of God's people. Those that say I am not a part of this because I am above this, or who say I don't need the Lord's help will find themselves in painful experiences until they submit willingly to God. We are approaching serious times, and the Lord is purifying His people.

Submit to God.  Agree with Him that He is Lord of all, and willing to be fully devoted to.  Humble yourself before Him, and He will lift you up.  When David cried out to God, it is written that the Lord "reached down from on high" and took hold of him (Psalms 18:16).  Doesn't that sound wonderful?  It sure does to me.

There is an ongoing cycle here.  This pattern is meant to draw us closer and closer to God--two steps forward, one step back, if necessary--until we are living like the true sons and daughters that we are.  The Lord has been speaking to me about this process recently.

1)We fall into sin and confusion  (Lamentations 1:20)
2) We acknowledge our sin  (1 Chronicles 21:8)
3) We call out to God in the spirit of humility  (Psalms 119:145)
4) God rescues us and draws us near  (Psalms 18:16, like above)
5) Nearness to Him burns out our uncleanness (Hebrews 12:29)
6) But He gives us more Grace (James 4:6)

Look at steps 5 and 6 here.  When we become near Him, we get burnt in the flames of purification.  We offer up our sinful habits as a burnt offering.  "Fire" has been such a thematic word recently.  We do this, because it must be done if we are to draw near to Him.  Look at James 4:8.  If we want to approach Him, we must purify ourselves first.  And as He draws closer, He purifies us more and more. He cleanses us and upholds us for His name's sake!

God makes us pure because He is a jealous God.  The Holy Spirit within us is jealous, and He cannot take pleasure in anything we do that doesn't give honor to Jesus.  The Holy Spirit is God's tabernacle fire.  When He "reaches down" for us--and He always does--He will prompt us to say, "whatever it takes".  He shows us how to give every single bit of the Glory to God.  If we are led by the Spirit, we will stay away from the world.

How do we do this?  This is where step 6 comes into play.  How do we be purified to the extent that we have lost all earthly distractions?  That sounds hard!  And it is, or else James 4:6 would not acknowledge it as so.  "But He gives us more Grace".  Glory to God!  He gives us more grace, and He gives us the Spirit.  By His grace he gives us more of His Holy Spirit, and by His grace He gifts us new wineskins to hold His riches in (Matthew 9:17).

Praise Him for amazing Grace.  It's a gift that keeps on giving.  But we need to use it to draw near to Him!  We need to accept it as an opportunity to be made new!  His Grace leads us to become slaves of righteousness.  God cannot be mocked.  Grace given to water down sin is no grace at all.  Repent and now that He has forgotten your sins.  Repent and receive that new wineskin.  And give glory to God and His grace!

Confirmed:  When I was close to finished with this post, Vanessa came in and told me good news from a family member.  They've been returning to God, and it's fantastic to see.  This person has just submitted to God in a new way.  Among other things, they've professed to our Lord:  "I want to lose myself to you.  Consume me in your fire".  Just like that, even the small things in their life have been saved (Romans 10:10).  Hallelujah!

Snapshot: God's Grace Reflected

Recently I heard part of a quickened conversation where people were talking about window installation.  I heard the phrase, "a window of grace", and that was a recurring theme for a while after that.

Several days later, God opened my mind in this area.  I saw in a vision a room full of mirrors.  Sets of mirrors were facing each other, in pairs, and there were too many sets in this room to count.  Everything looked very pure and spotless, very clean.  The Lord allowed me to understand that this was a room of God's grace reflected.

When we are not as close to God as we should be, when we have become separated from Him due to sin, when we are doubting if we can again return, we look from far off at God's grace.  We look at it as something that cannot be achieved, as something we cannot earn back.  We are right...it can't be earned back, because it was never earned in the first place.  Jesus paid for it for us.  We can return to Him and His graciousness.  We can play out in our life the parable of the prodigal son.  Whenever we have stumbled, God gives us a window of grace.  By God's grace, we can look through that window and see Him again.

There is a more excellent way here.  We don't need to constantly be entering and losing the presence of His Grace.  We can do more than just be beckoned to it by a window of returning Grace.  Look at the early Church.

"From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished."  Acts 14:26

This is the better way.  We can continually commit to His Grace.  When we keep it in our awareness, we have entered in through that window.  We can know Him, and this knowledge of His grace will always lead us to not tempt or misuse it.  At that point, we discover the worth of knowing His love.  We discover that this precious grace is too good to draw from afar.

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."  2 Corinthians 3:18

Our faces are unveiled within His Presence.  Only from the inside, and not the outside, of the window of Grace is where we become unveiled.  Our only response to God's window of Grace is to awaken and enter in.  From there, God reveals to us more and more of His Grace.  And it is His Grace that allows us to inherit His Glory.

