As we mentioned last week, true faith is faith in God—not in a principle, an outcome, or in our faith, but in Him. Faith is the currency of the kingdom. In the new covenant, we are called to walk by faith and in truth. If we are not walking in all the benefits Jesus went to the cross to provide, then we need more knowledge about the cross and more faith in the power of His sacrifice. 

         I am not currently walking in all the benefits of the new covenant—and I don’t know anyone who is—but I am resolved to do this, because He deserves it. The faith by which we attain our new covenant benefits is like a spiritual muscle. Just like our natural muscles, the more we exercise our faith, the more it grows. If we have exercise programs for our muscles, should we not have one for our faith?

         Reconciliation with God and forgiveness of sin for eternal life is an immeasurable benefit, yet it is only one covenant benefit for which He paid a dear price. For this reason, we should resolve to grow in faith until we are walking in all our covenant benefits with Him, so the world will see the power of His cross. 

         True faith is simply seeing Him as He is, not just as He was. He is no longer Jesus of Nazareth, and He is no longer on the cross. He is the King of kings, who sits on the throne above all authority and power, and with whom nothing is impossible. 

         If we rose out of bed this morning and Jesus was standing there, physically manifested, how many of us would have a different kind of day? The truth is, He was there. He never leaves nor forsakes us. If we are His, He is always with us. Do we see Him? If not, why not?

         Jesus doesn’t just want us to believe He exists, or just believe all the facts about Who He is. He has called us to abide in Him—not just think about Him occasionally but walk and abide in Him all the time. This is the new creation, new covenant life He went to the cross to provide. 

         Am I living this life now? No, not fully, but I am making measurable progress. Since 2014, I can see where I have made progress every year. I can see it because I was looking for it, and that helped me stay on track. You will, too, if you make it the priority of your life until He stays on your heart and mind. The Lord said if we seek first His kingdom, everything else we need would be added to us (see Matthew 6:33). 

         Seeking His kingdom first, so everything else gets added to us, happens because seeking His kingdom first keeps us on the path toward walking in everything He accomplished. I started seeking first Him and His kingdom when I became a believer in Him more than fifty years ago. However, I allowed many distractions to eclipse this. Though I have always sought His kingdom, His kingdom was not always first. 

         For years, ministry was a distraction for me. It didn’t have to be that way. Ministry is a way to seek Him and His kingdom if we do it with Him instead of for Him. Ministry done in our own wisdom and strength rather than in His wisdom and strength is not seeking His kingdom first. The Lord may bless and use what we do in this way, but He will bless many things He will not inhabit. 

         There is a “good and acceptable and perfect” will of God (see Romans 12:2). What I did my way may have been good and acceptable, but it was not the perfect will of God. When the Lord showed me this, I surmised I had only done a small fraction of His perfect will, and He agreed. Then He said that small fraction of His perfect will, which is abiding in Him, was far more than what most of His people ever walk in.  

         In this, “good” truly is the worst enemy of best. Never settle for what is only good or acceptable. As we are told in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes.” In Galatians 3:16 we are told,“Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as referring to many, but rather to one, ‘And to your seed,’ that is, Christ.” 

         So, it is “in Him” we walk in the promises. When we walk in the “good and acceptable” will of God, we may receive blessings—even occasional healings, miracles, and prophetic revelations—but we are not receiving the fullness of God’s new covenant provision. Therefore, the ultimate quest is to abide in Him, who is that perfect will of God. 

© 2024 Rick Joyner. All Rights Reserved.