Be Confident!

Hello everyone,

The moment we surrender our hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God comes to live in us. The Bible says the very power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead came to reside and work inside every believer. That power of God actually raised our spirits in Christ, to be seated in heavenly places together with Him. Through Jesus, and His power in us, you and I have been given a position of authority over every work and power of the enemy.  

Our confidence to exercise our God-given authority in this life comes from knowing the Word and being skilled to operate in it. Now, the Bible says that Jesus is the Living Word; and to really know Him, meditating on the written Word of God, coupled with a hunger and desire to walk in all the wonderful wisdom and authority it brings, is key! This promise in John 14:21 is motivation enough! I treasure these beautiful and powerful words of Jesus. He said, “The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]”. 

You see, as much as knowing the Word and being skilled to operate in it can seem to be an intellectual exercise, it’s really far more than that. It has everything to do with nurturing a deep and meaningful relationship with the Person of the Word, and His Holy Spirit, Who breathed it into existence. Every time we get into the Written Word, let’s remember that Jesus has promised to manifest Himself to us in a way that we can clearly and personally see Him in each piece of scripture. What a glorious promise! God’s Word being made alive to us – by Himself!

When we decided to see studying and meditating on God’s Word this way, we discover that it’s alive and powerful – and is able to change everything concerning us. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energising, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analysing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.” Walking with Jesus in His Word will not only satisfy us; it will completely transform us by its wisdom and truth. And He sets you free. Jesus, the Word, really and truly sets you free!  And if you stay committed to Him, His Word in you will KEEP you free! Those are His own Words in John 8:36, “So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free.”

Now, getting back to the statement that our confidence to exercise our God-given authority in this life comes from knowing the Word and being skilled to operate in it…

I found four actions that will lead us to grow our confidence, because they will grow our understanding of Who our God is and who we are in Him. Psalm 119:17b says, “...and I will observe Your word [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it]” (AMPC). The devil knows he is no match for the child of God who hears, receives, loves and obeys God’s Word! That’s because, in essence, that child of God is personally hearing, receiving, loving and obeying his God through His Word. I’m trying to say: our hearing, receiving, loving and obeying has become a personal relationship – not a mechanical exercise.  

Many of the emails we receive from viewers who watch the network have to do with questions on how to practically study and understand God’s Word. People have so many questions and needs, but don’t know how to find the answers. So, here are some practical tips on how you can really enjoy a personal time of digging into the treasure of God’s Word to find the gems that are hidden for you! 1 Corinthians 2:7 says, “But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God—[that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence].” 

So, my first piece of advice is: when studying the Word, don’t be afraid to use technology! This is a pretty bold statement from me, since I’m the one in my family who is labelled ‘technically challenged’. If you can’t do it yourself, ask a friend to help you. Download a good Bible app onto your electronic device. There are heaps of great choices available from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. There are also wonderful Bible commentaries and concordances that are available at just the click of a button! And here’s a great resource too: it’s called YouTube and Google! Naturally, you will need to make use of your Holy Ghost filter to find the gems and sift through the horrors. But go for the names of men and women of God who have truly stood the test of time in their walk of faith – and have the fruit to prove it! A personal favourite of mine is Kenneth Hagin. I love his teachings, especially when it comes to understanding and knowing the believer’s authority! The very best teacher on all truth, however, is the Holy Spirit, Who is more than willing and eager to teach you.  So, really trust His leading and prompting.  

Where to begin? There are many excellent devotionals available that highlight a scripture each day and give a helpful start to understanding how you can apply that truth to your life. You can begin there; if it triggers a desire to know more, turn to your commentaries and concordances to start digging! It’s a very exciting and insightful exercise, especially since the Holy Spirit will highlight the truth you need at that time. Whatever you discover, no matter how trivial it may seem, write it down! That’s so important! You will find yourself revisiting that truth over and over again. This is excellent, because the more we ponder on and talk about the Word, the more we understand it; and its truth becomes a part of what we believe and who we are. 

Many devotionals also give a plan to read through the entire Bible, you can even Google one! This is a great idea to steadily get acquainted with the beautiful truth it holds and how everything comes together in context. Remember, there is nothing of greater value to us in this life than God’s Word alive in our hearts; so, prioritise investing time in it!

I have recently started watching an absolutely fantastic Bible program called ‘The Bible Project’ on YouTube.   They take each book of the Bible, give an excellent summary of its contents, author and its context relating to the Bible as a whole.  It’s done in a brilliant, attention grabbing way that will make studying the Bible an absolute treat and exciting  prospect!  Once you start watching you will really find it difficult to pull yourself away!  I strongly encourage you to take a look at it.  Here is the direct link to the book of Matthew:    https://youtu.be/3Dv4-n6OYGI

I truly hope this letter has inspired you to begin your treasure hunt in the scriptures, or increase the time you are already spending in it. Mark 4:24 has always been a personal motivation for me when it comes to increasing my knowledge and relationship with the Word. It says, “And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you—and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.” Remember: hear, receive, love and obey God’s Word; it’s the only path to real confidence and success!

Until next week, happy digging!

All my love,

Jen