God showed me through that vision that He desires us to live in a place where we personify His grace reflected.  His Grace should be evident in our lives.  We should be continually playing it out.  We should be committed to it, like the early believers were in the Book of Acts.  We should be aware when looking at our lives, that God's Grace has enabled us to be transformed into His Son, going from glory to glory.  He beckons us with grace and He transforms us with grace.  It is only though obedience to His graciousness that we can be continually with Him.  It's a shame to have to always be returning to God.  Why not stay with Him?

Thankfulness

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18

What does it mean to rejoice always?  It means to stay uplifted in God's truth.  Rejoice, you've been forgiven!  You've been redeemed, the goodness of God in sacrificing His son Jesus has saved you!

What does it mean to pray continually?  It means to keep prayer and communion with God at the forefront of the mind at all times.  It means staying aware of God going before you, God backing you, and God emanating Himself through you, and verbalizing this awareness (even if verbally) to Him constantly.

What does it mean to give thanks in all?  It means to keep gratitude for God at such a high level that any momentary troubles are not worth comparing to future glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).  It means looking forward to our return home and allowing that faith to overshadow present-time testing.  Let's realize and even appreciate that our treasures are stored up in earthen jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7), so that God's power in us might become even more awe-inspiring (2 Corinthians 12:9).

God never fails.  Let's praise Him for His character.  Let's praise Him that He is ready to forgive.  He is mighty to save.

Victory through Repentance

This morning, I surrendered some things to God.  Honestly I was long overdue in doing this.  So, I surrendered to God and repented for the things I had been clinging to.   "Pet sins" are very dangerous.  Fleeing from sin is the best response to it.  We need God's help to do this.

"Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the articles of the LORD's house."  Isaiah 52:11

God spoke to my heart that I was forgiven and restored to Him.  I had come out of my sin, and then He made me pure.  It is His grace that does this.

I was instructed to "bear fruit in keeping with repentance"  (Matthew 3:8).  Repentance to me means turning away from one thing and changing mindsets.  It means looking down on sins that separate from God, and looking forward to His new opportunities.

God gives us grace so that we can return to Him.  As long as we want to and repent of our past sin, we can return.  After returning, obedience is especially important.  It is a yielding to His Spirit that allows us to bear fruit "in keeping with", or worthy of, repentance.  If we are not bearing good fruit, we probably aren't fully repentant.

Once forgiven, I felt an influx of God's love.  It feels so good to be accepted and redeemed!  It feels to good to partake of the heavenly gift.   It feels so good to be judged righteous.

The Lord God gave me a vision of a person standing victorious.  This person had a large diamond planted behind them, but only the top quarter was showing.  So the only part of the diamond exposed to the outer world was a small triangle. They were victorious through their belonging to God, which demonstrated itself in true change.  Victory was found in bearing fruit!

Diamond Representation:  Represents our portion in Christ, our spiritual origin.  God polishes us as diamonds in the rough, glorifying and reflecting Himself through His good works in us.  There are so may unseen treasures stored up for a child of God.  "All creation" has been groaning "for the revealing of the sons of God" (Romans 8:19-22).  The Holy Spirit wants to reveal Jesus in all of us.

"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn".  Isaiah 51:1

Small Triangle Representation:  This was the top of the diamond, the "tip of the iceberg".  Seen things are only a small portion of the glory of God's Spirit living in us all!  And there's a price to pay for more of God to unveil itself through in us.  So, this small triangle is the fruit of the Spirit, that "fruit worthy of repentance", that other people see.  Remember that a triangle represents change.  Change follows repentance, if we belong to God.

Put together the pieces of this vision, and you'll see a clear message unveiled.  True Victory comes from true change, which comes from true repentance, which is made possible by our inheritance and belonging to God.  Glory to God!

God's Perspective

"Remember His marvelous works that He has done."  Psalm 105:5

Sometimes it helps to look back at God's grace in the past, so that we can have hope for the future.  He's taken us out of the wilderness and revived us!  We need to see the forest for the trees.  We need to realize that God has had His strong hand upon us until this point.  And He is just the same today.  He is still willing to redeem.

Let's learn to treasure God's love, just as it was shown in our past.  Let's remember the works He has done for us on behalf of His name.  Let's believe that His feelings towards us now can be just as great, and let's believe we can return to His presence.

God has taken me through so much.  He has loved me from the start, and He wants me to be "set in high places" as one of His children.  It is the same with all who call on Him.  His light has shown on us.  We must stay close to Him so that we can have oiled lamps, having been trained in godliness.  His light needs to encompass our every step, and it needs to be clear in our past with God, too.

