Faith is a spiritual force operating in a spiritual world.
Before you get turned off, let me say, Yes, God knows that we need things. Yes, He knows that we like nice things. And He has told us how to receive things in this natural world that we live in. Matthew 6:33 tells us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you.”
Third John 2 (NKJV) says, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” You are to prosper in all things. That is the promise; the condition is to seek Him first and to renew your mind to the new creation life you received when you were born again (see Rom. 12:2).
The kingdom of God is about righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (see Rom. 14:17). You are in right standing with God, and when you have His peace and joy, you can hear His voice, and He will provide everything you need as you walk in obedience to His Word.
As you become a partaker of His divine nature through the promises in His Word, your faith grows and you believe what God says He will do. “Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen” (Heb. 11:1, TPT).
Faith is the reality in your heart that gives you the confidence to ask God for what you need. “Since we have this confidence, we can also have great boldness before him, for if we present any request agreeable to his will, he will hear us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we also know that we have obtained the requests we ask of him” (1 John 5:14-15, TPT). When we walk in obedience to His Word, then we have confidence. We understand that He will lead us to sow the seed needed to reap the harvest we need.
The Word of God is to your spirit what bread is to your body. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4, MEV). When your body feeds on physical food, you receive physical power called strength. When your spirit feeds on the Word of God, it produces spiritual power called faith. Just as you need natural food every day, you need spiritual food every day.
Read Hebrews 11, the “Hall of Faith.” I don’t see where any of these spiritual heroes asked for “things,” but they prospered in land, cattle and so forth. They were obedient to do what God spoke to them. God has restored to us what was stolen in the garden—a relationship with Him, as we walk in this sin-cursed world. We are to become partakers and co-laborers to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. We are to listen for His voice and walk in obedience as the men and women of God before us. That is why the Word of God is given to us. “Whatever was written beforehand is meant to instruct us in how to live. The Scriptures impart to us encouragement and inspiration so that we can live in hope and endure all things” (Rom. 15:4, TPT).
I don’t know how it all works, but I know that when I seek first His kingdom, things in this world follow me. When I am obedient to sow seed where He tells me, then I reap the harvest of things I need.
When Jesus promised us an abundant life (John 10:10), He was not speaking about things in this earth. He was talking of a spiritual world, the kingdom of heaven. When our total focus is on things, bigger houses, cars and money, it is taking our focus from our purpose in life; I want to know Him and the power of His resurrection (Phil. 3:10).
Satan is not after your things. He is after the Word of God that is in your heart. When you are full of bitterness, unforgiveness and anger or under the power of addictions, he has an open door to steal, kill and destroy.
The secret of kingdom living in this world: You must value the Word of God.
What happened to Eve in the garden? She did not value the Word of God. She believed a lie of the enemy and empowered the liar. Don’t fall into this trap. “But I fear that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve through his trickery, so your minds might be led astray from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3, MEV). {eoa}
Joyce Tilney is an author and Bible teacher. In her new book, The Real Woman Grows Roses from the Thorns of Life, Joyce shares how the seed of God’s Word planted in your heart will transform you into the child God created you to be. For more information email: [email protected] and visit her website at wogministries.com. The book is available on Amazon.
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