The Daily Word of Righteousness

The First Four Feasts, #7

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:12)

One day, all that God has spoken concerning us will be our possession in solid reality. However, if we do not obey the Lord in the present hour we will be judged concerning our lack of obedience and faith.

The current definition of living by faith is in error. "The just shall live by faith" does not mean we will go to Heaven if we maintain a correct theological position concerning Christ. Living by faith means obeying the revealed will of God in the hope of coming into glory at His appearing. The eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews is a definition of what it means to live by faith.

Our death with Christ on the cross and our ascent with Him into the heavenlies are two examples of God speaking in advance concerning perfection we do not as yet possess in a mature state. As we maintain by faith a positive assurance that what God has spoken He will perform in us, we move toward the fulfillment of the promise.

The promises of God's Word provide an anchor and direction for our faith and create the substance of the reality when we mix faith with the Word. We lay hold on our land of promise and live as though we already were there, to the extent we are able, although the physical evidence testifies that we have not as yet received the fullness.

When the Holy Spirit makes a promise of God real to us, or even if we just read the promise in the Scriptures (taking note of the attendant conditions), we then can lay hold on that promise by faith.

We gain possession of various aspects of our land of promise by seeking them out by faith: a holy, obedient personality, physical healing, the indwelling of the Father and the Son, the gifts and ministries, peace, wisdom, joy, and every other desired blessing. Faith in God's promises creates value where none exists or where evil exists.

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:11,12)

"Who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13)

To be continued.