Sunday, September 11, 2011

Receiving the Promises Through Faith

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: That the blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
~ Galations 3:13-14


Redeemed is from the Greek word "exagorazo"; to ransom, rescue, purchase out, buy up from the possession or power of someone, to set free from service or bondage. 


What a powerful word that is!  We are no longer bound by the curse of the law but set free by grace. How many of us grew up thinking that we could somehow earn our salvation or earn the promise of the blessings that God's Word holds for us? I know I did -- or at least, I thought I was supposed to be able to. Of course, I always fell short so I always thought that I didn't deserve and couldn't receive the promises because I wasn't "good enough".


The problem is, we can never be "good enough". The good news is, we don't have to be.
The New Testament is our promised land. 


So, how do we receive the promises? 


"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
~ Hebrews 11:1


God has already provided everything through His promises. It's up to us to receive those promises by faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. 


That word "substance" is from the Greek word "hupostasis";  compound word from "hupo" (under) and "hestemi" (to stand). It is the foundation, the concrete essence, the abstract assurance or confidence. It is the foundation, the origin, the beginning. Faith is the guarantee or proof. It can also mean "God's essence or nature". 


In other words, faith is pretty powerful stuff!


When you go about the process of developing faith, you are literally developing God's essence or nature in your life. 


God has already sent the promises. He doesn't withhold the promises from anyone. He has already sent His Word. Where we allow that Word to develop faith in our hearts, that is where He can manifest His promises. He is watching over His Word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12).  In other words, we aren't waiting on God, He's waiting on us.


"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him."
~ 2 Chronicles 16:9


Will you let God show out through you today? 


You can't talk sickness and disease and expect to experience health. You can't speak poverty and lack and expect to experience prosperity.


You need to say what God says about you and your circumstances. In God's eyes, your salvation is already complete. Not just the salvation of your spirit, but salvation (soteria) from temporal evils as well (Romans 1:16). 


Finis Dake said about salvation:  


Salvation is the all inclusive word of the gospel, gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes. Used 119 times in the O.T. There are 7 Greek and Hebrew words for salvation. They are used 388 times and are translated by 23 English words, some with various endings, which mean salvation, deliverance, save, health, help, welfare, safety, victory, Savior, defend, avenge, rescue and preserve.
In addition to Salvation from sin, Dake states that it also is used for deliverance from danger; victory over enemies; healing of the body; freedom from prison; deliverance from captivity; and deliverance from wrath.


Salvation is complete. We have been redeemed from the 3-fold curse of the law: 1) spiritual death; 2) sickness and disease; and 3) poverty. We experience this in our lives to the extent that we are able to see it and to say it. 


Remember that God "calleth those things which be not as though they were" (Romans 4:17) and uses "things which are not, to bring to nought things that are" (1 Corinthians 1:28).  


Say what God's Word says about you, not what appearances say, and you will begin to receive His promises and blessings in your life.

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