The Word the Lord dropped in my spirit late in 2021 was the word Steadfast. It was a call to His people to become a people who are steadfast in their walk with Him.
I asked the Lord what a steadfast people would look like and He said they are a people of Faith, a people who are Expectant to see manifestation of His promises, glory and power in their lives as well as a people who Speak Life into dead situations.
“For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,”- Hebrews 3:14 NKJV
Jesus paid a price for you and I. Not only for eternity but for here in this life. We are called to be partakers of everything Jesus has provided at the cross which means we need to be steadfast to see everything He has for us. I believe there is a key component for us to remain steadfast and it is to know the Love of Christ for us.
“that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19 NKJV
For Christ or His Word to dwell in our hearts and truly transform us as well as work for us, we require faith. However, I’m not talking about works, I’m talking about grace that has provided everything we ever need and a faith that receives it or downloads it. Faith is all about a confidence in God, in Christ and in His Word as well as promises for our lives.
How can you have confidence in someone you don’t love nor truly know loves you?
I read this quote from the Matthew Henry Commentary and felt it worth sharing. “Faith opens the door of the soul, to receive Christ; faith admits him, and submits to him. By faith we are united to Christ and have an interest in him.”
The more intimate acquaintance we have with Christ’s love for us, the more our love will be drawn out to him, and to those who are His, for His sake. In other words, the more we will desire to get to know Him more, to see His grace and love be extended and reach others through you.
You will also find a confidence to stand and trust God through the tests, trials, and tribulations that you are or may be faced with. When we know that God loves us, and our relationship is from a grace standpoint not law based, it builds confidence which strengthens your faith in Him and in His finished work at the cross.
There were two examples found in the word that had two completely different outcomes.
We see with Judas who betrayed Jesus. He had spent significant time with Jesus and was in His inner circle yet failed to identify with the love of Christ which affected his faith and guilt, condemnation and shame literally killed him. I’m confident that had he repented sincerely, Jesus would have forgiven him and set him free from all that baggage he carried.
The second example we see with Saul (Paul). He was the biggest persecutor of the Church and in fact was involved in killing Christians and placing them in prison. Yet he had a divine encounter with Jesus, repented and chose to follow Christ. Paul ended up writing most of the New Testament and wrote about knowing the love of Christ and allowing Christ to dwell in our hearts through faith.
On Sunday morning before Church, the Lord dropped this in my spirit.
“Faith is the door; love is the hinges that faith hangs on. Together they open up the supernatural realm of the impossible becoming possible.” – SHAUN SMIT
So the question I have for you. Is your faith short circuiting because of the way you see God, Christ’ finished work as well as His promises to you? Do you see the Love of God and the Love Christ has for you? I believe as you spend time reflecting on this fact, your confidence will increase, your faith will be strengthened, and you will remain steadfast until the end.