Good Morning Brothers,
2017 is coming to a close quickly. 2018 is upon us. What is the vision God has given you for 2018? God has made it very clear in many places in His Word He will give you a vision – direction:
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
And, God’s vision will always be in line with the Promise and the Blessing He gave to Abraham, of whom we are his seed through the Seed, Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:29). The Promise is we are the heirs of the world (we are possessors of the first heaven and the earth) and the Blessing is He will make our name great, bless us, and we’ll be a blessing to others.
One thing we are commanded is to “cease from our own works (Hebrews 4:10)” and “to labor to enter into His rest (Hebrews 4:11).” Hebrews Chapter 4 is all about the seventh day rest God created for all Believers. God created everything before He created man. Man was His last creation. This was done purposely. Man was created at the end of the sixth day (last day of work) and was meant to step into the seventh day, or REST. REST means God supplies you with everything you need because you completely (humbleness) trust in Him and His Word. This is how He created Adam and Eve. They had everything supplied to them; everything they would ever need for all eternity. Jesus, as the Last Adam, came to reconnect us to the Promise and Blessing given to Adam and Eve: REST – no labor, no stress, no worry, no toil, no sweat.
Why is there so much written about the children of Israel and their exodus from Egypt and their journey to, and eventual possession, of the Promised Land? Because God is instructing YOU in doctrine, reproof (conviction), correction, and instruction in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16). What did God do for the children from Egypt until 40 years later the remaining children entered the Promised Land? He provided for them. He is trying to teach you to enter His REST and let Him provide for you. But, you have to believe, trust, and speak (decree; declare) it.
Look at what God has promised you:
Deuteronomy 6:10-11
10And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which He sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
11And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
God said He would give you cities you didn’t build, houses you didn’t fill, wells you didn’t dig, and vineyards and olive trees which you didn’t plant. Notice the pattern: “buildest NOT; filledst NOT; diggedst NOT; and plantedst NOT.” You don’t have to do anything to inherit the blessing God has for you except to believe and receive.
We only have to fight the one battle in our walk with Christ – to REST. All other battles were fought for you in the spiritual realm before the foundation of the world and then physically manifested through the spoken Word.
Hebrews 4:1-3
1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, As I have sworn in My wrath, if they shall enter into My rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Did you know we are only told in one place in all of God’s Word “to fear.” Every where else in His Word we are told not to fear, to be strong, to be of a good courage, etc. However, we are told in Hebrews 4:1 to fear lest we don’t enter into His REST. Why? Because, if you’re not in God’s rest, then you are in the world and the curse can come against you. If you are in His REST, Satan has no power against you. Yes, you can be a Believer and be dead wrong! If you’re dead wrong, you are exposed to the attacks of Satan on your health, your finances, your business, your relationships, your children, etc. This is what is being said in the bolded parts of Hebrews 4:1-3 above.
This is why Paul begs us not to give ourselves over to the Spirit of bondage.
Romans 8:15
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father (study what “Abba” means).
Bondage to fear opens us up to the attacks of Satan. Fear is the opposite of rest, of faith. But Larry, you don’t know my situation, all that I’m going through. This is happening and that is happening. No, I don’t. But God does. And God created an answer to every single situation you could possibly have occur to you. The answer was created at the foundation of the world as Hebrews 4:3 tells us. You’re not catching God by surprise. This is why God begs us to “Be strong and of a good courage, neither be afraid, nor dismayed, for your God is with you wherever you go” and “Be of a good cheer, for I have overcome the world, and all that is in it.”
So, as we enter 2018, I pray you’ll commit to ceasing from your own strength, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and to entering into His rest of belief and complete trust in His Word. Commit to studying His Word so you are as II Timothy 3:17 tells us:
II Timothy 3:17
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Lesson for you – study “perfect” and “furnished.” You may think you know the definitions, but I would venture a bet you really don’t. I spent too many years reading God’s Word, but never really studying it. I can’t tell you how many words I thought I knew only to find out, when I studied them, I missed a lot or the complete meaning of them. And, because of it, I missed out on the power of the Word.
Father, bless all of these men and their families with the fatness of the earth and the dew of Heaven. I pray the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus Christ will fill these men’s hearts in 2018, and they’ll completely trust in You and Your Most Holy Word. Amen.
Love to all in Christ,
Larry