Provision Promises (6 page)

GRACE TRANSFORMS

I received a letter from a young lady in Virginia, and I want to share her powerful testimony with you in her own words:

In college, I began to have a losing battle with depression... Things were so bad that I couldn't even get up in the mornings because I was so tormented in my mind. Therapy and medication didn't help as I battled with this painful nightmare for seven long years. Then, my mom gave me your book, Destined To Reign. When I began to accept God's love for me and trust Jesus and His finished work, I was totally and miraculously healed! After reading the book, every day, J would just say, "Lord, I am not even going to try today. You live the victorious life for me. J cannot overcome these thoughts on my own, but J can rest in You." J now live a life of joy and peace that J never imagined was possible!

Beloved, what are you struggling with today? Give it up to the Lord, and let His provision of grace flood your area of need. Only His grace can transform you from the inside out and lead you to live a life of victory!

This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break...He touched Jacob's hip and wrenched it out of its socket... "Your name will no longer be Jacob," the man told him. "From now on you will be called Israel... Then he blessed Jacob there.

—Genesis 32:24-29, NLT

"My brother, I have plenty," Esau answered. "Keep what you have for yourself." But Jacob insisted, "No, if I have found favor with you, please accept this gift from me... for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough."...

—Genesis 33:9-11, NLT

GRACE FLOWS WHEN YOU STOP STRUGGLING

Most people would have given up on Jacob, the scheming deceiver and manipulator. But not God.

One night, while attempting to appease the brother he had stolen from, Jacob met the Lord. He grabbed hold of the Lord and for hours tried to wrestle a blessing from Him. What did the Lord do? He touched Jacob's hip socket and put it out of joint, so that Jacob wound up helpless before the Lord.

The Lord changed Jacob that night. He showed Jacob how it was only when Jacob's grabbing and wrestling finally stopped that His grace was able to flow. That night, God changed Jacob's name from "deceiver" to "prince" (Israel) and added to him blessings that were beyond his own efforts.

You see, we cannot try to wrestle blessings from God. It is when we give up on our scheming, deceiving and manipulating to get ahead in life and completely trust His grace alone that His provision flows unabated.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

—Romans 8:1, NASB

Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

—Romans 2:4, NLT

Awake to righteousness, and sin not...

—1 Corinthians 15:34, KJV

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law
b
ut under grace.

—Romans 6:14

DELIVERED THROUGH A REVELATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

I give thanks to the Lord for all the testimonies I've received from precious lives touched by Jesus. Here's one from a brother in Australia, who wrote to me to share how he had been delivered from multiple addictions as he started to hear and receive the revelation of his righteousness in Christ.

I have just given up smoking by doing what you've taught in your books and DVDs—becoming conscious of and confessing my righteousness in Christ—whenever I was tempted to smoke. I have also been set free from 20 years of drug and alcohol abuse, and am free of paranoid thoughts. J couldn't give them up through my own efforts, but through Christ I have. Praise Jesus for His overcoming grace!

My friend, God's provision covers all aspects of life, including deliverance from long-term addictions. When you continually receive God's gifts of abundant grace, righteousness and no condemnation in Christ, you will walk in His power to reign over every addiction or condition holding you captive today!

Blessings crown the head of the righteous...

—Proverbs
10
:6, NIV

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness...

—Isaiah 61:10

"In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you...No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, "says the Lord.

—Isaiah 54:14,17

A ROBUST REVELATION OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

I really want you to reign in all areas of life by receiving a robust revelation of your righteousness in Christ. You grow in this revelation the more you hear about what Jesus has accomplished for you at the cross.

The Bible tells us that blessings crown the head of the righteous. So the larger the revelation of your righteousness in Christ and the more you are established in it, the more you will see God's blessings manifest in your life.

Let me put it another way: See the robe of righteousness that God has already clothed you with having pockets labeled "favor," "healing," "deliverance," "provision," "wisdom," "family blessings" and so on. The more conscious you are of this robe on you, the more you will experience the good gifts that come with it and live a purposeful and fulfilling life—a life where you have more than enough to bless others as well!

The more you believe that you are righteous in Christ...

...the more you will experience the blessings of the righteous.

Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

—Matthew 6:31-33

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He loves him who follows righteousness.

—Proverbs 15:9

...If God is for us, who can be against us?

