Faith

FAITH

Re: FAITH窶認oundation and End Results窶ｦ

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FAITH Hebrews 11:6

Believin’ my God will do just what He said He would…right now;; Talkin’ like God will do just what He said He would…right now;; Actin’ like God will do what He said He would— Now FAITH is livin’ like God will do what He said He would…right now!

Gonna walk by the Word and not by sight, never waverin’ to the left or right!

Gonna speak of things I cannot see just as though they were really real to me!

Believin’ my God will do just what He said He would…right now;; Talkin’ like God will do just what He said He would…right now;; Actin’ like God will do what He said He would— Now FAITH is livin’ like God will do what He said He would…right now!

F A I T H

ather lways nfallibly akes old

therefore,

F A I T H

aith lways nalterably rusts im

© 06/12/06. Written down by Carolyn Vardell, 09/02/78. Scribe hereby gives her permission for it to be freely reproduced and used for the glory of God;; because Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Mt. 10:8) Amen.

GOD CREATED FAITH God planned, designed, and created FAITH . . . and He feeds and manifests it!

He planned:  How FAITH would come: "So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:17) 

How FAITH would be guaranteed: "For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Heb. 6:16-20)



How FAITH would work: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Now the parable is this The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no mot, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." (Heb. 11:6; Luke 8:11-15)



How He would respond: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that he may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." (1 John 5:13-15)



What FAITH could do: "Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matt. 21:21-22)



How FAITH would grow and spread: " . . . and himself believed, and his whole house . . . Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him . . . and all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord . . . and it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord . . . So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed." (John 4:53; 11:45; Acts 9:35, 42; 28:9)

God gives His Word.

IF WE . . .

If we hear His Word and believe it (100%) — FAITH comes. If we choose to keep it and not let anyone or anything water it down, or choke it out, or steal it away; and if we keep on choosing to believe what we've heard from God . . .

THEN GOD .. .

Then God responds to FAITH. He cannot NOT respond to FAITH — because FAITH returns God's Word to Him, and He promised it won't return void. If He did not respond, He would be denying His own Word. He keeps His promise and manifests His Word — that of which FAITH has taken hold.

FAITH from God . . . to us . . . reaches into the spirit realm and receives all that is needed to make the need whole — whether it's physical, mental, emotional, financial, family, weather, etc. The result is health, peace, provision, wisdom, courage, safety, etc. The result is wholeness.

Those who have not heard and believed have no way to meet all their needs all the time. They only have fear — luck, despair, que sera sera, denial, positive thinking, etc. The result is hopelessness.

Only FAITH in God . . . according to His Word . . . will meet ALL our needs — not reliance on another person (not even a preacher), a church, a system, a sect, doing good, living right, trying hard, being wise, doing our best, etc.

FAITH in God and in His faithfulness to His Word ALWAYS is our only hope — a sure anchor and outcome. "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isa. 55:11) Where does it all start?

GOD GIVES HIS WORD.

He did . . . and does.

"Be it unto me according to thy word . . . and blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord . . . because she judged him faithful who had promised."

(Luke 1:38, 45; Heb. 11:11c)

F ather A lways I nfallibly T akes H old

therefore …

F aith A lways I nalterably T rusts H im

HOW do I believe?

First, the Holy Spirit nudged me with the question, "How do I receive?" I did a lot of studying, digging, meditating, and listening. I discovered from the Word that it's not up to us to receive. It's up to God to see to it that we receive—that's what manifestation is. The instruction we are given is to believe.

I thought I was believing, and yet I was not receiving. I knew there's nothing wrong with God's ability to manifest His Word, so that only left me and my "believer." Then the question nudged me, "How do I believe?" I began to study, dig, meditate, and listen some more—a lot more. The teaching on receiving was only a few pages; but this one is longer because it needs to be complete—exposing every hindrance, stumbling block, and all the "little foxes." Results are what we're looking for—and what the world's looking for, too—so the light of the truth as God sees it will kick out all the dark. Here's what I found and heard.

We use the word believe so flippantly. The Bible clearly shows certain things always result when one believes, but we aren't seeing them like they happened in the Word. I want to know why. When we aren't seeing the results God said His Word produces, we need to get back to the Owner's manual, back to the contract, back to the Covenant—with a fine tooth comb and a magnifying glass.

We've heard, "Believing is automatic to a believer;" and that would be true if all that believer had ever heard was God's Word—pure, straight, and narrow; but that's not been my case history. Has it been yours?

To whatever degree we hear or have heard (1) tradition about God's Word, (2) limitation of God's Word, and (3) information contradictory to God's Word, to that degree believing is not automatic, because we have to choose which we will assent to in every area of our life, every day, all day___ God's Word or the man's-doctrine, watered-down opposite. What we see, hear, and feel tries to stir up and bring DOUBT, which wars against what we believe and know from God's Word.

The opposite of . . . is . faith fear belief unbelief knowing doubting fully persuaded doubtingly question convinced wavering steadfast staggering Sometimes it helps to look at what something is not in order to see more clearly what it is. In the quest to learn what it means in the Bible when it says believe, let's take a closer look at DOUBT. Jesus said doubt was the only reason Peter went from ON the water to IN the water. In Matthew 14:31, Jesus said, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Substituting the literal Greek, it reads, "O thou of puny persuasion, into what didst thou separate thoroughly? . . . into what didst thou withdraw? . . . into what didst thou oppose My Word? . . . into what didst thou discriminate? . . . into what didst thou decide? . . . into what didst thou hesitate?"

James makes it very plain in chapter 1, verses 6-8. By inserting the Greek meaning of certain words if that meaning amplifies or is different from the English word used, it reads as follows: 6

But let him ask in faith

(demand something due, require) (persuasion, credence, conviction, constancy, reliance)

HowDoIBelieve—2 (not even one, no, none, not at all, not a whit, nothing) (separate thoroughly, withdraw, oppose, discriminate, decide, hesitate [translated in KJV] contend, make differ, discern, doubt, be partial, stagger, waver) For he that wavereth (separate thoroughly, withdraw, oppose, discriminate, decide, hesitate) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind [the wind was described as contrary, i.e., opposite, in Mt. 14 above] and tossed. (cast off, dispersed, scattered abroad, thrown) For let not that man think (make like, imagine, suppose) that he shall receive (take, get hold of) any thing of the Lord.

A double-minded (two-spirited, i.e., vacillating in opinion or purpose) man i s unstable (inconstant [Webster - likely to change frequently without apparent or cogent reason . . . implies an incapacity for steadiness and an inherent tendency to change]) in all his ways. nothing wavering.

7 8

Doubt and double must be first cousins, because there's more than one thing or choice involved in both of them. If we're being single-minded and looking at the Word only, then there's only one thing involved—that's called faith. But if we're separating thoroughly, withdrawing, opposing, discriminating, deciding, or hesitating, then something else is involved besides the Word—and that's called doubt.

Doubt doesn't blow a horn and say, "It's me dirty ol' Mr. Doubt, and I'm about to give you something that's opposite to the Bible. I'm here with my double-tongued double-talk to give you double-vision, so you'll double-back and double-cross the Word of God. I'm the double-dealing deceiver. I sssssslithered into the Garden of Eden, and I've been whisssssspering offense against God's Word ever ssssssince. Ready?"

That's not how it comes, because Doubt is very subtile and very wily. It comes as the slightest twinge, the briefest symptom, the swiftest thought, the whispering fear, or the sounds-almost-right-even-sounds-like-ascripture statement. We've heard, seen, and felt dirty ol’ Mr. Doubt so much, that we've become accustomed to it, and we've allowed it to spue out its filth for hours, days, and even years.

Now that we've seen Doubt for what it really is, we must re-train ourselves to nip-it-in-the-bud at the first twinge, first symptom, first hissing sound of "Hath God ssssssaid?" Doubt is our #1 enemy as believers, and it must be stopped, silenced, and eradicated without delay before it can make the Word of God without effect. If someone "loses their healing," it's because they allowed doubt—again. How do we know it's doubt? It's an alternative to the Word—a "Plan-B." Never give a symptom a second chance.

There was a young girl climbing a mountain, and the higher she climbed the colder it got. Soon there was snow and ice everywhere. She noticed a snake moving along beside her on the path. The snake was almost rigid with the cold and said to the girl, "Please pick me up. I'm so cold, and I don't have a warm coat like you do." The girl said, "No way! You're a snake!" The snake kept on begging her, reasoning with her, flattering her, and coaxing her with, "Oh, please—I won't hurt you. I just want to get warm." Finally, the girl agreed to pick him up—at least that way he'd stop harassing her. She put him inside her coat. After a few minutes, he got warm . . . and bit her! She jerked him out of her coat, threw him on the ground, and said, "Why did you do that after I did what you asked? You promised you wouldn't hurt me!" And the snake said, "You knew I was a snake when you picked me up."

In Isaiah 43:10-12, God said, "Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God." Strange god is a Hebrew idiom which means to turn aside, be a foreigner, strange, profane, (specifically) to commit adultery. This idiom is translated in the King James Version as, come from another man, come from

How Do I Believe — 3

another place, go away, estrange, strange, stranger, strange god, strange thing, strange woman. God said, "When you depended on Me and Me alone, I took care of you; and you knew it was Me that rescued you.

You're My witnesses. But when you turned aside from Me, when you profaned [treated something sacred with irreverence] Me and My Word, when you received "seed" from someone other than Me, your Covenant Partner, then I had to back off and watch you get the results of your choice to disobey."

D O U

ECIDES

[Webster - makes a choice

N

with respect to

NBELIEF

faithlessness

B

YPASSING

intentionally neglecting or ignoring]

T

RUTH

Jesus and what He says

–

Let's take a closer look at UNBELIEF. In the Greek, unbelief means faithlessness, i.e., disbelief, unfaithfulness, disobedience.

In Mark 16:14, the women who saw Jesus alive were not believed when they came to tell the disciples.

Neither were the Emmaus-road travelers believed by the disciples. Jesus appeared to the eleven and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen. Jesus had told them over and over before He died that He would be raised; so they were not only not believing the eye-witnesses' word, but His word, also.

In Matthew 13:57-58 and Mark 6:6, Jesus' hometown people were offended in Him. . .and He did no mighty work, only healed a few sick folk. . . .and He marveled because of their unbelief.

In Matthew 17:14 and Mark 9:17, Jesus said, "It's not a matter of if I can—it's a matter of if you can believe. All things are possible to him that believeth." The father of the epileptic boy said to Jesus, "Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief." The father immediately realized Who Jesus was and, in His light, saw his own darkness. He shrieked and screamed, "Lord, I believe You. Relieve the disbelief that bombards and assails me! Forgive my unbelief!" Imagine the years of torment to this father and his son—all of that is on the line now. "Jesus, You are our answer at last! Forgive the skepticism in my statement when I said, 'IF. . .'

Forgive all my unbelief—help me! Help me! I believe You!" Immediately after making the boy whole, Jesus said, when His disciples asked why they weren't able to cure the boy, "Because of your unbelief. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as [pure as] a mustard seed [which cannot be mixed with other seeds but is always pure]—if you have pure, 100%, unmixed, no-other-way and no-other-choice, no-'Plan-B,' just Me, just My Word, just My way—FAITH, you shall say unto this mountain, 'Scat!' and it shall remove: and NOTHING (not even one, none, nobody, nothing) shall be impossible to you!"

Jesus said only one thing stopped Him from helping people—their unbelief.

Jesus said only one thing caused the disciples to fail—unbelief.

Hebrews 4:18-19 says it straight: "And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not. So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. . .the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard."

How Do I Believe — 4

We've looked briefly at what BELIEVE is not: now let's see what it is. If you're thinking, "Oh, I know what believe means—no need to look it up," please bear with me. This detail word study will really shed new light on the word. Believe is an absolute, and our believing must be absolute, too.

Webster - says believe comes from the Old English prefix be + allow . . . beThe prefix be- means: near on around over thoroughly excessively

+

allow = The word allow means: to place to approve to extol to assign as a share admit concede permit to be of the opinion think intend plan

believe to place near to approve thoroughly to extol over to assign as a share over admit thoroughly concede thoroughly permit around to be of the opinion on think excessively intend excessively plan on

If we "approve a scripture thoroughly, " we believe it. If we "assign a promise as a share over us," we believe it. If we "extol the Word over what we see," we believe the Word more than what we see. WOW! Match up some more combinations for yourself. What do you "permit around" you? That's what you believe.

The actual definition of believe in Webster reads: to have a firm religious faith; to have a firm conviction as to the reality or goodness of something; to take as true or honest; to hold as an opinion.

Hebrew - build up or support, foster as a parent, render firm or faithful, trust, be permanent or quiet.

Greek - to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to a person or thing), i.e., credit [Webster - implies assent on grounds other than direct proof, usually the known trustworthiness of the source of what is proposed for acceptance]; (by implication) entrust: [translated in KW] believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.

This Greek word comes from one other word before finally getting back to the root word; and combining all the ways these three words are translated in the King James Version, the list includes: agree assurance assure belief believe(-r) have confidence trust faith fidelity obey persuade make friend be (wax) confident yield The list of scripture references that goes with all these words is quite lengthy, but we'll only look at a few. [The words in parentheses ( ) are the literal Greek meaning of the word preceding the parentheses.]

Mk. 5:36 - Jesus said to Jairus, "Be not afraid, only believe...and straightway the damsel arose . . . " Mk. 16:16-20 - Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved . . and these signs (indications) will follow (follow near, attend as a result, trace out, conform to) them that believe. . .and they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with (be a fellow-worker) and confirming (stabilitate) the word with signs following (to accompany, follow after)." NOTE: The Lord is responsible for making sure the signs [healing, tongues, etc.] follow, but He's only promised that the signs will follow (1) His Word (2) that is preached (3) by a believer! If signs are not following, it's not His Word being preached and/or it's not a believer. The Lord does not co-operate with and firmly establish unbelief, doubt, tradition, or any other form of limitation! How does our church measure up? How does our life measure up? ["Ouch . . Hallelujah!"]

Lk. 8:10 - Jesus said this about the way-side-trodden-down heart that hears the Word, ". . then cometh the devil, and takes away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved."

Lk 8:33 - Jesus said this about the rocky-and-lacking-moisture-and-roots heart that hears the Word, "...when they hear, they receive the Word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation (put to proof, experience, adversity) fall away (remove, desist, desert, withdraw self)."

How Do I Believe — 5

Jn. 16:9 - Jesus said, "The Comforter . . . will reprove (convince) the world of sin . . . because they believe not on Me." Not murder, adultery, gossip—only unbelief.

Jn. 20:25-29 - Thomas said, "Except I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." Eight days later, Jesus said to Thomas, "Reach hither . . . behold . . . reach hither . . . thrust . . . and be not faithless (disbelieving, without faith, untrustworthy, incredible), but believing . . . Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

Rom. 15:13 - Now the God of hope (anticipate with pleasure, expectation, confidence) fill (make replete, cram, level up, satisfy, finish) you with all joy (calm delight) and peace in believing, that you may abound (superabound, be in excess) in hope through the power (force) of the Holy Ghost.

2 Cor. 4:13 - We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, "I believed and therefore have spoken. We also believe, and therefore speak." NOTE: It does not say, "We speak and therefore believe."

Heb. 11:6 - But without (at space, separately or apart from) faith (persuasion, credence) it is impossible (unable, i.e., weak, impossible) to please (gratify entirely) Him; for he that cometh (approach, come near, worship, assent to) to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder (remunerator [Webster - to pay an equivalent for, recompense]) of them that diligently seek (search out, investigate, crave, demand, worship) Him. There are many more scriptures, but we get the picture. Believe is 100%. Believing gets exactly what the Bible says it gets.

What about FAITH? Faith is the noun that comes from the verb believe.

Hebrews 11:1 says: Faith* is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen Hebrews 11:6 says: But without faith it is impossible to please Him for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

(persuasion, credence, conviction, reliance, constancy) ([from two words meaning under + stand] a setting under (support), essence, assurance) (deed, affair, object) ([from to anticipate with pleasure, expectation or confidence] to expect or confide) ([from confute, admonish] proof, conviction) (deed, affair, object) (not looked at).

(at space, separately or apart from) (persuasion, credence, conviction, reliance, constancy) (unable, weak, impossible) (gratify entirely): (approach, come hear, worship, assent to) (have faith, credit, entrust) (remunerator) (search out, investigate, crave, demand, worship)

*

Strong's Concordance and the Englishman's Creek Concordance do not give a Greek word for nowin Neb. 11:1, which means it is not in the original and, therefore, should be in italics in our Bibles.

