4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. NKJV
TO me, it is like following a recipe. In following say something for a beef stew, we look at all the ingredients. We look at the amount needed to make a stew that will, of course, have meat, a potato, and some veggies in it as well. Now I am not one for that tomato type broth in my stew, but one that is meaty and full of flavor with onions and beef. Yes, it must be brown in color! I like the meat tender and fully browned on both sides of the meat and the broth should not be runny and soup like but richly thick.....but not where a spoon put IN WOULD JUST stand straight up in it. No, it must be thickened just enough to create a flow when stirring. Now that is a just "right" stew.
Well, the Lord desires us to have that continual flow of faith. Whatever may come into our day or week, we are to have that continual flowing of faith, and not only for ourselves, and families, but for others as well as when we pray and believe. And that believing is based on truth that Jesus is the Son of God.
If I spend all day writing and not spending time with the Lord, my faith is not established. Just like that stew.......if, I leave out the meat, then it is just vegetable soup.
John 7:37-39
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit,
whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
NKJV
Faith is like a flowing river.........of living water..........when we believe. In believing, we speak out what we believe for, not just for us, but for others, too!
Ephesians 5:8-11
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. NKJV
Finding out is half the fun.........it is finding Who the Father is, What Jesus did for us...........and what is pleasing..........that which is acceptable to the Lord.
Romans 12:1-20
12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly,
as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:
if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or
ministry, let us use it in our ministering;
he who teaches, in teaching; 8
he who exhorts, in exhortation;
he who gives, with liberality;
he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." NKJV
That faith is a measure given by God. But it is expanded the more we put His Light on it. That faith is spiritual. It moves mountains, and cast things into the deepest oceans never to be seen again. When God said, " Let there be light" and there was light. (Genesis 1:3) It was good. And that Light was divided by God..........from darkness! When we allow His word into our lives, we are allowing, Light to separate us out of the darkness........out of ignorance and into glorious Light! That faith gives us the edge to prophesy.....in proportion to our belief in Jesus, the Son of God. Ministry was given for ministering to others in a measure of faith, just as the he who teaches, he who exhorts or even for the giver...........who gives liberally without another thought of "all that money" for the kingdom. No, it is about our faith in believing HIS Blood was shed for us............it was given in Love and by Love..........it is knowing we can lead others when we set our faith in motion to hear God speak to us about the next thing we are to do............not because of "just doing" because of our belief in the One Who GAVE IT ALL FOR US!
1 Thessalonians 5:5-11
5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. NIV
Putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and hope of salvation as a helmet............we live together with Him.
2 Timothy 1:13-14
13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. NKJV
Paul told Timothy to hold to the pattern of sound words which Timothy had heard from Paul. In faith and love in Christ Jesus.............a good thing that is kept by the Holy Spirit WHO DWELLS IN US!
Yes, I like easy. I like an easy Stew Recipe.........It has to look a certain way, taste like beef and stir like a "SMOOTH RIVER" of thickness. SO too, keeping that good thing God has in us when we first believed is by the Holy Spirit. The Comforter, our Teacher and Guide. He will bring to our remembrance all that Jesus said.............what was spoken to bring to our remembrance what is about to happen for our good.
The Holy Spirit teaches us God's will........grants us the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:2-5), gives us a new heart, not of stone, but of pliable tissue to obey the Written Word of God. Like David, we too, can see the Holy Spirit developed into our lives. We are to depend on HIM and hear Him speak the Father's thoughts toward us.
Jesus told those in the synagogue that "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me"...........He was saying the Lord God was overseeing His ministry and guiding the whole thing in a process! And in the time of Peter and his fasting and prayers, he being sent to Cornelius, gave the word that the Spirit was being given to others......to.......those who would believe in Him and be saved.
Acts 10:25-48
25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man." 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?" 30 So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.' 33 "So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God."
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all-- 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
NKJV
Filled with power.........to that which pleases the Father........abiding in Jesus, Who was and is and is to come the WORD OF GOD .....sent to accomplish His plan on earth and in our lives. May we glorify God today as we speak in faith that Jesus is Lord over our lives! AMEN!
Continue now IN PART 2 as we look into that faith walk............in MUDDY BOOTS??......
You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV
