Acting on the Word of God
Introduction
We must understand that believing demands action and creates action. Mental ascent only admires and admits a truth, but does not act on it. Acting on the word of God is letting Jesus Christ act through you. Acting on the word, then gives God his power to move on your behalf. Given the word, its place is giving Christ his position of Lordship in your life. The problem of believing is made simple when we know that it is acting on what God has spoken.
In the parable of the wise builder is very plain, that everyone who hears the teachings of Christ, and acts upon them will be found to resemble a wise person who built their house upon the rock. Jesus and His word are one and doing the word is letting Jesus have control in our lives. He that does not do the word never built upon a solid foundation. We must become doers of the word, or else the entire structure of our lives, family, and even faith is destroyed. You can tell whether a person is building on sand, or on the rock, by noting whether they are practicing or not, whether they are acting on the word.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” James 1; 22-25 KJV
But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]. For if anyone only listens to the word without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like. But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience]. James 1; 22-25 Amplified Version

The Self-Deluded Person
Many people think that hair knowledge is sufficient. I’m not against education. I have advanced degrees in psychology, sociology, criminology, as well as theology.
What I do know, though, is that anyone who thinks that knowledge is all that they need to succeed will fail miserably. It is the doer of the word, the man who practices it, lives it, walks in it, speaks the word of God, the bills into his own life, who got honors. There’s a grave danger of diluting ourselves when we think we just have had knowledge. When I was in seminary, I learned Greek and Hebrew. I knew the history of the word of God but I met many people who did not practice it. It’s when you come to a hard place in your life when your back is up against the wall, when one turns to God. Living the Word of God is practicing the Word of God.
Characteristics of Self Delusion
The scriptures described people who are who can’t make up their mind. They are always vacillating from one extreme to another. From one idea to another to one. This type of person is called double minded. It has to do with loyalty. It is a matter of the heart. What or whom do we hold dear.
• How we Start.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom. 12: 1-2.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]. Rom. 12: 1-2. Amplified Bible
• Being Double Minded.
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 (the heart), with no doubting (the mind), 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 receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8. (KJV)
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:5-8. (NLT)

The Lifestyle of a Doer of the Word of God.
Unless you were Doer of the Word, you’re not a believer of the word. You have nothing more than a Mental Assent without action, a mere empty profession of religious words. Jesus would call them a sand foundation, just the sand house made by idle hands on the seashore to be destroyed by the next incoming tide. What a danger is a religion of words if there is no corresponding action, if no one is a doer of the word, he is a foolish builder on the sand on his five physical senses.

Understand this, if you are a doer of the word, you know that the word is living in your lips. It’s just as all the masters will get himself. Jesus himself said that He is a living word in you. He is with you in the presence of the Almighty, Holy Spirit that lives within us. He hasn’t left us alone, and he will not leave us alone. His ability is our ability. His strength is our strength. As we begin to do the word, He begins to do it us and through us.
James 2; 20 (Moffat Translation) says faith without deeds is barren. It is a mirror empty words that sound lovely and beautiful, but they are never crystallize or made real. Weymouth translation says faith without corresponding actions is of no effect. So, what it is saying is that we must Act on the Word regardless of our feelings people rely on their feelings, instead of relying on what the Word says.
If we need to love those who are difficult scripture says that the Love of God, agape love dwells within us. We must act in love no matter what our flesh (physical senses) says or how we feel.

The Doer of the Word sees answered prayer. People healed, saved, and delivered from the devil.

“You, my children, who belong to God have already defeated this spirit, because the one who lives in you is far stronger than the anti-Christ in the world. The agents of the anti-christ are children of the world, they speak the world’s language and the world, of course, pays attention to what they say. I John 4:4,
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 Cor. 6:1
What shall we then say to these things? (What things?) If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom. 8:31

Introduction
What are the greatest battles I have seen within Christianity is for believers to understand the importance of the Word of God in their lives. We must understand that. The apostle Paul told us in Romans 12:1-2, that we need to continually renew our minds so you understand God’s working and guidance in our lives. The Word takes the place of the unseen, Jesus. Meditation in the Word is a visit with the Almighty Savior. The Word needs to get into our very being. It may become our very nature. We are to react only using the Word of God.

