Of Life and Godliness
the Journey to Christian Spiritual Growth and Maturity, or How to Obtain Everything God Has Provided for Our Life and Godliness Through Knowing God and Hearing God's Voice
By Mike W. Ferry
Copyright 2011 by Mike W. Ferry.
Published by Pursuit Publishers at Smashwords
This book is available in print at most online retailers.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to the one person who first asked me if God had told me to write a book. She is the best gift that God ever gave me, next to my salvation. She is my love, best friend, and my wife of over 30 years, Patty.
Patty, just like Jesus, you have always believed in me. I love you!
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5. What Does A Journey Look Like?
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FOREWORD
I have known Mike for years and have watched him grow in the things of the Kingdom of God and his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and it has been a wild and awesome journey. Mike has lived and walked out the things he is talking about in this book. I cannot think of anyone better to listen to with the wisdom and insight he shares here.
The different areas of love, faith, and relationship with the Lord that he writes about will transform your life. It will give you insight and help you on your journey as a Christian, if you will listen to, and walk in, the wisdom he shares. Its truths will strengthen you and keep you from many pitfalls throughout your life. It will help you build a strong, deep, and lasting relationship with the Lord. It will help you become unmovable and unshakable in your faith, and it will cause you to mature.
I highly recommend repeatedly reading this book until you extract every insight from its pages. I found myself getting excited again about my relationship with the Lord and the possibilities He has for me as I grow to know His precious Holy Spirit.
I have walked with the Lord since April 2, 1976, and I believe this book would also make an awesome study for any believer, whether you are just new in the Kingdom or a seasoned Christian who has walked with the Lord for fifty years.
I pray for God's blessing on every page and that revelation knowledge in this book will be imparted to all who read it.
Thank you, Mike, for your obedience to write this book that I know will help many believers on their journey of "life and godliness."
Dennis See
Founder and Director, The Altar Int'l House of Prayer
Meadville, Pennsylvania
August 11, 2011
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PREFACE
As I was saying goodnight to the Lord one evening in March, 2011, He said to me, "Are you ready to write your book?" I replied, "If You think I'm ready, I am. What is it about?" He said, "Of life and godliness, the journey." I drifted off to sleep with that title branded into my memory. I awoke the next morning to His voice giving me instruction on how to begin the book. For several months, He continued to download the information to put into the book.
What you have in your hands is the deposit given to me to share from God's heart. Enjoy the experience.
God bless you, Mike W. Ferry
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I acknowledge and express my thanks to my lovely wife, Patty, who not only encouraged me during the writing, but also spent countless hours editing and designing the manuscript of this book. She also took the cover photograph and my photograph. This book never would have been finished or published without her help.
I am also grateful to Dennis See, who wrote such a wonderful foreword for the book. He has been a constant friend and confidant, and a source of encouragement in my life, in both the difficult and the overcoming times of my life.
To Tom and Nicole, my dear friends, for standing behind me and being my rear-guard, and encouraging me and giving me a stream of great ideas for marketing this book.
To Marcus and Hollis, also dear friends, for always being there, ready to help; for opening their home to us when we needed a place to live; for always believing in our call to pastor; and for always being ready for an evening of fellowship.
To the pastors I have had over the course of my life that helped forge me into the man of God I am now, including Jimmie Ray Cantrell, Mike Prato, Larry Black, John Kowalczyk, Bruce Ladebu, and Randy DeMain.
To my mother, for challenging me to bring clarification to several parts of this book. I love you, Mom.
To Dyan Roth, for using my wife's photograph to design such a beautiful cover.
To my intercessors and congregation, for praying me through the writing of this book.
Finally, to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, without whom not one word of this book would have been written, and without whom I would not have my existence.
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INTRODUCTION
Have you ever worried about your life?
What does tomorrow hold for us? Next week, next month, or next year?
The cares of this world weigh heavily on many hearts today. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we do not need to worry about our lives any longer. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says we were bought with a price and we are no longer ours.
This choice to become a Christian begins our journey into God's purposes and plans for our individual lives. It also opens the way into His Kingdom and places us under His divine protection and provision.
In this book, I share truths from God's Word, which will encourage your heart to be all God desires you to be in your daily life. God's promise from 2 Peter 1:3 is true, and will transform your life!
