Your Faith Has Made You Whole

December 22, 2010 by Olga Leave a Comment

Your Faith Has Made You Whole

by Billy Joe Daugherty

One of the best chapters in the entire Bible on the subject of faith is the 11th chapter of Hebrews. Any in-depth study of faith would include a study of the men listed in this chapter. I suggest the chapter be read while you read the words in this book on the subject of faith.

According to Paul, there abides now “faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).I definitely believe that all three of these are important. Without hope of eternal life,you would have no reason to live. Without love you could not experience the nature of God. These two are vital to the Christian. But right now, we will deal primarily with faith.

What is Faith?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is in the present tense. It believes NOW. It receives NOW. It acts NOW. One of the great differences between faith and hope is in the tense. Hope is usually concerned with the future, whereas faith is most often concerned with the present.

Sometimes we hear someone say that they are stepping out in faith in a new venture. Generally, they mean they don’t know what is going to happen or what the future holds. They feel an urge to try something new and take a stab at it.

The type of faith defines in Hebrews 11:1 does NOT operate this way. Instead, true faith in God has substance. When a person steps out in this type of faith, he will be standing on solid rock. THE SUBSTANCE IS FAITH IN GOD’S ETERNAL, UNCHANGING WORD.

You may hope for something for years. As long as you continue hoping, it will always be just beyond you. There are, on the other hand, many things you can bring into your life by faith. For instance, salvation is a good thing to hope for. But if you want to be saved, you need to put substance to your hope and receive Christ by faith right NOW. Although you do not see Him burst through the clouds or feel ninety-nine goose bumps, you are still saved if you have put your faith in Jesus Christ.

Although there may be no physical evidence for your faith, you do have sufficient evidence in God’s Word. Your evidence for what you believe is your faith in God’s Word. God is a witness. He will never lie. If you take God at His Word, that Word will stand good in the trial.

How Do We Get Faith?

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). The best way to get faith is to hear the Word of God. It is important for you not only to hear it with your ears but also with you heart. To hear God’s Word in your heart requires openness and hunger for God’s message.
I suggest reading the Bible aloud, particularly the New Testament.

Say the Scriptures to yourself. Insert your own name where the message is personal. Make a list of the promises God’s Word has for you. By faith, believe, receive, and confess them daily. Faith will grow as you are continually hearing God’s Word.

Who Can Have Faith?

”God has dealt to EACH ONE a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). Paul is writing to the Christians in Rome. God has dealt to every Christian the measure of faith. But you also have faith to be saved before you are a Christian. The Bible says, “Whoever desires” (Revelation 22:17) can be saved. Evidently, any person who hears god’s Word and will act on it can exercise faith. That includes all who will HEAR and OBEY God’s Word – saved or in the process of being saved.

People who do not hear God’s Word or will not obey it do not have the God-kind of faith. Faith requires hearing and obeying.
“And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for NOT ALL HAVE FAITH” (1 Thessalonians 3:2).

Faith Acts on God’s Word

God has spread a table before you filled with bountiful blessings. Naturally speaking, if someone sets a beautiful table of food before you, you know what to do with it. You don’t sit wishing and hoping that you could have some of that food. You don’t complain to your host that you do not have enough. Neither do you get mad and upset if someone at the table gets a big helping of creamed potatoes. You begin to help yourself to the food. It has been set before you to eat and be filled. There is probably more in the kitchen if you empty the serving bowls. You know that everyone at the table has equal rights and privileges to get their portion of each dish.

Now, God’s Word is the same. God has made ample provision for every need in your life. He promises a full, abundant supply. It is all yours for the asking. God just wants you to believe His Word and take what has been set before you. It does not offend God for you to take all you need. Any host is disappointed if she discovers one of her guests did not get enough. She wants each one to be satisfied. God is certainly the Almighty Creator, but He has chosen to set a table for you. What you receive from Him will come as a result of your actively reaching out and claiming His promises.

So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you? The blind man said to Him, ‘Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.’ Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. Mark 10:51-52

Faith Is Not a Feeling

Sometimes people base their spiritual experiences on feelings and emotions.
Problems arise when the feelings and emotions change. If they have not been grounded in the Word of God, doubt will arise as to whether or not the experience was genuine.
For faith to be consistent, it must be based on something with more stability than your feelings.

You are not saved because you feel saved. You are saved because you have put your faith in God’s Word and acted on it. You may feel great today, tired tomorrow, and lonely next week, but hallelujah! God’s Word is going to say the same thing yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8)

Feelings are influenced by what you see, what you read, and what you hear. Everyone is exposed to things that are not consistent with God’s Word. If these things control your feelings and your feelings control your faith, you can be a Christian yet controlled by Satan’s devices.