Acts 19:20 states “so mightily grew the word of God and Prevailed. This took place in revival an emphasis that was shaking the very nation. Ephesus was the central point of idolatry. It was not Paul’s preaching. It was not his logical or philosophy. It was a Word of God that made the difference. Acts 12:24 says the word of God grew and multiplied. It grew in the minds of people It gained against supremacy over them. We are to follow God through His Word by faith not by our carnal senses. When we preach the Word of God, the Lord confirms His Word, with signs and wonders.

Faith makes the Word Prevail.

We have heard time in again, that the Word of God comes by faith. Many Christians really do not have faith in the Word of God. Faith must become our second nature. We must judge every circumstance that we confront, every situation that is contrary to the word of God. We must go to the word of God to see how Jesus would handle any situation.

Matthew 8: 23–27 we see the word of the prevailing in Jesus lips. He even commanded the laws of nature. You remember He said to his disciples “oh, ye of little faith, then He arose in rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm, and they stated what manner of man is this even the winds, and the sea obey Him.”

The Word prevailed in The Faith of the Centurion.

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly. Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the WORD, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. Matthew 8:5-10.
The word on the lips of Jesus prevailed over the disease in the centurion’s servant.
In Matthew 14:13-21. The word in Jesus lips ruled the law of supply and demand. Five loaves and two fishes multiplied until 5000 people are fed and 12 baskets of fragments were left over.
It says in John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that has been made.”

Jesus and the Word are One.

Can you imagine that the Lord God has used the human language by calling Jesus a word. Do you understand that the whole universe was brought into being by WORDS. We have the SPOKEN WORD, on the lips of Jesus: then we have the WORD made flesh that came and wealth amongst us; then we have the SPOKEN WORDS on the lips of the apostles before the Pauline revelation came. And finally, these WORDS were put on paper in the language that we might understand and have a permanent record of the Living Word.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us… John 1:14
For this reason, we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, who Himself effectively works in you who believe. I Thess. 2:13 (Moffat).
He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Psalms 107:20
The Word Prevails Over our Senses.

Hebrews 11:1, says that faith is giving the substance of things we have hope for. Hope and faith are always in combat. Faith wins because it is real. Hope it’s always future it’s a dream. is never real. Faith reaches up and graphs hope, and brings it into the present realm.
The central truth of this teaching regarding faith versus feelings is;
• #1 we need to find a promise of God for whatever you are seeking.
• #2; believe God ‘s word.
• #3; do not consider contradictory circumstances.
• #4; praise God for the answer.

We cannot understand God by our feelings. We are told to walk by faith and what God ‘s Word says to us. The only way will get to know God and understand Him and get acquainted with Him is through the word. Many people want goosebumps, they want to feel good, then they think their prayers are heard. God says without faith it is impossible to please him. Our faith should not be based on feelings but should be based on God ‘s word. This is not Christian Science. We base our faith on God and His Word not in the mind. I am not saying to ignore the symptoms of the body. I am telling you to get your body into line with what God’s Word says.

Carnality vs. Spirituality

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh (controlled by our five senses), but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded (controlled by our five senses) is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. Rom. 8:5-7 (KJV)
Listen to teachings on the Battle of the Mind, Think on Purpose, Words Have Power.

Don’t Consider Your Body

Faith changed Abraham’s hope into reality as he believed the Word of God that came to him.
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, He was able also to perform.
Romans 4: 19-21

The Word on Our Lips

We are told to preach and teach the Word of God. In the ministry of Jesus on earth He was fearless in the presence of disease and demons. He was one with the father and as he spoke the Father was speaking. In John 14:9, “Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Jesus spoke the Word and He healed people, delivered people, The Apostles preached the Word and healed people, delivered people. To preach the Word is to preach Jesus!
“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” 2 Tim. 4:2.
The Word Makes Us Conquerors! The Word of God on our lips makes us conquers. We are longer victims of sin, sickness, and disease. We are no longer bound to Satan. We are no longer bound to circumstances and situations. We are Overcomer’s because He overcame. He overcame hate. He overcame demons. He overcame sickness and disease. He became the sacrificial lamb taking the wrath of the Father, which fell upon Him so we can walk and victory. He became sin, who knew no sin so we could become the righteousness of God, His works, we can do because He has given us all authority.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and [a]conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. Col. 1:13.