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING THE STAGE
Growing up in the church, I have noticed in the lives of many Christians the driving desire or obsession to obtain. As I endeavored to begin this book, I felt that this was the starting point to talk about life, as well as godliness, in a Christian's life. Do we have all the ingredients for a satisfying, godly life? It may sound as if we do not, if we listen to what others are saying in daily conversations. I have found that statements like, "If I had," "If I could only," "If I just," are all based from an attitude of lack. According to 2 Peter 1:3, we have everything pertaining to life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us. As you enjoy this book, I pray God will reveal the true depth of the revelation of what Peter is saying to us about lack.
WHERE ARE YOU SITTING?
If you find yourself making statements like those I have described, they are indicators of a root of misinformation or a deeper illness of unbelief. Have you ever prayed, "Lord, I need Your grace," "mercy," "strength," or so forth? Those are prayers from a place of lack. Where are you sitting in a prayer like that? Those prayers do not originate from the position of sitting with Christ in the heavens.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-6). God made us sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. This place of authority and power, as well as agreement, allows us to observe from God's point of view. As Christ is at the Father's right hand and we sit with Him, we have the authority to pray in agreement with Christ as He intercedes on our behalf. Prayers from the lap of the Lord sound like, "Thank you, Lord, for Your grace," "mercy," "strength," and so on.
We serve an awesome God who sent His son to die in our place for our sins and that son, Jesus, promises to return. Until Jesus returns, we are to live out an ambassador's life here on earth, spreading the Good News of the kingdom.
SATISFACTION NOT GUARANTEED!
Feelings of missing out also play a part in the drive to obtain. I label those feelings as envy. Let us examine a classic example of envy. In Genesis 3, we see this trait first revealed in humanity:
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (vv. 1-6)
This same story line continues to repeat itself today. The rationalization of the fruit being good for food, pleasing to the eye, and a provider of wisdom, set in motion the fall of humanity.
The perception of not knowing enough or not having enough permeates the American dream. The old adage of "he who dies with the most toys wins" can be found everywhere in the last twenty some years. Feelings have changed from "keeping up with the Jones" to "let's go into debt to fulfill our wants." Look at the predicament we have created for ourselves through envy and by living this unsustainable standard. This very self-centered style of selfishness has gone out of control! "Satisfaction guaranteed" is not a promise in this life, apart from God, and even then, satisfaction comes from God's definition, not ours. "The fear of the LORD leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil" (Proverbs 19:23).
LIVE THE DREAM
One of the inspirations God gave to me was to live the dream God dreamed for me. My God dreams big. I do not need all the stuff that can clutter my life to have my dreams fulfilled. Just by examining His creation, you will see all the diversity He placed there, from the micro to the macro. Everything God dreams happens. We have a personal God who is interested in all we do. The day-to-day is not mundane to God. His plans and purposes are within every day of our lives if we look for them. "Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them" (Psalm 139:16). God has a specific part or dream for each of us to live out. Do you believe that about yourself? Do you believe that you can live the dream God dreamed for you? Do you believe you can live a life of full satisfaction?
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, then this scripture applies to you. "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me" (Philippians 3:12). Think about that statement for a moment. There before us lays a journey, "line upon line, precept upon precept" (Isaiah 28:10), leading to a final destination. Christ Jesus set His eyes on you and determined that you were an incredible investment. He purchased you with His own blood and started preparing a wondrous life for you. Knowing our weaknesses, the Holy Spirit began an internal remodeling that will ultimately form us into the image of Christ Jesus. "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). Now you and I have something to be confident about!
Within our journey, God predetermined special moments and appointments in our lives just to bless you and me. This is what God's dream looks like. Each one of these moments empowers us to experience blessings. He leaves them as presents for us to discover along the way. These blessings come in many forms. My personal desire within my life is to "lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me" (Philippians 3:12), which is His dream. My desire for you as you read this book is to see through Christ's eyes what He has for you to "lay hold of." With God, you can live the dream God dreamed for you!
WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP
We have the special blessing of being handpicked by God. With this knowledge, there is an even greater responsibility, and ability, to fulfill our potential. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). What an incredible scripture about us!
God's fingerprints are all over our lives. Not only are all our days fashioned by God but also He even went so far as to prepare beforehand great exploits for us to do. We do not want to miss even one of God's daily gifts for us. We have the ability and responsibility to answer His call to do those good works.
If you want to know what those works are, you just need to listen for His voice. He says of us, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27). Knowing His voice is one of the first steps to a fulfilling life. God's voice of direction can also be a comforting companion in our daily walk. We are not to take lightly the call of God to fulfill those exploits on our life. "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Romans 11:29).
Paul, in Ephesians, has this to say to us as well. "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called" (Ephesians 4:1). We are called to greatness, not mediocrity! God does not create junk. When He created the world, Genesis 1:31 states that He saw that it was good. That creation includes you and me. God has a stake in us. No one has been an accident or overlooked by God. God desires to have a one-on-one connection with all humanity.
