The Warrior Walks Out his Faith

We have looked at developing and recognizing Faith action in the last 3 parts. Now it is time to look at applying what we have learned. When we are in school, this usually means a Pop Quiz, Mid-Term Paper, or some other demonstration of knowledge gained. When we are on an athletic field, it is the “now show me” moment that the coach blows his/her whistle to start the drills. In our faith walk and our anointed journey, it is the time where we no longer leave room in our hearts and minds concerning for ANY possibility that things could turn out in a way that does not align itself with God’s Will. We are surrounded by doubt – it is a foundation stone of the Natural World. When we can walk thru this world with 1000% confidence in Him, and in His anointing on each of us, we can manifest His Power in the world. Let’s look at our Faith’s Power in Action:

Acts 5:12-16 (Amplified Translation) Power of the Apostles

¹² Now by the hands of the apostles (special messengers) numerous and startling signs and wonders were being performed among the people. And by common consent they all met together [at the temple] in the covered porch (walk) called Solomon’s.

¹³ And none of those who were not of their number dared to join and associate with them, but the people held them in high regard and praised and made much of them.

¹⁴ More and more there were being added to the Lord those who believed [those who acknowledged Jesus as their Savior and devoted themselves to Him joined and gathered with them], crowds both of men and of women,

¹⁵ So that they [even] kept carrying out the sick into the streets and placing them on couches and sleeping pads, [in the hope] that as Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

¹⁶ And the people gathered also from the towns and hamlets around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled with foul spirits, and they were all cured.

This is the manifestation of the Promise that Jesus made to His Disciples – that they would perform greater miracles than he did. Beginning in the book of Acts, and going forward to our present day, it is the powers displayed by the anointed that causes the Natural World to marvel at the Power of Faith made manifest.

Look at verse 15 & 16. The Apostles were so anointed that the sick were healed by their shadow passing over them. Jesus healed by touch, then Faith began to grow as His reputation spread.  The Centurion’s servant was healed by the Servant’s Faith and the Centurion’s acceptance of Power.  This caused Faith to grow to a higher level in those who were ready to ascend.  After the Pentecost the Disciples were empowered by the Holy Spirit to heal as well. In Acts 3, they healed by open declaration – speaking to the circumstance. Now, in Acts 5, they exude His Power to such an extent that their shadow casts His Power onto others.

This is a demonstration of what the Holy Spirit is capable of when it is truly turned loose by the Anointed. This staggering demonstration, the first of many that we have seen in history, is within the reach of all of His anointed ones. The question for you is this - How much do YOU believe you can do while standing in agreement with Him?  We are anointed with the Holy Spirit, and when we walk in alignment with Him, we also have access to this Power.  

Can you heal others by declaration? Can you cause things to happen in alignment with His Purpose for you?  When your Faith is 1000% aligned with His Plan, the answer is YES!  Understand that when it does not “work” that He has a higher purpose for the event (affliction, death, hardship, etc.) and it is not in His Plan. His Plan may also require you to be a vessel of His Manifestation.  God will sometimes call on you to “show up and show out” for Him.  God will want to use you to show the World a demonstration of His Power that they can see. You may receive unmerited favor, you may call something into existence and have it happen just as you proclaimed. 

At these points of alignment, you will experience Manifestation. When you do, stay HUMBLE and stand in Faith. Give Him ALL of the Glory and move forward in your manifestation. You will hear the following words in some form – “I don’t believe it! – I don’t know how you did that!”. These are the grudging acknowledgements that the world has seen His Power at work. When this happens, be ready to say simply “All the Glory goes to God, I just happen to be the one He used”.     

Blessings,

Bryan

2014 - The Warrior Constantly Presses Forward - Part 3

So far, we have looked at people who reached out to Him (Part 1), and people who were bold enough to demand His presence to heal them (Part 2). Today, we look at a far rarer (then and now) and even stronger anointing. Today we look at those who require only their Faith and their Understanding to receive from Him. 

This Faith by Understanding is actually a cornerstone of our modern belief system. We believe that Jesus is alive within each of us. We believe that He is still in the miracle business. We believe Him, but we do not need to see Him in the flesh. And yet, we are surrounded and occasionally overrun by doubt. Let’s look at our Faith in Action:

Luke 7:1-10 (Living Translation) The Faith of a Roman Centurion

7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people, he returned to Capernaum. ² At that time the highly valued slave of a Roman officer was sick and near death. ³ When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave. ⁴ So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, ⁵ “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.”

⁶ So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. ⁷ I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. ⁸ I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
⁹ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” ¹⁰ And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed.

In other examples, we see the recipients of healing power only by interacting with Jesus. This time, the recipient is standing on his own understanding of how power works, and is applying that knowledge to the Power of God that flows thru Jesus.   

Jesus is astonished (v10), because this Centurion (a non-believer) is actually further along in his faith walk than 99.9% of those who follow Him. The Centurion believes that Jesus has Power, and that he knows how to use it. No fluffy and flowery explanation required, (v8) you are He who has the Power, period. For this Centurion, it is really a fundamental truth that he is perfectly willing to accept. 