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Cor. 3: 5-6

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The Beauty of His Righteousness

You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad. Psalm 45:7–8

Those words are addressed prophetically by the psalmist to the Lord Jesus. They are a picture of Jesus – His character, His attitude, and the reason why the Lord exalted Jesus.

It’s important for us to understand that Jesus was not treated as a favored Son. He was not given promotion that He had not earned, but He earned His promotion and the reason given here is His attitude in moral matters. Jesus through His sacrifice fulfilled the requirements of the law. He was one who knew no sin but became the sacrificial lamb for us. The wrath of sin as explained in scripture fell upon Jesus instead falling upon ourselves. This is why His redemptive work cannot be added to. When Jesus finished His work on Calvary He ascended on high and sat down at the right hand of Father God because His work was finished. The beauty of His righteousness now was given to the resurrected church to carry out spreading the Good News!

The psalmist says, “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore, God has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” It was the attitude of Jesus in the matters of righteousness and wickedness that caused God to promote Him.

Notice that there’s no neutrality in these matters. If we love righteousness, we will hate wickedness. We cannot compromise with it. And also notice the beauty that goes with righteousness: the fragrance of myrrh and aloes and cassia and the melody of strings from a place of ivory palaces. What a beautiful picture that is of righteousness and how righteousness causes God to exalt those who practice it.

Crooked Made Straight!
I will go before you and make the crooked places straight . . .
Isaiah 45:2

We live in a time where we as Christian want instant answers. We have been contaminated with the mindset and attitudes of the world. When we become Christians, we are no longer a friend to the world. We must think, speak, and live differently than the world. The world is an atmosphere in which evil resides.

I know that at times we all go through difficult things, but God gives us a promise of great hope. We must understand that we are not tourists in the world. We are in a journey unto wholeness and completeness and God is not in a hurry. He cares about quality and wholeness. We get ourselves into trouble by living wrong, eating wrong, spending wrong, not saving, and not giving. And now we want God to get us out of the mess that we have created. We want everything in a hurry. We have not obeyed God in putting Him first in every area of our lives and we have made a mess of things. And sometimes people do not want to change. It is too painful for them and it requires responsible behavior.
• Marriages
• Finances
• Relationships
• Some people like top play the victim.
• Our speech and attitudes.
• Broken promises.
• Employment

Christian discipleship has become a tourist mindset. We think God is our tour guide and not Lord of our lives. We have exchanged the commandments of God as if they were suggestions. A disciple is to spend their lives living for their Master. He has given us a guidebook called the Bible. All truth rests in Jesus Christ. Jn. 14:5-6. If we chose the path of disciples and pilgrims, we would eventually see the Wisdom of God unfold in our lives. It may take time as we persist, but God is Faithful.

All we need to do is stay in faith and walk in the truth of God’s Word. Those areas where we have been judged harshly, or condemned or mistreated by others God will straighten things out. There are areas in our own lives that we feel we will never overcome but the promise of God is that He will make all things straight. Understand that God is working behind the scenes to make things right. He is working to give us the victory even though you cannot see it now. God says. “all things work together for good for those who love Him.” We don’t blame God for the trouble, but we trust in Him in the middle of difficult circumstances to make all things straight!

Faith Sees the Answer!
Introduction.

Our past teachings on faith helps us understand faith is not hope. Faith is present hope is future. Then we examined the relation of feelings versus faith. We have seen and past teachings that faith is not hoping that we will receive the answer sometime in the future. We rely on our human senses that is contrary to the revelation truth of the word of God. Now we must understand that understanding these previous discussed concepts we move on to the central truth of seeing that truth faith see the answer. Christ said ‘Father, I am glad that you always hear me.’ John 11:42
Faith is believing that we have the answer now and says thank you Father!! The eyes of faith see the answer has if it already happened.
Calling those things that are not as though they were. ‘as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations’ in the presence of Him whom he believed God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.’ Romans 4:17, 20-21.

The Word of God takes Prominent Place in your Life.

