“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God;” -Eph. 2:8
The Bible tells us that when we are saved we become sons of God (Rom. 8:16). We are adopted into the family of heaven and we take on the nature of our heavenly Father (Eph. 4:24). As children who are highly prized in the eyes of our loving creator, we are recipients of the different graces that God bestows upon us. In Ephesians 2:8 we are told that the faith that brings salvation is a gift of God. Anything that is given to us as a gift by God can be utilized to fulfill our intended purpose: “…let them HAVE DOMINION…” (Gen. 1:26).
We are told in Romans 12:3 that EVERY MAN has been dealt the measure of faith. Paul is not speaking of every man in the world, but rather, every man who has come under the household of faith (Gal. 6:10). Every born-again person walking this earth has faith in the inner man, whether they are conscious of it or not. There is such a man walking this earth without faith, however, the Bible calls him “unreasonable and wicked” (2 Thess. 3:2).
It wasn’t enough for salvation to just cover our access into heaven. Unfortunately, religion has painted a sloppy picture in our minds of the saving power of God. Salvation is the all-inclusive word of the gospel and incorporates every aspect of our natural human existence (Mk. 10:30).
Faith was given to us by God as a channel of connecting heaven and earth. James tells us that “every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17). Stop and think about this for just a moment. Look what this verse just told us. The good and perfect things of God must COME DOWN. Until they come down, they remain spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3). Thank God for spiritual blessings, however, they were never intended to just stay within that realm; they were meant to be sent into this human, earthly realm. As soon spiritual blessings cross over into this realm of touching, seeing, hearing, tasting, and feeling they become natural blessings or physical blessings.
Not to step on any religious toes or kick over sacred cow, but what good would it have done us if Jesus stayed in heaven? The prophets would have continued to speak of him coming and it would have brought refreshing to the hearts of the people. But that is not enough to satisfy the demands of sin. Despite all the comforting words of prophetic heralding, the human race would have still been stuck under the slave master of sin and death. The Father knew that the son had to LEAVE HEAVEN, where man cannot touch, taste, see, hear, or feel, and come into the realm where man CAN touch, taste, see, hear, and feel (Phil. 6:6-8). This was the first and greatest example of a spiritual blessing being made a physical reality.
The procedure of things coming down from heaven has not changed. It is through earnest expectation and FAITH (Phil 1:20). Why did Jesus come? He was expected! Every time an Old Testament Saint made a blood sacrifice that was faith offered up to God expressing earnest belief that the Messiah was coming.
Putting a demand on heaven with the faith that has been given to us is pleasing to God. When we use our faith to touch heaven, the blessings of God flow. Faith is the highway that spiritual blessings use to cross over into earthly blessings. And it is just the opposite. “By faith Enoch was translated…”(Heb. 11:5). Faith was the highway that Enoch used to cross from the physical to the spiritual.
Friends, we have FAITH! It is so pleasing to God when we use it because we stop working under the weak and beggarly elements of this world and start operating as HE does! When a Father sees his son on the basketball court scoring all the points, while the other team struggles to defend him, the father says, “That’ my boy!” Well when we use our faith, God says, “That’s my child!!”
Use YOUR FAITH today. It is your greatest tool!
Prayer:
“Father, thank you for giving me faith! I have it. It was given to me. And it is a mighty tool to put me over in this life. My faith in Christ brings HEALING! My faith in Christ brings PROVISION! My faith in the blood of Jesus turns spiritual blessings into material, tangible blessings! I will not be defeated today Lord! I have to access all the good and perfect things of heaven! They are my inheritance, as I am your adopted child! Thanks be to YOU, OH LORD, which ALWAYS causes me to triumph! IN JESUS NAME!”
