POTENTIAL AND DIVINE ORDER

by Bill Burns

God’s promises do not happen to us automatically. The promises establish our potential – our possibilities.

Potential means not yet actual – having the capacity to be developed.

Spiritual potential is established by the Word of God and by our interaction with it through faith, obedience and free-will choices. Last week we examined the promises of God that are our “Potential Resources.”

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Our kingdom potential will only be realized IF we live in divine order under God’s rule, His divine government.

If we are not living under divine order we will find ourselves living under our own order or Satan’s order or a combination of the two.

The scriptures clearly tell us to “seek first the kingdom of God”, and “if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” That would be with our spirit ruling over the soul. “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live” – in the kingdom under divine rule.

Here are some principles by which divine order is established:

Maintain the God connection by prayer and communion with the Father through Jesus Christ.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:13-14 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

1 John 5:14-15 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Abide in Christ.

John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

Proverbs 3:5-6 rust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Maintain a clear conscience. The conscience of a man is located between the spiritual heart and the spirit of man. The heart is a composite of all of one’s free-will choices (good or bad).

The conscience reveals the condition of our heart.

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

The conscience either confirms our position of “right standing” or it condemns our thoughts, actions, motives and attitudes.

Romans 8:1 here is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

1 John 3:19-22 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

If we ask for and are open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, we can maintain a clear conscience. Paul on conscience:

Acts 24:16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

Build up your most holy faith.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? ––unless indeed you are disqualified.

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Jude 20-21 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Use your faith; put it to the test; stretch it by believing for the unobtainable.

Read the Word.

Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two–edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Ephesians 5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Do Spiritual Warfare

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Satan will tempt you, afflict you and try to move you like he did David.

1 Chronicles 21:1 Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.

David was a man after God’s heart; if Satan can move him, he can move you.

David’s sin – he wanted to depend on his own resources (army) rather than God, as he had in the past. This equates to our taking matters into our own hands rather than trusting God.

Be a Worshiper

Jesus on worship:
John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

Luke 10:21 “Jesus rejoice in Spirit” before His Father.

John 9:31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.

These things will help one live his life in divine order, and that will allow your spiritual potential to become present reality.

Faith Tabernacle

http://ft111.com