My son give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:20-22

• People fail because they see themselves failing, in doubt, sick, dying, maybe they have anger or resentment against someone in their heart.
• Jesus took our infirmities.

Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isa. 53: 4-5.
‘When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities’ and bore our sicknesses.” Matt. 8:17.
• God’s Word is life and healing.
• Get your mind on the answer, not the problem.

Faith Contradicts Circumstances

….for He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So, we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Heb. 13:5-6.
• We walk by Faith not by our feelings.
• People speak defeat, disease, and poverty.
• Wrong thinking, wrong believing, and wrong talking will result in wrong living.

Faith Sees the Answer and says Thank You Father!
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were (past tense) healed.
1 Peter 2:24.
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19.
The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall, I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1.
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Mark 11:23
• Real Faith in God simply says what God says about themselves and circumstances.

Believe in your Heart!

What is the heart hear? It is not your physical heart and it is not your inner man which is your spirit. Your heart here is used that of most inner depths of your psych being your mind and your personality.
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

How you believe, (think) is how you will speak. And how you speak will is how you will live.

Faith versus Hope
Introduction.
We must study the word of God to acquire a positive actions in our faith to get positive results. People are confusing hope with faith. We must remember that hope is future, and faith is in the present tense. But faith is now!

What we have In Jesus

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1: 2-4

What Jesus Did!

For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
I John 3:8

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. Acts 10:38

Faith is Now!

Faith says, I receive the answer right now. I know I have it now! I am not hoping that I get it, I believe I received it. People have said to me well I believe I will have my healing sometime, that’s not faith it’s hope because it is looking to something indefinite, the future time. Faith says I have received my healing now in a modern translation of the New Testament says in Hebrews 11:1 “faith is giving substance to things hope for.” Faith is now, Hope is the future. If you need healing, you don’t want it in the future you want right now especially if you’re in pain. If you’re seeking salvation, or the baptism in the Holy Spirit you want to receive Him now not sometime in the future. If you need salvation you cannot put it off to the future that might be too late you need it now.

Ephesians 2 :8-9. “for you are for by grace you are saved through faith and that is not of yourselves it is a gift of God not of works least any man should boast.”
Romans 10:9-10, 13. it says “if they’ll shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in the heart that God has raised him from the dead they’ll shall be saved. For with a heart man believe it until righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved.”
This is present tense not future tense. So, we can see that the plan of salvation by faith not by hope we know you’re saved. Jesus said he was going to save us, and he did on the cross of Calvary.

How Do We Get Faith?
Romans 10:17, “So faith comes be hearing, and hearing the Word of God.” Another translation says’ Faith is the warranty deed, that the thing which we hoped for is finally yours”.
Hebrews 11:1, says the Faith is the evidence of things not seen.
• Finances- In finances or healing is that you confess that you need and thank God that you have it. When you speak unbelief, you are calling God a liar and siding with the devil.
• Prayer-In prayer we must use and agree with the Word of God. To know the Word of God is to know God. You cannot know God outside His word.
Mark 11:22-25, “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

What is your mountain? Is it the need for healing? Financial need? Remember that all is need is found in Jesus. He sat down at the right hand of the Father. He also seated us with Him in the heavenlies ad we are the fullness of Christ on earth.

Faith in Action
Here we have an example of a women who heard the message, believed in her heart, and moved in faith.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” Mark 5:25-34
Faith makes the impossible, possible. Matt. 19:26. I have heard people saying I am hoping and praying for whatever, but they never receive it. You must hold on to your faith. Stand strong against the lies of the enemy!

Conclusion
How you believe, (think) is how you will speak. And how you speak will is how you will live.

Faith versus Feelings

Introduction.
The central truth of this teaching regarding faith versus feelings is;
• #1 we need to find a promise of God for whatever you are seeking.
• #2; believe God ‘s word.
• #3; do not consider contradictory circumstances.
• #4; praise God for the answer.

We cannot understand God by our feelings. We are told to walk by faith and what God ‘s Word says to us. The only way will get to know God and understand Him and get acquainted with Him is through the word. Many people want goosebumps, they want to feel good, then they think their prayers are heard. God says without faith it is impossible to please him. Our faith should not be based on feelings but should be based on God ‘s word. This is not Christian Science. We base our faith on God and His Word not in the mind. I am not saying to ignore the symptoms of the body. I am telling you to get your body into line with what God’s Word says.

