Justice: Legend & Legacy – Part 2

In Part 1 of this series, God highlighted that living justly is to live wise-heartedly, intelligently, skillfully and artfully and that doing so releases fresh beauty (chakam – Strong’s #2450).

Part 2 focuses on the faith factor.

Our key scripture is Hebrews 10:38 NKJV, which says that “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

The Word “just” (dikaios – Strong’s #1342) in this scripture means those who are approved and acceptable by faith, according to God. It means believers, whose faith is in God’s entirety—His identity, character and actions.

God’s standard is justice, to which we are transformed by faith and grace (Ro 12:2). In so doing, we build wholeness in our souls that will be expressed outwardly.

We will know this by God’s revealed wisdom.

Romans 1:17 TPT tells us that “This gospel unveils a continual revelation of God’s righteousness—a perfect righteousness given to us when we believe. And it moves us from receiving life through faith, to the power of living by faith…”

So, faith in God empowers us to live a just life, which is a wise—intelligent, skillful and beautiful life—in agreement with Him.

This faith in us is God’s faith in us, not something we conjure up. It is the substance of things hoped for, the title deed of what will surely come to pass as our inheritance. A guarantee.

Proverbs 1:23 TPT expresses this by asking us, “…Don’t you know that I’m ready to pour out my spirit of wisdom upon you and bring to you the revelation of my words that will make your heart wise?”

God has wisdom to release to us to help us live out our high purposes. So, it’s important to invest dedicated time with Him. God has tangible forms of justice, such as rewards, recompenses and restoration to give to us. So, it’s important to process all the way through what is necessary with God and not waste our growing pains.

Even though the process can feel long and difficult to our flesh, every time we move forward, we build justice into our souls and plant seeds of justice for generations.

Every time we move forward, we come up higher. We are lifted as we grow in grace and wisdom and faith as God reveals both a legend and a legacy of powerful blessing that honors Him, honors us and honors others. We are being strengthened in our Lord, which pleases Him and makes us more useful for greater exploits.

God calls us to go live in His light and sing His praises, not be confined under a bush. We are to blaze a trail with Him, touching others as He leads to set captives free so they, too, can live a captivating life and pass it on. This is freedom. This is true justice expressed as divine inheritance for those whose faith is in God.

So, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your gift of Justice, who is Your Son Himself and for life that comes by active faith in You (Ga 3:11).

Have mercy on us, Lord (Ps 86:3).

We desire to live a life of shalom wholeness, full of love, power and soundness of mind (2 Ti 1:7).

Your Word says that if we keep trusting in You, do what is right in Your eyes and fix our hearts on Your promises, we will dwell in the land and feast on Your faithfulness” (Ps 37:3 TPT).

So, help us discern truth from falsehood (1 Jn 4:6).

Help us to listen to Your Word of Truth and respond to it, so that it will always become like poetry written and fulfilled by our lives (Ja 1:22, Ro 2:13).

Open our eyes even more to see the benefits of Your ways (Ps 103:2, Mt 5:8).

Help us to live a just life by faith, where we experience Your blessings of justice in every area of our lives (He 10:38).

Help us to trust You as our Source, the One who brings it to pass (Ps 37:5).

Help us remember that Your burden is light and to remain in the light, leaving the heavy lifting to You (Mt 11:30, Ps 55:22).

Help us to not stray from Your will but remain in our lanes with our eyes fixed on You, the Perfecter of our faith (He 12:2).

Help us to remain confident that we will experience Your goodness in the land of the living (Ps 27:13, 116:9).

Help us to please You above all else by choosing Your righteousness and justice always (He 11:6).

Thank You, Lord, that You are the Rewarder of those who diligently seek You (He 11:6).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

“Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope” (Ro 15:13 TPT)!

To God be the glory.

This devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

Revelation Light

“God is pure light” (1 Jn 1:5).

The Spirit of Revelation, which is The Holy Spirit (Ep 1:17).

This Spirit of Revelation lives in us and is “the illuminator of men” (Vine’s). 

The revealing of Himself and His will to us as “The Light of Truth,” which sets us free (Jn 1:9). 

John 1:4 TPT tells us that “His light is life for all humanity.” 

Luke 2:32 TPT tells us He is “the Revelation Light for all people everywhere!”

Psalm 119:130 CSB tells us that “The revelation of your words brings light and gives understanding to the inexperienced.”

Revelation is “the illuminating power of the Scriptures; and of the judgments and commandments of God” to guide us (Vine’s; Ps 119:105, Is 51:4).

God’s heart and mind, even His face is revealed to us when He releases revelation to us as His “children of light.” (1 Jn 1:2, Lk 16:8). 

So, revelation comes through divine intervention, an encounter with God (Lk 4:4 TPT).

