#1352 0228 10P

           We must allow God to teach us how to trust Him in believing faith, on the atonement of His Son, through the inspiration of His Holy Spirit.  The outward commands God gives in His Word, and the inward trust on the Blood in our heart, are always connected.  Understanding that connection is the key to enjoying the blessings God provides through the atonement.

            A major hindrance to answered prayer is to think that outward observances, or visible good deeds, count as merit.  This thinking is often a hidden attitude of the heart, but this must be changed.  The nature we had before giving our life to God is so used to depending on outward acts as merit that we often depend on such things for answers to prayer.  Satan wants us to think that some plan we follow, or some deed we do, is what brings the blessing.

            Most professed Christians think that if they live a decent and moral life, they will surely go to heaven.  They believe that since they have never deliberately harmed anyone, pay their taxes, attend church, and give to the poor, that God will accept them as righteous.  All that honesty and sincerity, however, is no basis for merit or forgiveness from God.

            Transferring our dependence on outward good deeds, to dependence on the divine power of God—from a change of heart within that believes in faith on the atonement of Christ—is the only thing that counts.  Galatians 5:6 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.  The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

            The sacrifice of Christ is the reason we can ask for a change of heart.  Our sins are forgiven, when a trusting faith is on the shed blood of Christ.  1 John 2:2-3 “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.  We know that we have come to know him if we obey [keep] his commands.”

            Under the Law, human ability was the power that accomplished the desired results.  If they did good works, God would bless them with good health.  His plan for healing was Exodus 15:26, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases [sickness] I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

            Outward obedience would bring inward healing, but this was to be done in human strength.  To be healthy and healed today, we would still have to live according to God’s will and Word, but there is no merit in our doing that.  Perfect health is not the result of obeying the Word, but the result of trusting in believing faith on the atoning sacrifice of Christ.

            If we are physically oppressed, God’s Word says James 5:15, “the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.  If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.”  It is the gift of healing God gives to anyone willing to believe and trust on the Blood of Christ.  Under grace, God furnishes the merit of the sacrifice, and He gives the power of His Spirit.  No work is required on our part, but a choice to believe in faith is required in our heart.

            Outward deeds or good works done—apart from depending on the power of God, can be spiritually deceptive.  When we do something unscriptural we know it is wrong, but if we do something good—but not depending on the power of God, we can be deceived to place merit on the deed instead of depending on the power of the blood.  Human ability counts for nothing John 15:5.

            The New Testament plan of God is to do everything in His power, by His Spirit—which is the result of a changed heart.  God furnishes all the ability, and He inspires all the faith—when we are willing to allow Him to change our heart, to one that believes in faith.  We must not place more emphasis on our obedience to outward commands, than on our inward trust on God.  Our changed heart is empowered by His Holy Spirit.

            No one can live an overcoming life of faith in Christ, until they have Jesus enthroned in their heart.  His Holy Spirit furnishes the inspiration, the power, and the ability to obey God’s Word in the New Testament—nothing else counts.  1 Corinthians 13:2-3 ”If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom [understand] all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not [divine] love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not [divine] love, I gain nothing.”

            All outward good deeds and following Bible commands—if not done from sincere, divine love in our heart, no spiritual benefit would result.  All through the life of Christ, and in all the writings of the apostles, emphasis is placed on the inward heart being inspired and empowered by the Spirit of God.

            Seventh Day Adventists emphasize observing Saturday as the Sabbath, and saying that anyone who does not worship on Saturday will not go to heaven.  Saturday is not even mentioned in the Bible, and there was no calendar at all in the beginning.  God commands that we are to work six days, and rest on the seventh.  Anyone who does that is obeying both the principle and letter of Scripture.

            Other religious organizations put much emphasis on outward observances as a reason for merit.  Some think that outward appearance has merit with God, but the clothing we wear on the outside, does not change our heart on the inside.  We could have a carnal nature, but be wearing a religious suit—like a wolf wearing a woolen garment—of a sheep Matthew 7:15.  Satan often changes his disguise, but his saintly suit, does not change his wicked heart.

            Observing the Sabbath, and wearing modest clothing, originates from a change of heart that is controlled by the Spirit.  When we have had a sincere change of heart, our love for things of the world will diminish and dissolve.  The way we dress, and when we observe a day of rest, will not be done right until our heart is right—under the control of the Holy Spirit.

            When our heart is kept pure by faith, and the Spirit of Christ controls our heart, we will be able to obey the instructions God has given in the New Testament.  We will not only have the ability to follow those directions, but we will be glad to obey them.  When our heart attitude is right, all other things follow accordingly.  Jesus said Matthew 12:33, "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good.”

            First century disciples had no problem with obeying God’s will on finances, after they received the Holy Spirit in their heart.  Their decisions to follow God’s will were voluntary and intentional.  It was not difficult to obey God on any of these faith issues, because they were inspired to do so by the Holy Spirit living within and controlling their heart.

Acts 2:44-45 ”All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”   It was easy to sell the laid-up possessions they had depended on, and to now transfer that trust to God in believing faith.  It was an outward exercise of godliness, which 1 Timothy 4:8 “is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”

            To have this change of heart be a reality, we need to begin living by real faith on the divine power of God.  We must put aside all that is seen, and put our faith on He who is unseen—our heavenly Father who promises good gifts to all who believe and trust Him in faith.  We are to consider our inward condition to be what God says it is—not what the devil suggests it was.  We now live by true faith in the true God.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ”We do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles [light affliction] are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

            Our responsibility is to confess and forsake all sin, unbelief, and rebellion—sincerely acknowledging our heart to be what God says it is; originally—rebellious; but 1 John 1:9 ”If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

            The moment we confess and forsake our sins, we can claim and receive a changed, forgiven, and cleansed heart.  We are not to believe anything else—although we may be tempted to believe otherwise.  We must know that we have had a change of heart—by the divine power of God.  We should repeat that over and over—change of heart, by faith, on the Blood of Christ.

            When we have surrendered our will, to be God’s will—and have held nothing back from Him, we will be able to meet everything according to the Word.  God’s will is that our life be what He wants it to be—totally surrendered to Him.  Romans 12:1 “I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing [acceptable] to God—this is your spiritual [reasonable] act of worship.”

            The moment our life is placed on the altar of God, we will be able to take the position Jesus assigned to us—that of a branch to a vine.  We are connected to Him like a limb on a tree John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches.”

            We are to renew that stand of faith again and again—to Romans 6:11 “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”  We are dead to sinful and rebellious attitudes of no trust on God, and are alive to an attitude of believing and faithful trust on God.  We are to maintain that scriptural position and that surrendered heart attitude.  It is a change of heart—by the power of God.