4 Key Principals
John 3:16-17 “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a]only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. Jesus the Son of God, came into this world to redeem us into a relationship with our Heavenly Father, eternal life is not for one day, it is for us to know God as we enter into a relationship with Him. In John 17:3 Jesus describe the meaning of eternal life “And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.(AMP)
The enemy of God uses a strategy called disinformation with the primary purpose to deliberately spread false and misleading information to deceive us and rob us of the relationship with God, in a similar way he robbed Adam and Eve from a living relationship with God. It is specifically used as a strategic tool to undermine trust in God and to influence the opinion of believers, subverting their faith in God and His ability to do what He said He can and will do. God gave us His perfect Word (Jesus Christ, the Word that became flesh) to wash us from all false misleading doctrine and in so doing, counter the false narrative of the enemy, restoring the relationship with God. The problem is however that we do not apply God’s Word nor the Blood of Jesus.
The Lord showed us four key principals we need to apply for a right relationship with Him. When applied correctly, it will help us as believers to discern the enemy’s deceptive lies as a counter measure to destroy the disinformation spread by the enemy and rebuilding a strong relationship with the Lord of Heaven and Earth.
A quick question : why would you pray if you cannot believe in a supernatural God who created the universe in 6 days? Why would a person pray if they do not believe in a supernatural Almighty Omnipresent, Omniscient God that can intervene in their circumstances supernaturally? Prayer is based on trust, trusting that in Christ Jesus every promise is yes and amen. God’s Word is not a history book, it is God’s Word to help us to place our trust in Him. Paul wrote in Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
First key principal – Israel, the promised land is God’s Key Witness and intertwined with our inheritance in Christ Jesus.
The Mystery of Israel’s Salvation
Romans 11:25-36 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Our faith is built on the witnesses within the Word of God as mentioned in Hebrew 11, reminding us of those who trusted in God, and Gods ability as the Creator of Heaven and earth to fulfil His promises. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:16-17.
Consider Hebrew 11:32-34 What more should I say? There isn’t time to tell about Gid’on, Barak, Shimshon, Yiftach, David, Sh’mu’el and the prophets; who, through trusting, conquered kingdoms, worked righteousness, received what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, had their weakness turned to strength, grew mighty in battle and routed foreign armies. In Hebrew 12 these “Israelites” is described as witnesses to our faith, calling on us to set aside every obstacle that hinder us from running the race. Today’s political and ideological issues can make us stumble over Israel as God’s key witness concerning His faithfulness. How can we trust in the fulfilment of God’s promise for us, if we do not trust in the promises God gave to Israel.
Listen and adhere to the Word in Hebrews 12:1-2 So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us, too, put aside every impediment—that is, the sin which easily hampers our forward movement—and keep running with endurance in the contest set before us, looking away to the Initiator and Completer of that trusting, Yeshua—who, in exchange for obtaining the joy set before him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Second key principal – Walk in the Light of God’s Word
1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Isaiah 2:5 “O descendants of Jacob, come, let us walk in the Lord’s guiding light”.
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my foot and light to my path”.
John 12:35-36 Jesus answered, “The light is with you for a while. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of the light.” When Jesus said these things, He went away and hid Himself from them.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired of God and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting errors, and training in real life; so that everyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work.”
John 8:31 “And Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, If you abide in My Word, you are truly my disciples. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 17:17 “Sanctify them in your truth; Your Word is the truth.”
The Word is our guide to a life in Christ Jesus as He is the Word that became flesh. The enemy is however trying to distort our trust in the authenticity of the Word through lies concerning creation and different Bible translations. Remember once you allow doubt, like Eve did, your relationship with God is at stake. If you cannot trust in every Word that God has spoken, how can you trust in Him to do what He promised. Jesus reminded us that the Word is the truth and the truth will set us free. Have you asked yourself “free from what?”. Freedom is being free from fear as you walk in FAITH, that is to have complete trust in God and to have confidence in Gods ability to be to you what He promised to be.
Third key principal – Be a witness in Sharing His love
We can only give what we have received as it is written: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God”, Ephesians 2:8
“Sharing His Love” is based on the fact that we have received the love of God through His Son Jesus Christ in faith and without merit, therefore we share in love what we have received out of gratitude and in FAITH.
Peter and John valued the gift of life they received in Christ Jesus more than life in itself. They were share the love they received with boldness because they knew Jesus Christ as the Son of the Living God in whom we have eternal life. In Acts 3:4-17 we read how they shared what they have in faith … Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. …So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus … whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Revelation 12:10-11 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Witnessing enable us to overcome the enemy and his deceitful lies, for as we witness God’s power is actively working from within us through His Holy Spirt. For we received the Holy Spirit to empower us to be a witness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Fourth key principal – Rebuild an altar to the Lord our God
In Judges 6:26, the Lord revealed how important it is to first tear down the altar of idolatry before we can rebuilt an altar for the Lord our God over the altar of idolatry in the correct order.
“And build an altar to the LORD thy God upon the fortress here, with stones laid down in the proper order… “
In Gideon’s example, the correct order is a reference to a battle line, which refers to a definite contrast between an altar of idolatry and the altar of the Lord our God. To tear down every altar of idolatry, we must do so not out of fear of God and His wrath, but out of love for God and a desire to live in a living relationship with Him, the only true Living God. God has sent us His only Son in love so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life, and eternal life is to know God and His Son.
However, everyone is responsible for their own relationship with God, but as in Israel and in the example of Gideon, there is a common responsibility for the land. The Lord told Gideon that the altar of Baal must be torn down before the prosperity of Israel will return.
Gideon, had to go in the FAITH that God will do what He promised. If we consider the story we realize that Gideon had to go into the battle by FAITH, not based on the size of the army nor the enemy, it was FAITH that God is with him, knowing that if God is for us, who can be against us, as it is written in Romans 8:31. The condition was that the altar that dispositioned Israel from God’s promise must first be destroyed.