When in doubt, remember the things that God has spoken.  Doubt and fear can choke out His Words if left unchecked.  The implanted Word can be overgrown by weeds, then thorns.  There is a way out.  Meditate and consider God's character in the past.  He still feels the same about us.  He is not a "son of man, that He should change His mind".  He is faithful.  Glory to God!

Food and Faith

This is post three of three on food. In this article I'll describe how I feel about food, faith, and trusting God. I'd like to provide a biblical view on how we should approach the links between food, disease and health in light of the promises God has given us.

Flaws in Our Food System

Like I mentioned in the previous two posts on food, today's food system is contaminated with all sorts of toxic substances. So many of the additives and preservatives in our foods have been linked to cancer, hyperactivity, etc. Even fruits and vegetables are not safe (from a worldly point of view)! So what are we as Christians to do? Well, I am definitely not against buying organic and unprocessed foods. In fact, I think that is usually a good idea. But many people don't have money to do this. Even if they did, I believe there are better ways to spend your money.

Respect Conviction

I don't want to get too generalized here. One of the amazing things about God is that He knows our quirks and differences. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, God's commands to one person regarding food may be different than the next person's. If God convicts someone that they need to be eating organic food, who am I to argue? I do not want to be so prideful as to undermine someone else's convictions. Paul talks about this concept at length in the book of Romans.

"As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God." Romans 14:1-6

Convictions from the Holy Spirit are more important than my opinions about food. But we need to separate our own feelings from the Word of God. Remember, "we have not been given a spirit of fear". Instead, we have been given a Spirit of self-discipline that always holds fast to the Word! So trust your convictions, only if they come into agreement from God!

Faith is Greater than Food

A permanent solution to our physical health is not found in food. Eating organic, taking natural vitamins, and other things are good but not critical. They should definitely not be the focus. Food does not make us clean or unclean. Jesus said this!

"It's not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth." Matthew 15:11

"I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean." Romans 14:14

We see that Paul had enough faith to accept the unconditional nature of the promises of God. He knew that God could and would keep his health regardless of his diet. However, Paul also operated out of love enough to respect the convictions of less mature believers. This is important! We need to act lovingly, and not with harsh judgement. You see, sometimes God limits Himself for us as to not overwhelm us. His Spirit seeks to build our faith, not turn us away. Paul knew this an respected others accordingly.

"If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died." Romans 14:20

So mature Christians need to know the supernatural power of God to keep us. This power is greater than food. But they also need to respect the work (or work in progress) that the Lord has done in other believers. Who are we to judge their spiritual progress?

Now I want to show you a better way. One more time, though, some things are not worth bringing to others if they become a stumbling block. Faith is greater than food, but Love is greater than faith.

"The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves." Romans 14:22

Instructions to Mature Believers

The solution, then, is to eat "whatever is set before us" out of faith. If you do not buy organic produce, glory to God! Let's rejoice all the more, as His "power is made perfect in weakness". Let's look to the Word to see where faith in God can take us. Keep in mind that faith is not a license to do anything.

"Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial"

With that being said, though, often faith can be built through hard situations. As long as we behold Jesus, and not the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, our faith can be built. Anyways, here are two examples:

We can drink HCFS-laden soda: "...they will drink deadly poison, and it will not hurt them at all."

We can eat poptarts: "I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself."

Faith in the fullness of the promises of God allow us to eat without fear. Eating in pure faith will never result in sickness or disease. In faith we can eat to the Glory of God, and testify to His healing power and not the benefits of this or that food!

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

Trust Him, Don't Test Him

Keep in mind, though, that "not everything is beneficial". We cannot abuse God's word by making it a license to gratify the flesh. God's grace is not to be tested; "God cannot be mocked".

"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Romans 6:2

The Holy Spirit will never lead us to test God, so let's walk in the Spirit. This way, we will not be tempted to "gratify the desires of the flesh" It takes discernment to know when our eating is acceptable, or when it is turning into fear or food idolatry. Food is not of critical importance, this is a matter of the heart! We can eat wrongly eat salad if we idolize it, and we can be justified and honor the Lord while eating ice cream.

"...Whatever is not of faith is sin" Romans 14:23

There comes a time when our eating may no longer glorify God's gift of faith to us. I don't know that anybody advocates purposely eating lead or washing their hands with acid. Obviously that's very extreme, but for many people, even a little junk food is a stumbling block for their faith. Everybody needs to draw a line somewhere, not according to the wisdom of the world or their own fear, but according to the measure of faith given them. And if we want more faith, let's ask for more, and receive it, so that God may be glorified!

