FAITH TO FRAME YOUR WORLD!
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11:3).
The Greek word translated “framed” in the opening scripture is “Katartizo,” which is to repair, frame, perfect, mend and restore. This lets us know that by applying the right faith principles you can “frame,” repair, restore or recreate your world. Through faith, we understand that God framed, mended, restored and perfected the material world. He framed the visible world from the unseen, revealing to us the power of faith.
Another word to study in our theme verse is “world,” which is translated from the Greek word “aion.” “Aion” refers to the structure and administration of one’s life; how things go with you from day to day, including how they affect your hopes and aspirations. It also refers to the world’s system with respect to socio-economic structures and environmental management of a period in human history, including its arts and sciences.
Bringing this home to your personal life, you can frame how things go with you from day today by speaking forth God’s Word. God made the whole world by speaking forth words; and as His kids, we have the same creative power inherent in us because we’re made in His image and in His likeness. There’s a creative force in us, to frame the kind of life and environment we desire. We can alter our destinies and change the course of events in our world through faith-filled words.
This is the key to recreating your life and fulfilling your dreams. Speak forth today, what you want to see in your life and frame your “aion.” As you utter those words of faith, the Holy Spirit will incubate on them and make them a reality. It makes no difference what has happened in your life in the past; there’s hope for a change. The power for that change is in your mouth. Speak words of faith, blessing and power and recreate your world! Perfect, mend and restore everything in your “aion!”
BE SENSITIVE TO THE TIME OF CHANGE
"Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard..." (Daniel 10:12).
Sometimes, you just know in your spirit that something needs to change in your life, and if you don't take advantage of that intuition, you could lose the moment. When you know inside you that the time has come for a change or for something to happen, don't take it lightly; start praying about it, and if, after sometime, you still haven't seen the desired results, you add fasting to it. If the change still doesn't occur after a while, keep praying and fasting about it, because the delay could be by Satan.
This was what happened to Daniel as he prayed for the deliverance of God's people. He had read in the Book of Jeremiah that the deliverance of Israel would come after seventy years in exile, so he knew the time had come and thus began to pray. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia detained the angel that was to bring Daniel the message. Daniel, nonetheless, was faithful and kept praying.
After twenty-one days, the angel of the Lord finally came with the answer and explained what had happened (Read Daniel 10:13-14). The angel that God sent to Daniel was delayed in the spirit realm, until Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help him.
Perhaps you perceive that it's time for a transformation in your family, business, academics, finances, health, or ministry. Take it up; fast, and pray! On the other hand, maybe you sense that there's a certain level of operation of God's Spirit that should be at work in your life, but you're not experiencing it; give it attention. Fast and pray about it, because if you don't, you may lose the timing, as well as the opportunity. So, like Daniel, set your face "...to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting..." (Daniel 9:3-4 AMP).
STICK TO THE WORD
“A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled…”(Proverbs 18:20).
Some people live in the assumption that it’s left to God to change their situations and cause things to work out fine in their lives. They go around saying, “God will do this or that for me; in due time, He’ll show up in my situation.” As nice as that sounds, that's not the will of God for us as Christians. God expects us to cause the necessary changes we require in our lives because He’s given us the power to do it. The salvation work of Christ is complete; however, we’re responsible for appropriating all that God has done for us in Christ Jesus in our lives today, and the power lies in our mouths.
The Bible says a man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit ofhis mouth (Proverbs 18:20). In other words, your mouth will create for you all the good you desire to experience in your life.
For you to change anything in your life, you've got to re-echo God's Word; you've got to say what God has said in agreement with Him. This is called “homologia” in the Greek. This
principle is revealed in the Book of Hebrews 13:5-6, “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say…” You may have experienced contrary situations in the past, but it doesn't matter right now because you've got the power in your mouth to change anything.
Not only should you speak God's Word to change the negative circumstances you may be experiencing, you ought to also speak words that are full of life; words that'll minister
grace to you and those that hear you. Get into the Word of God today and find out what it says about you, and then begin to voice it out confidently and passionately. Let the Word dwell in you richly and as you speak it in faith, you'll watch your life flourish and move from one level of grace to another.
It's your responsibility to put God's Word to work in your life at all times and in every situation. You can experience a remarkable change in your life if you'll put God's Word in your heart and say it with your mouth. Divine health is God's perfect will, which He gave to you in Christ Jesus (3 John 2). Prove this Word in your life; lay hold on it and don't let it go. Refuse to be sick, or to be dominated by headaches, colds and fevers. Instead, choose to live in health and enjoy the good life. Even if sickness comes, be assured it can't stay in you, “… Because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
LIVING BEYOND THE SENSES
For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Romans 9:8 says, “…They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God….” The children of the flesh are those who are ruled by their senses. Instead of walking by faith, they walk by sensory perceptions; regulated in life only by that which they can physically see, hear, touch, taste, or smell. However, Christianity is a walk of faith; it’s life beyond the senses.
