A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is committed to and is diligently walking the Love-Walk developing the Fruit of the Spirit in every area of their lives. They are habitually others centered. The fruit of Goodness is a habitual lifestyle for this person.
Psalm 145: 8 – 9The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness. (9) The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created].(AMP C)
Psalm 100: 5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. (NKJV) – also Psalm 106: 1; Psalm 107: 1; 1st Chronicles 16: 34
The Lord Is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so His Goodness, Loving-Kindness, and Mercy are everlasting to all generations.
Hebrews 13: 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (NKJV)
Because God IS Love and He Is the same yesterday, today, and forever, in His Goodness, by Grace, He poured out His abundant everlasting Love and Mercy toward all Mankind.
Ephesians 2: 4 – 6 But God–so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, (5) Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). (6) And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). (AMP C)
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is committed to and is diligently walking the Love-Walk developing the Fruit of the Spirit in every area of their lives. They are habitually others centered. The fruit of Goodness is a habitual lifestyle for this person.
Walking in the Fruit of the Spirit is a normal natural way for a Born-Again person to live. It should be habitual. Any other way of life is abnormal for the Born-Again person.
The Bible calls this person a Good Man.
Proverbs 12: 2A good man obtains favor from the LORD, But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn. (NKJV)
Psalm 37: 23The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. (NKJV)
Matthew 12: 35The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things. (AMP C)
“God is good all the time,” and …. “All the time God is good.” There never is a time when God is not good.
People frequently accuse God of doing many things that are not good. Whether from misunderstanding, misplaced blame, or an instinctual response to suffering, humanity tends to miss God’s goodness and see only the brokenness and pain they think he ignores or causes.
God IS Love therefore God IS Good! God is never your problem.
1st John 4: 7 – 8Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (8) He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.(NKJV)
Recognizing God’s essential goodness is foundational to an accurate understanding of God’s nature, God’s work in the world, and God’s plans for humanity.
Recognizing or not recognizing the Goodness of God will affect your Faith, your very life, and your Eternity.
Because God is good, God will always act in alignment with his character. That means, God will always act with goodness in ways that make us better, strengthen us, heals us and restore us.
The Bible repeatedly proclaims that God is good. God’s goodness is abundant.
Psalm 145: 8 – 9The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness. (9) The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created].(AMP C)
2 Peter 1:3-11 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. He that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give (ALL) diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (KJV)
This is one of my favorite scriptures. I like to use it in Bible studies I teach. It tells us what we have. It tells us what is available, and it tells us what it will do for us. It also tells us what will happen if we don’t give ALL diligence to it. That’s the point that I stress whenever I’m dealing with people, especially new converts. It takes time for us to build ourselves up in our most holy faith (Jude 25) and to get our minds renewed like St. Paul tells us to do in Romans 12.
The most significant thing all Christians have to deal with is our past. We know from 2 Corinthians 17 that when we get born again, “old things are passed away.” Passed away. That is a nice way of saying someone is dead. Yes, our old pre-born-again life is washed away by the Blood of Jesus. So why does it keep coming back and tormenting us?
The key is verse 9 in Second Peter. It says that a person that does NOT give ALL diligence to developing the qualities in the list does not have the vision of the big picture. On top of that, he forgets that he was purged, or freed from his old sins. This scripture is St. Peter’s list of qualities and efforts that help us become successful Christians. It also tells us what it takes to do that, “ALL diligence.”
ALL. I think that is Saints Peter’s and Paul’s favorite word. ALL. We have to give ALL diligence. Not some, not a little, not just when we feel like it or remember it. ALL. All the time. Day in and day out. Never a day off or a vacation. Oh. Well, then, just what have I gotten myself into in this Christian life?
It says that in Christ Jesus, God has given us ALL things pertaining to life and godliness. It also says we have exceedingly great and precious promises. ALL these things help us to be partakers in the divine nature, the nature of God Himself. What is His nature? Love. Verse one of that scripture says that we have obtained like precious faith with them through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ. To the foundation of this “like precious faith” we are supposed to add virtue, and to virtue, knowledge.
The list continues with temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and finally, charity. In the KJV, charity is the word used for the Greek word agape. Agape is the word for God’s unconditional love, and that is the divine nature. If we give ALL diligence, we can get there, but not without working through the virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, and brotherly kindness. And we will have a hard time getting there if we only give some or a little diligence. We have to decide how dedicated and devoted we are going to be. It doesn’t happen overnight, or even in the first season. This is a life-long process, and a process is exactly what it is.
