Developing Covenantal Faith Through The Transforming Power Of God’s Word
1- Thinking God’s thoughts.
Romans 12:1-2 AMP
“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”
Notice the Scripture says, “Present your body to the Lord as a living sacrifice,” this means we actually need to do it, it’s our job to seek God’s face and to continually live life as an act of worship. In verse two we are told to renew our minds in order to be transformed, and we must not longer live like the world does. Again, this is our job. God won’t change our minds only our hearts, we have to change our own minds and submit ourselves to the truth of God’s Word. What the world says it’s irrelevant, what matter is what God says.
Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” When Christ gives us a new heart, we become new person and we enter into covenant with God Almighty, but we must do our part in developing our faith and train the mind to think the thoughts of God. Thinking the wrong things will hinder our growth in Christ, the problem is in the mind not the heart. We have been used to thinking with our intellect, but we must learn to think with the mind of the Spirit.
God’s Word is very powerful, and it’s alive, it has the power to change our thinking. Why must we change our thinking? We must change our thinking because we are not longer the person we used to be, and with the new life must come a new way of living and thinking.
2- The power of God’s Word.
Hebrews 4:12 NKJV
“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
One of the things that an un-renewed mind can do is to bring insecurities. We could be tempted into trying to find our value in the doing not the being. (See notes from last week) Yet God wants us to relate to Him as sons and daughters not as slaves. As 1 John 3:2 NkKJV says, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it is not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He is.”
There’s something about hearing the truth of God’s Word and acting upon it that brings transformation. In John 17:17 NKJV Jesus was praying for his disciples and in His prayer He said: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” The Bible is truth, it’s not just a good or holy book. Sadly, there are many people who read God’s Word religiously but don’t apply it personally or believe it’s God actually talking to them through the Scriptures.
The Word of God is alive and active and full of power, and we must know what the Word of God says about us, our identity and all we have in Christ. When we simply believe, receive the Scriptures as God’s Word, then we’ll be change forever.
God is commanding us to act on what is being revealed to us through the Scriptures, He commands us to be transformed and not to stay the same. Remember He doesn’t show partiality to anyone, His promises are available to everyone who believes.
You could been hearing anointed messages but it will not produce anything in you unless you renounce the lies of the enemy, fears, doubt or condemnation, receive God’s Word with humility and accept it as the final authority.
Be secure in who you are in Christ and in your relationship with the Father.
3- No more barrenness.
Isaiah 54:1 AMP
“Shout for joy, O barren one, she who has not given birth;
Break forth into joyful shouting and rejoice, she who has not gone into labor [with child]!
For the [spiritual] sons of the desolate one will be more numerous
Than the sons of the married woman,” says the Lord.”
In the New Covenant, there is not spiritual barrenness or being unfruitful. Jesus said in John 15:16, NKJV
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” The Spirit of the Lord that lives in the born again believer always brings life and will give birth to sons and daughters of God.
In Mark 11:22 (TPT) we read, “Jesus replied, “Let the faith of God be in you!” (Translated from the Aramaic), as we put our faith in the Lord Jesus, our faith can begin to develop from just salvation faith. Salvation faith is very important but the Lord doesn’t want us to stay there, He wants us advancing in our faith, developing the faith until the faith is like precious. See how the Apostle Peter starts his second letter to believers, (2 Peter 1:1) “Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:” Then, it is possible to receive from the Father a faith that is precious, equally precious as that of the Apostles, because we share an equal standing in the privileges and blessings of the Covenant.
Look at others people’s faith we may feel we are insignificant, useless and we could even feel condemned, how can we develop our faith? Well, in Romans 10:17 NKJV “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” We can receive more faith as we get into God’s Word. What a great promise!
4- Facts about faith and fear:
Faith is what God responds to. Fear is what the enemy responds to.
Faith is what pleases God. Fear pleases the enemy.
Faith always moves God into action. Fear moves the enemy into action.
Faith is the winning attitude that develops confidence in God. Fear is the loosing attitude that mistrusts God.
Faith knows something, no one else’s does. Fear keeps you ignorant of God’s plans.
Faith is the language and currency of Heaven. Fear keeps you as a slave.
Faith does need constant replenishing. Fear and doubt are robbers.
Faith requires desire to fuel. Fear doesn’t allow you to choose.
Faith involves the heart and mouth. Fear involves mind and mouth.
Faith produces boldness. Fear produces cowardice.
Faith won’t take no for an answer. Fear gives in.
Faith is committed to long term goals and dreams and it’s not superficial. Fear gives up.
Faith possesses the Promised Land. Fear keeps you as a slave in a foreign land.
Faith will not listen to negativity. (Read the story of Nehemiah and the building of the wall in Jerusalem and how Sanballat and Tobiah were constantly opposing him but Nehemiah remained strong and continued building)
Faith is:
Dead to doubt,
Deaf to discouragement.
Blind to the impossible
Hears the inaudible
Sees the invisible and is
Strengthen to do the impossible.
We need to develop our faith in the marketplace place, which means we must come out of the comfort zone and go out, reach out to others and lead them to Christ.
If you don’t exercise your faith you will remain barren.
This faith life is not just for some but for everyone. A neglected gift is a rejected gift. How can we reject such precious gift of faith from the Lord?
Maybe you tried but failed, don’t make a memorial to failures. Get up and try again, talk to someone, practise your faith in your everyday ordinary life. Daniel and his friends didn’t bow to fear even when they were thrown in the fire to be burn alive. The Lord says to you today, “If you don’t bow you won’t burn.”
How to obtain this precious faith? Simply ask the Lord and feed on His Word. Remember miracles happen because we serve a mighty God, who can turn the impossible into possible.
James 1:12 TPT
“If your faith remains strong, even while surrounded by life’s difficulties, you will continue to experience the untold blessings of God! True happiness comes as you pass the test with faith, and receive the victorious crown of life promised to every lover of God!”
Pastors Steve and Karina Maile and Danny Maile