FAITH IS A FACT III
FAITH IS A FACT –III
“Being Led by the Holy Spirit”
In Session I and II, we established the “Just shall live by Faith and the trial of Faith”:
“You who have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your Faith being more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
We declared God as Creator and preserver by the power of His Word. (11 Peter 3: 5-7, Ps. 19:1, Romans 11:3). We established Him as Savior and Lord.
In Session II, we nailed down the following with the Word of God as our hammer:
- Justification by Faith
- Deliverance from sin by Faith
- Deliverance from the law that condemns by Faith
- Entering the promised rest by Faith
We set our course in this study with a personal goal to keep on maturing until we reach the sum end of our faith that we may be transformed in to the image of Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:29)
Today we will study walking in the Holy Spirit, i.e. the walk of Faith which is a demonstration of the Gospel in action. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14) “For if you are not led by the Holy Spirit, you are under the law.” (Gal. 5:18)
Smith Wigglesworth in his book, Ever Increasing Faith says:
“The Holy Spirit shows us that we must never look back to the law of sin and death from which we have been delivered. God has brought us into a new order of things, a life of love, liberty, joy, peace and righteousness in Christ Jesus that is beyond human comprehension. Many are brought into the life of the spirit through the power of the Spirit of God. Then like the Galatians who ran well at the beginning, they try to perfect themselves on the lines of legalism.” (Page 92)
(Romans 5:2) states the death and resurrection of Jesus has given us a new standing before God. “Through whom we have access by Faith and in to this grace and rejoice in the hope of the Glory of God.”
Smith Wigglesworth tells a story of the manifestation and demonstration of an open display of this Glory:
“He was on a railroad car in route to a convention in Ireland. After being in prayer, he stepped out to wash his hands. He received an impartation what he described as, ‘the Lord just filled me to overflowing with His love.’ The convention was joyous, but on his return trip he said, ‘The Spirit of the Lord was so heavy upon me that my face was shining.’ On stepping in to the railroad car, two clerical men who were sitting together cried out, ‘You convince me of sin.’ Within three minutes everyone in the car was crying to God for salvation.”
This is the ministration of the Holy Spirit which is open to sight, visible and revelatory of this life in the Spirit. Spiritual ministry is the Gospel of the Kingdom in supernatural demonstration and power. It is not a faith talked about, but a faith in action. Faith is a doing ministry.
There is point and meaning in this life in the Spirit. Having been justified by Faith, we are now to see the blessed consequences that flow from it. This is the action of Faith that separates the “doers of the Word and hearers only.” (James 1:22)
The first benefit we discussed last week was the Kingdom key of righteousness. The second benefit was peace. Both are a supernatural state not based on feelings or circumstances. This happiness of the soul is totally undisturbed by success or failure.
This standing by Faith is the grace of relationship where we are sons of God and truly our fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
(1John 1: 1-7) “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon with our hands have handled, of the Word of Life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show to you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we to you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanses us from sin.
In the broadest sense the term sons of God refers to those who know God as their father (infants to maturity). Whether we are infant sons (newly born) or adolescent sons (filled with the Holy Ghost and moving in the in-part realm of the gifts of the Holy Spirit) or mature sons (the high calling and order of God). We are all sons. (Romans 8: 14-15) “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry Abba Father.
” This is our Third Kingdom key. The Word of Life (Life in the Spirit) and our son ship is the key to joy. “That your joy may be full.” (I John 1:4)
Before I move on I want to clarify the in-part realm of the Spirit. This is the 60-fold (spirit filled) Holy Place (2nd room) realm of the Spirit. In this realm are all of the gifts and manifestations of the Sprit. We receive the earnest of the Spirit. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not the fullness of the Holy Spirit, but only the pledge of it. (II Corinthians 1:22, 5:5, Eph. 1:14, Gen. 38:17, 18, 20). The teachings, principals and five-fold ministry of the local church are the tools or instruments that will bring us in to the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 13: 8-13)
The 100-fold is the Third room, man on the throne, Kingly anointing of the Melchezadek Priesthood.
