After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Genesis 15:1.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
Get so full of My Word that you become the Word.
I have two words for you today: “Be faithful.”
What do I mean by that? I mean to be full of faith and to be loyal and true. It means never to deviate from the path of life—the life of good deeds I prepared you for in advance in Christ Jesus that you might walk in them.
But how do you know if you are walking in the correct path? There is a way that seems right to a man but it ends in death. You definitely do not want to walk that incorrect way, but many are on that path to darkness where the light does not shine. So how do you know so you can stay on the upward path, the path of ascent?
The path of life leads upward for the wise that he may keep away from Sheol below. Proverbs 15:24.
So how do you know if you are walking the path of good deeds that are your assignment? The answer is simple but it takes a watchful and honest heart to discern: You will know by the fruit you produce.
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.” Matthew 12:33.
“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:43-45.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5.
It is time for you to look at your life and inspect your fruit. What are you producing? Start with your words. Think back over today. Was your mouth fruitful or barren? Were you speaking words of life or death? Were your words idle words?
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:35-37.
Today let us look at faithfulness. Are you a good and faithful servant that I reward? “Well done good and faithful servant, come share your Master’s joy!”
I am faithful. I do not change. I always show up on time, in fact I am there with you all the time, and that is faithful. I cannot be anything but faithful because I am faithful. I am the same yesterday, today and forever. You can trust Me because I am faithful. Faithful and true. If you are faithless, I am still faithful to you, as I was to Adam, for I cannot deny Myself. In the parable of the Prodigal Son the father was always faithful to the son, it was the son who was unfaithful to the father.
When I tell you that I am faithful to you, it means I am committed to you. Faithful is loyal. You can count on Me. You can count on what I say. I am faithful to My Word. I watch over it to perform it. Faithful means trustworthy and reliable.
You can rely on My Word. I do not change it and I cannot lie. Can I rely on your words?
Jesus explained to you faithful: “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” John 10:11-15.
I am love and I am faithful. Faithfulness and love are very close. True love is constant and that is what faithful is. My love for you and My faithfulness to you are constant. Even if you think you are far from Me, if you seek Me with your heart, you will find Me right there with you. I never leave you or forsake you. You can always count on Me to be there when you seek Me. The minute the prodigal son turned to head home, his father ran to embrace him. Faithful.
When you are faithful to someone you are showing your high regard for them. I am faithful to you. I have high regard for each one of you. You are My masterpiece created in Christ Jesus for a life of good deeds that I have prepared for you in advance that you might walk them out.
But I have another way in which I am faithful to you. I keep My promises and I perform My Word. Every prophecy that I gave My prophets either has or will yet come to pass. In other words, I keep My Word. When I tell you something, you can know it will come to pass. “O Lord,” David sang, “You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; for You have worked wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.” Psalm 33:4.
I am faithful to you that if you keep My Word, My Word will keep you. I said I am the Lord who heals you and that by the stripes of My Son you are and were healed. You can count on that and never fear illness when it tries to come on you and attack you body. Resist, rebuke, and take hold. My Word will heal you if you just refuse to back down until you have the results of My Word. Trust for I am faithful to perform it. Whatever you ask in My Name, that is, according to My Word, I do. You can count on that.
So if you are afraid, resist that fear, laugh at it, and tell it I am faithful. Just believe that what I have promised you I will perform. I am faithful. You can be fully persuaded.
Do not fear lack, give it a frontal attack for I am faithful. I have told you to seek My Kingdom and My righteousness and all you need will be added to you without toil and sorrow. It will be like the difference between when Peter toiled all night long and caught nothing compared to when he made his boat available to Kingdom purposes, that is, when he provided his boat to Jesus for teaching and preaching the multitudes. Putting it in the hands of Jesus transferred it to the Kingdom system so that this time when he lowered his net the fish came and fought each other to get in his net. That is the difference between trying to get ahead in the survival system of the world and getting rich towards Me in the Kingdom. I am faithful and I take care of My own—those who have given their lives to Me through My Son.
Just take the confident attitude like David when he sang, “This I know—my God is for me!” And also, “Though an army encamp against me I am confident and unafraid!” “Even though I walk through the dark valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me.” “With you at my right hand, I shall not be disturbed.” And the position of victory of Mary, “for He that is Mighty has done great things for me and holy is His Name!” Come with confidence to My throne of grace and obtain mercy and find grace just when you need it. I am faithful and I will never allow you to be tried beyond your strength but will always give you a solution—a way out of your mess, even if you made it.
I love you and I am faithful. I will never leave you or forsake you. I am with you wherever you go. Be firmly planted in Me and draw out of Me all you need or desire. I am there for you. Each morning My mercies are new, great is My faithfulness. I am your rock. The faithful and the true and I am there for you. I will bear you up on eagle’s wings and fly you to Myself, I am your refuge.