Increase Your Faith

By Larry Ollison, Ph.D. 
 
“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:14-16). 

There is a key to the glory of God that we so often miss. The key is this: The glory of God is the goodness of God. 

When Moses wanted to see the glory of God, God said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you (Ex. 33:19). The scripture says that Moses saw the goodness of God. Then later we read where Moses says he saw the glory of God. That lets us know something. – The goodness of God is the glory of God. 

All the good things that God has for you is in His glory. When a king walks out in his kingly robe with his jewels and crown and surrounded by his servants, people say, “Here comes the king in all of his glory.” What do they mean? They are referring to his abundance. 

The Hebrew word for glory is kabowd. The word kabowdmeans weightiness; that which is substantial or heavy; glory; honor; splendor; power; wealth; authority; magnificence; fame; dignity; riches and excellency. The glory of God is goodness. What did Moses see go by? He saw the glory of God go by. He saw God in all of His goodness. 

The devil is a liar. In John 8:44 Jesus said the devil is a liar. He always has been and always will be. He has lied to the church. If Satan can get you to believe his lie, he can destroy God’s work in you. Much of the church has believed that in order to be holy, glorious and sanctified, we must be poor. We may not say it like that, but that is the mentality that has been in many people of the church. 

That thought is not true! That thought is from the devil, who is a liar! God wants to give you abundance. “Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, ‘Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant’” (Ps. 35:27). 

When we think about the things that God has for us, we don’t want to limit God. It’s time for no more limits. It’s time to take away the bondage that we have had. 

God is the God who prospers us. He’s not the one who makes you poor. Satan is the one who makes you poor. Jesus says in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” 

God is not the one who makes you sick. He says in Psalm 103:3, “I am the Lord your God Who heals all your diseases. He’s not the one who beats you down. Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted, to restore sight to the blind and to preach the good news to the poor (Luke 4:18). 

What is good news to somebody who is poor? It is that you don’t have to stay poor! 

God is the God of abundance. He’s the God of prosperity. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and God will impart His will for your life. Submit to Him and His plan. His plan is abundance for you. 

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By Keith Butler 
 
“I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Ps. 91:2 KJV). 

The wages (or price tag, or salary) of sin is death. Sin always equals death. There is always a payment for sin. But we must focus on the fact that the price for our sin has been paid. It was paid with the precious blood of Jesus. That blood bought us many things, one of which is protection from danger. 

At one time in history, God accepted the death of animals for a temporary payment for sin. He would allow the blood of animals to cover our sin for a short period of time. But a temporary measure wouldn’t get the job done. We needed not to just have our sins covered up; we needed to have our sins washed away. 

And the vehicle that would wash away our sins would be the shed blood of Jesus. Thank God for the Blood. 

Jesus was qualified to shed His blood for us because He was a sinless man, anointed by the Holy Ghost. Even though He was tempted at all points like we are, He did not sin. And since He did not have any sin of His own, He was qualified to bear our sins. 

His sinless blood was shed to wash away our sins. It was His blood that finished the job. Therefore we live by the Word of God, we live by the water, we live by the blood, and we live by the witness that is within us. Living by that witness is having faith in the blood shed for us. 

When we have faith we please God (Heb. 11:6). We all want to please God. That being the case, we must first believe God. Additionally, we must believe that God is the rewarder, not the one taking from us. He rewards us, not destroys us. 

So we rest in His protection, knowing that He rewards us by keeping us from danger when we have faith in Him. We must believe He is a rewarder of them that seek Him diligently. 

Jesus’ blood was the final payment for sin. We now stand free from sin, in right standing with God…with all of heaven to keep us safe. 

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It is much better to get Wisdom than gold. It is much better to choose understanding than silver. Proverbs 16:16 (NIRV-ENG)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Wisdom is best. So get Wisdom. No matter what it costs, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7 NIRV-ENG)

For if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:3-5 NASB)

There is nothing nor anyone more important than Wisdom. No life pursuit is more fruitful. Once you find Wisdom, wealth, health, favor, prudence, and happiness come as a result. That is why it is much better to get Wisdom than gold and to choose understanding over silver.