"For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" Romans 14:17

Food and Idolatry

Many times in street ministry we see people who have all sorts of back or joint problems that are apparently caused by being overweight. God heals them just like anyone else. From a natural perspective, these people put their ailments upon themselves by eating too much. But who can say that they deserved to be healed? Besides, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against unseen forces in the spiritual realm. These people who spend years harming their bodies through eating too much receive the promises of God just like any other believer can, and in Jesus' name all their pain is taken away. What grace! I often wonder where these people went wrong. I believe they fell prey to the evil nature of today's food system. But more on that later. First, let's look at what the Word says about affliction and sin.

"Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities were afflicted". Psalm 107:17

I believe that affliction is often punishment for sin. It is a way for God to turn us away from lawlessness. Sickness can be God's will, if it brings us closer to Him.

"It is good for me that I was afflicted; that I might learn your statutes". Psalm 119:71

But praise God that there is a way out! Repent and be delivered! In "returning and rest" we will be saved. We will be delivered into the care of Him who "bore all our diseases".

Back to today's food system. I believe many, many believers overlook the destruction that the enemy has done in this area. We have chemicals of all kinds being put into our food and water, and we have processed foods available everywhere we look. These 'foods' are manufactured to be so tasty that they are impossible to put down. We have produce that is genetically modified, and we have semi toxic products being sold as health food. Satan is the father of lies and deception, and I believe that he has made it nearly impossible for us as Christians to "touch no unclean thing". Is it sin to eat pop tarts, drink HFCS-filled soda, or feed your children genetically modified apples? Surely God, in His mercy, is punishing Christians for their terrible eating habits, right?

I don't think so. Based on the Word of God, and also my experience in ministering to people with weight-induced problems, I do not think that being overweight is a sin in itself. In my opinion, a lifestyle of bad eating habits is not inherently sinful. The flesh profits nothing, whether we feast or fast.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God". I Cor. 10:31

That being said, I still believe that weight-induced diseases (joint damage, diabetes, heart problems, often sleep apnea, etc.) are afflictions usually brought on by sin. What is the sin? Often one of two things--idolatry or fear. Let's look at idolatry first.

Food Idolatry as Sin

God is a jealous God, but He also honors free will. Often He turns people over to their selfish desires. Many believers, often strong ones, have not put away their selfish desires, and as a result are constantly being punished by reaping the results of food idolatry. How many people live in chronic pain, how many live dependent on insulin or sleep medication, how many even die prematurely, because they are serving this food addiction alongside The Lord? Praise God that He is more gracious than I am. We need to delight in His law and His boundaries so that we do not "perish in our affliction". I feel like this is a major overlooked problem within the church . The Lord, by His Spirit, gives us a supernatural source of "power, love, and self-control"! How many are not yielding to it. These people reap what they've been sowing. Don't forget, though, that God continues to heal people from the results of such actions. He is not mocked, but what a wonderful thing Jesus did for us!

"The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace". Romans 8:6

Instead, God gives us His Spirit...if we do not ignore His leadings, we can act with the same self-discipline that Jesus had. Don't forget that Jesus fasted for forty days. Don't forget that his food was to do the will of His father. Also remember that Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, by telling Him to make bread to eat out of the rocks. How many Christians today just need to learn how to say "no" and resist the temptation of food? I'll say it again, I believe that food idolatry is a widespread, marginalized problem within the Church. The enemy is still tempting God's children with the false satisfaction of unnecessary food, and at this point in time (in modernized countries, at least), he has nearly endless resources at his disposal. How many churches serve coffee and donuts, or host giant potlucks, when they could be out on the street doing ministry, or still worshipping The Lord in the sanctuary?

Note that I'm not perfect myself. I like food more than most. Jesus is always willing to heal. He is willing to forgive, too. Just the mention of His name is enough to eliminate pain caused by bearing excess weight. His name is enough to cure diabetes. His name is enough to eliminate cancer caused by a lifetime of eating artificially colored and flavored foods. His name can and does "destroy the works of the devil".

What I want to do by writing this is not to pronounce judgement. Mercy triumphs judgement...or else these healings would not occur! I am not fit to judge others anyways. But I encourage believers to seek The Lord about the presence of food idolatry in their lives and the lives of others. Let's exhort eachother into God's truth! The problem is not wheat, it is not sugar. The problem isn't GMOs. It's not even red #40 or aspartame . The problem is idolatry.

More on this in the next post. There is another false attitude towards food that I really want to address. Many Christians go the opposite way, and in trying to eat healthy take their eyes off of the divine health offered in our savior Lord Jesus. Please remember that these posts are not condemnation. Many of the things God's shown me have been taught through my own failures. I am guilty without forgiveness and repentance just like any other. But we must be desperate to stay blameless in God's eyes!