Do we see other Christians that seem to have it all together? Do we ever hope to be that way? ALL. It’s kind of a scary word. ALL means that we have the strength to actually do this thing. Thank God for His grace! He’s not holding out on us, nor giving us an impossible task. ALL things are possible with God. And Jesus said in Mark 9:23, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” (KJV)
ALL seems to be a word that is sort of progressive. ALL for a new Christian is different from the ALL of a mature believer. Time and experience help our ALL increase. From my own time and experience I can tell you past sins keep coming back, but at least now I have the tools to move on. I go through the repentance and forgiveness process as frequently as I need to, and get right back on to the diligence train.
Thank You, O most gracious God, for ALL Your great and precious promises and everything I need for life and godliness, so that I CAN give ALL diligence to my life-long renewal process. Thank You for the greatest promise of all, that if these things be in me, and abound, they make me that I shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Kindness, as well as all of the Fruits of the Spirit, are desperately needed in the dark world of today.
The lifestyle of the Fruit of the Spirit in the life of the believer is a light to a dark world.
Every believer should be and is responsible for bearing the Fruit of the Spirit as a lifestyle. This hurting world must see this fruit in operation in the lives of the believers.
1st Thessalonians 5: 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. (NKJV)
Matthew 5: 14 – 16“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (NKJV)
Ephesians 5: 8 – 10For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (9) (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), (10) finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. (NKJV)
Philippians 2: 12b …work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; (13) for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (14) Do all things without complaining and disputing, (15) that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (NKJV)
Ephesians 4: 17 – 18This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, (18) having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; (NKJV)
The Loving-Kindness and Tender Mercy of God is calling out to a dark and hurting World. His Heart cry to this dark World Is:
Matthew 11: 28 – 30Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.](29) Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. (30) For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good–not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. (AMP C)
John 6: 37All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me]. (AMP C)
Loving-Kindness flows from a heart of Love. The kindness is done solely from a heart of Love and not because of what the other person has or has not done. Loving-Kindness expects nothing in return. It is others centered. This is the Fruit of Kindness listed in Galatians 5: 22
People are desperate for kindness. Even people who are normally very hard to get along with or just downright mean they are all desperate for kindness.
The whole world is searching for love, kindness, and peace. They are searching for a Savior, but they don’t know where to look. Literally they are looking in all the wrong places.
There is no real lasting peace outside of God.
Ephesians 2: 12 – 14A remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. (13) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (14A) For he himself is our peace… (NKJV)
Everything that God does comes from a heart of Mercy and Loving-Kindness for He IS Love Himself.
Ephesians 2: 4 – 10 But God–so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, (5) Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). (6) And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). (7) He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus. (8) For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; (9) Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.] (10)For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. (AMP C)
We’ve talked about love. We’ve talked about unity. We’ve even talked about the deep things of God. Now we have to talk about what makes all those things possible: forgiveness.Colossians 1:12-14 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” (KJV) In Hebrews chapter 9, it says there is no forgiveness, or remission, of sins without the shedding of blood. It was talking about the Old Testament sacrifices, applying them in the New Testament through Jesus’ own death on the cross.
How great a salvation has Jesus purchased for us! He didn’t pass a law. He didn’t write a paper. He died! Not only did He die, He paid the full price for all the curse that came on the earth through Adam and Eve, and then He rose from the dead! He paid that awful, unfathomable price by shedding every drop of blood in His body. Even after He died, a soldier stabbed Him in the heart, and the final few drops of blood and water in His body gushed out. What a terrific price!
From that very cross, enduring wave after wave of pain and torture, He was actually able to ask His Father to forgive the ones who had lied about Him, unlawfully condemned Him, beaten Him without mercy, crammed biting thorns down on His head, driven Him up that hill, tore off His clothes, hammered nails into His hands and feet, and raised up that cross; He asked His Father to forgive them. He said they did not know what they were doing. Not know?! Deliberately causing Him as much horrible pain and anguish as they could think of!
What was it that they did not know? None of them from Judas on had any idea that they were fulfilling scripture, right down to casting lots for His clothes. Fulfilling scriptures, doing God’s will! The longer we meditate on it, the bigger it gets. Like St. Paul said in I Corinthians 2:7-8, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (KJV)
And in the face of all this, we get salvation! We get the forgiveness of our sins! In both I Corinthians 6:20 and I Corinthians 7:23 St. Paul says we are bought with a price. That terrific price! That is what makes us His own. We are not our own. We belong to Him, spirit, soul, and body. In every aspect of our lives, we can’t ever forget that. It is through His divine ownership that we can claim our salvation. Not just me, myself and I. Every born-again human being on the face of the earth is my brother and sister.