Revelation “designates God’s own self-disclosure or manifesting of himself, or things concerning himself and the world; the word itself, oral or written…by inner, immediate illumination of…hearts and minds by God…God is always the initiator and author of revelation” (Tyndale Bible Dictionary).

In Galatians 1:12 TPT Paul says, “No one taught me this revelation, for it was given to me directly by the unveiling of Jesus the Anointed One.”

Revelation is the great communication mode by which “something is presented to the mind directly” (Vine’s). It by-passes human reason, thinking and ability to position us as a receiver and a doer, according to God’s will for victorious living.

Revelation guides us into God’s best as “the will of God for the conduct of His children” (Vine’s).

God’s treasure of revelation enables us to have a closer walk with Jesus, applying wisdom to where we’ve been and where He’s bringing us. He gifts us with new knowledge and insight—removing past burdens with divine understanding, as well as the burden to try to figure the present out on our own—while strengthening us for the journey ahead. In this way, God frees us so we can continue on, guided by His heart of love as revealed truth.

Revelation light is also God’s strategic weapon against forces of darkness. The Spirit of Revelation uncovers darkness, brings truth to light and knowledge to wisdom as He wills.

Luke 12:2 AMPC tells us that “Nothing is [so closely] covered up that it will not be revealed, or hidden that it will not be known.”

We need only to see as God sees. 

In this supernatural way of seeing and understanding, revelation can be a secret weapon to help keep us on top of the enemy and advance us (Da 2:22, Ps 139:12). 

Especially as He makes us trusted gatekeepers (Ps 24:7), drenched in His mercy and doing relationship like 1 John 1:7 TPT, which offers us a strategy that says, “…if we keep living in the pure light that surrounds him, we share unbroken fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, continually cleanses us from all sin.”

Revelation brings peace, even in the midst of chaos, because His Presence is powerful light that extinguishes darkness. Even in our minds, God can settle our wonderings about issues that try to loom through releasing revelation-understanding to us. In this way, He helps us walk in His clarity and powerful peace (Ps 55:22, 1 Pe 5:7). 

Paul tells us in Philippians 3:14-15 TPT that he ran “straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus. So, let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them.”

Paul knew that revelation, as a spark of light, ignites us for victory and sets us in motion, aligned with God’s will and faithfully headed forward with Him and toward Him simultaneously.

God’s gracious gift of revelation also encourages us with clues along His timeline for us.

At will, God can reveal glimpses of our future to us: moments of experience and divine assignments in advance to set our minds on a right course and ready us (Ep 3:20).

At “the cross, Jesus supremely revealed God’s self-giving love” (Hayford Bible Handbook).

“God’s disclosure of Himself to mankind, including His nature, His moral standards, and His plan of salvation” is divine revelation (Hayford Bible Handbook).

Jesus as the mystery hidden and the secret kept can be received and experienced (Ro 16:25). He desires to share Himself and His mysteries with you for your own welfare and that of your family, your work and your nation. 

Do you know Him like this?

In Proverbs 1:23 TPT God asks us, “Don’t you know that I’m ready to pour out my spirit of wisdom upon you and bring to you the revelation of my words that will make your heart wise?”

1 John 1:9 TPT says that “…if we freely admit our sins when his light uncovers them, he will be faithful to forgive us every time…”

So, are you ready to come into more of His light and receive divine insight? 

If so, pray this prayer with me:

Lord Jesus,

I praise Your Holy Name. I desire to receive Your revelations. I repent of my sins and invite You into my heart as Lord and Savior. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and release Your revelations to me. Bring me into Your marvelous light and drench me in your mercy (1 Pe 2:9-10). Enable me to receive revelations of Your secrets for Your glory.

Amen. 

And now, “I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation to know him through your deepening intimacy with him” (Ep 1:17 TPT).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

To God be the glory.

Amen.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

Jesus The Victorious: Our Certain Win

What’s your idea of victory? Achieving all your goals in life? Beating your competitor? Or just trying to cross the finish line the best you can?

Friends, God has higher for you than any of this.

And higher begins with Him alone.

Psalm 24:10 TPT asks us, “…’Who is this King of Glory?’ He is the Lord of Victory, armed and ready for battle, the Mighty One, the invincible commander of heaven’s hosts! Yes, he is the King of Glory!”

In two cases of persecution, Jesus identifies Himself as “Jesus the Victorious” (Acts 9:5, 22:8, Mk 1:24 TPT).

In these two particular situations, Jesus’ persecutors were a man in the synagogue possessed by an unclean spirit (Mk 1:24), and Saul on the Damascus road (Acts 9:5, Acts 22:8).

Notice here, that even in, and especially in the face of persecution, Jesus remains in His identity and authority over all.

After identifying Himself to these persecutors, Jesus swiftly delivered them from that which afflicted Him and held them back.

Jesus made them victorious over darkness.

He truly liberated them.