IT'S ABOUT RELATIONSHIP
As you can see, I am not talking about religion, but relationship. Religion causes us to reject the seed of revelation and leaves us holding the empty shell of the structure. With the seed of truth gone, there is no promise of the new growth. See if I am telling the truth. Go out, plant the husk from an ear of corn, and watch what grows. Now take just one fertile kernel, plant it, and see the great potential of continued harvests you reap.
This same principal holds true in our lives--relationships create life. A relationship with God is like any other that requires a continued commitment. Religion is the empty husk from the corn, a lot of activity that looks great on the outside and very little life on the inside. If you find that statement offensive, I leave this scripture with you. "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you" (Philippians 3:14-15). In other words, our individual godly calling may cause misunderstandings or even conflict between brothers. So let us agree at this point and from this point forward--if we disagree, God will reveal the truth to us. This understanding should be the tie that binds us together in love with our fellow Christians, as stated in Colossians 3:14.
THE ABUNDANT LIFE
As we have a personal relationship with God, He reveals to us specific secrets that we need to understand to fulfill the call upon our lives. "Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God" (1 John 3:9). The word seed here is the Greek word "sperma"1. Does that word look familiar? The living seed that remains in us carries the dynamic creative power of the Almighty God! Its creative force is a constant in our spiritual growth and life. Without it, we are nothing more than empty vessels or wells without water.
Life without the seed is not living the abundant life that Jesus promises when He says, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Do you have the seed of God within you? I ask you, are you living or just surviving?
OUR JOURNEY IS WITH GOD
"Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion" (Psalm 84:5-7). This sounds like living to me! Put yourself in this verse and see what God has intended for you.
We draw our strength from God and God alone, and we are on a journey. "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake" (Psalm 23:3). We are going where He leads. We do not need to struggle along, fumbling for the correct direction to go.
Look closely at what verse 5 of Psalm 84 says: "Blessed is the man" (singular). In verse 6 it says, "As they pass…"--that is the man and God together. Wow! We set our heart on this pilgrimage and we go out with God by our side. What a reassuring promise we have of not being alone against the world and its trials.
Next, they arrive at the Valley of Baca or Valley of Weeping. Here, God's power transforms the place of weeping into the descriptive picture of an oasis with pools, which are produced by rain. This sounds like God raining down blessing on us.
Finally, we see God and this individual going from strength to strength all the way to Zion. I picture myself walking triumphantly hand in hand with God as we take on all challengers in this life, as He leads me in victory.
KNOW GOD INTIMATELY
It requires intimacy to obtain this type of relationship. Let us look at the story of the woman at the well, found in John 4.
Jesus tells her all about herself, yet had never met her before. She runs into the city and tells her friends all about Jesus and many believe in Him on her testimony alone. Still others come out to inquire of Christ themselves and ask Him to stay on for several days. This group would not accept secondhand knowledge to convince them of who Christ was, but listen to what they later said: "Then they said to the woman, 'Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world'" (John 4:42).
Everyone fits in one of these categories--either firsthand or secondhand knowledge. I want firsthand knowledge of someone, so I can stand next to him or her without a doubt in my mind. I want to hear for myself and know someone's heart, like those who came to listen to Jesus.
Listen to Peter as he proclaims to us, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).
King David in the Psalms states, "He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps" (Psalm 40:2). Do you feel the desire of God for you? You are chosen, special, called, and established by Him. Do you want to know Him firsthand or secondhand? Above all, we must know God intimately.
IT IS NOT THROUGH THE LAW
The reading of this book may stir many to begin a regimen of activities based on rules found in the laws of the Old Testament. That is not God's or my desire for the reader. I will address the law in a later chapter but first let me say, fulfilling the law is Christ's duty alone, not ours. Let me quickly share these:
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)
There 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. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)
Thank you, Lord Jesus! This is the sure foundation of a Christian's life.
REVELATION, SALVATION, SANCTIFICATION
Let us take a moment and see what else our marvelous Savior has done. "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:25-27). Here we see Christ using His Word to sanctify and cleanse, so that He may present us to Himself as a holy, glorious church without fault.
As to the workings of this "washing by the word" in my own life, I have found this formula tends to be true. Revelation brings salvation, which brings sanctification. This formula plays out something like this.
Revelation is God revealing by His Word, either written or spoken, that I have an issue, which separates me from Him. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
My response is then to confess it. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Here the salvation comes through the cleansing--God saves and delivers me from my old ways of living.