This actually put his Faith in a higher place than the respected Jewish Elders (v3) that he sent as his emissaries. His Faith was ready to be grounded in his understanding of how Power works at ANY level. He made it clear to everyone in verse 6 – “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home” he said. He makes it clear that the real power does not require a presence.  Then in verse 7, he taught EVERYONE just what Faith looks and sounds like - “Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed”.  This is a declaration, not a question. Likewise, our own Faith expressions should be as clear, concise, and direct as this Roman Centurion.  He is secure and firm in his understanding that Power requires only the will and direction of the one who wields it, NOTHING MORE.  This is an early illustration of a principle that many of the Apostles did not fully receive until the after the Resurrection.  It is a level of Faith that we don’t see again in evidence until after Jesus sends the Disciples out with Power to heal and cast out Demons (Mark 6:7-13).

Jesus even promised us that we would perform greater miracles than He did. The simple question is – Do you have the Faith, Confidence, and Understanding that will allow you to USE that Power.  If you are ready to accept and believe in Jesus AND in the Power of His Spirit in you like the Centurion, you will be known as a Mighty Man or Woman of God. If not, His Gifts and His Power will sit beside you, like a jug of water with its cork tightly sealed in the top.

Your Faith REQUIRES you to understand that you do not question whether or not it can work. Your Faith REQUIRES that you believe that Jesus did what He did and that His Promises are true and real. Your ability to use your gifts and to be effective on your circumstances (and those of others) REQUIRES that you understand and accept how Power works – and then you must USE IT according to His Plan for You. Embrace your Gifts, Exercise your Faith, and be BOLD enough to believe without question! Then you can USE this is the power to wield your sword, to heal your circumstances, see miracles great and small, and to accept that He knows what He is doing (you cannot fix EVERYTHING that you don’t like – you are ALWAYS using your Power under His Authority and Permission) with your life and your journey 1000% of the time.    

Blessings,

Bryan

2014 - The Warrior Constantly Presses Forward - Part 2

As we go a bit deeper into the Warrior’s Press Forward, we need to see the difference between the Believer and the World. As His anointed, it is on each of us to stand firm on what He has promised to us, no matter what the current situation may look like. 

God based resolutions are different. There is always a higher purpose to the tasks that He calls us toward. There is always a journey to take, and we have what we need to achieve success, if we are willing to take up the challenge.

Blind Bartimaeus - Mark 10:46-52 (Amplified)

⁴⁶ Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, a son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.

⁴⁷ And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, saying, Jesus, Son of David, have pity and mercy on me [now]!

⁴⁸ And many severely censured and reproved him, telling him to keep still, but he kept on shouting out all the more, You Son of David, have pity and mercy on me [now]!

⁴⁹ And Jesus stopped and said, Call him. And they called the blind man, telling him, Take courage! Get up! He is calling you.

⁵⁰ And throwing off his outer garment, he leaped up and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ And Jesus said to him, What do you want Me to do for you? And the blind man said to Him, Master, let me receive my sight.

⁵² And Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith has healed you. And at once he received his sight and accompanied Jesus on the road.

Reading this, I ask you again (see Part 1) – when did this beggar receive his healing?  The World would say it is in verse 52, after he spoke with Jesus and touched Him.  I submit to you that he received his miracle in verse 47, when he began to boldly shout to his Savior for his healing. When the disciples (v48) tried to silence him, based on their view of “what is the proper thing to do”, he responded with the strength, defiance, and determination of an anointed Warrior. Their admonitions only made him cry out louder and with MORE conviction!

In verse 51, Jesus knows that He is about to turn Faith into Manifestation for the World to see. It is clear that the power of God produced yet another miracle for the disciples and the followers.  Warriors anointed by God and chosen for a task MUST display the determination to Seek Him no matter what it takes. If you are willing to swim against the tide, and defy decorum for the sake of His Glory – then step forward with Bold Conviction! 

Each of us has been given access to the determination and will of the woman in Mark 5.  Each of us also has access to the bold Faith of a blind beggar.  The question is always the same, when the situation and the World cry out for it; will you have the strength and confidence within yourself to access it and demonstrate it?  Do you believe that you have the Victory when the current situation screams that you are a defeated soldier?  When you are bleeding, will you quit the fight? The World will present you with multiple chances to conform and step aside – what will you, His Warrior, do then? As His Warrior, your answer must be that the Victory IS yours. You must believe that you will receive His Hand on you at the appropriate time, and that His Victory for you will be seen by Everyone.

Your Faith cannot be ashamed. Your Anointing cannot be hidden. Your battle and your blood are what He requires of you – pay the price for His Plan and your victory is assured! The battles that you fight every day in your walk with Him are just a part of the “iron sharpens iron” adage.  You have the tools – be BOLD enough to use them!   

Blessings,

Bryan