F ATHER A LWAYS

[Webster - without exception

How Do I Believe — 6

I NFALLIBLY T AKES H OLD

not able to err, mislead, deceive, or disappoint]

Faith has gotten a bad reputation in our day. People have been going around saying scriptures and confessing the Word, but getting nothing because they aren't 100% Bible-believing. Parrots can be trained to say, "By His stripes I'm healed." Saying without believing is just parroting. People labeled "believers" are walking around in all degrees of the curse—sickness, disease, allergies, depression, stressed-out, etc. Would that look like "good news" to you if you were outside the "faith" and "Word churches" and desperately in need of the manifestation of the Word? No. We've got to get back to the Word.

If we've Bible-believed, we have it! We've received! We can't help but receive, because receiving is automatic and instantaneous the split moment [an even smaller amount of time than a split second] we believe.

And I don't mean we're speaking of things that are not as though they were. I mean, we literally have it.

Manifested-to-all evidence was always the result of faith in the Bible. No one was ever sent away and told to "believe and confess that you have (through the eye of your faith) what you're needing from God, and you'll eventually get it." Never! Hallelujah! Acts 4:16 is just one of many, many scriptures that birthed this statement.

Bible-faith becomes! It is—now—the substance and evidence that we believed, that our hope became belief!

What is this HOPE that we read in Hebrews 11:1 and Romans 15:13 and that's found throughout the Word? First, let's look at what hope is not. Joe says, "I believe you'll get that new job," and Phil answers, "I sure hope so." Phil really means, "Yeah, that would be nice, but I really don't expect it to come through."

That's what hope means in the world.

In "faith" and "Word" churches, we've heard for years that hope is always out there in the future; and if all you're doing is hoping, you'll never get it because faith is now—not some day soon. We've known hope was in the Bible, so we couldn't kick it out altogether; but we haven't studied it to learn what God's perspective about hope is.

In the Word of God, hope means to anticipate with pleasure, to expect, to be confident. Hope means to "see" it on the inside, to visualize how you'll look in it or with it. Hope means to get a "Word-picture" in your mind, to visualize, to imagine. These are really the meanings of meditate, too. The "dark side" got a hold of meditating and imagining before the Church did, and the Church has run from these Covenant principles--yea, even commands—of picturing with the eyes of the heart what the Word says is ours. Only when there's Bible-hope does faith have something to give substance to. Hope is our Word-picture. ... to anticipate with pleasure, to expect, to be confident . . . When we are looking forward to Christmas, to special vacation plans, to our wedding, to the birth of our baby—we have a picture on the inside, a dream, a hope. And then after Christmas or any other event that we've anticipated, we feel such a letdown because there's no more hope and nothing to anticipate.

How many times have we heard someone say to a grieving family member at the bedside of their very sick loved one, "Don't get your hopes up." What a trick of satan! Of course he doesn't want us to get our hopes up, because if we did, faith would have something to give substance to and to manifest!

For so many, many people (in the world and in the church), their only hope for their physical body is in doctors, medicine, chemotherapy, and surgery. No one has ever told them the straight and narrow truth about Jesus taking every sickness and every disease on His body and paying for every sickness and every disease in full. No one has ever told them that they don't ever have to be sick again—ever! They are without hope where healing the Word way is concerned, because they haven't heard. All they've heard about is the world's way, and that's where their hope is. They have the world's picture—not the Word's picture.

How Do I Believe — 7

Then there's another large group of people (most of them in the church, too) who keep thinking about Sister So-and-So who said she was believing and who everyone said had such great faith, and yet she died. They keep thinking about Sister So-and-So's funeral when the preacher said, "God must have had a reason. He must have needed her more in heaven. You never know what God's going to do. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away." If anyone in this large group of people would go to the Word and see what God says about it and would study Jesus' ministry and see what He did, they would realize the Bible says when we're believing 100%, we receive. If we don't receive, we weren't believing 100%.

It's so important to go back to the Word for ourselves, so that we don't believe traditions, limitations, and information contradictory to God's Word. If we don't get an answer from the Bible about what happened to Sister So-and-So, then the next time we need to believe and receive what God has promised, that nagging thought will keep bombarding us, "But what about Sister So-and-So? You know, she was believing, and she died, and she was a lot better Christian than you are. You better not try that faith stuff." Sound familiar? That's the whispering rumormonger who's roaming about seeking whom he may devour, and the only ones he can devour are the ones who don't know what their Covenant says and don't know Who is guaranteeing it.

Whenever the outcome of a matter looks like a faith-failure, don't settle for an explanation like, "You never know what God's going to do. His thoughts are above ours. After we get to heaven, we'll find out why He took her away from us. God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform." Beware! Deception always contains an element of truth. Throwing in the Isa. 55:8 scripture is part of the deception process.

Here's the truth: We always know what God's going to do. He's always going to do exactly what His Word says, because He's faithful—firm in adherence to His promises. No exceptions. That's why we can trust Him. "God moves in mysterious ways . . " is not in the Bible. There's nothing mysterious about Him and His ways when you have His Holy Spirit (see 1 Cor. 2:9-12).

Judge the matter by the Word—not by anyone's opinion, or experience, or deceitfully-handled scripturequoting. The Bible pattern is—if we believe the Word, we receive what the Word says. If we don't believe, we don't receive. The fault is ours—not God's—if we don't receive what the Word says. God is faithful to His Word. He cannot lie. It's not that He won't lie—He can't lie!

When we really see that tradition is the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction [Webster], then we recognize how many traditions are even in "faith" and "Word" churches. Jesus said, "Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition"—no results, no manifestations, just excuses. (Mt 15:6) During the centuries that have followed the early years of the Church, as people began to not 100%believe because they allowed doubt to creep in, they realized that they were not seeing the signs and wonders like the Bible said they should. They began to make excuses for their unbelief, like saying, "The miracles ended when the last apostle died;" like praying, "Heal me, if it be Your will;" like saying, "God uses doctors and medicine, too;" and even going so far as to say, "God made me sick to teach me something," and "God must have needed her more in heaven than her husband and four children needed her down here." The truth is: traditions are what we have created to excuse our own unbelief.

If we don't get rid of all these forms of limitation that are full of doubt, we will never be able to clearly "see" and firmly hold onto the Word-picture inside us—our hope. It's very possible to be quoting scriptures right and left—and still not have a clear Word-picture on the inside; and Hebrews 11:1 says faith gives substance to hope, not words.

A really good example of hope in the Bible is the woman with the issue of blood. When she began to hear about all the miracles Jesus was doing, a new "picture" began to develop, and she could see it clearly with the eyes of her heart. She could "see" herself touching the hem of His garment, and she could "see" herself instantly being made whole. She refused to "see" anything else! She refused to let anything or anyone steal her hope away or stop her from doing whatever it took to get to the hem of His garment. Jesus called that faith, and He said to her, "YOUR FAITH has made you whole! YOUR FAITH has given substance to what you hoped for! I know the Word-picture you had inside you, because it's the same picture I'm seeing now as I look at you—wholeness."

Hope means to get the Word-picture about what we need on the inside of us. Hope means to "see"

How Do I Believe — 8

ourselves with the full manifestation of what that Word-picture promises. Hope means to hold onto that Wordpicture by the power of the Holy Spirit in us. Then, hope becomes the anchor of our mind, will, and emotions; and that hope will keep us steady on the Word of our Covenant God. The gates of hell will not be able to prevail against us, and no weapon formed against us will be able to prosper. Our hope-anchor is sure and steadfast because it's guaranteed by the blood and oath of the New Covenant.

These promises reveal some of the many benefits of hope—of meditating on our Word-picture: Joshua 1:8 - This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalm 1:2-3 - But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Proverbs 4:20-23 - My son, attend to My words; incline thine ear unto My sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For, they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

Romans 15:4 - For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

H O P E

OLDING NTO ROMISED XPECTATION

What is TRUST? The Hebrew words mean to hasten for refuge, be confident or sure; a refuge, security, or assurance; and to flee for protection, to confide in.

The Greek words mean to convince, pacify or conciliate, assent, rely, to have faith, credit, entrust, to hope in advance of other confirmation; to expect or confide.

Webster defines trust as to place confidence, depend; to be confident, hope, to commit or place in one's care or keeping, entrust; to permit to stay or go or to do something without fear or misgiving; to rely on the truthfulness or accuracy of believe; trust implies assurance based on faith that another will not fail one.

As we read these definitions, we're thinking, "That' s what I've been longing for–someone that I can really trust without fear or misgiving no matter what; someone that I know will keep their word, even if it turns out to be to their own disadvantage; somewhere that I can feel absolutely safe and secure; someone that I can depend on 100%; someone that I know will always tell me the truth."

In order to demonstrate trust to the congregation, a preacher and his son did a skit one Sunday morning.

The boy was blindfolded and guided to the edge of the platform. His dad (the preacher) was standing about three feet below him on the floor of the auditorium. He said to his son, "Fall forward, and I will catch you—and put your hands in your pockets, please." Without a moment's hesitation, the boy obeyed, and his dad caught him.

They only did it one time in the skit The confident assurance (trust) that the son had in his dad was based on the many occasions over their years together when his dad had kept his word and had proven he could be trusted.

How Do I Believe — 9 But as I meditated on the skit, I wondered what would have happened if they did the same thing three times (fall, catch; fall, catch; fall, catch), but on the fourth time, his dad did not catch him? What would happen if the dad, after helping his son get back on his feet, bandaging any cuts or scrapes, and drying his tears, had asked his son to put the blindfold back on, put his hands in his pockets, and fall once again—"and this time, I promise, I'll catch you"—would the boy do it? Would you? No! The trust had been broken. That is why every time it looks like God didn't keep His Word, every time it looks like there was a faith-failure, and every time we don't get what we were "believing" for, we need to get in God's Word and in His face and find out what went wrong—with the confident assurance that it wasn't God that missed it, because He cannot lie and He cannot fail. Every time we hear tradition, limitation, and information contradictory to what God said and we accept it, that unbelief is diminishing and destroying by degrees our ability to trust God and His Word.

My sisters and I were so very, very blessed to have a wonderful Daddy who always kept his word, who always did what he said he would do (and never any of that, "I'm going to count to 10 and if you don't obey, I'll do what I said" stuff), and who never lied to us and never teased us. On the other hand, I have a friend whose father did what he said sometimes, tricked her sometimes, teased her sometimes, lied to her sometimes, and "failed to catch her" sometimes just so, he said, she'd learn never to trust anyone but always look out for herself.

The reliance on the truthfulness and accuracy of God's Word that Noah had, the commitment to place themselves in God's keeping that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had, the hope in advance of other confirmation that Abraham and Sarah had, the assurance to go without fear into the lions' den that Daniel had, the confidence and security in God that Joseph had, and many other examples of trust—are the results of understanding what a Blood Covenant is and believing it.

Webster says a covenant is a binding agreement. It's a permanent, perpetual, indissoluble, immutable, and unbreakable contract. Integrity is trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility, or pledge. So deviously integrity has been assaulted! Where is it today?

Everyone we've ever known, at some time has let us down and violated the trust we had in them. As a result, we approach every new contact or possible contract or relationship with the apprehension, "They may let me down, too; therefore, I won't put all my cards on the table, nor will I put all my eggs in this basket." That underlying distrust is even lurking in the shadows as we come to God regarding His Word to us. We've seen and heard of so many seeming “faith failures” (which is an oxymoron), and it's affected our ability to trust God. We need to set all that aside. Those were people. When we are talking about the Covenant, we're talking about God! This is not a man's word. This is the Covenant Word of Almighty God Himself! (Heb. 6:16-20 Amplified) In the Hebrew, covenant means cutting—a compact made by passing between pieces of flesh [made in and guaranteed by blood]. When God began to speak promises to Abram, Abram asked God to prove He'd keep His Word. God told him to get the animals, and Abram knew they were about to cut Covenant. (Gen. 15:8-18) In the Greek, covenant means transfer of property from one to another. When two people enter into a marriage covenant, each tells what they're giving to the other—their talents, abilities, assets, debts, perks, quirks—an equal exchange. The Greek word for this is suntheke meaning equal covenant.

But, if Rockefeller were walking down the street in New York City and saw a homeless beggar curled up in a doorway trying to stay warm, and if Rockefeller chose to enter into a covenant with him, he would say, "I want to give you full rights to my name, to my bank accounts, to my credit cards, to my homes, to my automobiles—to everything I have!" The homeless beggar has nothing to give except his pitiful rags and "thank you," if he chooses to accept Rockefeller's offer. The Greek word for this is diatheke meaning unequal covenant. God described this better Covenant (diatheke) that He would make with us in Hebrews 8:10-12.

Jesus said in 1 Cor.11:25 that He was making a New Covenant (diatheke) in His Blood, giving His ALL to us!

What a transfer of property from One to another! When we make Jesus our Lord, we enter into Covenant with God through Jesus, and we say, "All I have is Yours." God joyfully responds, "And all I have is yours."

Our thoughts must be reprogrammed to agree with God's thoughts regarding Covenant! His Word is sure and steadfast! He cannot lie—it's impossible! He cannot fail to keep His Word! We've got His life's BLOOD on it! The confidence that Covenant gives is the reason for all the miracles we read about in the Bible—the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. We have a binding agreement guaranteed by the blood of Jesus that has transferred all that He has to us. We are joint-heirs. Only joint-heirs can really believe and sing, "Trust and

How Do I Believe — 10

obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey."

T HOROUGHLY R EST U PON S URE T RUTH

[Webster - completely in all aspects to place on or against, lean

firmly established Word of God]

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!

It is so important to get a clear Word-picture of everything we have inherited because of the Blood Covenant redemption Jesus purchased for us.

Freedom from captivity to sin and the curse of sin (which, for starters, includes every sickness and every disease!) is already ours because our ransom has been paid in full and signed-off in blood!

It is already "on deposit" in our account!

It is our inheritance now— not something to be prayed about, wished for, looked forward to some day, some how, if we're holy enough.

And it's so important that this Word-picture clearly shows, "My redemption-inheritance is mine now.

Jesus paid for it in full—nothing else is owed.

My Blood Covenant inheritance includes being saved, delivered, protected, healed, preserved, prospered, and made whole.

I'm an heir, and wholeness is mine because of Jesus!

The moment I Bible-believe this 100%, it will instantly be manifested."

In matters regarding relationships, circumstances on-the-job, choosing a marriage partner, etc., we are to go to God's Word and get a Word-picture inside us. For example, Ephesians 5:21-33 is a hope-filled Wordpicture for marriage relationships, because it describes what the Maker of marriage has in His heart. And like the woman who had the issue of blood, we are to "see" ourselves being the wife (or husband) that these verses describe, and we are to "see" ourselves being made one with our spouse. We have to refuse to "see" anything

How Do I Believe —11

anything else! We have to refuse to let anything or anyone steal our hope away or stop us from doing whatever it takes to receive the full manifestation of a covenant marriage that demonstrates the relationship of Jesus and His Church. The moment we get the Word-picture inside us, the process begins as faith goes into action to give substance to our hope.

The distinction to see here is that there is no process when it comes to receiving our Blood Covenant redemption-inheritance. We don't have to "speak of things that are not as though they were" when it comes to our inheritance. It is ours already, and it will manifest the moment we believe—Bible-believe 100%. Hope is "seeing" it as our inheritance that's already legally ours. In the past, our lack of hope and our doubting unbelief have prevented it from becoming experientially ours—but those days are over.

We've taken a closer look at doubt, unbelief, believe, faith, hope, and trust; so now let's step back a little and get the big picture. Just how does all of this fit together to answer, "How do I believe?"

We've had the Word. We've believed for all we were worth—I mean, we didn't know how we could have faith any purer. I've felt so frustrated when there were still no results! Have you felt that way, too? But the two things we've been lacking in are: (1) HOPE—Bible-hope! Meditating day and night! "Seeing" us in it and it in us!

(2) Refusing all DOUBT—not even a smidgen left!

Here's how God planned it – (1)

God reveals His Word on the subject at hand, e.g., healing (WORD)

(2)

We get the "picture" of how that Word-healing will look manifested in us (HOPE)

(3)

We believe God is Who He says He is and that He'll do what He said (FAITH) because the Blood Covenant guarantees He will (TRUST)

(4)

We refuse to be separated thoroughly by looking at any other picture (DOUBT) but we hold fast to the "previews of coming attractions" in our Word-picture (HOPE)

(5)

This 100% BELIEVING hooks up with God's power and substance is given to the Word-picture in us. Seen-by-all healing is manifested! Now! Forthwith! Straightway! Immediately!

It's the pattern throughout the Bible! This isn't a long-time-coming, hang-in-there thing! That's not the Bible pattern, but rather, immediately, suddenly, and straightway, especially where our Blood Covenant inheritance is concerned. And, if we could see it all from the spiritual perspective, we'd realize that's how and when we've received everything that we've ever received from God. It's looked like it took a long time to receive because it took us a long time to get a clear Word-picture and to get rid of all doubt, but that was because we weren't getting pure, non-tradition, non-limitation, and non-"Plan-B" teaching.