Lives changed.

Jesus set each of them free on a new path for His higher purposes beyond themselves.

By His Spirit, they became more like Him.

And many witnessed this.

Friends, God loves to give us victory (Ps 44:3, 149:4).

And we are desperate to identify with His Victorious Name.

Like Jesus, we can authoritatively wage war against persecution with His powerful Name. We can be certain to overcome evil from a position of victory that Christ won for us on the cross.

Just believe, and act accordingly.

This inheritance, through the grace of Jesus, is appropriated by His indwelling persuasiveness, which is His imparted faith to us.

1 John 5:4 TPT explains, “You see, every child of God overcomes the world, for our faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world.”

But do we, like Jesus, always choose to apply our victory-power of faith, in the face of persecution? Or do we tolerate unnecessary affliction outside of God’s will? Do we suffer needlessly? Do we make it better or worse for ourselves and others?

Obedience to God is a factor—both in the amount of victory we receive, as well as in the timing thereof.

Abiding with The Lord and trusting Him as the Spirit of Wisdom is crucial in victorious decision-making.

Proverbs 4:9 TPT says, “You will be adorned with beauty and grace, and wisdom’s glory will wrap itself around you, making you victorious in the race.”

Psalm 118:13 TPT declares, “…I was ready to fall, but you helped me to triumph, and together we overcame them all.”

So we see here that victory is a joint effort that requires our participation.

2 Corinthians 2:14 TPT reveals, “God always makes his grace visible in Christ, who includes us as partners of his endless triumph. Through our yielded lives he spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere we go.”

God’s prevailing Presence stands in victory over all, as He shares His love with us (Songs 7:7).

Therefore, even though we participate, our final Authority and Ruler over all, who is God, ultimately determines our level of increase (victory) (Ps 11:14).

Proverbs 21:31 TPT tells us, “You can do your best to prepare for the battle, but ultimate victory comes from the Lord God.”

God watches over us and sees the motives and actions of every heart.

He does everything He can, by His faithfulness, to sustain victory in our lives: God brings His salvation. He defends us and preserves us. He leads us into all truth. He protects our minds and hearts with the armor of truth and holiness. And He wraps His glory-presence, which is victory, around us as a protective shield (Eph 6:14; Ps 7:10; 18:35, 43).

Sometimes, we have to “push through” to victory by God’s Victorious Name, His Glorious Presence and awesome power to “defeat every enemy” (Ps 44:5).

Even during seasons of (long-suffering) endurance, God has purposed us to be victorious: to make us stronger in Him for His Kingdom purposes (Ps 55:22).

God, Himself, is enduring of life and time. He is everlasting. He offers Himself to us as the highest-ranking Source of perpetual strength. He is always with us and constantly intercedes for us. Even when our best prayer is a humble whisper, He rescues us from trouble.

Matthew 12:20 TPT assures us, “He won’t brush aside the bruised and broken. He will be gentle with the weak and feeble, until his victory releases justice.”

I love what Isaiah 35:4 TPT says, “…’Be strong and never afraid. Look, here comes your God! He is breaking through to give you victory! He comes to avenge your enemies. With divine retribution he comes to save you!’”

God’s desire is to bring us out better than before, to saturate us with His goodness (Ps 66:12).

Psalm 92:10 TPT affirms this by saying, “Your anointing has made me strong and mighty. You’ve empowered my life for triumph by pouring fresh oil over me.”

Song of Songs 6:10 TPT assures us by saying, “Look at you now— arising as the dayspring of the dawn, fair as the shining moon. Bright and brilliant as the sun in all its strength. Astonishing to behold as a majestic army waving banners of victory.”

Even death cannot conquer a believer in Christ (1 Cor 15:54-55). One way or another, death can only cause God’s lovers to rise higher in Him, as true life is restored.

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord, Thank You for Your divine gift of victory and for bringing me victorious salvation through Your finished work at the cross. Thank You that Your victory releases justice on my behalf (Matt 12:20). I repent of operating in any and all doubt, hopelessness, and injustice that leads to defeat. I renounce every spirit of defeat and lies that the enemy has tried to bring. I command depression and oppression to depart from me now, in Jesus’ Mighty Name of Victory. And I call forth, the Spirit of the Living God to rise up in me to bring new life and fresh victorious hope (Heb 3:6). I declare that I am set free, truly liberated, and positioned in great freedom and abundance. I am victorious because of You. Thank You for growing me in victory (Ps 92:12). Thank you for protecting me and guiding me in victory. Thank You for helping me reign victorious going forward. Thank You, Lord, for Your love for me and for making me “more than a conqueror” over “every form of evil as a victorious soldier of Jesus, the Anointed One” (Ro 8:37, 2 Tim 2:3). My heart is Yours, Lord. With You, I know we can do this…victoriously. Amen.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.