I was recently reminded of 2 things:
- We are to be the light of the world
- A recent news headline I read
A recent news headline was reporting on a poll that had recently been taken and it read, “Nearly 70% of Americans Say 2020 Leaving them Despondent.”
Looking around, it is easy to see that 2020 was, for many, a very dark time.
BUT in gross darkness, light is even more readily seen!
This is OUR time to shine!
“Oh, Brother David, you’re just ignoring reality! In reality, things are really bad!”
Then CHANGE YOUR REALITY!
No, I am not denying the fact that there are some really bad things that are going on in the world. I am saying, however, that we should be the exception! We should be in the 30% that are NOT despondent! We should be the points of light in gross darkness. We should be the living witness of the Gospel in the middle of hell on earth! (Matthew 24:14 KJV)
To accomplish this, however, we MUST take the principles of the kingdom of God – the principles of faith – from a philosophical concept of religion and bring them into the practical realities of life!
The basic principles of faith can be found in Mark 11:22-24 KJV, “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
- Have faith in God or, as the Greek actually says, have the faith OF God
- Believe it in your heart
- Say it with your mouth
- You shall have it!
What “it” shall you have? According to verse 23, you will have what you say when you believe it in your heart!
Let’s examine this a little closer. Verse 22 of Mark 11 gives us insight as to what we should be believing and saying and, therefore, receiving. We know from John 1:1 that, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Scripturally, we have every right to substitute “the Word” when we see the word “God” and so we see that Mark 11:22 can correctly be read, “Have faith in the Word!”
- Believe in your heart what the Word says about a situation
- Say that with your mouth
- Receive (actively take) those results in your life!
It really is that simple and yet, it is deeply profound and extremely powerful!
Now, let’s bring that from a concept in your mind from reading words on a page into a place where you can see it in a practical and very real example. The application of these exact principles is precisely how David defeated the biggest problem the nation of Israel had at the time.
In looking at this actual event in 1 Samual chapter 17, we can see how everybody had terror and defeat in their hearts because they believed what the devil had said through Goliath.
Everyone – except David! David had in faith and victory in his heart because he believed what God had said through His Word. Although you can see it in many places in the Bible, you can really get a sense of the importance, the priority and the love that David had for the Word of God in Psalm 119. With 176 verses, Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the entire Bible and in almost every verse David talks about the Word of God! Sometimes he refers to the Word as testimonies or commandments or law but it is always the Word of the Living God that he is referring to with heart felt passion. David studied the Word, he lived the Word, he knew the Word and he believed the Word!
David KNEW and BELIEVED Deuteronomy 20:1,3-4 KJV, “When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
We know that is what David believed and he said it! He said it to his brothers and the men standing with them. (Vs 26) He said it to Saul. (Vs 32-37) He said it to Goliath. (Vs 45-47) and then he took it! (Vs 48-54)
Wow!
David believed the Word. He said it and said it and said it and then he took Goliath’s head with it! And, in doing so, he became a shining light in gross darkness in the land of Israel! Standing there with Goliath’s head hanging from his hand in Goliath’s hometown of Garth, David became a witness to the whole world to the faithfulness of God and to HIs power and ability!
In 2021, let’s determine and purpose to apply the principles of faith in the practical realities of our daily lives and BE the lights for this world that enable them to see our God!