“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Prov 14:12, NKJ).
Faith and obedience are the rhythm of your footsteps as you walk on the Way. There are, however, a number of misconceptions around the concept of faith. Faith, for example, is never blind – faith must always be based on what God has said. You can’t blindly grab hold of something from fresh air (perhaps because you would very much like it and then you mutter the charismatic cliché: I stand in faith that God…). This is blind faith, and foolish.
Many believers also claim all kinds of promises in the Bible for themselves. Each promise, however, has a specific condition. And over-and-above this: you must personally receive the promises of the Lord, or meet the conditions that He sets, before you can claim them as your own. The mere fact that they are written in the Word does not necessarily mean that your claim to them will twist God’s arm to make them happen. For example: we often quote Rom 8:28 when something bad happens to us, and it consoles us: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.” We often end the quote there. This type of faith is a cop-out, because we don’t read the last part of the sentence: “to those who are called according to His purpose”. Thus, only if you are walking in your creation-purpose and calling, in faith and obedience, do all things work together for good. Those outside of this cannot claim it, even if it is stated in the Bible.
Because people don’t understand this truth, they are often disappointed, even in God, because He has now seemingly not delivered, even though we have stood in faith. But God actually never promised it. Thus: God sometimes sends a lying spirit to us if we come to Him in a prescriptive manner or with a selfish desire in our hearts that we want must happen at all costs (1 Kings 22:22; Ezeg 14:4; Ps 18:25-26). Then we receive (demonic) confirmation, but it will never happen. The main purpose of it is to confuse you.
On this path that you have chosen to walk, Jesus’ words in John 5:30 are the plumb line to ensure a straight path: “I can of Myself do nothing … because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
- Sela: Make sure that the promises you are holding on to are not just blind faith.
- Read: Gen 17: Ps 17; John 17
- Memorise: John 17:3