—Romans 8:31

SEEK FIRST JESUS' RIGHTEOUSNESS

I encourage you to take some time each day to get the revelation of your righteousness in Christ deep into your spirit. Meditate on it and declare it every day. It will put courage in your heart and bring an unshakable peace to your soul. It will energize your faith when you pray and give you a confident expectation to receive good things from your heavenly Father.

I believe that's why our heavenly Father, in knowing the things that we need daily, tells us not to worry about them. What are we supposed to do then? We are to seek first "His [Jesus'] righteousness"—the righteousness that He has given us—and all the things that we need will be added to us.

Beloved, when you know that your right standing with God always puts Him on your side, every fear will melt away like butter on a hot day. For if God is for you, who or what can successfully prevail against you?

"...I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking," says the Lord. "Behold, the days are coming,"says the Lord, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

—Jeremiah 23:3-6

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

—Psalm 23:1, NIV

"THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS"

There's almost nothing more tender than the picture of a shepherd lovingly caring for his sheep.

Jeremiah 23:3-4 demonstrates a good shepherd's heart—to gather, protect and feed His sheep, so that they shall "be fruitful and increase." Jesus, our good shepherd, does all this through shepherds (pastors and teachers) He appoints over His people. Their role in representing Him is not to beat (shame) or fleece (financially exploit) the sheep, but to feed them such that they "shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking."

Now, what is this "food" that brings the sheep to the place of no fear, no discouragement and no lack? It is "the Lord our Righteousness." Beloved, the more you feed on teaching that reveals Jesus and the gift of His righteousness through faith in His finished work, the more you'll experience freedom from fear, depression and lack. So pursue ministries that carry Jesus' heart for His sheep, that boldly proclaim the Lord our Righteousness and that reveal His abundance of grace—and experience His fruitfulness and increase!

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life...

—Proverbs 11:30

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

—Proverbs 18:10

...the righteous are bold as a lion.

—Proverbs 28:1

DEPEND SOLELY ON JESUS' GRACE

A precious young lady who had been listening to my sermons wrote to me rejoicing over receiving a miracle that she had been believing God for. She shared:

This time, I didn't go to God with my good works and my obedience to try to earn this blessing. All I did was believe and confess how, through the finished work of Christ at the cross, I have the undeserved favor of God and His own righteousness. And even though I had failed the test and an interview, because of His favor, I still gained admission to a reputable university in Germany on a full scholarship. Depending on Jesus' grace alone, I received this breakthrough. I'm going to believe and confess His grace and love for me for the rest of my life!

Isn't it wonderful that when we depend on Jesus' grace alone, doors of opportunity, success and provision open to us? May this testimony encourage you in whatever you are believing God for today!

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

—Romans 4:13

And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

—Galatians 3:29

THE PROMISE IS RECEIVED BY FAITH

In Romans 4:13, it is clear that God's promise that Abraham and his seed would be heirs of the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Today, because we belong to Jesus, we are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. And the more we believe that we are righteous in Christ, the more we will experience His provision. My friend, being an heir of the world and walking in Abraham's blessings of health, protection and abundant provision come by faith. This is believing that even though we don't deserve any blessing from God, we have been made righteous by the sacrifice and finished work of His Son and qualify for all His blessings!

On the cross, Jesus took our sins and gave us His righteousness. He took our poverty and gave us His abundance. He took our shame and gave us His victory. Today, believe that you have been made righteous by Jesus' finished work and start walking in the blessings of Abraham!

But the righteousness of faith speaks...

—Romans 10:6

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak.

—2 Corinthians 4:13

Death and life are in the power of the tongue...

—Proverbs 18:21

Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing...

—Isaiah 54:1

SPEAK OUT YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Let me share something powerful with you about righteousness. In Romans 10:6, God's Word tells us that the "righteousness of faith speaks."

Now, what does this mean? It means that God encourages us to not just believe in our hearts that we are righteous, but to also speak it out!

So righteous one, declare your righteousness. Every day, boldly say, "Father, I thank You that I am righteous in Christ, not because of what I have done, but because of what Christ has done. It's a gift and I receive it with all my heart."

I believe that when you speak and declare your righteousness, good things happen. You become conscious of all the blessings and all the promises that are due the righteous. Instead of disqualifying yourself, you'll start to believe God for good success, favor and wisdom. Experiencing provision becomes effortless because you know your right standing in Christ. So stop disqualifying yourself and confess your righteousness!

The righteousness of faith speaks.

So say, "I am righteous in Christ! Gods favor, wisdom, provision and good success are mine today!"

Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall he like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.

—Jeremiah 17:5-8

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.