Abraham’s Blessings with Thomas’s Faith.
Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So, he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29
• Thomas’s faith was based on his feelings. This is much of the church today.

We have All Things
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:2-4

Healing is Spiritual
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor. 5:17
• Divine healing is received as you received the new birth. You believed, you spoke, you acted and you were born again.
• It is not based on how loud you yell, how much you cry. It is based on your faith.
• We walked in the natural but when it comes to God we walked by faith.

Carnality vs. Spirituality
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh (controlled by our five senses), but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded (controlled by our five senses) is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. Rom. 8:5-7 (KJV)
Listen to teachings on the Battle of the Mind, Think on Purpose, Words Have Power.

Don’t Consider Your Body
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Romans 4: 19-21

Formula for Faith.
The central truth of this teaching regarding faith versus feelings is
• #1 we need to find a promise of God for whatever you are seeking.
• #2; believe God ‘s word.
• #3; do not consider contradictory circumstances.
• #4; praise God for the answer.

If there are no great battles, there are no great victories.
How you believe, (think) is how you will speak. And how you speak will is how you will live.

Discipleship- A Long Journey in the Same Direction!

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. Luke 9: 23-26

INTRODUCTION
The scenario of this scripture is that Jesus begins to announce His death. Peter jumped in and told the Lord that he should not die and the Lord rebuked him stating that he was listening to the devil. You would think that Peter was just trying to save the Lord of this death but what he was doing was trying to stop the plan of God for salvation. What is a disciple? A disciple is a person that not only follows the teaching of his teacher but also imitates his lifestyle. We all imitate someone or something. Some people want to be just like Warren Buffet, or Bill Gates or some other famous person. I think that teenagers want to be like some basket or football star. Some girls want to look like some model or actress. But how many times have you heard someone say they wanted to be like Jesus?
When one chooses to follow Christ, this is not an easy road to embark on. We are constantly being pulled way to follow our desires and our will. God wants us to depend upon Him and follow His example. He does not want us to rely on our own strength, wisdom, or how the world wants us to think and act. He wants to lead. He wants us to ask Him for every area in our life. God is extremely interested in you. However, we live in a culture and mentality that we want instant answers and instant success. We want everything we see on TV and more. We want everything at the speed of a microwave oven. We want instant success, instant discipleship, instant holiness, and instant answers to our prayers. How many people do you know that have many material things but are miserable? Christ stated that if you really want to find yourself it will be through serving others. His way is the way of self-denial and suffering at times. But there is true happiness to be found in giving your life in the service of God serving others. I am not talking about going somewhere special to serve God. Right in front of you there is someone who needs help. There is someone right in front of you who needs your forgiveness and love. Ask God how you can be useful and He will direct your steps. Now tell me, do you love God enough to get off your sofa and serve him?
DISCIPLES FOLLOW JESUS
When we encounter Jesus, we meet a man who calls us to come and die (Mk. 8:34-35). And he calls us to follow him and learn from him (Mt. 4:19, 11:29). It doesn’t matter whether we’re smart or stupid, rich or poor, young or old, Asian, African, or American. The only requirement is that we repent of rebelling against our Creator and cling to him through faith (Mk. 1:15; 1 Thess. 1:9). If we do this, we’re promised forgiveness of our sins and reconciliation to God (Col. 1:13-14; 2 Cor. 5:17-21). Jesus calls us to come and die so that we might live.
Scripture says that those who follow Jesus by faith are known as his disciples. Some suggest that disciples are the “super Christians” who are getting’ it done for Jesus, while Christians are just “normal believers.” Scripture, however, offers no support for this distinction. (See, for example, Mt. 10:38, 16:24-28; Mk. 8:34; Lk. 9:23, 57-62; Jn. 10:27, 12:25-26). We are either following Jesus or we aren’t there is no middle ground (Mt. 12:30).