Saying the Word but "picturing" something else with the eyes of our heart (in our thoughts) is not believing. Also, expecting the manifestation "some day" when what we need is already in our inheritance (which is already on deposit in our redemption account) is not believing. It's a law—we receive according to our faith (Word results), or according to our unbelief (world results).

We receive whosoever' s report we believe. It's our choice. Those that are diligently seeking Him have the Word-picture inside, and they know—Blood Covenant confidence KNOW—that He is firm in adherence to His promises. God calls it FAITH ! <<<<< Blood Covenant confidence paints the hope-picture and guarantees its manifestation. >>>>>

How Do I Believe — 12 In the parable of the sower . . . the "wayside" never painted the Word-picture, the "rocky" allowed doubt to erase the picture, the "thorny" allowed doubt to choke out the picture, but the "good" held fast to the picture and received the manifestation of the Word-seed!

When we meditate in the Word day and night and diligently refuse all doubt—every thought, habit, assumption, tradition, symptom, and/or fear that limits or contradicts God's Word by superseding every thought, habit, assumption, tradition, symptom, fear, and any other limitation with the Word of our Covenant Father, then Bible-believing-faith is what is left! The manifested Word is what we have! Our God said so! "If you believe and doubt not . . . " If we'll do our part, He's covenanted in blood to do His part! "ALL things are possible to him that believeth." No asterisk and no exceptions. ALL means ALL As we stay in God's presence and as we listen and hearken to the voice of the Holy Spirit of Truth—and nothing else and no one else, we will believe and doubt not. That is giving our undivided attention to His words, inclining our heart-ear unto His sayings, letting them not depart from our eyes, and keeping them in the midst of our heart with all diligence. Our words will be good because they're coming out of the good treasure of a good heart filled with the Good News. (Prov. 4:20-24) What is the result of such radical fanaticism? We receive life and health to all our flesh . . and give it to all . . and teach them, too . . . so they can give it and teach it to all!

If we'll give our undivided attention to God's Word and judge Him firm in adherence to His promises, we'll "see" ourselves ministering right alongside Jesus and saying, "Me, too! That's mine, too! I can do that, too!" Joint-heir means joint-heir! We'll see ourselves being able to minister to every kind of person, no matter what their background is! See ourselves cleansing the lepers, the TB and the AIDS patients! See ourselves raising the dead—even the cremated! See ourselves healing every sickness and every disease! See ourselves emptying hospitals, nursing homes, asylums, and funeral homes! See ourselves stopping tornadoes and hurricanes! See ourselves multiplying food! See ourselves doing everything else Jesus did and that needs to be done to free people from captivity because Jesus has paid the ransom! It is finished!

But first . . . we have to "see" it and "see" us doing what He said, so faith will have something to give substance to!

What do we get when we doubt?

What do we get when we believe?

NOTHING. THE WORD MANIFESTED!

C'mon!

Let's do what we know to do!

The Foundation of All Jesus' Parables The parable of the soils It's usually referred to as "the parable of the sower" —but it's the SOIL that makes the difference...there's nothing that changes in the SOWER or the SEED. It's found in Matthew 13:3-23, Mark 4:3-20, and Luke 8:5-15. Each account adds more information to complete the total picture.

Have you ever thought about the fact that good soil doesn't get that way automatically...nor does it stay that way automatically? There are always birds flying around just waiting to snatch a seed away before it can get into the dirt and begin to do its thing. Rocks seem to have a way of multiplying and turning up just where you don't want them to. We all know how prevalent weeds are—why, they grow quicker that the good stuff... if they're not pulled up by the roots! Farming and gardening are 24/7/366 occupations.

Jesus said this parable is the "foundation" of all other parables—"Know ye not this parable? And how then will ye know all parables?" (Luke 4:13) So, it behooves us to really grasp what He was saying. It's so practical... yet, so profound.

It should be taught to every new Christian so they aren't deluded into thinking everything's just going to be hunky-dory now that they're "saved." No way!

When the WORD of God is heard, one of four things happens to it: 1.

Falls by way side soil—hard soil [hard-hearted, stiff-necked], trodden down [not valued]. This person hears the Word but doesn't understand it, and the wicked one swoops down and takes it away so he won't believe and be saved. [Wow! Jesus tells it plainly... that's the power of the Word—to believe and be made whole (no matter the subject)!] [Abram's only responsibility when the covenant was being entered into between God and himself...was to "keep the birds away" from the split-open animals.]

2.

Falls upon rocky soil—no depth of soil, scortched by the heat, no root, lacked moisture, withered away. This person hears the Word and receives it with joy; but because he has no root in himself, he endures/believes for a while... but when tribulation/affliction/persecution [pressure] arises because of the Word, by and by he is offended...falls away.

3.

Falls among thorns/weeds—heard, went forth, got choked, and yielded no fruit.

This person hears the Word, but he allows the Word to get choked by the care of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and lusts [pressure to disobey the Word of God] of 1

other things. The thorns/weeds are allowed to enter in and grow. They choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful... that is, he brings no fruit to perfection [maturity].

4.

Falls into good ground—sprang up, increased, brought forth. This person hears the Word, understands it, and in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keeps it, and increases... and bears fruit—x30-, x60-, x100-fold.

Notice—in the good ground, the soil it identified as being the heart. This person  has kept his heart soft/supple/pliable/contrite and has kept the enemy away o by casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and o by bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:4);  has moved every rock [that would cause offense] off-site, has kept the soil deep for good roots, and has made sure the ground is regularly watered by the water of the Word;  has pulled out every thorn/weed when it first rears up its ugly head—never giving a choking symptom a second chance;  has jealously guarded and protected the Word ["keeps it"] and refuses to allow it to be watered down or a "Plan B" to be settled for.

That's why he brings forth full-term fruit—and the different percentages may be referring to "according to your faith, so be it unto you."

As I look at this parable and remember times when I didn't bring forth fruit, I can easily pinpoint which soil my heart was and where I blew it. "Father, I acknowledge what I did, and I know You've already forgiven me in Jesus at Calvary. Now, I believe You to be my strength and warn me by Your Spirit so that I do not snag my pants twice on that nail. Thank You." Peter— Luke 22:31-32 – And the Lord said...

"Simon, Simon, behold, satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted (changed your mind and direction], strengthen thy brethren."

This is so very encouraging to me. Jesus KNEW what Peter was going to be tempted with, KNEW the choice he would make [Peter's heart was "rocky" soil], KNEW how convicted he would be and didn't want him to throw in the towel... but Jesus also

2

KNEW the plan He and Father had for Peter's life... and He said to Peter what He says to all of us...

The enemy is going to try to sift you like wheat, and you're going to stumble and fall into his trap.

BUT . . .

I have prayed for you so that you won't jump ship and drown.

When you get back online [Notice: I didn't say if, I said when... because I know your heart—the real you], you'll be able to strengthen those around you— yes, the same ones who know what you did... but they will also see what My love and power can do to change a man.

You will still fulfill what I have planned for you from before the foundation of the world.

You're mine...and always will be.

I love you.

God doesn't love us any less when we stumble, anymore than we love our children any less when they don't do what we have instructed them to do. We want everything to be right again... so our fellowship is restored.

God sends laborers across our path (people to speak truth to us, He brings scriptures to our remembrance, He whispers to us, etc.), shows us how to get back online, and strengthens us to do it. He doesn't want us bombarded and tormented with condemnation and all the other vulture-like varmints that hound us when we're entrapped. He wants us to walk in victory and in fellowship with Him, face to face. Stumbling doesn't affect our relationship, but we allow it to affect our fellowship... because we feel condemned and want to run from God—when what we need to do is run to Him for help. He loves us unconditionally—no strings attached, no matter what.

Keep on listening, Keep on shining . . . and Do what you know to do.

3

Jesus and the Mustard Seed The mustard seed is known for two main characteristics â&#x20AC;&#x201D;its rapid growth pattern and its purity; and Jesus used the mustard seed to teach two of His favorite subjects â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the kingdom of heaven and faith.

The references comparing the mustard seed and the kingdom of heaven are found in Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:30-32, and Luke 13:18-19. Jesus used terms like least of all and less than all the seeds to describe the mustard seed's minute size as a seed, even as the Church would begin with just one person, Jesus. Then Jesus emphasized the mustard seed's growth and strength potential, even as the Church was designed to grow into a very large and very strong Body of believers worldwide.

But Jesus went into far more detail as He compared the mustard seed and faith in Matthew 17:20 and Luke 17:6. He had been teaching His disciples about forgiveness, and they said, "Increase our faith." Jesus' answer revealed that it's not a matter of the quantity of faith you have, but rather the quality of that faith: "And the Lord said, If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you" (Luke 17:6).

On another occasion, the disciples had not been able to cast the (epileptic) demon out of the young man, and they asked Jesus, "Why?" "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you" (Matthew 17:20).

Webster's Dictionary says hybrid means an offspring of two (animals, plants, races, breeds, varieties, species, kinds). The mustard seed is NOT hybrid. Even if we didn't know this botanical fact, the Bible spells it out in black and white...actually, it's in red and white.

Jesus taught the same truth about faith in Matthew 21:21 that He had taught in Matthew 17:20 (above). The setting is when Jesus spoke to the fig tree, it withered away, and the disciples marveled.

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If you have faith, and doubt not, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if you shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done" (Matthew 21:21).

Jesus and the Mustard Seed, 1

Let's compare the key components of Matthew 17:20 and Matthew 21:21 — Reference Matthew 17:20

Condition If you had faith

Quality of faith as a grain of mustard seed,

Matthew 21:21

If you have faith

and doubt not,

Action Result you might say, and it should “Be planted in the obey you. sea,” if you say, “Be it shall be done. cast into the sea,”

Yes, one is about a tree, and one is about a mountain; but the condition (if you had faith), the action (you would say) and the result (it happens) are the same! The specific quality of faith (as a grain of mustard seed—that is, UNMIXED) is clearly defined by "and doubt not." The faith that is needed is PURE faith—NOT mixed with doubt, unbelief, memories of past failures, what my five physical senses are telling me, or any "what ifs" —all of that is FEAR. The Bible says, "God has dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12:3); so it's not the quantity of faith that's important, since we all have the same quantity. The Bible also says we have "the faith of Jesus" (Galatians 2:16, 20). As joint -heirs with Jesus, we have the same measure He had and has—"the measure." That means we have tree -uprooting, mountain-moving, leper-cleansing, storm-stopping, dead-raising, food-multiplying, demoncleansing, prodigal-restoring, and world-changing FAITH in us right now! All we have to do is believe that and refuse all doubt and unbelief to the contrary!

Let's look at the other terms in the Bible tha t describe faith and that have been wrongly interpreted as referring to quantity. In the Matthew 14:31 account, Jesus reached out to rescue Peter from sinking and preached a nine-word sermon, saying, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Jesus was saying, "Yes, you had faith. You walked on water!

But your faith did not endure. It was short -lived when the opposition rose up. Why did you have two minds (the literal meaning of doubt)?" (Sounds like hybrid, doesn't it?)

In Matthew 8:10, when the centurion recognized that it was Jesus' words that healed, Jesus said He had not found so great faith, no, not in Israel! He was referring to the depth of revelation that had spoken, "Just speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed."

Finally, let's look at Abraham and Sarah and two more words that are used to describe faith in the Bible—strong and weak. I've heard preachers say Abram and Sarai

Jesus and the Mustard Seed, 2

walked in "strong faith" for 25 years before the promise came to pass (Genesis 12:1 21:5). But that just didn't set right in my spirit, because many people don't have 25 years to "believe and confess," so I did a verse-by-verse study of the Bible time-calendar and discovered they didn't start living in Romans 4:19-22 and Hebrews 11:11 FAITH until about nine months before Isaac was born! Check it out for yourself...

"The promise" was given when they were 75 (Genesis 12:4) and 65 (Genesis 17:17); and their names were changed when they were 99 (Genesis 17:5) and 89 (Genesis 17:15), when the Lord appeared to them face-to-face and even told them, "Sarah shall bear a son unto thee at this set time in the next year" (Genesis 17:21). It was after this encounter that Abraham turned Sarah over to King Abimelech for his harem (Genesis 20:3 -18)! DUH! The "in the next year" clock is ticking! Sarah was there long enough for the King of Gerar to realize that no one in his household was conceiving. But God... stepped in and got her out of there. So, you see, Romans 4:19 -22 and Hebrews 11:11 FAITH didn't manifest until about nine months before "it came to pass" in Genesis 21:2! Now that sounds like "good news!"

Romans 4:19-22 says STRONG (that is, not weak) FAITH: #1 considers not the physical, natural, or visible means of fulfilling "the promise"; #2 staggers not (same word as doubt in Matthew 14:31 and wavereth in James 1:6) at the promise of God through unbelief; #3 give s glor y t o G od ; and is #4 fully persuaded (completely assured) that GOD IS FAITHFUL—that He does what He says...that He is able to bring to pass what He said!

We can learn both what TO DO and what NOT TO DO from the heroes in Hebrews 11, but we must always remember that it is "the faith of Jesus" that we have inher ited and nothing less. It is our responsibility to do Hebrews 5:14 —exercise (practice, train) our faith so that it will be strong and not atrophy like an unused muscle.

We have JESUS' FAITH in us, and He's proven it works! We have the same measure He had, and we have the same Holy Spirit in us that Jesus had (Romans 8:11). Now it is up to us to refuse all Plan B's, all unbelief, all fear, all doubt, all distractions, and all weapons formed against that faith.

Jesus' exhortations are still the same:  Have faith and doubt not (Matthew 21:21)  Be not afraid, only believe (Mark 5:36)  Doubt not in your heart, but believe (Mark 11:23)  Fear not; believe only (Luke 8:50) Jesus and the Mustard Seed, 3

What are the "mountains" in your life? Just picture a sea stretching out before you .

Speak to those mountains and see those "mountains" being cast into that sea! Those "deep rooted trees" aren't too hard for God, either. Put the sharp, two -edged sword of the Word to the roots and send them to-sea, proclaiming, "No more fruit from you forever!"

Regarding the Kingdom . . . you will notice the growth and size;

but as for FAITH . . . you will recognize the results!

(Matthew 21:22)

Jesus and the Mustard Seed, 4

"All things are possible — to him that believeth!"

In Mark 9: 14-16 And when He [Jesus] came to His disciples, He saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld Him, were greatly amazed, and running to Him saluted Him. And He asked the scribes, "What question ye with them?"

17-18 And one of the multitude answered and said, "Master, I have brought unto Thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to Thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not."

19-22 He answereth him, and saith, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto Me." And they brought him unto Him: and when he saw Him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And He asked his father, "How long is it ago since this came unto him?" And he said, "Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if Thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us."

23-24 Jesus said unto him, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief."

25-27 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, "Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him."

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

28-29 And when He was come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could not we cast him out?" And He said unto them, "This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."

Because Jesus' disciples had failed to set the boy free, the scribes were questioning them. The original Greek for questioning is interesting in light of things that are happening in the Church today. It means to investigate jointly, i.e., discuss; to dispute or oppose by reasoning, to deny, to contradict, to engage in controversy; to raise trivial and frivolous objection: [translated in KJV] dispute (with), enquire, question (with), reason (together).

The father of the child . .  knew it was a spirit that was tormenting his son  knew when it "came" on his son  knew what it did to his child  knew he and his son needed compassion and help  knew some things about Jesus and His disciples  knew His disciples could not cast it out When the man told Jesus that His disciples had failed to set his son free, Jesus exclaimed, "What a generation! No sense of God! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here." (v. 19 in The Message Bible) Jesus said they were disbelieving and without faith. What is He saying about us today?

The father of the child . . .  did not know Jesus—not really

All things are possible - 2

  

was not believing—not 100% Bible-believing knew far more about the foul spirit in his son than he knew about Jesus and the Holy Spirit in Him would have said (if he had been asked before Jesus spoke to him), "O, yes, I'm believing."

The father of the child said to Jesus, "If Thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us." He had specifically asked the disciples to "cast him out"—now he's willing to settle for "help."

Jesus said, "If thou canst believe . . . It's not a matter of 'If I can' because the Father-that-dwelleth-inMe does the work, and He can. What is done for your son (who can't believe for himself because he's being totally controlled by an evil spirit*) depends on your believing—l00%—because all things are possible to him that believeth.

"This is possible for Me to do, because it's the Father-that-dwelleth-in-Me that does it, and there's nothing too hard or impossible for Him—the I AM. But it is not possible for you to receive all things if there is unbelief, that is, if you're not believing and I mean 100%.