How could we ever understand these truths without the revelations God gave to St. Paul? It takes the revelation from the throne of God Himself by His Holy Spirit to explain such a deep subject as forgiveness of sin. Every day in every way we continue to learn more about this colossal subject. It is vital to our spiritual growth and understanding that we study these truths about our salvation and grace. Not just individually for myself. I am in a family now! I have to really learn about love, laying down my life. Serving others. Being other-centered, not self-centered.
And, on top of everything else, forgiveness! Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (KJV) So this is the family I now find myself in.
O my Lord, if I need help with anything, this is it! Thank You for salvation, and thank You for Your precious Holy Spirit Who is my only hope of ever learning and growing in these truths! Amen.
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is committed to and is diligently walking the Love-Walk. They are others centered, developing the fruit of Kindness in every area of their lives.
Galatians 5: 22 – 23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (NKJV)
Kindness and Goodness are connected. They are both Fruits of the Spirit relying on each other and flow together but are not the same. That is why they are listed separately in the Fruit of the Spirit listed inGalatians 5: 22 – 23.
In today’s world we are in desperate need of kindness.
With the Fruit of the Spirit present and operating in our lives, we do not have to live like the World lives.
Kindness should never be confused with weakness. Kindness is power under perfect control.
When we allow the Fruit of Spirit to have dominion in our lives, we live a higher life than the carnal natural life. We will be Spiritually Minded, which is life and peace.
Romans 8: 5 – 6 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (AMP C)
Being Spiritually Minded is by far a much higher life than living a carnal fleshly life allowing our emotions to govern us.
As we walk the Love-Walk developing the Fruit of the Spirit, the Fruit of the Spirit flowing from our Spiritual Man gives us the control. When we are not walking the Love-Walk, we are out of control allowing our fleshly carnal man to be governed by our emotions.
Loving-Kindness flows from a heart of Love. The kindness is done solely from a heart of Love and not because of what the other person has or has not done. Loving-Kindness expects nothing in return. It is others centered. This is the Fruit of Kindness listed in Galatians 5: 22
As God’s Children we should be walking a habitual life of kindness.
Psalm 145: 8 – 9The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger andabounding in mercy and loving-kindness.(9) The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created]. (AMP C)
Colossians 3: 12 – 14Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; (13) bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (14) But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (NKJV)
Define deep. As it says in Colossians 2:1-3, “For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”(KJV)
If anything is deep, it’s got to be all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are hidden in Christ Jesus. In Second Corinthians 12:3-4, St. Paul tells us of his trip to heaven where he learned things so deep that he couldn’t even put them into words:“And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (KJV) He actually had that experience three times.
What did God tell him? Is it possible to find out? Even though he never specifically stated what he learned personally from the Lord, I believe we can get a clue from his letters. In many of them he speaks of what he is writing as a “mystery, hidden in God.” He uses the word “mystery” seventeen times: twice in Romans, twice in First Corinthians, six times in Ephesians, four times in Colossians, once in Second Thessalonians and twice in his first letter to Timothy. It is enough to tell us that he has revelation knowledge from God that we could never find out for ourselves.
The definition of the word “mystery” means “information known only to the initiated.” That means that yes, we can find out what each of these mysteries actually are, the “deep things of God.” We are the initiated. We are born again, baptized in water and the spirit, and belong to the Body of Christ. Mysteries are not things that we cannot know or learn. They are our personal information that the Lord, through St. Paul, is teaching us. In each of these seventeen instances, he explains completely what these mysteries are.
Of course, they can’t be known by the world. Like he says in First Corinthians 2:6-16:“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”(KJV) (All emphasis mine.)
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, . . . but we have the mind of Christ.” (KJV) Wow! Thank You, Holy Spirit of God, for teaching us the wisdom that only comes from You Yourself. Amen.
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is developing the fruit of Patience and Longsuffering in every area of their lives. They are diligent to let Patience have it’s perfect work so that they can be perfect and entire wanting nothing.
James 1: 4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. (AMP C)
Patience is always required on the path or process to manifestation. No patience no manifestation.
If you are a Born-Again child of God, you do not have to pray for or beg God for patience. You already have it. You must exercise it for it to be developed.
Patience is a must have. It must be exercised continuously to be developed.
Faith and Patience applied to the Word brings forth manifestation or the fruit.
