As we press further into walking in the Spirit, it becomes obvious that faith holds a major key to our seeing & hearing in the Spirit.
Walking by faith brings us into the supernatural power of God. The Spirit works in us to accomplish things that are impossible to our understanding. So there is a large measure of faith required to gain inward growth.
Our expectations are sometimes misdirected when it comes to faith, often we look for God to show His power in our temporal needs: Healing- finance- relationships etc.
All these things are wonderful. But the bible declares the greatest things He does are internal.
Ephesians 3:20
20 Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.
Think about it for a moment, only internal things in our life will go with us into heaven!
The new car you are believing God for, will not be in your eternal garage in Heaven. But the character built into your life by seeing "That which is not" will go with you!.
Our problems are not usually due to our environment, our environment may be bringing these issues to our attention, but our problems are usually deeply personal, and the result of not seeing as God sees in a given situation. Fixing the environment doesn’t repair the person. If I lived in a better house If I had a better father If I had a happier childhood If – if – if – if.
David was a man who allowed God to work on the inside!
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The story of David & Bethsheba, is a perfect example of God working eternal values into David. David saw with the eyes of the flesh and it got him in Hot water with the Lord. The consequence of his fall caused David to see into the Spirit. So a potentially disastrous situation was turned into Glory for the Lord, and a transformed David on the inside. It was a hard lesson but look at what happened when David was finally forced to see into the Spirit by Nathan the Prophet.
Psalm 51:1-19
1 For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 3 For I recognize my shameful deeds— they haunt me day and night. 4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. 5 For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. 6 But you desire honesty from the heart, so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being. 7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice. 9 Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. 13 Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you. 14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. 15 Unseal my lips, O Lord, that I may praise you. 16 You would not be pleased with sacrifices, or I would bring them. If I brought you a burnt offering, you would not accept it. 17 The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise.
A) Create in me a clean heart, O God. This is more than just a promise; it’s a cry of faith for God to do an inward work in a desperate heart!
David was called a man after Gods own heart! The natural David had a few issues, but the spiritual man was quick to react in faith. It’s not about turning over a new leaf; it’s about faith in an amazing God to transform the sinner’s heart. It’s "His power at work within us!"
Some of us have turned over more new leaves than you could find in the rainforests of Brazil! David was asking for something deeper than just a washing or covering kind of forgiveness, He was asking for something impossible for man "Create" a clean heart. He used the same word as found in Gen 1:1. He was asking in faith for something he knew could not happen outside of God. A new heart!
B) Renew a right spirit within me. More correctly renew a steadfast spirit in me! Renewing a Steadfast spirit is again an inward event; It’s like Steadiness in the storm! Many of us are up one day and down the next, I’m not talking about bad days. I’m talking about being faithful to God regardless of the circumstances. This sort of faithfulness is not academic; rather it is an inward response. This inward response reveals the Glory of God; like Jesus said to Martha of Bethany in John 11:40 "Didn’t I tell you that you will see God’s glory if you believe?"
Faith in an unmovable God; rather than faith in outward circumstances. We must not lament our weak spiritual condition but in faith approach the throne of grace with total confidence (Hebrews 4:16)
David had no stability or mandate to stand in his situation. By faith he cast himself on the rock! The God of Israel. This is our call also, Stand on the rock Christ Jesus by faith. Not in our strength but in his grace!
C) Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
The 3rd thing we cannot manufacture is a willing spirit. David realised that only God’s power can make him walk in obedience! He realised there needed to be an inward change instigated by God.
A full yielding to the purpose of God brings the change of desire needed to obey. It is His good pleasure to give us these desires. By faith David received restoration! We can too!
Philippians 2:12-13
12 Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God’s saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 for God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.
God is in the willing business! David realized that his heart can betray him. His will can consent to the world and the flesh! So he cries out to God to give him a willing spirit.
Are changes impossible in our life? Your testimony is living proof that Jesus makes a difference in our lives. He is working in you and me.
Jeremiah 32:27
27 "I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?
Don’t attempt to be strong in yourself, this is opposite to what is needed, God is always drawn to weakness
Psalm 51:17
17 The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin.
David was turned around from an impossible situation, to be restored and become the amazing man we still know about 3000 years after he lived in the flesh. Today join David in his prayer of faith and God’s deeper work will become real! This is the inward life that we are called to by faith.
|Ian Johnson | His Amazing Glory Ministries |
|E-mail ianjohn@xtra.co.nz|
|PO Box 76-540, Manukau city, New Zealand| | web www.papelim.org.nz |