"I can do it, and I will do it—but you can't and won't receive it unless you believe—just like those folks at Capernaum ... I wanted to and I could, but their unbelief prevented their receiving, so nothing happened (except that I healed the very few who did believe). Just because all things are possible for Me to do, does not mean all things are possible for you to receive. To take hold of what's coming to you, you have to believe because all things are possible to him that believeth. You have to believe.

"You've spoken what you have confidence in. It started with asking My disciples to cast the spirit out.

Then you told Me of your confidence in the foul spirit's power. Finally, you doubted My power and said, 'If Thou canst do any thing, have a heart and help us out here.'

"If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

"Conversely, if thou canst not believe, all things are not possible to him that unbelieveth."

The father of the child straightway saw his own heart and was not too full of pride to admit it; and he cried out, "Lord, I entitle You Lord over this situation—me, my son, and that puny spirit! Lord, I believe with all that I can. I'm also aware that there's still unbelief in me, so I make You Lord over that, too. Help Thou mine unbelief.” Immediately, all things became possible and manifested ... to him that believed!

When the disciples questioned Jesus about why He could do what they could not do, He said, "I have been giving My undivided attention to My Father and to His Word, inclining My ear to His sayings, keeping His words before My eyes so that I have His point of view on every situation, keeping His written and spoken words in My heart, and guarding My heart with all diligence. I've set a watch over My mouth and eyes, and I only go where My Father leads Me. I deny My own needs and desires—like sleeping and eating—and spend time in Father's presence whenever I know He's nudging Me to come aside. That is why I do only what I see Him do, speak only what I hear Him say, and make every decision based on what He wills. I know it's the Father-thatdwelleth-in-Me that does the work. I believe My Father is the I AM, and I believe He is the Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Friends, I've just described for you the fasted life that is necessary to reign in life and to destroy all the works of the devil."

Believing is the key. That's the most noticeable characteristic about children—they're so trusting.

They believe what they are told, because they know their daddy and mother love them. Unbelief, doubt, distrust, and fear never enter a child's mind or heart until someone does not keep their word to the child and, therefore, breaks their trust. * The pattern in Jesus' ministry was: If the sick one is in their right mind, he or she has to believe. If the sick one is a baby, or is insane, unconscious, or dead, then someone else has to believe for them. Believing is the key—not determining who is responsible for the one needing healing.

All things are possible - 3

We are to be like children and take our Father at His Word. My favorite picture of childlike faith is a little boy jumping off a four-foot retaining wall into his daddy's arms. The child doesn't look for a branch to grab nor does he look down at the ground to see what he'll hit if his daddy doesn't catch him, because he trusts his daddy and knows he will catch him. That's why he jumps!

I am reminded of the ministry of John G. Lake in the early part of the 20th Century. His ministry included Healing Rooms in Spokane, Washington, and the only people he would accept were those that the medical profession had given up on. John Lake and his staff prayed for the people and taught them what God said in His Word about their physical body. Bringing them to the Healing Rooms removed them from the fear and unbelief of their usual surroundings. Since medical science had given up on them, the people no longer had a "Plan B" to fall back on; therefore, they put their 100% confidence in God and His Word. They believed and that's why they received what God promised in His Word—wholeness. No one ever died, and every one was healed within a few days or a few weeks at the most, and went home whole. The list of their diseases and afflictions is astounding, and you can read about it in John G. Lake, His Life, His Sermons, His Boldness of Faith.

Something like water, or gold, or silver doesn't become pure by trying to be pure, but it becomes pure when all the impurities are removed. That's how believing happens—not by trying to believe, but by removing everything and everyone else we could possibly fall back on—the unbelief. When all unbelief is gone, there's nothing left but belief.

Jesus said, "Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." God's refining fire is not tests and trials, but it is the revelation the Spirit of Truth brings that rids us of the dross of unbelief— everything that denies, refutes, contradicts, limits, and tries to assist the Word. Jesus went on to say, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. When all you have in you is My Word, you have pure faith—sick-healing, leper-cleansing, captive-freeing, stormstopping, dead-raising faith. The only condition is: abiding in Me and My words abiding in you [not what everybody else says]." (Jn. 15:3, 7) It really comes down to me and God, and only the two of us know if I'm really believing 100% or if there's still a "Plan B" simmering on the back burner. It's what we believe—not what we say that matters; because we can be saying all the right things and quoting scriptures like a parrot, but still be riddled by fear and unbelief. If there's unbelief, we must surrender that to Him, too.

We can trust Him Who loved us enough to take the punishment for our sin and our curse (which includes every sickness and every disease)—loved us enough to die for us. No one else has ever loved us like that, or ever will. God is firm in adherence to His promises. He'll do exactly what He said when we believe Him and jump like a child into His arms. Jesus Unfailingly Manifests Promises--JUMP! These words are in red in the Bible because Jesus said them:

"Ail things are possible to him that believeth."

All means ALL! Possible means POSSIBLE! Believe means 100% BIBLE-BELIEVE!

All things are possible - 4

GOOD NEWS: There is no asterisk on all with a footnote at the bottom of the page in the Bible that says "except for cancer," or "except for rebellious teenagers," or "except when you've had a dysfunctional family," or "except for maladies of long continuance," etc.! All means all, any, every, as many as, whatsoever, whosoever. All Limitation Liftedâ&#x20AC;Ś A L L !

Jesus is saying these same words to us today

"If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."

BELIEVING . . .

TRANSFERS THE SPIRITUAL INTO THE PHYSICAL

Webster defines absolute as free from imperfection, perfect; free from mixture, pure; having no restriction, exception, or qualification.

Just to show how much we have watered-down our understanding of absolutes, we've all heard people say: almost all, totally trust, 99.44% pure, nearly perfect, really believe, completely confident, whole truth, half-truth, half-dead, semi-free, "white" lie, just a "little" sin—when in fact, the italicized words are actually absolutes.

In the Bible . . . and in this teaching . . . believe is absolute—free from imperfection, perfect; and free from mixture, pure; having no restriction, exception, or qualification.

Believing becomes pure

when we let the Word remove the unbelief (impurities) and when we choose to commit to God and His Word ... and nothing else.

THE SUBJECT AT HAND — HEALING FOR OUR PHYSICAL BODY

What are the promises in the Bible regarding healing—not what others have said were healing promises, but what the Bible says are healing promises? And, how do we get the Word which is spiritual (John 6:63) to change our bodies which are physical?

Psalm. 107:20 - "He sent His Word [spiritual] and healed them [physical]." The only way to get the spiritual into the physical is to BELIEVE! The moment we do . . . it does.

Matthew 10:7-8 - Jesus said, ". . . and as ye go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."

We have no record of the disciples ministering healing to each other, nor of Jesus ministering healing to the disciples. Also, there is no mention of their telling anyone to go to a doctor, which were available in the Old Covenant (2 Chr. 16:12) and in the New Covenant (Lk.8:43). God has always been our Physician—He said so in Exo. 15:26—Jehovah Rophe.

Mark 16:17-18 - Jesus said, "They that BELIEVE [spiritual] will lay hands on the sick [physical], and they shall have themselves well [literal Greek]." The sick wouldn't be sick if they were BELIEVING—born-again or not. The answer? BELIEVE. Romans 8:11 - "But if the Spirit [spiritual] of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you [your

spirit], He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies [physical] by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." How does the God-quickening get from the spirit realm to our mortal body in the physical realm? By our BELIEVING what the Word promises in this verse. We don't have to know how—but we are told to believe in Him Who knows how. It's ongoing! No other person is involved—just me, the Spirit of Truth, and the Blood Covenant.

1 Corinthians 11:23-30 - Paul writes, "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you,

That the Lord Jesus the night in which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake, and said, 'Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.' After the same manner also the cup, when He had supped, saying, 'This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink, in remembrance of Me.' For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily [irreverently—not honoring, respecting, paying attention to, i.e., not recognizing the worth of], shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily [irreverently—not honoring, respecting, paying attention to, i.e., not recognizing the worth of], eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep."

Jesus Himself established the Covenant Meal [physical] as our means of receiving the physical healing He provided for us when He cut the Blood Covenant at the cross [spiritual]. But . . . if we don't BELIEVE [discern—honor, respect, pay attention to, i.e., recognize the worth of] all that Calvary accomplished, we'll be sick and die early.

Only BELIEVING the Blood Covenant will convey the provisions [spiritual] it guarantees into our body [physical]. The Covenant Meal is the only thing that should be in our "medicine cabinet." Selah.

James 5:14-15 - "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray

over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."

The sick (whether born-again or not, but supposedly born-again because they're in the church and they) call for their BELIEVING elders to get them back on the "front burner." Notice it says, "Is there any sick among you?"

In today's churches, it would have to be said, "Is there any not sick among you?" This shows again how very important it is to be in a BELIEVING church!!! Where is one??? All the church leaders I know are quicker to pray for successful surgery than they are to preach and BELIEVE the pure, sign-producing Word of God.

1 Peter 2:24 [Isa. 53:4-5; Mt. 8:16-17] - "Who His own self bare our sins [spiritual] [and their

consequences, i.e., the curses [physical] onto His own body [physical] to the cross to (1) cut Covenant as He died to pay the demanded price for sins [spiritual death] and (2) pay for the consequences/curses [physical, mental, and every other kind of weapon that can be formed against us] so that we'd be dead to the power of sins [spiritually and their physical consequences, which means, dead to sickness. Can sickness be put on a dead person? Could leprosy be spread to a corpse?] and alive to right-standing."

By the price He paid in taking the stripes they laid, He purchased our healing. How do we transmit what He did in the spiritual and physical into our spiritual and physical realms? We've always known BELIEVING was the only way to appropriate the being-born-again part, and BELIEVING is the only way to transfer the healed-and-whole part, too. The same sacrifice purchased both of them.

Jesus' entire ministry is a picture of transferring the spiritual into the physical. He came to "destroy the works of the devil" (1 Jn. 3:8), and He did it (Mt. 28:18; Lk. 10:19; Col. 2:15; Rev. 1:18)—"healing all that were oppressed of the devil" (Acts 10:38).

IF the manifestation of BELIEVING (which is wholeness) isn't happening, then we are to call for a BELIEVER to come-along-beside-together-with-against! A BELIEVER is one who has no "Plan B" simmering on the back burner—but for that one, it's "only God and only His Word!" The sick one has to have their confidence 100% in this Word-method of healing, too . . . which is BELIEVING for all they're worth and crying out, "Help thou mine unbelief that I obviously still have 'cause I'm not whole . . . yet!"

The early Church in the book of Acts BELIEVED in the name of Jesus and conveyed the spiritual into the physical—sometimes by touching, praying, anointing with oil, applying a prayer cloth, or speaking . . . but always by BELIEVING. How do we know they were BELIEVING? Because they got immediate results, and the Bible says when we BELIEVE, we receive (Mt. 21:21). If we're not receiving, we're not BELIEVlNG— according to the Bible. That's straight and narrow, and it's high time we get back to it!

SPIRITUAL PROMISE + BELIEVING = PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION Noah had no "Plan B" The Hebrews on Passover night vs. the messenger of death had no "Plan B" Moses at the Red Sea had no "Plan B" Elijah vs. the priests of Baal had no "Plan B" Daniel in the lions' den had no "Plan B" Shad, Shack, and Obed in the fiery furnace had no "Plan B" The Hebrews at the walls of Jericho had no "Plan B" Jehoshaphat vs. the great multitude of enemies had no "Plan B" David in front of Goliath had no "Plan B" Naaman had no "Plan B" The Shunammite woman had no "Plan B" Ezra needing protection from thieves had no "Plan B" Jesus in the wilderness had no "Plan B" Bartimaeus had no "Plan B" Jairus had no "Plan B" The lepers had no "Plan B" The woman with the issue of blood no longer had a "Plan B" The Syrophenician woman had no "Plan B" The centurion had no "Plan B" The paralyzed man and his four friends had no "Plan B" Jesus at Lazarus' tomb had no "Plan B" Jesus vs. the raging storm had no "Plan B" The blind, deaf, mute, feverish, and demon-tormented who came to Jesus had no "Plan B" The withered, paralyzed, and impotent who came to Jesus had no "Plan B" Jesus in the garden, on the cross, in the grave, and in hell— had no "Plan B" Peter and John at the Beautiful Gate had no "Plan B" Peter in prison had no "Plan B" Peter ministering to the 8-years-paralyzed Aeneas had no "Plan B" Peter raising Dorcas from the dead had no "Plan B" Paul beholding the crippled-from-birth man at Lystra had no "Plan B" Paul setting free the soothsayer had no "Plan B" Paul raising Eutychus from the dead had no "Plan B" Paul when bitten by the deadly viper had no "Plan B" Paul curing Publius of dysentery had no "Plan B"

E very

miracle in the

B ible

is the result of

BELIEVING!

FAITH is believing GOD is and

He does what He says.

FAITH is firm in adherence to promises.

GOD, Who is faithful*, is firm in adherence to promises; and we are to be like

Him.

* Webster's definition of faithfulâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;firm in adherence to promises.

The Fear of the Lord...

The reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord

leads to LIFE,

and

he who has it shall REST SATISFIED

he canNOT be visited

with evil!

Proverbs 19:23 Amplified

[also read Job 5:19; Prov. 12:13; Isa. 46:4; Jer. 1:8; Dan. 6:27; Psa. 91:3; 2 Tim. 4:18]

And He Did It Like He Said It The Lord told Noah, "Build an ark; make sure it's watertight, and I will make the rain to rain for forty days and nights; and ev'ry living thing will die that's not inside with you. then I'll give you My Covenant, signed with My rainbow's hue."

Genesis 6:8 – 9:17

And He did it like He said it —ev'ry word, ev'ry line, not a minute late or early, but exactly right on time!

The Lord told Moses what to do—"By faith lift up your rod, and I'll divide the sea by wind; you'll go across dry shod; but when ol' Pharoah tries to cross with horses and char'ots, too, they'll drown; and I'll be glorified as I take care of you."

Exodus 14:13-31

And He did it like He said it —ev'ry word, ev'ry line, not a minute late or early, but exactly right on time!

And Jesus told His followers, "I will be crucified, but after three days rise again, just as was prophesied."

They all forgot—no one believed! They said, "He's dead and gone."

They came to finish bury'ng Him, not knowing Life had won!

Luke 24:1-8 Psalm 16:10 Romans 3:3-4

But He did it like He said it --ev'ry word, ev'ry line, not a minute late or early, but exactly right on time!

Today, if you delight in Him, and His words abide in you, what you desire, that is His will, and He says, "You'll have it, too!

Just trust Me by your childlike faith. I've heard your earnest cry.

I'll do precisely what I've said, and you will testify . . ."

Psalm 37:4 John 15:7 Hebrews 10:35-36

My God did it like He said it—ev'ry word, ev'ry line, not a minute late or early, but exactly right on time!

Noah's Rainbow ... ) Israel's Rescue ... ) Isaiah 46:9-11, Romans 15:4 Jesus' Resurrection )

Isaiah 55:11 Joshua 1:45 Isaiah 66:9 Habakkuk 2:3

© 06/12/06. Written down by Carolyn Vardell 08/23/77. Scribe hereby gives her permission for it to be freely reproduced and used for the glory of God; because Jesus said, "Freely you have received, freely give." (Mt 10:8) Amen.

PROMISES of SECURITY (including parents...believing for their children) Be not afraid of their faces, for I AM with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. ...open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Great peace have they which love Thy Word, and nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.

Do NOT fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests) with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace which transcends all understanding . shall garrison and mount guard over your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

You, Lord, will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You and hopes confidently in You. Because of faith...she received... because she considered God, Who had given her the promise, reliable and trustworthy and true to His Word.

Jere.1:8; Psa.81:10; Lk.21:15; Psa.119:165 Amp.; Phil.4:6-7 Amp.; Isa.26:3 Amp.; Heb.11:11 Amp.

God Is Faithful [ Webster's definition of faithful — firm in adherence to promises ]

Gen. 21:1 — The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

Gen. 28:15 — I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Exo. 2:24; 6:4-5 — And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan. I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.

Lev. 26:44-45 — When they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors.

Num. 23:19 — God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Deut. 4:31 — For the LORD thy God...he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

Deut. 7:8-9 — Because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, bath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.

Deut. 9:5 — Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but...that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers.

Josh. 21:44-45 — And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers; and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

1

Josh. 23:14 — Ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto vou, and not one thing hath failed thereof.

Judg. 21:45 — There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

2 Sam. 7:28 — O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant.

2 Sam. 23:5 — Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure.

1 Kings 8:20, 23-24, 56 — And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. Who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. Blessed be the LORD, that bath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there bath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses.

2 Kings 8:19 — The LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give him always a light, and to his children.

2 Kings 10:10 — Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the Lord., which the Lord spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the Lord bath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah.

