FAITH CAPSULE: Engage God’s command (word) to claim His blessed promise.
Joshua 1
One of God’s promise to Joshua after Moses was, “…I will not leave you nor forsake you.”(Joshua 1:5) Very often acclaimed believers lay claim of the verse to themselves without engaging God’s condition for the promise. The condition for such promise is encased in God’s requirement which He spoke to Joshua stating, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8) Engage His word, live by His command to claim His promise.
It is written in Isaiah 54:14, commanded, “In righteousness you shall be established…” After this required command, the blessings that will make a believer of the word of God to prevail were mentioned. Among such blessings are, “…You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake. (Isaiah 54:14-15) “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn…” (Isaiah 54:17)The blessing that is packaged in being established in righteousness cannot be denied. Jesus Christ is our righteousness (2Corinthians 5:21). He came for each and every one, but not all will accept Him. Accepting Him is to believe Him and believing Him is behaving Him. Any one that believes (behaves) Him is the one that is set to overcome any weapon formed against him as promised by the word of God.
Not having been established is a risk standing to claim, “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.” The documentation of Daniel against weapon formed is a true and clear example for the need to be established before engaging weapons formed. The itinerant Jewish exorcists must have assumed the position of established ones, when they took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” (Acts 19:13) The Bible recorded, “…the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”” (Acts 19:15-17)
By studying and gaining understanding knowledge will grow. Growth in knowledge cannot be separated from growth in grace. With steadfastness, grace will grow and knowledge will not fail. To be established in righteousness is the evidence of one’s steadfastness in the Lord. Loving God with all our heart and our soul is the route to living as an effective believer.
Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be steadfast living by His command.