DISCIPLES IMITATE AND REPLICATE JESUS
At the heart of following Jesus is Jesus’ call to imitate him and replicate him. As disciples, we are called to imitate Jesus’ love (Jn. 13:34), His mission (Mt. 4:19), his humility (Phil. 2:5), his service (Jn. 13:14), His suffering (1 Pt. 2:21) and his obedience to the Father (1 Jn. 2:3-6). Since he is our teacher, we are to learn from him and strive in the power of the Holy Spirit to become like him (Lk. 6:40). This growth in Christlikeness is a lifelong endeavor that is fueled by the hopeful expectation that one day we will see him face to face (1 Jn. 3:2-3).

DISCIPLES HELP OTHERS FOLLOW JESUS
As we follow our Lord, we quickly learn that part of imitation is replication. Having a personal relationship with Jesus is magnificent, but it is incomplete if it ends with us. Part of being his follower is to intentionally help others learn from him and become more like him. As a friend of mine says, “If you aren’t helping other people follow Jesus, I don’t know what you mean when you say you’re following Jesus.” To be his follower is to help others follow him.
Being a disciple that makes disciples happens in two ways. First, we’re called to evangelize. Evangelism is telling people who don’t follow Jesus what it means to follow him. We do this by proclaiming and portraying the gospel in our neighborhood and among the nations (Mt. 28:19-20). We must never forget that God has placed us in the families, workplaces, and circles of friends that we are in so that we can proclaim the gospel of grace to those who are destined to hell apart from Christ. We must help people learn how to begin to follow Jesus.
The second aspect of making disciples is helping other believers grow in Christlikeness. Jesus has designed his church to be a body (1 Cor. 12), a kingdom of citizens and a family who actively build each other up into the fullness of Christ (Eph. 2:19; 4:13, 29). We are called to instruct each other about Christ (Rom. 15:14) and to imitate others who are following Christ (1 Cor. 4:16, 11:1; 2 Thess. 3:7, 9). As disciples, we are to intentionally pour into other disciples so they can pour into still others (2 Tim. 2:1-2).

DISCIPLES INTENTIONALLY BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
Discipleship does not just happen. We need to be intentional about cultivating deep, honest relationships in which we do spiritual good to other Christians. While we can have discipleship relationships anywhere, the most natural place for them to develop is in the community of the local church. In the church Christians are commanded to meet together regularly, spur each other on in Christlikeness, and protect each other against sin (Heb. 3:12-13; 10:24-25).
The discipleship relationships that spring out of this type of committed community should be both structured and spontaneous. When we study the life of Jesus, we see that he formally taught his disciples (Mt. 5-7; Mk. 10:1) while also allowing them to observe his obedience to God as they lived life together (Jn 4:27; Lk. 22:39-56).
In the same way, some of our discipleship relationships should be structured. Maybe two friends decide to read a chapter from the Gospel of John and then discuss it over coffee or a workout at the gym. Maybe two businessmen read a chapter each week from a Christian book and then talk about it on a Saturday walk through the neighborhood with their kids. Maybe two couples do a date night together once a month and talk about what the Bible says about marriage. Maybe a godly older lady has a younger single woman over to her home on Tuesday afternoon to pray and study a Christian biography. Maybe a mom spends time at the park with other moms each week. Regardless of the format, some of our discipleship should involve scheduled times of reading, praying, confessing, encouraging, and challenging each other to become more like Christ.
Discipleship can also be spontaneous. Maybe friends go to a movie together and then grab ice cream afterwards to compare the movie’s message to what the Bible says. Maybe a father and a son sit on the porch and reflect on God’s glory being displayed in a sunset. Maybe you invite visitors from church over for lunch and ask everyone how they came to know Jesus.
We always need to be intentional, but we don’t always need to be structured. In fact, Deuteronomy 6 shows us that discipleship happens “when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (v. 7). Every moment presents an opportunity to discuss who God is and what he’s doing. Since we are always following Jesus, we always can help others follow him as well.

DISCIPLES DEPEND UPON GRACE
While it is true that a disciple of Jesus ought to help others follow Jesus, we must always remember that apart from the sustaining and empowering grace of God we can do nothing (Jn. 15:5). Whether you’re a pastor, a plumber, a policeman, or a stay-at-home parent, you never graduate from your need for God’s grace.
As we follow Christ and help others follow him, we’re constantly made aware that we need grace. We fail. We sin. We struggle. But thankfully, God’s grace abounds to his children. This is good news as we seek to follow Jesus together and daily be transformed into his glorious image (2 Cor. 3:18). May we faithfully follow Christ and help others to do the same until we see his face. Come soon, Lord Jesus!

