Sheep Don’t But(t)

Show and tell is always a favorite of school children.  We get satisfaction sharing our treasures and the things that give us pleasure with others.  However, God’s kingdom is set up exactly opposite: Tell and show. We speak faith prayers and then the answer is shown.

Jesus taught this amazing principle in Mark 11:23-25:  “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.”  Notice the order.  First you believe you receive them before you get them.  Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen.  By faith we are sure it has been granted before the answer appears.  This confidence is strongly reiterated in 1 John 5:14-15, “if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

Let’s see how this principle applies to making prayers of faith.  Someone may pray for healing according to the Word “by His stripes I am healed,” but then say the pain is still there.  Our words have the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21).  The “but” statement comes from the physical and overrides the spiritual truth of the prayer for healing.  Things of God are spirit and truth, they come to our spirit, and then the spiritual truth in the heart and declared by the lips impacts the physical.  It is the same foundation upon which we were saved.  We receive the truth that Jesus’ death and resurrection justifies us (it is finished meaning every sin is paid for in full), and establish this reality of salvation by declaring with our lips, “Jesus is Lord.”  We willingly acknowledge He owns us and we become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), even if we don’t “feel” any change.  However, this spiritual truth produces new life in us as we receive it and begin to walk it out in faith.  Life flows from the spiritual to the physical.

Consider the application of this principle in the sheep and goats in the Matthew 25 explanation of judgment. Jesus separated the sheep from the goats.  Clearly the main difference was what each one did and did not do to others.  The goats saw the need but had an excuse. Their “but” was more persuasive than the Word that ordered them to love others as themselves. On His right hand, the sheep didn’t “but,” and responded with love and compassion to those in need.

Imitate the sheep attitude by refusing to let the physical excuses and reasonings stop us from holding fast our confession of faith or obedience to God.   I am still saved and born again even if I fail to do everything right.  I am healed and my needs are met because of God’s faithful promise not because my physical sensations.  They will follow.  Don’t let physical input nullify your faith confession.  James points out that a double minded man should not think that he will receive.  Faith and patience inherit the promises.  

God’s Word is yes and amen.  We receive it by giving thanks (Philippians 4:6 make supplication with thanksgiving) and establish this truth by our speaking His words rather than saying the thoughts and feelings of our fallen nature.  Sheep don’t but.

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all, according to Psalm 34:19.  It doesn't take long to realize that the spiritual battle is real, and right here now.  Paul describes the inner spiritual conflict in Romans 7, and the truth about the battle not being flesh, but spiritual in Ephesians 6.   Everyone who desires to overcome has to learn how to let God fight for them to win.  Faith overcomes the world because it depends upon the victory of the Lord Jesus.  On one hand He "trains our hands for war" and on the other hand, having done all in the armor of God (Ephesians 6), we stand until the Lord "perfects, establishes, and strengthens you." (1 Peter 5:10)  Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph. 

There will always be trials, until the Lord returns.  James, in chapter 1, tells us to count it all joy when trials come.    1 Peter reminds us that it is through trials that we grow in patience, which complete work is to perfect us to lack nothing.  Faith and patience inherit the promises.  What the enemy meant for evil, Joseph declares, "God uses for good."   

Focus is everything.  Romans 8 strongly encourages us to not set our mind on the flesh which cannot please God, but rather to set it on the spirit which is life and peace.  Not every thought or feeling needs to be entertained or expressed.  We can choose to think about what is true, just, pure, lovely, of good report and praiseworthy according to Philippians 4:7-8.  We can give thanks in all circumstances because no weapon formed against us will prosper.  Jesus, in His mock trial before the Pharisees and then Pilate, knew when to stay quiet and when to speak.  Likewise, in Psalm 38, David also reinforces this truth, "But I, like a deaf man, hear not; and I am like a dumb man who opens not his mouth," with the explanation, "For in You, O Lord, do I hope.  You will answer, O Lord my God." 

We don't belong to the world and do not have to cater to its demands.  Paul confessed that he gloried in "the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world."  Our life is hidden in Christ and the world cannot steal our peace and joy.  We win by staying in the spirit and trusting in the overcoming power available to us through Jesus' death and resurrection.  

It is finished. The battle is won. One of the exciting and encouraging effects of reading Revelation is seeing the dominion and power of the Lord Jesus rightly applied to all who reject His leadership.  The sounding of the seventh trumpet of the seventh angel declares that "the mystery of God would be finished."  The kingdoms of the earth have become the kingdoms of our Lord.  We are united with the Lord Jesus to reign with Him forever. 

We only see this total victory by faith now.  Hebrews 2:8-9 points out that all things and powers are subject to Him, but we don't see that now.  But we see Jesus.  The work of God according to John 6:29 is to believe in Him who He sent, in other words, believe the authority and victory of the Lord Jesus is complete to redeem all mankind.  Lets personalize that last comment, to make me overcome every trial.  We fight the good fight of faith by acknowledging Jesus' triumph and refusing to abdicate the incredible glory and honor He has given to us, to be one with Him in this complete victory.   Praise God forever, He is worthy!