Luke 8: 15But as for that [seed] in the good soil, these are [the people] who, hearing the Word,hold it fast in a just (noble, virtuous) and worthy heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience.(AMP C)
James 5: 7 – 12Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. (8) You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (9) Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! (10) My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. (11) Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. (NKJV)
Hebrews 12: 1 – 2THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, (2) Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.(AMP C)
A lifestyle of patience is absolutely necessary for a Christian to live a successful Christian life.
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is developing the fruit of Patience and Longsuffering in every area of their lives. They are diligent to let Patience have it’s perfect work so that they can be perfect and entire wanting nothing.
James 1: 4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. (AMP C)
Patience just doesn’t happen on its own. It must be exercised in order to be developed.
In order to walk successfully in today’s dark world and the world of the future we must develop a lifestyle of patience.
Romans 5: 1 – 5THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). (2) Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. (3) Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. (4) And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. (5) Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. (AMP C)
2nd Peter 1: 5 – 6For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), (6) And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety), (7) And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love. (8) For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). (9) For whoever lacks these qualities is blind, [spiritually] shortsighted, seeing only what is near to him, and has become oblivious [to the fact] that he was cleansed from his old sins. (AMP C)
Galatians 6: 9And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. (AMP C)
Hebrews 10: 36 – 39For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. (AMP C)
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is developing the fruit of Patience and Longsuffering in every area of their lives. They are diligent to let Patience have it’s perfect work so that they can be perfect and entire wanting nothing.
Patience – Vines NT
Patience is the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial; it is the opposite of despondency and is associated with hope.”
Longsuffering – Vines NT
Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger, and is associated with mercy, and is used of God, Exo_34:6 ; Rom_2:4; 1Pe_3:20.
James 1: 2 – 8Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. (3) Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. (4) But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. (5) If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. (6) Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. (7) For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, (8) [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides]. (AMP C)
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is developing the fruit of Patience and Longsuffering in every area of their lives. They are diligent to let Patience have it’s perfect work so that they can be perfect and entire wanting nothing.
Galatians 5: 22 – 23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (NKJV)
Patience – Vines NT
Patience is the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial; it is the opposite of despondency and is associated with hope.”
Longsuffering – Vines NT
Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger, and is associated with mercy, and is used of God, Exodus 34: 6; Romans 2: 4; 1stPeter 3: 20.
James 1: 4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (NKJV)
The Lord Is Patient and Longsuffering in all of His Ways.
Exodus 34: 6And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, (NKJV)
Psalm 145: 8 – 9The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. (9) The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works. (NKJV)
One strong characteristic of Patience and Longsuffering is to wait.
Isaiah 30: 18And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]! (AMP C)
Romans 15: 4 – 6For whatever was thus written in former days was written for our instruction, that by [our steadfast and patient] endurance and the encouragement [drawn] from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope. (5) Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, (6) That together you may [unanimously] with united hearts and one voice, praise and glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). (Amp C)
Colossians 3: 12 – 17Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;(13) bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (14) But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and (15) be thankful. (16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (17) And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (NKJV)
Have you ever heard the statement “Jesus is the reason for the season”.
We have all heard that phrase at one time or another.
Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season for all of Mankind or He should be.
But what about God’s angle of view?
From God’s angle of view Mankind, You and I are the reason for the season. You and I and all of Mankind past present and future are the entire reason that Jesus was born.
It took over 4,000 years for everything to be in perfect order for Jesus to be born. No wonder that all the angels and I believe all of Heaven itself were celebrating that night.
The one and only reason that Jesus came into this world was because Man was separated from God.
The greatest Giver of all Time and Eternity Is God Himself. The greatest gift ever given was Jesus. The ultimate gift of Love.
John 3: 16 – 17For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. (17) For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. (Amp. C)
John 1: 16 For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift. (Amp. C)
Ephesians 2: 4 – 5 But God–so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, (5) Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). (Amp. C)
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is walking in the Peace and Rest of the Lord. This person exercises the Fruit of Peace in every area of their life. They are at Rest in God’s Living Word.
Psalm 23: 5 – 6You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over. (6)Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place. (Amp. C)
The previous verse 4 relates to walking through the valley of the shadow of death. There are enemies in the valley of the shadow of death. But as we discussed in our last message, right in the presence of our enemies we are being protected and comforted by our shepherd who is right there with us.
Right in the presence of our enemies, the Lord, Who is with us, has prepared a table for us.
He has also anointed our heads with oil. Our cup is running over. He has made abundant overflowing provision for us right in the presence of our enemies.