The Integrity of the Word of God-Part 2

We know Father God through the Word
Our Christian life is to be lived progressively by faith applying His word to our lives. The Devil main object is always to doubt the divine fact stated in God’s Word. We must understand that we are not saying that our sinful nature is rooted out or removed. To say such would be false doctrine. Sin the old master is still about but the slave who served him is dead and no longer ruling. The gambler is no longer gambling. The alcoholic is no longer addicted. Addictions are overcome and lives are changed. Our members are no longer used for unrighteousness but for righteousness.
This deliverance is so real in our lives because the new birth, the new creation and its nature is no longer practicing a sinful life. I Jn. 3:9. So how do we keep this behavior going? We must believe that God’s Word is true. Jn. 17:17. So we can see it is an act of choice. We must choose whom we will serve. We must not resort to our sense-knowledge to discover the truth. We must resist and reject anything the contradicts God’s word. (Sense Knowledge versus Revelation Knowledge).

We must have Faith in the Word

We cannot understand God by our feelings. We are told to walk by faith and what God ‘s Word says to us. The only way will get to know God and understand Him and get acquainted with Him is through the word. Many people want goosebumps, they want to feel good, then they think their prayers are heard. God says without faith it is impossible to please him. Our faith should not be based on feelings but should be based on God ‘s word. This is not Christian Science. We base our faith on God and His Word not in the mind. I am not saying to ignore the symptoms of the body. I am telling you to get your body into line with what God’s Word says.
Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So, he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29
• Thomas’s faith was based on his feelings. This is much of the church today.

We are healed through the Word
The bible is a legal document. A legal contract between God and us. You have heard of
the last will and testament of a person. The New Testament is the last will & testament of Jesus Christ to us. Redemption and healing are the lawful right of the Christian. We have been redeemed from the curse of the law.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Gal.3:13-14

who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. I Peter 2:24
We must understand that the Words of our Lord are spirit and life. And healing is spiritual in nature.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor. 5:17
• Divine healing is received as you received the new birth. You believed, you spoke, you acted and you were born again.
• It is not based on how loud you yell, how much you cry. It is based on your faith.
• We walked in the natural but when it comes to God we walked by faith.

The Word on our Lips
There are many scriptures to talk about confession. Most people think of confession, associated confession of sin but there’s another confession there’s confession that speaks about who we are, and what we believe. I like to listen to where the people talk because that locate them where they are, you see words are locators you’re either speaking doubt in this belief or faith, and I live in God. When we speak, the word of God becomes a living thing on our lips, it brings on men unsaved men under conviction. It gives him face to act upon the word it causes a believer to trust in the lord, with all their heart you speak in the word of God, and speak in God’s words. You are God’s ambassador. God’s word in your mouth, filled with love from your heart burns the heart of the hearer.

• Power of Words for Salvation.
If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Rom. 10:9-10
• For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matt. 12: 37
• God in Us
Remember God works in and through you. Phil 2:13, I Jn. 4:4

• Emotional Stability
He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.
Prov. 21:23
The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.
Isa. 26:3

• Fear hath no Part in Us.
The fear of man brings a snare. Isa.29:25
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control.
2Timothy 1:7

‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isa. 41:10

• Financial Freedom
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19

• Healing
He born our sickness and carried our diseases. And by His stripes, we are healed.
Isa. 53:5 I Peter 2:24

• Hold Fast to Your Confession
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Heb. 10:23

Resist the devil by resting in what the Word of God says and by confessing the Word of God.

The Integrity of the Word of God-Part 1

The Integrity of the Word of God

Thus, sayeth Jehovah has repeated over 2000 times from Exodus to Deuteronomy. God and His word are One. The word of God is Jesus. In John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”
We must understand that Jesus is the living word in Hebrews 4:12 it says the following “the logos of God is a living thing active and more cutting than any sword with a double edged penetrating to the very division of the soul and spirit joint and marrow scrutinizing the very thoughts and conceptions of the heart” Moffitt’s translation We should notice carefully that it says and no created thing is hidden from him; All things lie open, expose before the eyes of him with whom we have to reckon. The word is called logos Jesus is the logos and the logos is a living person. Not in the book, not on the written page, but on the lips of the believer. This becomes the Rhema of God. The spoken word of God. Nothing is hidden from God the living word he searches us out, he finds us, he knows what we are all about.