God is a Spirit, and spiritual realities can’t be perceived with human senses. This is the reason the natural man can’t comprehend the things of the Spirit; they’re foolishness to him (1 Corinthians 2:14). He can only relate to what his physical senses perceive; like those who say, “Seeing is believing.” That’s the language of the children of the flesh; and the Bible says, “…they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8).
Read the Apostle Paul’s submission in 2 Corinthians 5:7 AMP: “For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervour; thus we walk]not by sight or appearance.” The teachings of the Lord Jesus on the subject of faith were unequivocal; He didn’t say “seeing is believing,” rather, He always said, “If you believe, you would see….” That was His response to Martha’s unbelief in John 11:40; He said, “…if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”
Notice the order: you believe to see; that’s faith—calling real that which the physical senses can’t perceive. Hebrews 11:1 AMP says, “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].” Hebrew 11:6 then tells us that without faith it’s impossible to please God. This means you can’t please God until you’ve learnt to apprehend and call real, things that your physical senses can’t perceive, but are revealed in God’s Word.
Walking in the faith-realm means you take God’s Word as final authority, and live accordingly, irrespective of physical or sensory pieces of evidence. Thus, it makes no difference how you “feel,” what you “hear” or “see”; live beyond the senses; keep declaring the Word of faith.
CONTROL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR LIFE
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1 John 5:4.
When you study Jesus and the way He responded to different circumstances, you’ll discover He was always in charge. His language was that of faith and absolute mastery. He was always in control, unperturbed by anything. His words were faith-filled, and He displayed an attitude of rest in the midst of turmoil. This is the life He’s given us; a life of absolute mastery, where you cease from all worries and express your faith unperturbed.
Even when He was told His friend Lazarus had been dead and buried four days, Jesus remained unruffled. Instead, with all calmness and assurance, He told Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters: “…I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). Nothing could shake Him; He was the picture of supreme confidence! He stood at the entrance of the sepulchre, uttered a simple prayer of thanks to the Father, and called out: “Lazarus, come out!” The man that had been dead for four days came hopping out of the grave alive! (John 11:41-44).
That was faith functioning from a place of rest and absolute mastery. Faith recognises no fear, because it trusts in the ability of God. When you’re faced with challenges, don’t cower or become frightful or fretful. Be in charge, irrespective of what happens around you. If you receive negative news from afar, maintain your composure and declare God’s Word. Take charge. Refuse to worry; just give the Word and effect a change. Hallelujah!
TURN IT OVER TO THE LORD!
Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God (Philippians 4:6).
When Christians find themselves beset with a myriad of problems, maybe in their finances, at work, in the family or even with relatives, the natural recourse, for most, at such times would be to pray! But how do you pray about such nagging and seemingly intractable issues; especially when they are trying to rob you of your peace and joy, and make life a frustrating experience?
Actually, if you were to pray about all the challenges and problems you face on a daily basis, you’ll probably spend eternity on your knees. Knowing this, God gave us the Holy Spirit to help us pray with understanding; to teach us how to pray, and what to pray about: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).
If you carry the burden of all the problems and the challenges that life throws at you, your life will become full of worries. God doesn’t want your life to go that way; He wants you free of worries and anxieties. That’s why he says, ‘cast all your cares upon me’ (1 Peter 5:7); He’s saying to you, “Turn your problems and challenges to me; leave them alone and focus on me!” When you focus on the Lord and allow the Spirit take control of your situation, He’ll inspire you to pray all the more effectively about your circumstances.
Refuse to worry about whatever predicament you may be facing right now; turn it over to the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to take charge for you and pray through you. He’ll inspire you to utter in prayer words that He Himself formed within your spirit! That’s when you can really pray about a nagging situation without limitations, and prevail. It’s through the Holy Spirit; He puts the right words in your mouth with which to articulately express your desire to the Father.
DON’T GIVE UP; DON’T GIVE IN!
Also [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up) (Luke 18:1 AMP).
1Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing”; that means continue in prayer until there’s a change; don’t give up; don’t give in! Some Christians give up too quickly; but faith never gives up. It’s like what happened with the Apostles in Acts Chapter 12, when Herod arrested Peter, having killed James, one of the Apostles. Herod saw that killing James pleased the Jews, so he purposed to do the same with Peter. However, the Bible says “…prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (Acts 12:5).
The Holy Spirit specifically emphasized the phrase “without ceasing.” This shows that the Apostles made intense petitions and gave God all the reasons Peter’s life should be spared; and they continued in prayer until he was miraculously delivered. They knew they had a tool with which to effect the change they desired; the tool of effectual fervent prayers; and they prevailed.
Christianity is for the tough minded; we don’t give up or give in; we don’t faint in the day of adversity. We’re not at the mercy of Satan; we know exactly what to do when he shows up; we use the Name of Jesus against him. We’ve been given the right and power of attorney to use the Name of Jesus, and make our petitions known to our heavenly Father for answers. This is what you must do when you need to change things; continue in prayer. Pray fervently with the Word until you have the note of victory in your spirit.