Your faith must be controlled by God’s Word, not by what you feel, not by what circumstances look like, and not by what others tell you. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Your eyes, ears, heart, and mouth should be turned to God’s Word.
While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things
which are not seen are eternal.1 Corinthians 4:18

God’s Word is eternal. Your spiritual eyes must be focused on God (who is unseen) by looking at His Word.

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The Blood and the Glory

December 20, 2010 by Olga Leave a Comment

The following excerpt is taken from The Blood and the Glory by Billye Brim:

The Blood and the Outpouring
First the Blood

…”His Spirit answers to the blood.”

Every outpouring of the Holy Spirit was and will be in answer to the Blood of Jesus the Messiah.

The Blood and the Latter Rain Outpouring

Wigglesworth received his baptism in the Holy Spirit at Sunderland. Again, you can see the place of the blood in those days in his own account in his biography, The Apostle of Faith:

For four days I wanted nothing but God. But after that, I felt I should leave for my home, and I went to the Episcopal vicarage to say good-bye. I said to Mrs. Boddy, the vicar’s wife: “I am going away, but I have not received the tongues yet.” She answered, “It is not the tongues you need, but the Baptism.” “I have received the Baptism, Sister,” I protested, “but I would like to have you lay hands on me before I leave.” She laid her hands on me and then had to go out of the room.

The fire fell. It was a wonderful time as I was there with God alone. He bathed me in power. I was conscious of the cleansing of the precious Blood, and I cried out: “Clean! Clean! Clean!” I was filled with the joy of the consciousness of the cleansing. I was given a vision in which I saw the Lord Jesus Christ. I beheld the empty cross, and I saw Him exactly at the right hand of God the father. I could speak no longer in English but I began to praise Him in other tongues as the Spirit of God gave me utterance. I knew then, although I might have received anointings previously, that now, at last, I had received the real baptism in the Holy Spirit as they received on the day of Pentecost.

The Anointing for Power
Maria Woodworth-Etter

Sister Etter placed great faith in the blood to prepare the way for the power to work. Her own account of a great meeting in Los Angeles illustrates this:

The world-wide camp meeting was no doubt the largest gathering of baptized saints in these last days. I had…the 10 o’clock meetings, which would have lasted all day and night, for the power of God was poured out so wonderfully, but I had to close at 2 o’clock for other services…

As they led me to the steps that went off the large platform, I stopped and looked at the many hungry, anxious souls; then the power of God came on me, I raised my hands to heaven and stood there, as the Holy Ghost swept over the multitudes. I said, the Lord is going to save a lot of you dear people just now. All who want to be saved just now, while I stand here and sprinkle the blood of Jesus on you, by “Living Faith,” come forward. There was a rush from all directions to the platform. They began to weep and shout and scores were converting, without getting on their knees, except those who fell down under the Almighty power of God…

Another day as I came off the platform many that could not get near while I was praying for the sick, stood, looking so sad, crowding around me as near as they could, trying to touch my hands or speak. I stopped to look at them. The power fell on me and swept over them. I raised my hands and told them all to look to Jesus, to look up, to lif their hands and faces to God, that I would sprinkle the blood of the Lamb over them, that they would all be healed. Oh, glory to god. The healing power swept over. Many miracles of healings were wrought, people were saved and baptized.

The Blood and The Last Outpouring

Here is Wigglesworth’s account of what happened from the time he boarded the train to return home to Bradford after having received the baptism in the Holy Spirit at Boddy’s place in Sunderland:

The first thing I did was to telegraph to my home saying, “I have received the baptism in the Holy Ghost and have spoken in tongues.” On the train to my home town, the devil began questioning, “Are you going to take this to Bradford?” As regards my feelings at the moment, I had nothing to take, but the just do not live by feelings but by faith. So I shouted out on the railroad coach to everybody’s amazement, “Yes, I’m taking it!” A great joy filled me as I made this declaration, but somehow I knew from that moment it would be a great fight all the time.

When I arrived home one of my sons said to me, “Father, have you been speaking in tongues?” I replied, “Yes, George.” “Then let’s hear you,” he said…

My wife said to me, “So you’ve been speaking with tongues, have you?”

I replied, “Yes.”

“Well,” she said, “I want you to understand that I am as much baptized as you are and I don’t speak in tongues.”

I saw that the contest was beginning right at home.

“I have been preaching for twenty years,” she continued, “and you have sat beside me on the platform, but on Sunday you will preach yourself, and I’ll see what there us in it.”

