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Moving Forward in Faith

We’re continuing to study Paul’s letter to the Philippians from his imprisonment in Rome. He’s awaiting the outcome of his trial.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

Philippians 1:18b-19 NIV

Paul uses some important language in these verses. It’s one of those things that you miss in translation. If we understood it, we’d be a lot less worried about the future.

There’s a very good reason why Paul is rejoicing over the outcome of his situation. When Paul says the phrase, I know, he literally says I’ve seen, in the Greek.

This is not a quote from some modern-day faith preacher. This is Scripture through the Apostle Paul. I’ve heard people criticized for talking like this, but it’s perfectly Biblical.

Paul was a man of prayer. He spent enormous amounts of time communing with the Holy Spirit. It was during those times that the Spirit showed him that he would be acquitted and released. He’s not just speaking from wishful thinking.

Paul was going forward in joy because he had a knowledge beyond what any man could see. Understand this, God is no respecter of persons. The Lord wants to do this in us as well. We just have to take the time to remain in His presence and listen for His voice.

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:20-21 NIV

Paul makes it clear that because he is earnestly watching and expecting God’s intervention, he can be as bold as he needs to be. It’s always easier to be courageous if you know the outcome ahead of time.

Please understand what Paul is NOT saying here. He’s not thinking that there’s a chance they’ll find him guilty and put him to death. He’s already settled that matter. He’s letting these supporters know that, as always, his goal is to glorify Christ either in life or death.

And just so the church will understand this truth, he continues.

If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Philippians 1:22-26 NIV

Paul makes it abundantly clear that God’s will for him is to continue his ministry. He will be back in Philippi some day and they will see him again. This is not some “name it and claim it” foolishness. It’s a faith in a holy and powerful God.

The Bible makes it clear that faith comes by hearing a Word from God (Romans 10:17). But hearing a Word from God requires time in His presence. This is where the Lord is trying to lead His church in this generation.

God wants a people who hear and obey His voice. Then we can move forward in faith, courage, and boldness. That’s because we’ve seen how our labors will turn out before we even start. True faith is a product of our time with the Holy Spirit.

Especially in our generation, we need men and women of God who are willing to seek His face. It’s a complicated road that we’re traveling, and we need the wisdom of God to see us through. Don’t neglect intimate time with the Spirit.

Question: How does hearing from God produce faith?

What Are We Seeing?

11 Aug

In my last post, I started talking about life in our present society. In many ways it’s like when the children of Israel were captive in Egypt at the time of Moses.

There is great pressure on the church to agree with the world’s goals or stay quietly in the background. All the while, the enemy’s kingdom seems to be strengthening. Many of God’s people are in hiding, afraid to speak up.

Moses ran away from his problems and became a shepherd in Midian. As he was out tending the sheep, he sees a burning bush that isn’t being consumed.

As he checks it out, he hears the voice of God, speaking to him.

“…And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

Exodus 3:9-10 NIV

There are some important truths in this passage that we need to hear in this generation. One of the key statements is this: “I have seen the Egyptians oppressing them – so I am sending you to Pharaoh.”

Moses’ problem was that he thought the enemy was the Egyptians. The Lord set him straight. Pharaoh was where the victory needed to be won.

In the same way, our fight is not against flesh and blood. How do we see spiritual change? It won’t come about by attacking the Egyptians – the people of the world. We need to go against the spiritual “Pharaohs.”

However, there’s something that has to happen first. God said, “The cry of the Israelites has reached me.” That’s the important statement.

Are we crying out to the Lord? Do we even understand that we need the Lord’s help to rescue us? Or, are we happy to go right along with the world’s agenda?

This is the heart of the matter. Much of the church is content right where they are.

This is illustrated powerfully later on the book of Exodus. After the Israelites left Egypt, they were going through the wilderness. At one point they were complaining about the food God was miraculously providing.

The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

Exodus 16:3 NIV

Their view of the situation was skewed. They don’t seem to remember that they were tasked with building the enemy’s kingdom, brick by brick. They don’t remember the abuse they had to endure – only the pots of meat they had available.

For the most part, the church doesn’t even know they’re in slavery. In the USA we can get a rich spiritual meal anytime we want it. TV, radio, and internet. We can live stream a message from some of the greatest preachers in the world.

Then, once we finish our hefty spiritual “meal”, we run off to continue building the enemy’s kingdom. We chase after the world and all it has to offer us. There is so much available in the way of entertainment, athletics, recreation, and educational opportunities.

We can fill our schedules so full that there’s no room for what God is calling us to do. In many cases, our spiritual life consists of a church meeting (online or in-person) once a week.

Actually, in our generation, what is considered an average committed Christian attends church twice a month. We’re too busy doing other things.

We need the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the present condition of the church.

Question: What’s your view of the church in this present society?

1 Comment

Posted by Revzacc on August 11, 2023 in Ministry, Prayer, Revival, Spiritual Walk, Spiritual Warfare, The Church

Tags: church, condition of the church, cry out to God, Holy Spirit, Moses generation, spiritual battle, spiritual food, spiritual sight, spiritual warfare

The Eyes of Our Mind

03 Mar

As we continue through the book of Ephesians, we’re looking at the blessings of a mature walk with God. In my last post, I talked about the spirit of wisdom and revelation. Now, Paul will show us more of these blessings.

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints…

Ephesians 1:18 NIV

In this verse, Paul talks about something we should view as very important. The NIV translation is poor at this point. In the original Greek, the apostle says that he wants the eyes of our mind to be lit up. The mind being the faculty of our understanding.

We need to understand this. The eyes of our mind is an important concept in Scripture. It’s something that Jesus emphasized throughout His ministry. As a matter of fact, if you think about eyes that are lit up, the book of Revelation describes Christ as having eyes that blazed like fire (Revelation 1:14).

We have to realize that in the pages of Scripture there are two sets of eyes. There are the natural, physical set of eyes that we see the world with. But then, there’s another set of eyes that are always talked about. They’re our inner eyes.

That’s what Paul’s talking about when he says, the eyes of our minds. They’re the same eyes that Jesus talked about when He rebuked the crowds who were listening to His teaching.

“For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”

Matthew 13:15 NIV

Jesus is frustrated with these people because they’ve closed their inner eyes. Because of this condition, they couldn’t understand who He was or what He was offering them.

As believers, we can’t afford to close the eyes of our mind to the things God is showing us. It’s the key to all of our fulfillment in Christ. In another passage, the Lord put it in very clear terms – if you know which eyes He’s talking about.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

Matthew 6:22-23 NIV

We need to walk before God with these eyes wide open. I have to be seeking Him and His ways no matter where His Holy Spirit leads me. That’s what faith is all about.

I agree to follow the Lord’s will for my life before I know what it is. I trust that the Holy Spirit has the best path worked out for me.

In the above verse from Ephesians, the word for hope literally means expectation. If I keep my eyes open – seeking God’s ways, I will know what to expect concerning my calling. I may not see the finish line, but I’ll know the next step that I need to take.

On top of that, since I know that it’s God who’s leading me, I also know that I have an inheritance with all the saints. I know that my reward is secure. My future is something to look forward to. I don’t have to worry about what’s happening all around me.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.

1 John 1:5-6 NIV

This is the level at which Christ wants all of His followers to attain to. We should all seek to live by the truth with our eyes wide open. This requires intimate prayer times in the Holy Spirit. That’s the road to a victorious life in Christ.

Question: What’s the condition of your “inner eyes”?

The Spirit and the Word

Tag Archives: spiritual sight

Moving Forward in Faith

What Are We Seeing?

The Eyes of Our Mind

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