Finally, the sanctification is received with the washing away of the sin. "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Again, we see it as a work of Christ or His name. Can you envision Jesus looking at you and seeing all the defilement upon you? His response is not repulsive but a genuine desire to touch you and wipe away the grime to allow everyone to see what beauty lies beneath. His gentle touch removes the smallest fleck left behind, then presses out the wrinkles, and erases every spot. He speaks words of comfort and love with each touch. You can see the love in His eyes for you and hear it in His voice.
JESUS' BRIDE
I would like to share a vision I had many years ago of a wedding. I saw a small church nestled in a wood; I could smell the deep aromas of the moist earth and woodland. Inside the church a wedding was about to take place.
At the front stood the groom and the facilitator who would be conducting the ceremony. The music started and all arose for the bridal march. There at the back of the church stood a young woman.
She wore a tattered, stained dress with bare feet covered in filth. Her hair was matted; her hands were rough and calloused, with dirt under each nail. Her veil was tipped to one side and torn, and her teeth were broken and rotting.
The groom turned and awaited His bride. As the bride took her first steps forward, a gasp went up from the congregation. The bride continued down the aisle and all began to murmur. The bride had been oblivious of her appearance and hesitated half way down the aisle.
The people all stared and pointed in disbelief at the bride, which caught the attention of the groom. Suddenly He realized what was occurring and swiftly rushed to her side. As He reached her, His touch instantly transformed her into the beautiful bride He had already been viewing through His eyes. Together they proceeded to the front.
I believe this simple vision represents what happens to us as we come to Christ. We are oblivious of the filth and situation of our appearance. However, Christ quickly rushes to our aid to show all how He perceives us.
I hope that I have eased some of your concerns about your own salvation. I also hope that I have challenged you to venture into a closer walk with God. May you experience His touch and encouragement in your life and watch closely for all the daily blessings from God to you. May you also know how He feels toward you!
I will close this chapter with this marvelous promise. "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together" (Romans 8:16-17).
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CHAPTER 2: MY RESPONSIBILITY
What an amazing potential we have as God's children! Because we are God's children and coinheritors of God's Kingdom with Christ, according to Romans 8:17, what expectations are there for us to fulfill? In this new relationship, we will grow and experience many changes in our lives. As a Christian, what can we expect? How can we prepare for what lies ahead? The Bible holds all the information we need to build an understanding of God's ways and how to prepare for the future. The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives holds an important influence for direction and change. Together the Word and the Spirit are an unbeatable pair who can transform our lives in powerful ways.
THE TIME TO COME
Fearsome times are coming on the earth, and as Christians, we need to be prepared. Life can get out of control quickly. We must incorporate into our lives the ability to apply God's Word quickly in all situations. In the following passage from Luke, Jesus gives us two building blocks of truth for our life.
So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?" And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately."
Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.
Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls. (Luke 21:7-19)
There are two ideas I want to propose to you from the above scripture. The first is clear and easily understood. He exhorts us to be not terrified and to settle it in our hearts. We are to trust the Holy Spirit to provide for our defense in the presence of our adversaries. The second is the use of our patience to possess our souls. The Greek word found here for patience is hypomonē, which can be translated as endure, enduring, patience, patient, patiently.2 We will discuss this further in a few moments.
NO FEAR!
God is challenging us to be bold in difficult times. Fear does not belong in the life of a Christian. Just look at the events Jesus named: wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilence, "fearful sights," and "great signs from heaven." It sounds as if the entire world is in upheaval, both physically and spiritually. In addition, Christ describes Christians' closest family and friends betraying them, resulting in a death sentence. This may sound like a good time to be in fear, but not according to Jesus. Christ's word of encouragement is to endure or be patient amid these events, and to possess our souls.
As tragedies, adversities, and other challenges occur in life, we need to stay focused on God and His benefits. This is a good place to discuss Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." God controls it all! He turns every event to His purpose and plan. Even when we cannot see His plan, He works things out for our benefit, because we love Him and are "called according to His purpose." Amongst all the chaos and confusion in life, God's Word is true.
All the difficulties try our hearts and our devotion to Him. I know from my own experience that there are many trying times in our lives and we often may feel we face them alone, but that is a misconception. "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6). Jesus said He would never leave us alone--what an awesome promise! Jesus never breaks a promise, so in difficult times we must not only stand on the promise but also proclaim the promise!