2 Kings 13:23 — The LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence.

1 Chron. 28:20 — The LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. 2 Chron. 21:7 — Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.

Nehe. 1:5 — And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments.

Nehe. 9:7-8 — Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gayest him the name of Abraham; and foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him... and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous.

Psa. 9:10 — And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Psa. 18:30 — As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Psa. 19:9 — The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Psa. 25:10 — All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Psa. 31:5 — Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

Psa. 33:4 — The word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

Psa. 40:10 — I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation. I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Psa. 89:1-2, 5, 8, 14, 24, 28, 33-34 — With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations...thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. The heavens shall praise...thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Mercy and truth shall go before thy face. My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him...my mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. My lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

Psa. 92:2 — To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.

Psa. 94:14 — For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

Psa. 98:3 — He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel.

Psa. 100:5 — His truth endureth to all generations.

3

Psa. 103:17 — The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children.

Psa. 105:8, 42 — He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. He remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.

Psa. 111:5, 7-9 — He will ever be mindful of his covenant. The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever.

Psa. 117:2 — The truth of the LORD endureth for ever.

Psa. 119:65, 89-90 — Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.

For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations.

Psa. 132:11 - The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it.

Psa. 138:2 — I will...praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

Psa. 146:6 - ...which keepeth truth for ever...

Isa. 11:5 — And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

Isa. 14:24, 27 — The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: For the LORD of hosts hath purposed., and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

Isa. 25:1 — Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Isa. 38:7 — And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken.

Isa. 40:5 — And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD bath spoken it.

Isa. 42:16 — And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.

These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

4

Isa. 44:21 — O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.

Isa. 46:9-11 — Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

Isa. 48:3 — I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.

Isa. 49:7, 16 — Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee. I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Isa. 51:6, 8 — The heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever., and my righteousness shall not be abolished. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.

Isa. 54:9-10 — For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, no rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

Isa. 55:11 — So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Jere. 29:10 — For thus saith the LORD, that after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

Jere. 32:40 — I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good...

Jere. 33:14, 20-21 — Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant...

5

Lam. 3:23 — Great is thy faithfulness.

Ezek. 16:60, 62 — Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth., and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant. And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. Ezek. 37:14 — ...then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD. Dan. 9:4 — And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, 0 Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments...

Hos. 2:19-20 — I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD. Mic. 7:20 — Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

Hag. 2:5 — According to the word that I have covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt., so my spirit remaineth among you; fear ye not.

Zech. 9:11 — By the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

Mal. 3:6 — For I am the LORD, I change not...

Luke 1:45; Heb. 11:11 — And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a per-formance of those things which were told her from the Lord...because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Luke 1:54-55, 68-70, 72-73 — He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever... for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets...to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which he sware to our father Abraham.

John 8:26 — He that sent me is true...

6

Acts 13:32-33 — The promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children...

Acts 27:25 — Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

Rom. 3:3-4 — For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, and every man a liar...

Rom. 4:19-21 — And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah'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.

Rom. 11:2, 29 — God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Rom. 15:8 — Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers...

1 Cor. 1:9 — God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Cor. 10:13 — God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

2 Cor. 1:20 — All the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen...

1 Thess. 5:24 — Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

2 Tim. 1:12 — ...for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

2 Tim. 2:13, 19 — If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.

Titus 1:2 — In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began...

Heb. 6:13-19 — For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For when men 7

verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the on theset before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and hope which entereth into that within the veil...

Heb. 10:23 — Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering: (for he is faithful that promised)...

1 Pet. 4:19 — Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

2 Pet. 3:9 — The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness...

1 John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 5:14-15 — And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Rev. 6:10 — And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true...

Rev. 15:3 — And they sing the song...of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are they ways...

8

HOPE - FAITH - MANIFESTATION Whenever we have a need, God is our answer, our source. If we will go to Him, we will never get a busy signal, be superseded by someone else and be put "on hold," be laughed at, be told, "It's too hard" or "It's hopeless," or hear, "Our computer's down—please call back later." God says, Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know—do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand.

And it shall be that before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear.

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me? (and we respond) Alas, Lord God! Behold, You made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your stretched out arm! There is nothing too hard or too wonderful for You. (Jeremiah 33:3; Isaiah 65:24; Jeremiah 32:27, 17) God gives us His desire for us...then He waits for our response. If we will grab it and make that desire our desire (that's what HOPE does—Holds Onto Promised Expectation), then faith has something to give substance to!

May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing—through the experience of your faith—that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope. (Romans 15:13) Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title-deed) of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses. (Hebrews 11:1) As we continue to believe and trust Him (that's what FAITH does—Father Always Infallibly Takes Hold...therefore, Faith Always Inalterably Trusts Him) and continue to quench all the fiery darts of unbelief (fear, doubt, despair, dismay, Plan B) by superseding those fearful thoughts with the Word of God, Father God will MANIFEST that desire.

Now to Him Who, in consequence of the action of His power that is at work within us, is able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams... (Ephesians 3:20)

All references are from the Amplified Bible.

Keep listening Do what you know to do

God's Time-Calendar re: Abraham + Sarah = Isaac The Holy Spirit of Truth nudged me to look again at the chain of events leading up to Isaac's birth, because what I'd heard teachers and preachers say about Romans 4:19-21 didn't sound like "good news."

This is what I found: Gen. 12: 1 2 3 4 7 10 11-13 14-16 17 18-20 Gen. 13: 1-4 5-11 12 14-15 16 18 Gen. 14: 1-16 18-20 21-24 Gen. 15: 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9-21

God told Abram, "Leave your country, your kinfolks, your father's house.

I will make of thee a great nation.

I will bless thee and make thy name great, thou shalt be a blessing.

I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses thee; in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

Abram obeyed. He was 75 (Sarai was 65) [she was ten years younger, see Gen. 17:17].

When Abram got to Canaan, God told him, "Unto your seed I'll give this land."

Famine was in Canaan, so Abram and Sarai went to Egypt for provisions.

Abram and Sarai agreed to lie and say they were brother and sister.

Egyptians saw Sarai was very beautiful, commended her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his house; and Pharaoh treated Abram well on her account (sheep, oxen, donkeys, camels, servants).

Serious plagues scourged Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai.

Pharaoh accurately blamed Abram, and commanded them to leave with all their stuff Abram and Sarai (and Lot) left Egypt and went to Bethel; Abram was very rich.

Lot moved away toward Jordan.

Abram was in Canaan.

God said, "Look north, east, south, west-- it's for you and your seed; I'll make your seed as numerous as the dust of the earth."

Abram moved his tent to Hebron.

Abram and his 318 servants pursued the enemy kings and brought back Lot and his stuff.

Abram had Covenant meal with and gave tithes to Melchizedek, King of Peace.

Abram depended totally on God for his wealth, not the spoils of war. [but that same confidence wasn't applied to other areas...yet] After these things, the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision: Lord: "Fear not. I am thy shield, thy exceeding great compensation."

Abram: "What will You give me â&#x20AC;&#x201D; I am childless?"

Lord: "He that shall come forth from your body shall be thine heir.

Look at the sky â&#x20AC;&#x201D; can you count the stars? So shall thy seed be."

Abram believed in the Lord, and He credited him with right-standing.

Lord: "I brought you out of Ur to give you this land to inherit it."

Abram: "Whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?"

Lord: "I'll cut covenant with you."

Gen. 16: 1-15

16 Gen. 17: 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9-14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21

Sarai gave her unbelieving advice regarding Hagar, and Abram joined in the unbelief.

Ishmael was born (spelled T-R-O-U-B-L-E). He fathered a numberless multitude (v. 10) who still hate Abram's numberless seed. [not yet in what Rom. 4:21 calls being "fully persuaded"] Abram was 86 (Sarai was 76) Abram was 99 (Sarai was 89) The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "Walk before Me and be complete.

As for Me, My Covenant is between Me and thee, and I'll multiply thee exceedingly; thou shalt be a father of a multitude of nations.

You have a new name — no longer Abram. but now Abraham — 'father of a great multitude' have I made thee.

I will make thee exceeding fruitful; I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

I will establish (Hebrew—accomplish, continue, make good, perform, make to stand, strengthen, succeed, make sure, uphold) My Covenant between Me and thee and thy seed forever to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, And I will give this land to thee and thy seed for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God." "As for you, Abraham," the Lord said, "circumcise every male in your family as the sign that you're in Covenant with Me. I'm changing Sarai's name to Sarah — 'Princess' I'll bless her and give thee a son of her; she shall become nations, kings of people shall be of her."

Abraham laughed -- and in unbelief said in his heart, "No way! I'm 99 and she's 89!

God, You're mistaken. That couldn't be true. Just let Ishmael be the heir apparent."

[Abraham's still not in "fully persuaded" faith!]

And God said, "I said....

Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed!

Name him Isaac.

I will establish My everlasting Covenant with him and his seed.

As for Ishmael, I'll take care of him on your account, but My Covenant will be established with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.”

Abraham obeyed and circumcised every male, including himself. ,

22-27 Gen. 18: 1-8 9-15

In the plains of Mature...

The Lord came to Abraham's campground, and Abraham fixed a cookout for the three guests.

The Lord repeated the promise He'd made to Abraham a few days before (17:19) so Sarah could hear Him say it. She laughed, too.

Sarah: [laughing] "Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?"

Lord: "Is any thing too hard for Me? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, and Sarah shall have a son."

Sarah: "I laughed not" Lord: "Don't lie. You laughed, and we both know it."

[Sarah's not in the faith mentioned in Heb. 11:11...yet]

Gen. 18:16 - 19:38 Gen. 20: 1 2 3-18

Gen. 21: 1 2 5 Gen. 23:1 Gen. 25:1 25:8

Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.

Abraham and Sarah moved to Gerar.

Abraham and Sarah agreed again -- to lie again -- this time to Abimelech, King of Gerar!

[It's only been a few days since Gen. 17:19 and 18:10, 14! DUH! DOUBLE DUH!!]

Sarah was taken into Abimelech's harem. She was there long enough for it to become evident that no one in the king's household was getting pregnant -- approximately 6 to 8 weeks. God told Abimelech why they were all barren, and Abimelech confronted Abraham. "The Lord had fast closed up all the wombs...because of Sarah Abraham's wife." God also withheld Abimelech from sinning against God, and "therefore suffered (gave) I thee not to touch her."

If Abraham and Sarah had stayed in their rightful positions of husband and wife, Abraham would have been her covering -- the veiling between her and the eyes that would have lusted for her otherwise (v. 16).

God wanted the promised child to be the firstborn from a woman who was virgin to her own husband alone! Isaac's birth was so vital to God's plan that He saw to it that nothing got in the way to spoil it or change any detail. God saw to it that it came to pass.

Part of the awesome prophetic role Isaac would have was: your only son, the son whom you love, the firstborn was offered, the firstborn of many brethren.

The Lord visited Sarah AS HE HAD SAID and the Lord did unto Sarah AS HE HAD SPOKEN for Sarah conceived and bare Abraham a son in his old age at the set (appointed) time of which GOD HAD SPOKEN TO HIM! Abraham was 100 (Sarah was 90) Sarah died at age 127.

Abraham married Keturah, and they had 6 children.

Abraham died at age 175.

Abraham was 99 in Gen. 17:1. They were at Abimelech's at least one month, probably two. God had said Sarah would give him a son one year after his 99th birthday. The calendar pages are turningâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;Ś Abraham and Sarah finally came to the faith described in Rom. 4:19-21 and Heb. 11:11 right after the Abimelech ordeal. They put works with their faith...

And God did it... like He said it, Ev'ry word... ev'ry line, Not a minute... late or early, But exactly... right on time! (Gen. 21:1-2) Abraham wasn't "confessing" anything for 25 years, as we've been told! Actually, the Bible doesn't say he "confessed" anything. It says he believed. Yes, his very name was signifying God's purpose and plan; but for the first two months (at least) that he had the new name, he didn't believe -- they didn't believe -- what God had said to them directly. They recklessly put themselves in the position to contaminate what God said would happen, which was, "Sarah shall bear thee a son indeed...at this set time in the next year." (Gen. 17:19, 21) When someone really believes, they hold on to it, and they won't let anything or anyone take away or interfere with what they believe. Having heard the Word, they keep it and hold it fast.

Surely after the Abimelech ordeal was over, Abraham and Sarah must have shook themselves and said to each other, "Wait a minute! Look at what we've done! The Lord Himself has spoken to us face to

face...given us His promise...even told us when it will come to pass. We haven't valued it. We haven't really believed it. This unbelief ends NOW! From this moment on, we choose to believe that the Lord is God, and He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. It doesn't matter how old we are, nor does the condition of our bodies matter. No more unbelief or distrust will be able to make us waver or doubtingly question concerning the promise of God, but we grow strong and are empowered by faith as we give praise and glory to God -- FULLY satisfied and assured that our God is able md He is mighty to keep His Word and to do what He has promised.

Come on, honey, let's go put actions to our faith in God's promise!" And to God, they said, "Be it unto us according to Your Word."

Rom. 4:19-21 is what happened at the end of the (approximate) four-week period between age 99 + 2 months and age 99 + 3 months; because the name change and the estimated time of arrival were given at age 99, and by age 99 + 3 months, the baby was in the Sarah's womb!

Once they became FULLY PERSUADED, it didn't take long at all, so kick out all the tradition that you've heard!

All Abraham and Sarah had was the knowledge of the absoluteness of a Covenant. They had no one else believing with them, no one else teaching them, no Bible to read just their Covenant God just His Word.

That was absolutely more than enough... when they believed absolutely.

Gen. 21:1 in the first-person and present-tense: The split moment (an even smaller amount of time than a split second) we Bible-believe, the Lord will visit us [Hebrewâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;oversee, care for, deposit] and do [Hebrewâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;make; translated in the KW as accomplish, become, bring forth, do, finish, fulfill, furnish, get, bring to pass, perform, prepare, provide, shew, work] unto us as He has spoken. Amen.

Considering nothing else but what God says and being fully persuaded that God is firm in adherence to His promises is what the Bible calls FAITH! Faith receives. (Mt. 21:22) If I haven't received yet, it isn't Bible-faith yet.

Faith receives.

"Be it unto me according to Your Word." (Lk. 1:38)

It's wonderful to notice that God does not mention Pharaoh, Hagar, or Abimelech as He brags on Abraham and Sarah in Hebrews 11.

Hallelujah !

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost Romans 15:13

I had just asked Father, "How do I stay full of hope and expectancy . . . without manipulating or being anxious?"

In response, I heard the God of Hope say . . .

Because I believe, I am filled with ALL joy and peace窶馬ot anxiety; and I continue to abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.

The more I believe . . . the more I abound in hope; and the joy of expectancy, and the peace of trusting . . . of resting stay full . . . until the moment . . . when Father says, "Now . . . receive My gift . ."

Believing is the key.

Understanding the Blood Covenant has to do with TRUST ____   

with never doubting again, with never wavering again, with never fearing again.

God's very being...His life's blood... is guaranteeing His Word, which is His Blood Covenant with us!

BRAID TOGETHER WITH...

Think about holding a spool of sewing thread in your hands... Now, unwind it and hold about a 24" piece of thread with both hands. Pull hard! [SNAP!] It breaks! That thread represents you — your strength, your wisdom, your abilities, your body. It holds up pretty well — until real pressure is put on it, then it breaks under the load.

But now, picture a 5' section of heavy, heavy rope... about as big around as your wrist — very strong and heavyduty. Grab hold of that rope and pull — PULL HARD! It won't break! That rope symbolizes Almighty God and His indestructible power! No matter what, it's impossible for Him to fail or be lacking.

Think about inserting a drinking straw through the hole in the spool of thread so that it will freely unwind. Let a few feet of the thread unwind and let it be twisted around that heavy rope... around and around, around and around. Now, no matter how hard you pull on the thread-around-the-rope, the thread can no longer be broken!

Now the thread is able to do whatever the rope can do — even tow a car! — which the thread never could have done alone.

That twisting of the thread around the rope illustrates the literal meaning of the Hebrew word for wait [braid by twisting, i.e. collect, (figuratively) to expect] in Isaiah 40:28-31 in the Amplified: "Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.

He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength causing it to multiply and making it abound.

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and the selected young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted But those who wait for the Lord who expect, look for, and hope in Him shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up close to God as eagles mount up to the sun; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint or become tired" As you by faith (that's the straw that lets the thread unwind freely) reach out to the Lord God Almighty, your weakness is swallowed up by His strength, your not-knowing-what-to-do is swallowed by His wisdom, your inability is swallowed up by His all-sufficiency, your sickness-in-body is swallowed up by His healing. He's covenanted to be to you EVERYTHING that you need. He's firm in adherence to His promises! Let Him be GOD in your life!