The Word is our contact with God

The word is our contact with Father God. And His contact with us John 16 7-10 states, he convicts us of sin of righteousness and judgment. It’s true his word that he speaks to us and all these three areas.

We are convicted by the word
The word conviction can come from no other source than the Word there’s a threefold conviction.
• 1st God convicts mankind our union with Satan of judgment because of the world. The prince of this world is judge, and the natural man is just in Satan is a child of Satan, John 8:44-45 and 1st John 3:10
• 2nd God convictions of righteousness, showing that, although we are children of the devil, righteousness is available, and belongs to us through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 3rd God convicts us a sin because we believe not on Him. There’s only one sin for the sinner that will be judge. That is the rejection of Jesus Christ. This is the unforgivable sin.

We are Recreated by the Word of God.

The Word of God in parts to us eternal life. We’re not for the Word we would not know that there was redemption or substitution or a new creation. It is a preaching of the word of God that brings life to people who are lost. It is preaching the word of God that brings miracles to people, indeed. It is a preaching of the word of God that breaks the bondages of hell.
• Of His own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. James 1:18
• For you have been born again, not by a seed that perishes but by one that cannot perish—by the living and everlasting word of God. I Peter 1:23
• Therefore, if anyone is in the Messiah, he is a new creation. Old things have disappeared, and—look! —all things have become new! All of this comes from God, who has reconciled us to himself through the Messiah and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, for through the Messiah,[l] God was reconciling the world to himself by not counting their sins against them. He has committed his message of reconciliation to us. 2 Cor. 5: 17-18

Our Minds are Renewed by the Word of God.

Many Christians struggle through life, trying out defined the will of God. This is very plain and Romans 12: 2 that we will know what the acceptable will of God is by studying His Word. The mind is renewed by studying the word of God, and acting upon it. One can study the word of God for years, and come up with all types of degrees, but they do not act upon it, and become not a doer of the word the mind is not renewed. As you think is how you will speak, and how you speak is how you live.
• I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship Do not be conformed to this world, but continuously be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God’s will is—what is proper, pleasing, and perfect. Rom. 12:1-2
• May grace and peace be yours in abundance through full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord! His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the full knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence. Through these he has given us his precious and wonderful promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, seeing that you have escaped the corruption that is in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:1-4
• Keep on being obedient to the word, and not merely being hearers who deceive themselves. James 1:22

We are Indwelt by the Word

What does it mean by letting the word of God well, enough richly? This is one of the most striking sentences in the epistle. The word dwelling in us produces prayer fruit it is a word bringing forth his home. Kind in the believer’s life. It is not only committing the words of memory, which is valuable, but letting the world become an integral part of our beings. It lives in us, Christ, and the word are one. It is a word dwelling in us, which is equivalent to Christ personally being in you. Letting the word of God have his right of way in your life is letting Christ have his right of way in your life. The word dominating you is equivalent to lordship of Christ in you.
The scriptures state that this has been done for us in Jesus. This is the legal side of Father God. It is done. It is not going to be done. It has been completed. Jesus is the foundation for every point of a journey with Him. We know what Father God has done on his side, the legal side but is another thing to experience it on our side. This is called experimental knowledge. Our spiritual history is concerned with the journey but we must not be stuck there. We cannot allow it to dominate our thinking. God has done all and through Jesus, and He has included us in Him; we are incorporated into Christ.

How does this come about? We confess what God says who and what we have in Jesus. Doing this makes room for His resurrection power to work in us and through us. As we stand fast in what the Word of God says it become experientially true in us. So, in our walk with Him our attention is fixed on Him on Him. Abiding is obedience.

Faith makes the objective facts (Legal Facts) on Father God’s side makes those facts true subjectively (Experientially) for us and is us and we walk in faith and not by our five senses.

• If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:7-8

• ..that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,.. Eph. 3:17