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The houses of those who do what is right hold great wealth. But those who do what is wrong earn only trouble. Proverbs 15:6 (NIRV-ENG)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Praise the LORD! How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments. Wealth and riches are in his house, And his righteousness endures forever. (Psalm 112:1, 3 NASB)

The rewards for righteousness are not all eternal and physically intangible, many are material and temporal. Financial wealth is one such thing. God promises great wealth to those who live righteously on the earth in this Age, and eternal life in the Age to come (See Mark 10:29; Luke 18:29).

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Those who do what is wrong want to steal from others. But those who do what is right bear good fruit because of their deep roots. Proverbs 12:12 (NIRV-ENG)

Pastor’s Commentary:

They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1:3 (NLT)

Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green. Psalm 92:13-14 (NASB)

They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. Jeremiah 17:8 (NLT)

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5 (NLT)

The key to being greatly “fruited” is to be deeply rooted. Focus on giving yourself fully to the Lord and His plan for your life without wavering and you will flourish. Stay completely rooted in His love. Fruitfulness is absolutely certain.

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The one who deals wisely in a matter will find success, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. Proverbs 16:20 (NET)

Pastor’s Commentary:

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. Jeremiah 17:7 (NLT)

How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust…Psalm 40:4 (NASB)

The Blessing of the Lord is released in our lives when we completely trust in Him, not the other way around. In other words, we cannot obtain the Blessing, and based on the results thereof, determine that we can trust God. So many people think that’s the way to success and prosperity. They believe they can live any kind of morally deficient life, rebel against God and His Word, and still enjoy the fruits of the Blessing.

But, trust (faith) comes by continually hearing the Word of God until we have confidence to obey and act on it. It’s the acting on or obeying of His Word that is, in essence, the Blessing. Moses said, “Carefully obey the Lord your God, and faithfully follow all his commands that I’m giving you today. If you do, the Lord your God will place you high above all the other nations in the world. These are all the blessings that will come to you and stay close to you because you obey the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2 GWT)

Determine today that no matter what you feel, see, or hear that is contrary to God’s promises, you will completely trust in the Lord. For the Scripture says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5 NASB) Selah!

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The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on those who are evil and those who are good. Proverbs 15:3 (NET)

Pastor’s Commentary:

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. Psalm 34:15 (NKJV)

“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His…” 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NASB)

People say, “God can see everything”, and rightly so. He can. The question is, do most people truly believe that? Behavior is the best indicator of what one believes. If a person really believes that God’s eyes are on him or on her all the time, how should they act at all times?

How should the righteous act based on this knowledge? The righteous should be as bold as a lion, fearless, and indomitable! Why? Because, the Lord’s eyes are upon him. Consequently, she knows that wherever she goes, she is NEVER alone, NEVER without covering, NEVER without help, NEVER without favor. He knows that the Jehovah-Jireh is with him. Jehovah-Jireh literally means “God sees and He WILL provide”. Glory to God! How do I know that God will provide? I know He sees me, and since I know that God, who is Love sees me, He will not leave me without His powerful help and provision.

As believers, we often say that God loves us, and yet we tolerate the most horrendous of situations. We need to get the revelation that He sees us and that He will not leave us as helpless orphans.

Look at what the Apostle John said: This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And IF WE KNOW that He hears us in whatever we ask, WE KNOW that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. (1 John 5:14, 15 NASB, emphasis added) The source of our confidence is that we know He hears us, or we could say we know that He sees us. Therefore, you can boldly say, “I know I have what I have requested of God because I know He sees and hears me. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, that’s me! And, His ears are open to my cry.” Amen!

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Bind them [the commandments] on your heart continually; fasten them around your neck. When you walk about, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you. Proverbs 6:21-22 (NET)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Therefore I love Your commandments above gold, yes, above fine gold. Psalm 119:127 (NASB)

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3 (NASB)

Many people think of God’s commandments as antiquated and arbitrary rules that stifle individuality, creativity, and happiness. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Moses told the nation of Israel, “…to keep the LORD’S commandments and His statutes which…[are] for your good.” (Deuteronomy 10:13 NASB)

The Lord’s commandments are never burdensome; they are always given for our benefit. When we walk about, they guide us; when we lie down, they watch over us; when we wake up, they talk to us. The wisest thing we can do is to strictly adhere to His directives. They are life in and of themselves.

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