This is what Jehoshaphat was doing in 2 Chronicles 20:12 when he said to God, ". . . for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee." He was recognizing he was as weak as sewing thread ("All we have is Yours!); but at the same time, he was expecting his Covenant-keeping God to be the invincible rope. God immediately responded to his faith, saying (vss. 15, 17), "Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with

you." In other words, "All I have is yours!"

This is what Paul meant by "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" . . . . "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors" . . . . "If God be for us [twisted around the rope], who can be against us [easily broken thread]?" (Phil. 4:13; Rom. 8:37, 31) This is what God meant in 2 Cor. 12:9 when He said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength [rope] is made perfect in weakness [thread]." God was not answering Paul saying, "Hang in there because I'm getting glory by your being persecuted," as some have taught. God was saying, "Paul, by My unlimited grace I've already given you the way of escape, but you are not walking in what you know. You are the one who wrote down: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Cor. 10:13 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Cor. 10:3-6 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph. 6:10, 12 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:13, 19 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Gal. 5:1 "Unwind that thread, Paul—believing! I'll take hold-together-with-against! Cast all your care on Me, the Good Shepherd, for I am well able to set you free. Sheep are not designed to carry burdens, like oxen and donkeys are. I'm only glorified when My people are living in their redemption freedom and wholeness—nothing missing and nothing broken. Believe what I've taught you, and I'll do the rest!"

When the thread is twisting around the rope, an exchange is taking place: THREAD weakness not knowing turmoil sickness poverty tossed about fear

is being exchanged for is being exchanged for is being exchanged for is being exchanged for is being exchanged for is being exchanged for is being exchanged for

ROPE strength wisdom peace health supply established faith

WARNING: With the drinking straw still inserted through the spool of thread and the thread still unwinding and twisting around the rope, if you place your thumb on the spool, what happens? It stops unwinding! That's what unbelief does—it stops faith from working. All fear, doubt, and "Plan B" are spelled U-N-B-E-L-I-E-F.

HOW do I receive?

Teachers and preachers say, "Just receive! Just reach out and take it!" But no one was telling me HOW to receive. So, I asked Father!

It's wonderful when the Holy Spirit of Truth puts a question in our spirit and nudges us to diligently seek until we find the answer. It's not like the miners during the Gold Rush who hoped they'd find gold; because when the Holy Spirit of Truth nudges us to search, we are guaranteed to find gold—the gold tried in the fire, the incomparable treasure of the Word made alive in our spirit and revealed to our understanding.

Regarding everything in our redemption inheritance…

The child of a millionaire doesn't struggle to receive and doesn't go around confessing, "I believe I receive my inheritance." The child believes (knows of a surety) and, as a result, walks in the receiving. It's not up to the child to make sure the inheritance is manifested. The father sees to it that the funds are deposited in the child's account Observe someone who's just received an earthly inheritance, and learn.

When we believe, God sees to it we receive. That's what happened when we were born again. We believed. It was ALL by grace (God's part) through faith (our part). Nothing more. No works. GRACE is God's Redemptive Accounting Credits Everything. But through tradition [Webster - the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction], we've put "conditions" on how to obtain the other provisions of our redemption inheritance. All we have to do is believe— whether it's being born again, healed, protected, set free, or all the other facets of our inheritance in the New Covenant.

Our inheritance is the result of what HE did, not what we do to try to earn it.

I want to repeat this verse, because it cannot be said too much "For it is by free grace that you are saved through faith. And this is not of yourselves-of your own doing, it came not through your own striving-but it is the gift of God; not because of works, lest any man should boast. It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself " (Eph. 2:8-9 Amplified) The word saved in this verse is the Greek sozo which means save, deliver, protect, heal, preserve, do well, be made whole. Therefore, we can take any of the meanings of sozo and insert them in the verse. For example, "For by grace are you healed through faith... for by grace are you set free through faith... for by grace are you made whole through faith..."

HOW to RECEIVE is not up to us. We are to BELIEVE, and God makes sure it's manifested, which is what receiving is—seeing it, having it, experiencing it, holding it! "It's here! It's happened!" Matthew 21:22 says, "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." Shall isn't talking about somewhere in the futureit's the emphatic tense form, meaning, "If you believe, I [Jesus] guarantee emphatically that you have it." If we ask, "When?" He answers, "In the moment of your believing!"

If we've Bible-believed, we have it! We've received! We can't help but receive, because receiving is automatic and instantaneous the split moment [an even smaller amount of time than a split second] we believe. And I don't mean we're speaking of things that are not as though they were. I mean, we literally have it. Manifested-to-all evidence was always the result of faith in the Bible. No one was ever sent away and told to "believe and confess that you have (through the eye of your faith) what you're needing from God, and you'll eventually get it." Never! Hallelujah! Acts 4:16 is just one of many, many scriptures that birthed this statement. Bible-faith becomes! It is—now—the substance and evidence that we believed...that our hope became belief!

What we believe, we say, because we talk out of our heart (Mt. 12:34). When we believe, then we'll say what's in our heart. The Bible says, "We believe and therefore speak" (2 Cor. 4:13), not "we speak and therefore believe.” It has looked like the saving made it happen; but, no, it was the believing that made the Word

manifest. We can say scripture promises all day long, or for weeks and months, and nothing will happen. A parrot can be trained to say, "By His stripes, I'm healed." At some point, the person's unbelieving heart has to start believing and become fully persuaded—no more fear, no more doubt, no more mixture, no more "Plan B." That's what the Bible calls faith, and what I've called Bible-faith. [I make this distinction because we use the words faith and believe so flippantly to describe all degrees of hope, great desire, saying-all-the-right-things-that-sound-like-faith, and convincing parroting.

Faith and believe in the Bible are absolutes—free from mixture, pure—100%. That's what I'm referring to in this teaching when I say Bible-faith and Bible-believing.]

Bible-believing doesn't come from saying. It comes from hearing—heart-hearing the Word of God, accepting that He is God, and He is firm in adherence to His promises, and being fully persuaded that He does what He says—no if’s, but's, or anything less. Being fully persuaded that God is able to perform what He has promised is coming to the place of saying, "Be it unto me according to Your Word." (Lk.1:38) Romans 10:8-10, the scripture so frequently used to present the plan of salvation, refers to "confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart." I've inserted the Greek meaning of certain words if that meaning amplifies or is different from the English word used; and it reads as follows: 8

10

"The word (rhema - revealed word, word-alive) is nigh thee (at hand, near, ready) , in thy mouth, and in thy heart (heart, thoughts, feelings, middle): that is the word (rhema - revealed word, word-alive) of faith (persuasion, credence, conviction, reliance, constancy, truth), which we preach (herald, preach, proclaim, publish); "That if thou shalt confess ([from two words meaning same + said] assent [Webster - come together with what someone else has proposed], i.e., covenant, acknowledge [Webster - accord + knowledge, meaning to recognize the rights, authority, or status of] [translated in KW] - con- (pro-)fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise) with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [note - it does not say Jesus as Saviour, because it's Lordship that's required], and shalt believe (to have faith in, upon, or with respect to a person, i.e., credit, entrust) in thy heart [heart; thoughts, feelings, middle) that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (sozo save, deliver, protect, heal, preserve, do well, be (make) whole) "For with the heart (heart, thoughts, feelings, middle) man believeth (to have faith in, upon, or with respect to a person, i.e., credit, entrust) unto (indicating the point reached or entered, purpose, result) righteousness (equity, justification); and with the mouth confession is made ([from two words meaning same + said] assent [Webster - come together with what someone else has proposed], i.e., covenant, acknowledge [Webster - accord + knowledge, meaning to recognize the rights, authority, or status of] [translated in KW] - con- (pro-)fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise) unto (indicating the point reached or entered, purpose, result) salvation ([from sozo] rescue or safety, deliver, health, salvation, save, saving).

Go back and really study the meaning of confess. We've heard it meant "the words we speak" for so long, it's a challenge to realize it means something else-it means our believing, our coming together with what someone else has proposed, and recognizing the rights, authority, and status of Jesus as our Lord. THAT is what

it takes to enter into Covenant with Him...to be born again. Confessing is different from believing. It's not enough to believe God raised Jesus from the dead. There has to be a coming together of you, a surrender of you, an unbreakable commitment of you to Him-as Lord-so that you have the same thoughts and the same words. That's what entering into Covenant is.

And Hebrews 3:1 says Jesus is the Apostle (God to the human race)* and High Priest (the human race to God)* to watch over, administrate, and guarantee process of Covenant. Profession (or confession, as some translations read) is the noun that comes from the verb confess. [ Dutch Sheets]

8 9

10

The Message Bible says Romans 10:3-13 this way: "The earlier revelation was intended simply to get us ready for the Messiah, who then puts everything right for those who trust Him to do it. Moses wrote that anyone who insists on using the law code to live right before God soon discovers it's not so easy-every detail of life regulated by fine print! But trusting God to shape the right living in us is a different story-no precarious climb up to heaven to recruit the Messiah, no dangerous descent into hell to rescue the Messiah. So what exactly was Moses saying?

"The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest.'

It's the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God-`Jesus is my Master'-embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what He did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not 'doing' anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting Him to do it for you. That's salvation.

With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: `God set everything right between Him and me!'

Scripture reassures us, 'No one who trusts God like this-heart and soul-will ever regret it.' It's exactly the same no matter what a person's religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. `Everyone who calls, "Help, God!" gets help.'"

The reason our words are a barometer is because they reveal what's in our heart-whether faith or fear; but changing our words isn't the key, It's our hearts that have to be changed, and then our words will automatically change. If we change our believing, our words will change; and our life will change-not because of our words, but because of our believing.

We have the power and authority to change things around us by the words we say out of a Bible-believing heart. The words will be just words and will change nothing if there's unbelief in our heart. But if it's Bible-faith in our heart that originates our words, then our words will stop storms, move mountains, wither hypocrite trees, drive out demons, raise the dead, heal all manner of sickness and disease, and make whole whatever else needs to be changed.

It's the believing that makes it happen! If there's any doubt at all, our words will just be hot air; but if there's Biblefaith---that is, pure, unmixed, and absolute, then what we say will manifest! On the spot! Now! For all to see! That's what Mark 11:23 is all about. The emphasis should be on the believing—that's the key! Always remember. a parrot can say, but it can't believe.

We've concentrated on WORDS, instead of BELIEVING. We've concentrated on RECEIVING, instead of BELIEVING. Both WORDS and RECEIVING are automatic when we're Bible-BELIEVING, because we're heart-hearing God's Word made alive in our spirit and revealed to our understanding

The believer—believes in God, and the believer—receives His words—manifested!

A believer is a receiver. A believer cannot be a non-receiver.

An unbeliever is a non-receiver. An unbeliever cannot be a receiver.

Believing is absolute. Believing always results in receiving.

Believing is our responsibility. Seeing to it that we receive is God's responsibility.

HOW do I receive? I believe

the Word, the whole Word, and nothing but the Word...

"My help is my God, and in Him alone do I trust -no "Plan B" of any kind or sort.

Be it unto me according to Your Word â&#x20AC;&#x201D; pure, straight, narrow, alive, sharp, and all-powerful! Amen.

I don't have to know HOW...

I know WHO.. and He is firm in adherence to His promises!"

"And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord... because she judged Him faithful Who had promised."

Luke 1:45; Hebrews 11:11

As we minister to people, our instruction to them should not be, "Receive!" but rather, "Only believe!"

FAITH IS .... the substance!

FAITH IS .... the evidence!

The things I "hope for" already have substance, and I have the evidence to prove it THE WORD OF GOD says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Hebrew 11:1

"And this is the confidence that we have IN HIM, that . . . if we ask any thing according to his will (His Blood Covenant Word, His Last Will and Testament) he hears us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."

1 John 5:14-15

PROMISE:

if we are confident (all out-spokenness, frankness, bluntness, assurance in the Greek) and ask according to HIS WORD (His Blood Covenant Last Will and Testament) He hears us

CONDITION: PROMISE:

if we know He hears us we have the petition we desired of Him

CONDITIONS:

Therefore,

I'm already thanking God FOR it... rather than believing TOWARD it; and since He's "already done" it, there's no room for doubt!

NO unbelief or distrust made him waver or doubtingly question concerning THE PROMISE OF GOD, but

he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God...

FULLY satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep HIS WORD and to do what He had promised!!!!!!!

Romans 4:20-21

Windshield vs. Rear-View Mirror "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth!

Shall ye not _know it?

I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

"Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee."

Isa. 43:18-19; Prov. 4:25

Think how large the WINDSHIELD on your car is as compared with how small the REAR-VIEW MIRROR is!

There's a message there . . .

God never told us to dissect, work through, figure out, relive, place blame for, or understand the past.

The past is just that â&#x20AC;&#x201D; passed!

The only reason God kept mentioning EGYPT was to remind them how HE had BROUGHT THEM OUT of that bondage into promised freedom!

The only reason to look back is to be encouraged by God's faithfulness!

Go back and look what I've done for you â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Ev'ry trial, I brought you THROUGH !* And when the waves were mounting so high, I lifted you up, and I kept you dry !

And when they threw you in the fire, Called you a "fool" and said I was a liar I kept you safe ! You weren't alone . . .

For you are My child, My very own ! * "I didn't cause the trial; but when it came on you because of sin and the curse, and you called on Me, your Covenant Partner, for help, I was right there in your fiery furnace, and I brought you out without even the smell of smoke on your new clothes. I brought you through!"

I don't know HOW, but I do know

WHO!

I Just Know !

I don't know how believin' in Jesus' blood that He shed on Calvary Sets me free from sin and death, and gives me life eternally...

I don't know how believin' He arose again gives me the victory...

I don't know just how He does it — I just know!

I don't know how believin' He took my pain, disease, and infirmity Makes by body well and whole, and gives me health for all to see...

I don't know how believin' He supplies my needs gives me prosperity...

I don't know just how He does it — I just know!

I don't know how believin' what He says to me more than what I can hear 'n feel 'n see Brings His spoken Word into reality...

I just know the difference every day and I walk by faith — the only way...

I don't know just how He does it — I just know!

I just know I believe my Father!

I just know I believe His Word!

I just know I trust His love for me since I made Jesus LORD! I don't know just how He does it — I just know that I just know!

I don't know just how He does it — I just know!

© 06/12/06. Written down by Carolyn Vardell in 1982. Scribe hereby gives her permission for it to be freely reproduced and used for the glory of God; because Jesus said, "Freely you have received, freely give." (Mt. 10:8) Amen.

I Know You've Got Me

I know You've got me, where You want me, when You want me.

I know I'm in Your perfect will.

I hear Your voice, believe Your word, and trust Your Spirit My ev'ry need and desire to fulfill.

I know You've got me, where You want me, when You want me.

I know I'm in Your perfect will.

Only by grace, only through faith, only from Your love My ev'ry need and desire You fulfill.

I know You've got me, where You want me, when You want me.

I know I'm in Your perfect will; And I have joy, and I have peace as I just trust You My ev'ry need and desire to fulfill.

Š 06/12/06. Written down by Carolyn Vardell in 1985. Scribe hereby gives her permission for it to be freely reproduced and used for the glory of God; because Jesus said, "Freely you have received, freely give." (Mt. 10:8) Amen.

Whose report will I believe?

I will believe the report of The Lord!

"Not by might...nor by power... but by My Spirit," saith the LORD of hosts.

"Who art thou, O great mountain?

Before this believer thou shalt become a plain... and he/she shall bring forth the headstone thereof... shouting, "Grace, grace * unto it!" â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Zechariah 4:6-7 *

God's ability and power

God's Word is truth.

Jesus is the Truth.

Everything else — everything else — is just a fact . . . whether accurate or inaccurate.

TRUTH

only comes from God, and

God's Truth — His Word — is the only thing that will change the facts.

God's answers to our requests will be "Yes!" and "Amen!"

IF we stick to His promises when we're asking.

This is the confidence . . . we have . . . in Him . . .

1 John 5:14-15

"And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His win, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him."