James 5:16-18 says “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” Elijah prayed this way and got results; He didn’t give up or give in!
You too can take advantage of God’s Word and insist on your rights in Christ. Take God’s Word to Him in prayer, and continue until there’s a change. You can learn more on prayer and the principles of effective prayer in the book “How To Pray Effectively, Volume 1.” It’s an insightful volume that’ll greatly enhance your understanding of the different kinds of prayers the Bible teaches.
EFFECT A CHANGE NOW …BECAUSE YOU CAN!
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you… (Acts 1:8).
God is not at all perturbed when you’re faced with unpleasant situations. In fact, He is happy to see you face those challenges because He knows you’ll surely come out victorious. He knows you can change any situation, for the divine power necessary to effect that change is already resident in you; it was deposited in you the moment you received the Holy Spirit into your life.
Like a mother who expectantly watches her toddler take his first few unstable steps on his own, though he falls a few times, she not flustered. Rather, she prods him on and showers him with love. That’s the same way the Lord watches to see us overcome whatever challenges we face in our lives. He waits with expectation and confidence, knowing that you have all it takes to win.
You may have been tested and told that you’re barren or perhaps diagnosed with an incurable disease. Maybe it’s been long since you graduated from school and you still don’t have a job or a business; God is waiting to see you effect a change NOW. He knows you can. He believes in you because He’s given you all that’s required – the dynamic, miracle-working ability. So put it to work. Stand firm and declare boldly in faith what you desire and watch the miracle you need unfold before you.
God is able to “…do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20). It means whatever God will do in your life is to the extent of the operation of that power in you. Recognize that you have arrived in the place of change and God doesn’t want you crying out to Him for help. He wants to see you live triumphantly over every crisis. That’s what earns you promotion to a higher level spiritually, for the Father honours His children for their triumph of faith. Your spiritual promotions are based on these conquests.
CHOOSE TO WIN
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 (Psalm 1:3).
The future belongs to those who prepare for it. There’re lots of good things that can happen to you and for you along the path of life without you preparing for them or doing anything for them to happen. However, God’s best isn’t that you wait for good things to "fall" on you. For example, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ died for the whole world. The work of salvation has been consummated; it’s been made available to everyone in the world.
But sadly, there’re people who’ll still go to hell. Is it God’s fault, or was the salvation inadequate? Certainly not! It’s because they chose not to accept His salvation; it’s the choice they made that’s taking them to hell. Some others never heard of Christ’s salvation, and it’s our responsibility to tell the untold.
In the same way, you’re the offspring of success; therefore, you can’t and shouldn’t be anything less. Success is your birthright. However, just because you’ve got the genes of success in you doesn’t mean you’re going to live up to your calling. You’ve got to do something about it; you must choose to win. Choose to be a success. Organize yourself for it. Plan for it and work towards it.
Success and failure are neither accidental nor mysterious. If you consistently practise the principles of success according to God’s Word, you’re guaranteed to experience good success in every area of your life. On the other hand, the one who lives without vision, purpose and a sense of direction will fail miserably in life. It’s still early in the year, a good time to organize and strategize by the Spirit to win and be a victor on every count. Remember, it’s not enough to hope for success; you make it happen. It’s a choice that you must make.
YOUR TESTIMONY
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony... (Revelation 12:11).
A testimony is a statement or affirmation of a fact. In a court of law, for instance, a testimony is the aggregate of proof offered in a case; it’s the statement of a witness. Our opening scripture says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.” The question is, “What’s your testimony?” Your testimony is your witness of Christ. It’s your declaration of the activity of His Word and grace in your life.
What’s your testimony of Him? For me, I testify that I’m walking in His grace and in His victory! I testify that I’m winning in everything that I do! I testify that I’m excellent all the way! I testify that His grace is working in, for, and through me! I testify that the Lord is my Rock and my Strength! I testify that I’m more than a conqueror; greater is He that’s in me, than he that’s in the world!
Testify of your victories; testify of what He’s done in your life. Sometimes, the problem is that some people want to feel or see it first before they testify. But it’s not so. Testify! Don’t wait to feel or see anything; His Word is real; that should be the basis of your testimony; and that’s what overcomes the enemy, Satan.
When people are crying, “Life is very hard these days,” you should declare, “I’m highly favoured and abundantly blessed of God!” That becomes your testimony, and with it, you overcome limitations. When you speak God’s Word and testify of Him, you bring His presence into the situation. Let His testimony be on your lips always—the testimony of His Word and efficacy of the Spirit to put you over and above every situation.
Maintain God’s testimony of you; His testimony is that you’re a new creation in Christ Jesus! His testimony is that you’re more than a conqueror! Affirm the same things in consent with Him. Every day, say what God has said about you: “...He hath said…so that we may boldly say...” (Hebrews 13:5-6). The glorious things He has spoken about you in His Word (Psalm 87:3) are your testimonies! Proclaim them boldly.