This table is a right now table. This is not the same table that is being prepared for us in Heaven. There are no enemies in Heaven.
Our Loving Heavenly Father, in all His Goodness, right in the very presence of our enemies, has prepared a table for us in the secret place of His Presence.
GOD IS GOOD!!! No matter who we are or what we have done God has laid up His Goodness for all who will come to Him and receive it. His Goodness is laid up for all of man past present and future.
Psalm 100: 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.(Amp. C)
Psalm 106: 1 PRAISE THE Lord! (Hallelujah!) O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! (Amp. C)
Psalm 107: 1 O GIVE thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! (Amp. C)
Psalm 31: 19 – 21 Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! (20)You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues. (21)Blessed be the LORD, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! (NKJV)
The Goodness of God toward man is not based on our being afraid of God. The Goodness of God is based on who He Is. Love Himself.
We cannot receive anything from God by being afraid of Him. That was one of the mistakes that Israel made. They did not understand the Goodness or Love of God. They did not know that God Is Love.
We do not come to the table that God has set for man by being afraid of Him. That kind of fear will keep us out of the Secret Place and away from the Table of the Lord.
Dictionary
Fear n.
1. a. A very unpleasant or disturbing feeling caused by the presence or imminence of danger:
b. A state or condition marked by this feeling:
2. A feeling of disquiet or apprehension:
3. A reason for dread or apprehension:
4. Extreme reverence or awe, as toward a deity.
v. feared, fear·ing, fears
1. To be afraid or frightened of:
2. To be uneasy or apprehensive about:
3. To consider probable; expect:
4. To revere or be in awe of (a deity, for example).
Reverence (rĕv′ər-əns)
1. A feeling of profound awe and respect and often love.
2. An act showing respect, especially a bow or curtsy.
Fear or being afraid of God will keep us out of the Secret Place and away from the Table of the Lord.
Reverence or reverential fear of God causes us to enter the Secret Place and partake of the Table that He has prepared for us.
Psalm 91: 1 HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].(Amp. C)
Psalm 103: 17 But the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting upon those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, and His righteousness is to children’s children (Amp. C)
Psalm 25: 9 – 10He leads the humble in what is right, and the humble He teaches His way. (10)All the paths of the Lord are mercy and steadfast love, even truth and faithfulness are they for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. (Amp. C)
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is walking in the Peace and Rest of the Lord. This person exercises the Fruit of Peace in every area of their life. They are at Rest in God’s Living Word.
(Verse 4)Psalm 23: 4 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. (Amp. C)
Psalm 118: 6The Lord is on my side; I will not fear, what can man do to me? (NKJV)
Isaiah 41: 10Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. (Amp. C)
Romans 8: 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (32) He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (NKJV)
Hebrews 13: 5b – 6… He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] (6) So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? (Amp. C)
We do not have to be afraid of Satan. He is already a defeated foe. He was 100% defeated by Jesus at the Cross.
Satan is limited to what is common to man or the natural or to what is common to man. We as Born-Again Children are not limit to this natural world.
1st Corinthians 10: 13For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. (Amp. C)
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is walking in the Peace and Rest of the Lord. This person exercises the Fruit of Peace in every area of their life. They are at Rest in God’s Living Word.
Psalm 23: 3 He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him–not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake. (Amp. C)
Psalm 25: 4 – 5 Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. (5)Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long. (Amp. C)
Psalm 25: 9 – 10He leads the humble in what is right, and the humble He teaches His way. (10)All the paths of the Lord are mercy and steadfast love, even truth and faithfulness are they for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. (Amp. C)
Psalm 32: 7 – 8You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah(8) I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. (NKJV)
Proverbs 3: 5 – 6Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. (6)In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.(Amp. C)
Psalm 19: 14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer. (Amp. C
When entering into and dwelling in the Secret Place of God’s Rest the Lord Himself becomes our Shepherd.
John 10: 11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. (NKJV)
John 10: 14 – 18 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. (15) As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. (16) And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. (17) “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. (18) No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (NKJV)
John 10: 27 – 30My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (28) And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. (30) I and My Father are one.” (NKJV)
(Verse 2)Psalm 23: 2 He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. (Amp. C)
When sheep are full, satisfied, and the shepherd is present watching over the sheep what do they do? They lie down. They do not move from that place until they see the shepherd move. The presence of the shepherd brings the sheep rest.