King James Version And this is the confidence

Greek Concordance and Webster's Dictionary [from all + utter] all outspokenness, i.e., frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication assurance:

[translated in KJV as] bold (-1y, -ness, -ness of speech), confidence, {and when use in combination with other words} x freely, x openly, x plainly (-ness) Webster: faith, trust, consciousness of feeling sure; bold certainty; cocksureness; the quality or state of being certain, assurance; a relation of trust or intimacy; reliance on another's discretion that we have in Him,

[a primary verb] to hold (literally, figuratively, directly, or remotely) (used in various applications, e.g., possession, ability, contiguity, relation, or condition):

[translated in KJV as] be (able, x hold, possessed with), accompany, can, count, do, have, hold, keep, take for, use Webster: to hold in possession as property; to hold in one's use, service, or affection or at one's disposal; to consist of, contain; to acquire or get possession of, obtain; receive; accept; (any relation of belonging or of being controlled, kept, regarded, or experienced as one's own) that, if we ask

ask; a demand of something due:

[translated in KJV as] ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require Webster: to call on for an answer; to put a question about; speak, utter; to make a request of, beg; to make a request for; to call for, require; to seek and obtain by making one's wants known

any thing

some or any person or object: [translated in KJV as] (few) any (thing, thing at all), what(-soever), whom(-

soever), whose (-soever)

Webster: any thing whatever according

down (in place or time) (used in varied relations according to the case

with which it is joined): [translated in KJV as] (e.g.) about, according as (to), after, among, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to, touching), concerning, etc.

1 John 5:14-15 - 2

Webster: in conformity with, as stated or attested by, depending on to His will,

a determination, i.e., (actively) choice, (specifically) purpose, decree; (abstractly) volition, or (passively) inclination: [translated in KJV as] desire, pleasure, will Webster: determination - a judicial decision settling and ending a controversy; will desire, wish; disposition [the transfer of property from one to another]; a legal declaration of a person's mind as to the manner in which he would have his property or estate disposed of after his death, especially, a written instrument legally executed by which a man makes disposition of his estate to take effect after his death

He heareth us:

[a primary verb] hear (in various senses): [translated in KJV as] give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear (-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand Webster: to perceive or apprehend by the ear; to gain knowledge of by hearing; to listen to with attention, heed; attend; to have experience of; to be aware of the truth or factuality of; be convinced or certain; to have a practical understanding of

and if we know

[a primary verb] see (literally or figuratively), by implication to know: [translated in KJV as] be aware, behold, consider, (have) know (-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish Webster: to perceive directly, have direct cognition of; to have understanding of; to recognize the nature of, discern; to recognize as being the same as something previously known

that He hear us,

[a primary verb] hear (in various senses): [translated in KJV as] give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear (-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand Webster: to perceive or apprehend by the ear; to gain knowledge of by hearing; to listen to with attention, heed; attend; to have experience of; to be aware of the truth or factuality of; be convinced or certain; to have a practical understanding of

whatsoever we ask,

[a primary word] what, who, which, that + supposition, wish, possibility: [translated in KJV as] (what-, where-, whither-, who-) soever Webster: anything or everything that; no matter what

we know

[a primary verb] see (literally or figuratively), by implication to know: [translated in KJV as] be aware, behold, consider, (have) know (-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish Webster: to perceive directly, have direct cognition of; to have understanding of; to recognize the nature of, discern; to recognize as being the same as

1 John 5:14-15 - 3

that we have

something previously known [a primary verb] to hold (literally, figuratively, directly, or remotely) (used in various applications, e.g., possession, ability, contiguity, relation, or condition):

[translated in KJV as] be (able, x hold, possessed with), accompany, can, count, do, have, hold, keep, take for, use Webster: to hold in possession as property; to hold in one's use, service, or affection or at one's disposal; to consist of, contain; to acquire or get possession of, obtain; receive; accept; (any relation of belonging or of being controlled, kept, regarded, or experienced as one's own) the petitions

[comes from ask (explained above)] a thing asked or (abstractly) an asking: [translated in KJV as] petition, request, required Webster: an earnest request, entreaty; a formal written request made to a

we desired of Him.

superior

ask; a demand of something due:

[translated in KJV as] ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require Webster: to long or hope for; to express a wish for, request; to express a wish to, ask

Finally . . .

If we ask anything in conformity with His Blood Covenant—

a written instrument [Bible] legally executed [Jesus' blood],

God is legally bound to hear it—

It's His own Word we are "returning" to Him, and He said "it won't return unto Me void."

If He did not hear it, He would be denying His own Word.

Therefore . . .

If it's His Word we're asking, He hears, and He's bound by His own Blood Covenant to do what He said— for it is impossible for Him to lie!

That Blood Covenant guarantee is what gives us the confidence in Him [faith] . . and that's why these verses go on to say . . . and if we know He hears us making a demand on His Covenant, then we know we have what we ask.

He's already guaranteed by blood that He'll keep His every promise to us! does not hear His Word, He does not act.

If He

Asking God . . .

I heard a preacher on television say, "God is not required to give you an answer-He's God." He said a few more statements of unbelief, and I turned the program off! I thought, "If God may or may not give me an answer, why ask? How could I ever ask in faith with that que sera sera attitude?"

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." James 1:5-8 Immediately, the Spirit of Truth matter of asking God and getting an answer:

began to give me the truth

on the

Thus saith the LORD . . . "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." Jer. 33:3 "Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you.

And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you," saith the LORD. Jer. 29:12-14 "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him, " Psa. 91:15 Jesus said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Matt. 7:7 Jesus did not say, "Ask, and it may or may not be given to you; seek, and you may or may not find; knock, and it may or may not be opened unto you. You never know what God's going to do." So, if Jesus did not say that, why do preachers?

Jesus said, "And in that day ye shall ask Me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, 'Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. '" John 16:23-24 "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." 1 John 5:14-15 "According to His will" means according to His Word-His Last Will and Testament. We have to find what God has said in His Word about the matter at hand, and then ask Him in line with His Word-His will.

If it is His Word that we are asking, and if we are believing (100%), God has to hear us because He cannot not hear His own Word and He cannot not respond to faith-real faith, 100% Bible-believing faith.

He has bound Himself by the Blood Covenant to do what He said He would doâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;His Word.

His Last Will and Testament tells us what we have received as our inheritance as His child.

He cannot not give us what is rightfully oursâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;our inheritance!

Does what the preacher said (above) about God sound like GOOD NEWS to you? That's your first clue that something is wrong with it. Check out everything you hear about God for yourself. Paul said, "These [the people who lived in Berea] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

Acts 17:11 If we do not, we will be asking amiss; and James said, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."

"For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us:" 2 Cor. 1:20 If you are not receiving what you asked, (1) look at the promise again, (2) check to see if it has conditions, (3) be sure you are fulfilling the conditions, and (4) be sure you are 100% believing.

If you are not receiving, don't blame God. The ball is in your court Stick to the Wordâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;always.

And don't follow the Word with "But . . ." because you will be superseding the Word with unbelief. That's a big no-no.

Jesus said (that means it's in red),

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

Matt. 21:22

We Always Receive..

.

when we ask according to God's Word . . . believing . . . and nothing doubting.

If we ... ask according to His Word — not what someone else thinks He said, — not what tradition, limitation, and contradiction say, and — not what we want to twist it around to say ... believing

100% Bible believing

nothing doubting

that is, if we supersede every fear, past offense, and "Plan B" with "It is written" -- 24 / 7

Then God . . .

does what He said.

Why?

because we have a Blood Covenant that guarantees it.

It is written . . • And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His Will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. (1 John 5:14-15) Jesus answered and said unto them, "If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, 'Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea,' it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask1 in prayer,2 believing,3 ye shall receive.4" (Matthew 21:21-22...it' s in red!)

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said "Why could not we cast him out?" And Jesus said unto them, "Because of your unbelief for verily I say unto you, 'If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,5 ye shall say unto this mount, "Remove hence to yonder place:" and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.'" (Matthew 17:19-20...it' s in red!)

1

ask - ask, call for, crave, desire, require [Greek] Strong's cross-references to other words for ask which mean to question, to ascertain (information), to request (as a favor), to search (for something hidden); and points out that this Greek word used in Mt. 21:22 means "strictly a demand of something due." That is what happens when someone lays claim to their inheritance—they demand to receive what is already legally theirs!

2 prayer - worship, speaking, prayer [Greek] 3 believing - have faith, entrust, believe, commit to trust, put in trust with [Greek] 4 receive - get hold of, attain, catch, have, obtain, receive, take (away, up) [Greek] 5 Jesus is not referring to the size of the mustard seed here, as He did in Matthew 13:31; but He is referring to the purity of it— because a mustard seed cannot be mixed with any other seed. That's the parable He uses to define what He means by faith . . . that which is not mixed with doubt . . "and doubt not "

It was important enough to God ... and Jesus for us to have a New Blood Covenant

for Him

to send Jesus to die in order to cut and ratify It.

It ought to be our life's passion to know what is in this New Blood Covenant… to believe It 100% . and to receive It 100% !

Bottom line — to live in our inheritance . nothing missing and nothing broken … every whit whole !

Let it never be said of us what was said of those folks in Joshua 18:1-3 .

"How long are ye slack to go to possess the land (their inheritance], which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?"

"We believe and therefore we speak."

(2 Corinthians 4:13)

The Word does not say . . . we speak and therefore we believe.

We are to believe . . . in order to speak, not speak . . . in order to believe.

It's out of the believing heart . . . the mouth speaks (see Matthew 12:34), not out of the speaking mouth . . . the heart believes.

The opposite is true, too -Out of the unbelieving heart, the mouth speaks unbelief -tradition*, Plan B, limitation, "but what if," "but remember the last time you tried this," "did I hear God right?"

Everybody speaks what is in their heart.

Jesus said so. * (Greek) transmission; (Webster) the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction (Mt.15:3,6; Mk. 7:13)

What I really BELIEVE, I speak.

What I really BELIEVE, I do.

But SPEAKING and / or DOING, do not take the place of nor bring into existence . . .

BELIEVING.

Only the Word of God brings forth FAITH; and when I take hold of that FAITH first person and present tense, I am BELIEVING . . .

SPEAKING . . .

DOING.

Then God puts His stamp of approval on it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; manifestation!

It all starts with hearing the Word . . . rightly divided . . . . . . alive in me !

Live It by Ear

Isaiah 30:21; Mt. 6:24-34; 7:14; Psa. 25:4; 139:14-16; Jn. 10:10; Dt. 28:14; Jn. 10:27; Heb. 13:8; Jn. 14:6; 12:46

Take no thought for tomorrow... just listen to My voice today.

Walk in the straight and narrow...

I'll show you the pre-planned way.

It's a way of life abundant... step not to the left or right.

Just obey the voice inside you...

I see what's not in sight...

For I'm already in tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the Way, the Truth, the Light.

Š 06/12/06. Written down by Carolyn Vardell, 06/17/76. Scribe hereby gives her permission for it to be freely reproduced and used for the glory of God; because Jesus said, "Freely you have received, freely give."

(Mt. 10:8) Amen.

DOING

what I know to do

not because of

reminder notes on the bathroom mirror or anything that would shame me into action . . . disapproving glances from others, harassing calls from bill collectors, costly traffic tickets, what the bathroom scales say . . .

but rather,

because I know God's voice in me . . . nudging, correcting, teaching, leading, strengthening; because I reverence my Father; and because I want His plan for me to be fulfilled in me;

therefore . . .

I choose

to do

what I know to do.

My obedience is the key . . .

My obedience . . . is . . . FAITH.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Obedience proves love.

That the communication

a verbal message

of thy faith

persuasion, conviction, reliance, constancy

may become

to cause to come into being

effectual

active, operative, powerful

by the acknowledging of

recognition, full discernment

EVERY

good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Philemon 6

benefit

THE MANIFESTOR SPEAKING (from God's Word) what you WANT to see instead of what you actually see (hear or feel) is imitating your Father!

Hebrews 11:3 calls it FAITH! In Genesis 1:2, God saw darkness, void, and formlessness.

IF He had said, "Darkness," nothing would have changed!

But He said want He WANTED to see! He said, "Light BE!" And the Holy Spirit, Who was hovering, waiting for faith-filled words, leaped into action and manifested what God said... "and there was light!"

BELIEVE and SPEAK God's Word about... into... against... for...

EVERY situation in your life that needs changing -confidently assured that the Holy Spirit is watching over God's Word to perform it -- He's the Manifestor!!!

God is faithful that promised!!!!!!! (Heb. 11:11)

It's a matter of...

TRUSTING HIS HOLY SPIRIT It's not a matter of how big the problem is... of how much "water" there is...

It's whether or not you trust the Holy Spirit to support (fulfill, manifest) what you've heard from the Lord!

The manifestation is NOT dependent upon you!

TRUST the Holy Spirit to DO what's in the heart of God... to DO what you heard from the Lord.

You can TRUST Him Who hovered in the nothingness and acted on the words of God and created the universes!

You can TRUST Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead!

Step out ON the water!

The Holy Spirit will manifest the Word of God you've acted upon... and God will be glorified!

Committed Deut. 28:1-2; John 13:34-35; Eph. 3:20

Father God, You're committed to work Your Word for me.

Father God, You're committed by the blood of Calvaryâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; El Shaddai, Shield, Defender, The Great I AM to be.

Now I believe; now I receive Your all sufficiency.

Š 06/12/06. Written down by Carolyn Vardell, 08/27/78. Scribe hereby gives her permission for it to be freely reproduced and used for the glory of God; because Jesus said, "Freely you have received freely give." (Mt. 10:8) Amen.

WHO IS IN CONTROL? Jesus said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

"And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall be any means hurt you." Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:17-18; Luke 10:19 SO, WHO IS IN CONTROL NOW? WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT NOW TO STOP THE STEALING, KILLING, AND DESTROYING? THE BALL IS IN OUR COURT!

The only time people should say, "God is in control" is when the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, and the dead are raised!

As long as we ask God to be and do (what He said in His Word He already is and has done) we are waiting for HIM to "move"... and what is the result? ZERO

BUT ..when we acknowledge, believe, and proclaim who He already is and what He already has done, then we recognize ... the next "move" is up to us!

It's our turn!

The ball's in our court!

The result will be... the manifestation of Him and His Word in our lives and through us to others!!!

THAT's REVIVAL !!!

Do what you know to do!

You can't delegate YOUR responsibility.

Don't ask God to do what He has told you to do.

Stop telling God how big your storm is. . . . instead . . .

Tell the storm how big your GOD is! â&#x20AC;&#x201D; anonymous

FAITH is the connector that brings the spiritual into the physical.

We need to

TAKE THE TOP OFF

of our faith... like when a volcano explodes the top off of a mountain!

NOTHING...absolutely NOTHING is too hard for our ALL-mighty God! According to YOUR faith be it unto you. (Mt. 9:29)

Jesus didn't pray...

in Mark 4:35-41

He SPOKE to the "opposite" of what He had said, and it obeyed!

We are to REBUKE* whatever is opposite (contrary) to and tries to prevent God's Word to us from coming to pass! * (Greek) forbid (Webster) command against prohibit (... implies absolute restriction and expected obedience)

" Where is YOUR faith? " Jesus said to His disciples— "Let's go across to the other side." They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stem, head on a pillow, sleeping!

They roused him, saying, "Teacher, is it nothing to you that we're going down?"

(Mark 4:35-38 THE MESSAGE) So quickly they forgot—when the huge storm came up that was opposite to what Jesus had said: "Let's go across to the other side."

They said: "We're going down!"

But do I — do we — do the same thing?

When the huge opposite storm of sickness comes up, do we forget that God's Word says, "He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, 'Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.' Who his own self bare 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." (Ps. 107:20; Gal. 3:13; 1 Pet. 2:24) ?

When the huge opposite storm of fear comes up, do we forget He said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27) ?

When the huge opposite storm of "What will I do if . . . ?" comes up, do we forget He said, "There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me," saith the Lord. . . . he hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." So that we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Ps. 91:10; Isa. 54:17; Heb. 13:5-6) ?

Then he [Jesus] arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, "Where is your faith?"

(Luke 8:24-25)

Jesus is saying to us

–

“Where is YOUR faith?"

Those who "see" what God is doing (by the eye of the Spirit) and "hear" what God is saying (by the ear of the Spirit)...

SPEAK AND ACT and call things which are not... as though they were!

That's how Jesus operated all the time (John 3:11; 5:19; 12:49-50) The Bible is full of examples! Here are just a few of them!

(As you study the Word, continue to add to the list!)

John 2:5 John 2:7 Luke 9:14 Matthew 14:18 John 11:39 2 Kings 6:6 2 Kings 4:26 2 Kings 4:41 1 Kings 18:33 1 Kings 18:41-43 2 Kings 3:16 2 Kings 4:3 2 Kings 2:20 Matthew 17:27 Luke 5:4 John 21:6 Mark 4:37 Luke 7:13 Luke 17:14 Matthew 9:20-22 Matthew 16:21 2 Kings 6:17 Romans 4:17 Genesis 22:5 2 Kings 5:10 John 9:6-7 Luke 13:11 Acts 3:1-11 Acts 14:8-12 Acts 5:1-11 Isaiah 53:4-5 Mark 9:19

Whatever He tells you to do, do it.

Fill the waterpots.

Make them sit down...

Bring them [the loaves and fishes] to Me. Take ye away the stone!

