CWOC the Blog

Romans 1:17 states, “For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, ‘The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith’” (Amplified Version). I love the way this translation reads in this phrase (and it is worth repeating): “…disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith….” Here is this snippet one more time: “…faith that arouses to more faith….” If I may break it down, “FAITH SHOULD BE INCREASING – AROUSING MORE FAITH; thereby, giving the believer a perpetual source of greater faith.” Several of the early church fathers commented on this phrase as thus (and I tend to agree): “From one degree of faith to another-from a weaker to a stronger-from a lower to a higher.”

     For several weeks, I have been feeling God convict me of my personal faith level as well as that of CWOC. Yes, I used the word “conviction.” That’s usually what He does when something isn’t where it needs to be. So, I attest, there are dimensions of my life that God is definitely working on and stretching.

     What about your life? Where is your faith? If we could hook a meter up to your faith would you produce a healthy “FAITH CHECK”? Has your faith increased or diminished? Sorry, it doesn’t stay the same.

Faith that is exercised and fed is an ABOUNDING faith (Colossians 2:7).
Faith that is not fed becomes an ANEMIC faith; weakened and faint.
Faith that is not exercised becomes an ATROPHIC faith (displaced from the lack of use).

Have you been feeding your faith? Have you been exercising your faith? Is your faith ABOUNDING???

I had a very sobering/enlightening moment just a few days ago. My youngest son, Jordan, is 10 years-old. He did something very simple that convicted me to my core. I’ll give you a little background before I hit the matter.

Kim and I had gotten our 13 year-old, Josiah, a little cell phone deal a couple of years back where you add minutes to it as needed. For Christmas, he wanted a “regular” phone on our plan so he could text and talk unlimited. So, we did that. He gave his little old phone to his younger brother. Jordan was stoked. He used his own money to add some minutes. He thought he was a “big dog” calling and texting.

So, last week he comes bounding in my office – grinning like someone who had just gotten word they had won a million dollars. I was standing behind my desk working on some paperwork as he ran across the room, behind the desk and gave me a big hug (I call him ‘Snuggy-bug’ because he loves hugs from his mommy and daddy – I know that won’t last much longer so mom and I enjoy them while we can <grin>).

Then the convicting moment happened. He pointed down to his side and said, “Look what I found. I’m just like you!” His big blue eyes were dancing with excitement. On his side was a little leather phone holder and in it was his little cell phone – just like his daddy wearing his blackberry.

For days now, those words he said have been ringing over and over in my head and I keep hearing my son’s voice say: “I’m just like you.” Wow. Is he just like me? What am I – WHO am I besides the daddy that wears a cell phone? What else is he seeing? What else will he be “just like me” at?

Question: Who is watching you? I guarantee someone is. Let us live our lives with a holy transparency. We very well may one day stand before God and someone turn, look at us and say: “I was just like you.” Access granted or access denied may be because of the example we lived.

Hebrews 4:12 – "…the Word of God is quick (alive), powerful (at work), and sharper than any two-edged sword…."

The phrase "two-edged" in the original language (which is Greek) is made up of two words: (1) ‘dis’ – meaning ‘twice, again’ and (2) ’stoma’ – meaning ‘mouth or the edge of a weapon.’ Looking at the original meanings here, we could translate this phrase as "two-mouthed" or "mouthed-again".

Think about this. God delivers His Word from Himself into our hearts. That is one mouth (God’s). He has delivered it / spoken it into our hearts. It is a Word ‘for’ us. It is HIS Word deposited into us. When it enters us, it becomes OUR Word – given to us.

Thus far only ONE mouth has been involved in releasing this Word.

Until the second mouth becomes involved this Word is not activated. The second mouth is OURS. When we open our mouths and declare the Word of the Lord we activate it in the earth. We release it, by faith, into the atmosphere and render it back to the Lord. Isaiah 55:11 comes into effect – His Word cannot return to Him void and brings breakthrough into where He sends it.

Are you activating the Word of God by declaring it – making it known (Ephesians 3:10)?

Or, are you being a quaint American Christian and hoarding it into yourself; thereby, making it inactive and ineffective?

Have you been to Wal-Mart or Lowes and seen the display of pre-paid gift cards? They are loaded with potential, but are no good until they are activated. The Word of God is like that: loaded with potential – waiting to be activated. Our faith and our declaration (giving it the second mouth) is what activates it in the earth.

Let’s get with the Kingdom program.

For a deeper teaching on this you can order a CD or DVD from Crossroads World Outreach Center – date: 4/14/10. Website: www.cwoconline.org.

There was a time when Jesus was entering into Jerusalem and He "wept" over the city. I believe He wept because the people of the city were missing their opportunity: HIM.

Do you think maybe God’s heart still hurts over such missed opportunities in the realms of mankind? I think so.

Personally, I know there have been times that I "missed" moments through doubt, fear, or sin. But, I’ve never "missed" God. It was always later that He, in His loving, gracious, and merciful way, convicted me and brought me back close to His heart.

This isn’t a walk of perfection. It is a walk of learning. We NEVER experience ultimate failure unless we abandon God for something else.

Jerusalem abandoned Jesus for religion. He didn’t fit the mold of what they were looking for in a "Messiah".

Are there any areas of your life where God looks and it saddens His heart? If there are, let Him help you. If you are not allowing Him Lordship over every area of your life then you have de-throned the King of Glory in your soul.

A de-throned Lord is as bad as a crucified Lord.

May we be a people who never again saddens His heart, but, on the contrary, brings a smile to His face at His very thought of us.

The greatest opportunity you and I will ever have will not be love, fun, career, success or anything this world affords. Those are good things and not bad in themselves. Yet, they are not the greatest opportunity. The greatest opportunity is HIM. In Christ alone….