Psalm 4: 8In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust. (Amp. C)
Proverbs 3: 21 – 26My son, let them not escape from your sight, but keep sound and godly Wisdom and discretion, (22)And they will be life to your inner self, and a gracious ornament to your neck (your outer self).(23)Then you will walk in your way securely and in confident trust, and you shall not dash your foot or stumble. (24)When you lie down, you shall not be afraid; yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet. (25)Be not afraid of sudden terror and panic, nor of the stormy blast or the storm and ruin of the wicked when it comes [for you will be guiltless], (26)For the Lord shall be your confidence, firm and strong, and shall keep your foot from being caught [in a trap or some hidden danger]. (Amp. C)
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is walking in the Peace and Rest of the Lord. This person exercises the Fruit of Peace in every area of their life. They are at Rest in God’s Living Word.
Psalm 23is a wonderful image of the person who has entered and is dwelling in The Secret Place of God’s Rest in Psalm 91
When entering into and dwelling in the Secret Place of God’s Rest the Lord Himself becomes our Shepherd.
Psalm 91and Psalm 23are both about deep intimate relationship, covenant, refreshing, protection, provision, rest, and guidance.
Psalm 23: 1 THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. (Amp. C)
The Lord is My Shepherd, My Lord, I have made an absolute quality decision my choice.
Because He Is my Lord, my Shepherd I shall not lack! If you have made the Lord Your Shepherd – You shall not lack.This is an absolute truth.
However, we need to be aware that there are conditions in this verse that puts us in the position where we do not lack.The conditions unlock God’s provision.
Those conditions are:
Our submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in every area of our lives.
Our submission to Jesus Christ being our Shepherd in every area of our lives.
Our submission to The Living Word as being first place and final authority in our lives.
A lack of knowledge and our not acting on the knowledge that we have causes us to be in lack.
What do we do when we have a lack of knowledge?We obtain knowledge and we act on that knowledge, or we will continue to lack.
Just to have knowledge is not enough. We must have faith in the knowledge that we have. Faith is an action word. For faith to be real faith there must be action that flows from the faith.
It is not by your own works but there is a work or action that flows from the faith.
James 2: 17 – 18Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (18) But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (NKJV)
The source of the knowledge of God is His Living Word. The abiding Word always brings forth fruit and restwhen we submit to it and make it final authority.
The Living Word is what God uses to provide our every need. The Living Word must be activated by our Faith which works by Love.
Matthew 6: 33But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. (Amp. C)
John 15: 7If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. (Amp. C)
2nd Peter 1: 2 – 3May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. (3)For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). (Amp. C)
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is walking in the Peace and Rest of the Lord. This person exercises the Fruit of Peace in every area of their life. They are at Rest in God’s Living Word.
God Himself has invited each of us into the secret place of His rest. We are the ones who must choose to enter the place of His rest.
Hebrews 4: 9 – 11 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. (10) For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. (11) Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. (NKJV)
(Amp C.)Hebrews 4: 11 Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], (Amp. C)
But we must choose to enter that place of rest.
Psalm 91: 1 – 2HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. (2)I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!(Amp. C)
In order to enter this secret place and dwell there we must set our Love upon Him and walk the Love Walk.
Psalm 91: 14 – 16 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness–trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]. (15)He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. (16)With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation. (Amp. C)
Isaiah 26:3You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. (Amp. C)
If we have not received Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we cannot enter the Secret Place of God’s Rest.
Anyone who is Born Again can enter The Secret Place of God’s Rest, but we must walk the Love Walk and be Spiritually Minded. We cannot be carnally or fleshly minded and enter the Secret Place of God’s Rest.
Romans 8: 6For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.(NKJV)
In Order to dwell, live, and abide in The Secret Place of God’s Rest, The Word must live and abide in our hearts. The Word must be first place and final authority in every area of our lives.
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is walking in the Peace and Rest of the Lord. This person exercises the Fruit of Peace in every area of their life. They are at Rest in God’s Living Word.
We must put feet to our faith in the Living Word. Our feet must be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace.
Peace is not only a Fruit of the Spirit, but it is also a very important and vital part of the Armor of God.
Ephesians 6: 15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. (Amp. C)
In preparation to face the enemy – We must do this before we face the enemy.
Peace will make you sure-footed and confident with firm footed stability.
Real Faith and Trust in The Living Word of God brings peace and confidence.
Peace will cause you to stand firm on the solid rock. Fear stands on sand.
When the pressure is on, fear runs and cannot stand. When the pressure is on, Peace will remain firm, and we will be able to stand, therefore.
Restoration Ministries 