Where fell it?

It is well.

Then bring meal.

Pour water on the sacrifice and on the wood...

I hear a sound of abundance of rain! Go up now, look toward the sea... look again...

Make this valley full of ditches.

Go, borrow vessels... borrow not a few.

Bring me a new cruse and put salt therein...

Go to the sea, and cast a hook...

Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets...

Cast the net on the right side...

Let us pass over unto the other side.

Weep not!

Go show yourselves to the priests...

If I may but touch the hem of His garment, I'll be whole!

I'll rise again! [and many other places, too] More are they that be for us than they that be for them!

I have made you the father of many nations...

We will go yonder and worship, and we will come again...

Go and wash in Jordan 7 times...

Go wash in the pool...

You are loosed...

Arise and walk!

Stand upright on your feet!

Men are at the door to carry you out...

Surely, He has healed us!

Bring him to Me...

Go, and do thou likewise!

God's Words... God's Faith...

"But if the Spirit of Him-that-raised-up-Jesus-from-the-dead dwell in you, He-that-raised-up-Christ-from-the-dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies

by His Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8:11, emphasis added).

Question: Whose words and Whose faith raised up Jesus from the dead?

Answer:

God's words and God's faith did—by His Spirit.

God's words described and formed the end result.

God's faith brought-to-pass, pulled-from-the-spirit-realm-intothe-physical-realm, and gave substance (reality) to what He spoke.

God's Spirit manifested what God's words designed and God's faith empowered. ► We are to imitate our Father.◄ Therefore, according to Romans 8:11, since the Spirit of God (Who-raised-up-Jesus-from-the-dead) dwells in me, He-that-raised-up-Jesus-from-the-dead (God) will quicken (give life, make alive, revitalize) my mortal (human, subject to death) body

by His (God's) Spirit——the very same SPIRIT that resurrected Jesus from the ultimate death... proving there is NOTHING too hard for God...NOTHING!

Now it's my turn—my words... and my faith...

FAITH Hebrews 11:6

Believin' my God will do just what He said He would...right now; Talkin' like God will do just what He said He would...right now; Actin' like God will do what He said He would— Now FAITH is livin' like God will do what He said He would...right now!

Gonna walk by the Word and not by sight, never waverin' to the left or right!

Gonna speak of things I cannot see just as though they were really real to me!

Believin' my God will do just what He said He would...right now; Talkin' like God will do just what He said He would...right now; Actin' like God will do what He said He would— Now FAITH is livin' like God will do what He said He would...right now!

F A I T H

ather lways nfallibly akes old

therefore,

F A I T H

aith lways nalterably rusts im

© 06/12/06. Written down by Carolyn Vardell, 09/02/78. Scribe hereby gives her permission for it to be freely reproduced and used for the glory of God; because Jesus said, "Freely you have received freely give." (Mt. 10:8) Amen.

By Your Words...

Jesus said, "You will have what you believe in your heart and what you say with your mouth."

(Mk. 11:22-23) It's in RED. You say things in response to (1) what God says to you (2) what others say to you, or (3) what satan says to you in your mind What have you been saying?

Your Covenant God has told you what to say and what not to say. He said, "And the inhabitant shall not say, 'I am sick.'" (Isa. 33:24) Have you been saying the very words God told you not to say?

Here are a few of the things your Covenant God has told you to say: (1) "Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’” (Joel 3:10) Now, to the observer (to others), the weak one looks weak; and others are not going to understand it when the weak says the opposite of what is obvious to all who see him.

They'll even say, "You're lying! You aren't strong -- you're weak!" BUT GOD knows death and life are in the power of the tongue (Pr. 18:21), so He wants you to choose life, not death (Deut. 30:19). You choose with your words.

God would never tell you to lie—He couldn't! He's telling you to say what His provision is for your need. You're weak? He's strong! Say what He says, and He'll make it manifest. So God said, "The weak are to say, 'I AM STRONG.'” Then God and the angels can act on those words and bring them to pass—because they are the same words He, your Covenant Partner, is saying. You'll be talking the same way God does! He speaks of things that are not... as though they were... and the result is, they become!!!!!

Who do you fear (reverence, honor, respect) the most—what other people think of you, or what God thinks of you? Who cares what other people think! If you want your inheritance (healing and wholeness)... if you want what God says... manifested in your life NOW, then, He said, you have to believe and, speak what He says—and nothing else. If you believe one thing and speak the opposite, you'll get the opposite.

(2)

Don't let anything come out of your mouth but THE WORD. (Josh. 1:8)

(3)

give your undivided attention to ) ) ) listen to ))) look at ) ) ) ) ) ) → God's healing Word meditate on ))) because His Word is LIFE and HEALTH!

[That's what you need!!!)

And then He warns, "Guard your heart (spirit), for out of it comes the source of life" — resulting in either life/strength/health/wholeness/blessing or, death/weakness/sickness/abilities and bodily functions missing and broken/cursing. (Prov. 4:20-27) (4) Out of your spirit, your mouth speaks. (Mt. 12:34) You are either justified and acquitted or condemned and sentenced by your words. (Mt. 12:37) The Message Bible says it this way, "Words are powerful: take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation."

Bottom line: All prayers prayed by you and for you will be rendered powerless by your words if your words are opposite to God's Word. God says, "Your death or your life are in the power of your tongue." (Prov.

18:21) Be a doer of His Word and not a hearer only. (James 1:22)

So be it!

O Lord, My God, Be Magnified Psalm 40:5-10, 16; John 17:5

So many, O my Lord, my God, The wonders You have done – The things that You have planned for us Unfolding one by one.

The love You show by what You do There's no one to compare; And when I try to tell them, There're too many to declare.

A sacrifice and offering Are not what You desire For me to listen and obey Is all that You require.

Lord, I have come to do Your will, To walk the path You've planned Responding to Your gent’lest nudge, Fulfilling each command.

Proclaim in the assembly All Your truth and righteousness, Your steadfast love and mercy, and Your grace and faithfulness.

Proclaim Your power to protect, Deliver, and set free!

O Lord, my God, be magnified Get glory now through me!

© 06/12/06. Written down by Carolyn Vardell 07/14/83. Scribe hereby gives her permission for it to be freely reproduced and used for the glory of God; because Jesus said, "Freely you have received, freely give." (Mt. 10:8) Amen.

Wisdom...

Through skillful and godly WISDOM is a house built, and by UNDERSTANDING it is established on a sound and good foundation, and by KNOWLEDGE shall the chambers of its every area be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Proverbs 24:3-4

If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God Who gives to every one liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him!

Only it must be in faith that he asks, with no wavering - no hesitating, no doubting.

For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea, that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wild.

For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything he asks for from the Lord, for being as he is a man of two minds hesitating, dubious, irresolute he is unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything he thinks, feels, decides.

James 1:5-8 The devil will help me to fail when I'm in DOUBT (double-minded, wondering if, indecisive, having 2 minds, halfway okay--halfway wrong, second-guessing, reasoning about what God saidâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;trying to figure out how and when, doubting if God is hearing my prayers, doubting if I'm hearing God, doubting if what I've heard will work, etc.).

God will help me to succeed when I'm in FAITH (listening and obeying).

Wavering or Being Double-Minded Is Not Allowed James 1:6-8 James makes it very plain in chapter 1, verses 6-8. By inserting the Greek meaning of certain words if that meaning amplifies or is different from the English word used, it reads as follows: 6

7 8

But let him ask in faith nothing wavering For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

A double-minded m a n is unstable in all his ways.

(demand something due, require) (persuasion, credence, conviction, constancy, reliance) (not even one, no, none, not at all, not a whit, nothing) (separate thoroughly, withdraw, oppose, discriminate, decide, hesitate [translated in KJV] contend, make differ, discern, doubt, be partial, stagger, waver) (separate thoroughly, withdraw, oppose, discriminate, decide, hesitate) [the wind was described as contrary, i.e., opposite, in Mt. 14 above] (cast off, dispersed, scattered abroad, thrown) (make like, imagine, suppose) (take, get hold of) (two-spirited, i.e., vacillating in opinion or purpose) (inconstant [Webster - likely to change frequently without apparent or cogent reason . . . implies an incapacity for steadiness and an inherent tendency to change])

I know what You

said, but . . .

"But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee..."

Deuteronomy 28:15

Curses are the consequences—the results—of sin. Pride lifts up its head and says, "I'm not sinning;" but Deuteronomy 28:15 says to know what God says, and to not do it, is sin—the sin of disobedience.

James 4:17 puts it this way: "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

It's unbelief that has the audacity to say, "I know You're God, and I know what You said, but I know better, and I'm going to do it my way."

Sickness is the most predominant curse listed in the 53 verses that follow Deuteronomy 28:15.

Sickness is the result of sin—whether it's blatant and overt sin, or disobedience, or unbelief. The sin has to be stopped, or the result will just come back again. For example, if someone has a disease that is the result of overeating, and they are healed by God (not doctors, medicine, etc.); if they continue to pig-out, that disease (or something worse) will reoccur. “. . .I know what You said I'm to think about, but controlling my thoughts is too much of a struggle for me.” “. . .I know what You said I'm to say, but the people around me just wouldn't understand if I spoke the Truth instead of the facts that they can plainly see.” “. . .I know what You said I'm to listen to, but Mom told me this-and-so, my friend said thus-and-so, the doctor said such-and-such, and my body is saying Plan B.” “. . .I know what You said I'm to meditate on day and night, but I have to work, You know.” “. . .I know what You said I'm to do, but I'm just too tired when I get home at night.” “. . .I know what You said I've inherited, but things sure don't look that way, and my body doesn't feel that way.” “. . .I know what You said I'm to attend to, listen to, look at, think about, and say—Your Word, but that good fight of faith that overcomes everything every time is just too hard.”

"I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him:, for He is thy life, and the length of thy days...

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

DUH!

Confidence v.s. Taking-a-Chance If you only know just enough to know that there's the possibility that you can be completely healed* by God . . . but you don't know enough truth about Godâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; His love for you and His will about your healing . . . then you will run from God** rather than taking-a-chance and getting your hopes upâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; only to have them dashed to smithereens if it doesn't work, even as everything else you've tried didn't work.

Hearing the Word of God*** about His love for you and His will about your healing will give you the confidence to trust Him. The confidence-to-trust is called faith.

Where there's confidence, you're no longer taking-a-chance.

If you don't hear the Word of God, there will be no faith; and you will be destroyed for lack of knowledge. *

** * . .

***

or anything else provided for by your Blood Covenant inheritance and anyone who represents Him not tradition, limitation, contradiction, and all other forms of unbelief

RISK...

Webster's definition of risk possibility of loss or injury  peril [exposure to the risk of being destroyed or lost]  the chance of loss  the degree of probability of such loss The author of the Message Bible interpreted Mark 5:34— "Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you're healed and whole."

A risk of faith is an oxymoron—a combination of contradictory words!

IF IT'S FAITH

real faith, Bible faith, Bible-believing faith, no-"Plan B "-simmering-on-the-back-burner faith, signs-and-wonders-producing faith — THERE'S NO RISK!

Faith means— you believe God is, and you believe He is the Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him; therefore, you already know how it's going to turn out— just as He said it would in His Word!

(Num. 23:19; Isa. 38:7; 46:11; 55:11; Lk. 1:45; Acts 27:25; Heb. 6:17-18; 1 Jn 5:14-15)

And there is

F A

I T H

NO possibility of, NO chance of, and NO degree of probability of peril—injury, hazard, or danger of being destroyed or lost NONE! ather lways nfallibly akes old;

F aith A lways

I nalterably therefore,

T rusts H im!

If it's faith, there's no risk— you already know how it's going to turn out!

Not casting your care . . . is saying, "God, You are not able to take care of this problem for me.

I'm going to hold onto it, too . .. and give You some help."

Conversely .

Casting all your care . .

100% over on God no matter how big it is . . . is saying, "God, You are well able!

I judge You faithful.* My problem is Yours now.

I am care free." * firm in adherence to promises

For me to judge (if God's Word is working or not) by what I see...is unbelief.

For me to say "God isn't sending laborers..." just because I haven't seen the end result yet, is UNBELIEF. I have petitioned and believed His Word; therefore, He is watching over HIS WORD to perform it.

I believe God's WORD because it's HIS Word, and He is faithful.

F

ALSE

E

VIDENCE

A

PPEARING

R

EAL

Anonymous

Everything in my life is either

FAITH or FEAR Everything in my life has been 

started by FAITH or FEAR,



perpetuated by FAITH or FEAR,



stopped by FAITH or FEAR.

It's up to me to draw the line — the same red line Jesus drew in John 10:10 when He said, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

It's my choice—always has been, always will be.

God said in Deuteronomy 30:19, “. . . I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”

Be  Strongâ&#x20AC;Ś Be strong, courageous, and firm,

FEAR NOT nor be in terror before them; for... it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.

It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will march with you; He will not fail you or let you go, or forsake you; Let there be no cowardice or flinching, but

FEAR NOT, neither become broken in spirit... depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm.

Deuteronomy 30:6-8 Amplified

PROMISES Be not afraid of their faces, for I AM with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. ...open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Great peace have they which love Thy Word, and nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.

Do NOT fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests) with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

You, Lord, will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You and hopes confidently in You. Because of faith...she received... because she considered God, Who had given her the promise, reliable and trustworthy and true to His Word.

Jere.1:8; Psa.81:10; Lk.21:15; Ps&119:165 Amp.; Phi1.4:6-7 Amp.; Isa.26:3 Amp.; Heb.11:11 Amp.

Be strong and of a good courage, Fear not, nor be afraid of them...

For the Lord, thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

And the Lord, He it is that doth go before thee.

He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee.

Fear not, neither be dismayed.

Fear thou notâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;Ś.for I am with thee.

Be not dismayed....for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.

For I, the Lord, thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, "Fear not. I will help thee."

Settle it, therefore, in your heart not to meditate before what ye shall answer... for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist... but there shall not an hair of your head perish, and it shall turn to you for a testimony.

If God be for us, who can be against us?

Deuteronomy 31:6,8; Isaiah 41:10,13; Luke 21:14-15,18,13; Romans 8:31

Plan A

vs.

Plan B

When I choose Plan B*, it's because I'm listening to Mr. Fearâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;Śwhispering, "Plan A** won't work..."

"You don't have enough faith for Plan A..."

"Remember the times in the past when it didn't come to pass..."

ALL are F alse E vidence A ppearing R eal If it didn't come to pass in the past, it was because I listened to Mr. Fear then, too.

FEAR is lack of confidence in God. FEAR is from the father of lies himself.

SOLUTION: THE WORD OF GOD heard, chosen, and done will dispel fear.

Covenant confidence destroys fear and, therefore, destroys doubt!

God is faithful - firm in adherence to promises!

I am His, and He is mine!

Meditate on the Word - Joshua 1:8 Give it my undivided attention - Proverbs 4:20 Magnify the Word ! * Anything that is not God's Word and what He says about my situation. **God's Word and what He says about my situation.

It's not a matter of how big the problem is... of how much "water" there is...

It's whether or not you trust the Holy Spirit to support (fulfill, manifest) what you've heard from the Lord!

The manifestation is NOT dependant upon you!

TRUST the Holy Spirit to DO what's in the heart of God... to DO what you heard from the Lord.

You can TRUST Him Who hovered in the nothingness and acted on the words of God and created the universes!

You can TRUST Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead!

Step out ON the water!

The Holy Spirit will manifest the Word of God you've acted upon... and God will be glorified!

Jesus saidâ&#x20AC;Ś "Settle it, therefore, in your hearts not to meditate before what ye shall answer...

For I will give you a mouth and wisdom... which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist."

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Luke 21:14-15, John 14:27

FAITH is called a shield . . . which means we are plainly being told there will be darts.

FAITH is called a fight . which means we are plainly being told there will be adversaries.

BUT the wonderful thing is that . . . the same Book that warns us . . . also equips us, and tells us the outcome (1) the shield of FAITH quenches ALL the fiery darts, and (2) it's a good fight because we are already more than conquerors!

JESUS has already defeated the source of the darts and opposition, and He empowers us to STAND in HIS victory.

All we have to do is . . . CHOOSE to STAND, to TRUST, to BELIEVE . . . and not unbelieve.

FAITH NEVER FEARS The moment the latter is chosen, the former disappears and vice versa !

(Matt. 14:22-32 is a good exampleâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Peter was on, in, and on the water!)

*

If I fear anything, I am not **

fearing God. * am afraid of ** reverencing, honoring, believing

Our minds need a "bouncer" at the door because that's where fear comes knocking.

That "bouncer" is the shield of faith, and faith comes from hearing the Word of God. That's why accurate teaching is so vital to our being able to live fear free.