I’m transfixed by faith! And it’s NOT about having faith in Faith. Transfixed because GOD gives Himself by His sheer grace, out of His heart of mercy and love, to the “crown of His creation” (Psa 8:6), His chosen and elect, from BEFORE the foundation of this world, or space-time history (Eph 1:4). Meaning, that God already had His people, His children, His sheep, in eternity. Yet, somehow, we ended up lost and needed to be found by His grace again. In absence of a reason from GOD’s holiness and perfection, that lostness must be somehow connected with Lucifer and his rebellion against GOD and the introduction of sin in an otherwise perfect reality of GOD’s kingdom. There are several passages in Scripture that intimates this. But that would be the subject of another post, sometime in the future perhaps.

For this present article, and continuing on the theme of being transfixed by faith and the absolute amazing grace of GOD, the realization dawns that right now, and right in this instant, according to Eph 2:5, because “God is RICH in Mercy, because of HIS GREAT LOVE with which He LOVED (note the past tense) us”, I am, who was once Dead in Trespasses (Eph 2:1ff), am RIGHT NOW, according to these Scriptures, IN CHRIST JESUS.

I am ALIVE TOGETHER with Christ-“by GRACE you have BEEN saved”-past tense, done deal, ALREADY! I am RAISED UP TOGETHER with Christ in the Heavenly Place IN CHRIST JESUS.

This IS my Present Position and Possession. Christ in me, and I in Christ.

Why this EXTRAVAGANCE by GOD?

GOD provides a response through Eph 2:7, “That in the ages to come, He Might Show the EXCEEDING RICHES of HIS GRACE in HIS KINDNESS towards us IN CHRIST JESUS.”

Such is the extravagant grace of GOD that when GOD is in the picture, or situation, GOD comes with all He IS and POSSESSES. GOD breaks in, or encroaches, into the Natural realm with His Supernatural reality. Whenever GOD makes Himself known, or manifest, faith is also provided for us to grasp His divine reality and manifestation.

God has decreed that it is His glory to share that glory-His glory-with the “crown of His creation”, mankind.

Let’s read it straight from Psalm 8: 4-6:

“What is man that You are Mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit (the Heb word points to attend to him, bestow him, care for him, appoint him) him?

For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and you have CROWNED him with Glory and Honor (imagine that! GOD “CROWNS” His creation-mankind-with glory and honor!)

You have made him to have Dominion over the works of Your hands (GOD’s put us in charge of His creation-the Creation mandate of GOD to man in Genesis 1 to 2); You have Put ALL things UNDER his feet.”

God has the prerogative to make the natural, supernatural, and supernatural come across pretty natural. God retains the prerogative to decide when and how one and the other begins and ends.

FAITH is the Substance and Evidence as mentioned in the letter to the Hebrews, chapter 11, verse 1. The Greek word that translates “things hoped for” – “elpizo”, is “actively waiting for GOD’s fulfilment of His WORD-His promise which He has birthed in our hearts through the Power of His love-cross-refer Gal 5:6, “the only thing that COUNTS for GOD is faith working through love”. Which in turn corresponds with Heb 11:6, “But without faith, it is impossible to please GOD.”

I also found it interesting that the Greek word, “hupostasis, or hypostasis” for the word in Heb 11:6, “assurance” or “evidence”, means the “substance, essence, reality and confident assurance that we ALREADY HAVE what GOD’s Word has promised.

A clear biblical example of this is GOD promising the Promised Land to the children of Israel, as a fulfilment of His promise to give the land to Abraham and his seed after him. The Israelites then exit Egypt in the great Exodus, and unfortunately, because of their UNBELIEF of this promised word of GOD, are stalled in the desert regions-much like us! -until that generation of “unbelievers” are dead with their carcasses rotting in the desert. At least that’s how Heb 3:17 puts it.

GOD is immensely displeased with unbelief. And why should we wonder why. In the face of GOD’s unrelenting goodness and mercy and faithfulness towards us, we still live in ignorance of His presence! Our lives betray our faith in GOD. Our words especially. It does not take too long before we reach a conclusion with our interlocutors about where they stand in faith before GOD. And of course I am referring to Christian interlocutors. In fact, it is downright sad and tragic to hear how some “believers” in a Resurrected, Risen and Living CHRIST in all His glory, actually curse themselves and decree disaster upon their lives with their terrible choice of words, and tenses!

On the other hand, it is so glorious to hear praises and positivity from those who have Verbalized, Internalized and Personalized the beauty of the gospel of Christ and His Person through the Holy Spirit in their lives. They really know and practice “speaking the gospel to their own hearts”!

Faith involves the WORD of GOD and the SPIRIT of GOD at the moment of revelation, that moment when solely through GOD’s grace, His Word comes alive in our spirit. Not because of anything reciprocal on our parts, but us coming to Him humbly, and receiving with faith, His precious promises which are “Yes, and AMEN, in Christ” (2 Cor 1:20).

I wait with much expectancy and excitement to see how GOD’s promises are realized and materialized into my life. I am expecting so much from the LORD. I know He has such good plans for me. “Surely goodness and mercy follows us (the Heb word is actually, “relentlessly pursues” us!) ALL the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psa 23:6).

GOD Himself is now our dwelling place, dwelling in us through His Spirit, the very Spirit of His Son, by faith. We have Glory in our hearts. Our mouths must reflect the positivity of that glory every moment. In praise to our gracious and loving Father in heaven who has given us all this in Christ.

(Franklin Morais enjoys being “filled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18). It is a thrill beyond all thrills. He is pressing in to know GOD through His Spirit and Word more and more. Jesus said to those who would believe, we would see the “glory of GOD” (John 11:40). I am expecting glory! In every area of my life, and I will share of these from time to time in future posts. Contact me at moraisfm2018@outlook.com)