1. Sealed by the Holy Spirit by Justification of Faith by the blood of Jesus, we then have PEACE. (Romans 5:1).
2. Sealed by the Holy Spirit by Faith in His righteousness imputed to us by His blood is our RIGHTEOUSNESS (Romans 3:25).
Sealed by the Holy Spirit by Faith in our standing as sons of God as we are led by the spirit of God is the FULLNESS OF JOY (1 John 1:4, Romans 8: 14-17)
“For both he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all one...” (Hebrews 2:10-11)
This Christian walk is a life of constant change. To live is to be ever growing. To grow is to change. We are progressively maturing in to the full stature of Jesus. The fourth benefit in Romans 5:2 is HOPE. This may be the most exciting because it refers to our future which is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise.
“All who believe in Him will one day see Him as he is and be like Him.” Jesus lived and moved in the life of the Spirit.”
In Romans 5:3, Paul explains why Christians suffer. Sufferings produce in us perseverance, character and HOPE. The world and the carnal mind rejoice in good times, good health and easy circumstances. Rejoicing in suffering is unique only to Christianity.
We, the sons of God, are so blessed. In the Christian community, we equate our blessings with our blessed favor with God. This is true but it is carnal to condemn those who suffer as being in judgment when it may be the season of our stretching that Christ be formed in us.
Smith Wigglesworth says, “Temptations will come to all. If you are not worth tempting, you are not worth powder and shot.” (page 94). Job said, “When he tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” In every temptation, the Lord allows us to be tempted to the hilt, but He will not allow us to be defeated if our prayers are daily before Him. We cannot be to the praise of His Glory until we are ready for trials, and able to triumph in them.
Satan is the accuser of the brethren to bring the saints of God in to disrepute, bringing against them railing accusations. The Holy Spirit never comes with condemnation. He is on hand to reveal the benefits by Faith in the Blood of Jesus. He is our Helper. He is our Comforter. He is the lifting power of the Church. Why in Heaven or earth would the Holy Spirit ever condemn you?
Tested Faith gives us confidence. When we have triumphs over our flesh, our fears, our foes and satan’s assaults, we know that our Faith will take us all the way.
Paul makes it clear, however, that it is not testings alone that condition our Faith to the end. It that were so, reaching the day of Glory would depend entirely on us. Our faith is based on more than our reactions to testings. T is based on the Holy Spirit. He does a progressive, creative work in the sons of God to complete the Christ nature within. This manifestation and unveiling is revealed in Revelation 12: 1-5 with the birth of the man-child company of overcomers who are in the image of Jesus. (Rev. 12: 1-5, is. 43:1, I Ti. 2:13, Pr. 26:10, Phil. 2: 6-7)
Christians can be very harsh with one another. Those who live in the letter of the law become dry, wordy and spent their time in splitting hairs, and talking. They are always talking about God, ever learning, but never acting. For those who live and walk in the realm of the Spirit abide in love, are pliable, and never critical, their heart is to love, serve and honor the Lord. They also respect and honor each other, preferring one another.
Moses was tried by complaining, murmuring, doubting, critical people. They were always causing trouble. But when Moses went up to the Mount, and God unfolded to him the ten commandments, the glory fell. The law of the letter was brought by Moses and it was glorious, but all its glory at Sinai paled before the glory of Pentecost. Those tables of stone never brought life to anyone. This new law of the Spirit of Life in the Holy Spirit fills us with such love and liberty that we shout for JOY.
Oh that God’s people might comprehend this glorious fact!!!! With Faith in this appropriation in son ship we would all be aglow like torches lighting and purifying the atmosphere wherever we go and moving back the forces of wickedness. When we are walking in the Faith that appropriates Jesus’ death as our reconciliation to God (Romans 5:9), how much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His Life.
(Romans 8: 23-39)”And not only the, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan inside ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren, Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
This is a teaching and an epistle which has evolved over 25 years or more. The name of the epistle is Faith is a Fact, Hope is a Certainty and Love is a Reality. It can be read by all men. If I have quoted some author that I have not given notation to, I have long ago forgotten who it was.