Hold on to His Word and promises and you will not fear or fall, because perfect love casts out fear. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18). In all our lives, trials come and go, but God always remains. I have found that searching for Jesus in the tragedy always provided the strength to overcome.
POSSESS YOUR SOUL
Let us discuss possessing our soul. It is time for some more Greek studies. First, let us look at the word possess in the Strong's dictionary. It is the Greek word ktaomai, also translated as get, got, gotten, obtain, obtaining, possess, possession, provide, providence, provision, or purchase.3 The capturing or the ownership of a given item sums up the meaning of the word "possess." I chose these two characterizations because of the weight both carry. If I capture someone, I can arrest them, seize them, apprehended them4, and wrestle them into submission. If I have ownership of a given item, I have lordship, dominion, possession, or authority over its use and conduct.5
Now let us turn our attention to the soul itself. It is the Greek word "psychē," which can be translated as: doubt (be in; make to), doubtful, doubting, heart, heartily, life, living, lifetime, life-giving, and soul.6 For some time, the definition of the soul has been described as the mind, will, and emotions of an individual. With this in mind, we can intertwine the three thoughts of capturing, ownership, and soul to get the implied interpretation we need. Luke 21:19 could now read like this: "By your [enduring trust and faith in God's protection and provision], [arrest, seize, and wrestle into submission by taking lordship, dominion, possession, or authority] over your [mind, will, and emotions and their conduct]." What a mouthful. I wanted to expand on this statement by using these descriptive words to paint the full picture of how we are to respond. Savor the statement for a moment before you read on.
VICTORY
Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Jesus was preparing His disciples for the difficult times that lie before them. What better word of encouragement do we, His current disciples, need to hear?
In the darkest times of my life, I found that as I questioned God on important points, His response has been, "Do you trust Me?" It did not seem to matter how trivial or desperate the question was, the answer was the same. God's statement may seem like a shocking response, which ignores my direct question, but is actually a corrective word meant to keep my eyes on Jesus. Jesus is not only a one-time victor, but He continuously leads us in victory.
"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). We can find victory in life, but only by God's definition. In human understanding, when did a crucifixion ever describe victory? Only once. The cross of Christ for the lost is the perfect victory. Death on the cross at that moment looked like defeat, but the results of His death brought victory. Hallelujah!
How much more can the tests in our lives look like defeat in the moment, but instead are treasured victories. Psalm 66:10 reads, "For you O God have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined." The testing of our hearts brings forth the true treasure in us. Tests come in every shape and size. I believe each test is a proving ground to our faith and the redemptive work of God in our lives. The products of these tests are just as diverse as the test itself, but our faith increases as well.
TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE
Listen to what the apostle Paul has to say about treasures in Colossians 2. "For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (vv. 1-3). Hidden in the Father and Christ are treasures of wisdom and knowledge. When a challenge presents itself, we need both wisdom and knowledge to respond correctly, and the faith to persevere.
Stamina is a necessary ingredient in a Christian's life. It takes determination to keep pressing forward, when all those around you say to give up. The negativity of others can be taxing. Psalms 68:9-11 says, "You O God, sent a plentiful rain, whereby You confirmed Your inheritance, when it was weary. Your congregation dwelt in it; You O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor. The Lord gave the word; great was the company of those who proclaimed it." God affirms us as His inheritance as He rains down blessings and provision in view of the unbelieving around us. The rain is also to encourage us and bolster our determination to press on, especially when we are weary. We are to live daily in the blessed rain of His presence. We qualify as poor when we are weak, so He provides His goodness to us, making us strong and rich. Being in the rain confirms us as His, and we in turn have the privilege of proclaiming we are His!
God's desire is that we would know Him in all His attributes and ways, drawing forth His wisdom and His knowledge. Knowing Him may sound difficult but He is reaching out for us, just as much as or more than we are reaching for Him. The purpose of our drawing wisdom and knowledge from the Father, as well as Christ, is for the expressed purpose described in Matthew. "Then He said to them, 'Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old'" (Matthew 13:52).
A similar scripture in Proverbs reads, "There is desirable treasure, and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it" (Proverbs 21:20). God has blessed each of us with His wisdom. The illustration here is that to hoard or waste the desirable old and new treasure and oil, from God's purpose is foolish. The momentum of Heaven depends on such wisdom; it is not just for us as individuals--we must share it with others. The "foolish man squanders" wisdom by hoarding it away for himself--he does not share it with others.
It is fulfilling when God uses us to share His Kingdom principals with others. The gift of watching a brother or sister in Christ light up as the Spirit reveals truth to their innermost being blesses both God's and my heart. We must share what God has entrusted us with others.