She kept her word. On Sunday she took a seat at the back of the building. We had always sat together on the platform until that day. So the contest had begun right in the church.

There were three steps up to the platform, and as I went up those three steps the Lord gave me the passage in Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.”

I was no preacher, but hearing the voice of my Lord speaking those words to me, I began. I cannot now remember what I said, but my wife was terribly disturbed. The bench on which she sat would seat nine people and she moved about on it until she had sat on every part of it. Then she said in a voice that all around her could hear, “That’s not my Smith, Lord, that’s not my Smith!”

I was giving out the last hymn when the secretary of the mission stood up and said, “I was what our leader has received.”

The strange thing was that when he was about to sit down he missed his seat and went right down on the floor. Then my oldest son arose and said he wanted what his father had, and he, too, took his seat right down on the floor. In a short while there were eleven people right on the floor of that mission. The strangest thing was that they were all laughing in the Spirit and laughing at one another. The Lord had really turned again the captivity of Zion and the mouth of His children was being filled with laughter according to the word of the Lord in Psalm 126:1,2.

The former and latter rain outpouring in upon us.

There are the last of the last days.

We must make much of the Blood for two purposes. To overcome Satan in his endtime wrath. But much more importantly, to prepare us for God’s Glory in his end time revelation through His Glorious Church.

I have included so much from witnesses of the outpouring at the beginning of the century. This is because these old-timers understood truth about the blood and the power which somehow slipped away. It must return for the greater outpouring we are about to know at the end of the century.

I believe we need to return singing about the Blood. Real singing to give the Blood its place in our approach to God. Not merely to singing just a token song in a service, but to singing a while in honor of the Blood. The old-timers said that when they sang about the Blood for a while “a cleansing wave” seemed to sweep over them preceding a wave of the Spirit in power.

The Spirit answers to the blood.

The Spirit of Glory must complete our preparation now for the Lord of Glory!

If you would like to purchase this book, please click here

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You Must be Born Again

December 16, 2010 by Olga Leave a Comment

You Must be Born Again

These were the words Jesus spoke to one of the most religious men of his day (John 3:1-8). Nicodemus had come to Jesus one night to inquire about His new doctrine. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He believed in God, he prayed, fasted, tithed, attended worship services, read the Scriptures, and tried to keep high moral standards. Yet, with all these credentials, Jesus told him he had to be born again in order to enter the Kingdom of God.

The Word and the Spirit.

Jesus said, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Later in the book of John He said, “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (John 15:3)

Paul wrote that Christ gave Himself to sanctify and cleanse the Church with the washing of water by the WORD (Ephesians 5:26).
Peter wrote that we are born again “not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and
abides forever” (1 Peter 1:23). The WORD is the seed that comes into your heart and causes faith to grow.

Not only must you have God’s Word in order to be born again, but you must have God’s Spirit. It is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and
renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5)

There are several ingredients needed in making concrete. You need sand, cement, and water primarily. There is plenty of sand in the desert, but concrete doesn’t appear just because it is there. There is an abundance of water in the ocean and plenty
of sand, but the ocean is not full of concrete. Likewise, in order for you to be saved, the Word and the Spirit must be mixed with repentance and faith in your heart.

Believe and Confess

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you CONFESS with your mouth the Lord Jesus and BELIEVE in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one BELIEVES unto righteousness, and with the mouth CONFESSION is made unto salvation. Romans 10:8-10

Your faith in God’s Word is expressed with your heart (believe) and with your mouth (confess). If you truly believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, there is 7 no reason you should not be willing to confess Him as Lord. The moment you believe in your heart upon Jesus and confess Him as your Lord and Savior, you are born again.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
John 1:12

Saved by Grace Through Faith

There is a mixture of God’s grace and power with your will and faith. It is not just all of God, and certainly it is not just all up to you. It takes both GOD’S ABILITY and YOUR WILLINGNESS to bring about the new birth.

For by grace you have been SAVED through FAITH, and that NOT OF YOURSELVES; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.Ephesians 2:8-9

We could never be saved except by the pure grace of God. Man is certainly undeserving according to his own merits. It is God’s power working through His Word and Spirit that brings about the new birth. Yet without an attitude of repentance and
faith, God’s power will not work in a man’s heart. Man’s will must be obedient to God’s will before he can receive God’s blessings.

A New Creation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

The new birth makes you a brand-new creation. You are created after the image of Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:10). In your heart you are made to be like Christ.

In order to live like Christ you must “put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Colossians 3:10). This is done by RENEWING THE MIND WITH GOD’S WORD and submitting your body to
the authority of that Word (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23-24).

Into God’s Kingdom

Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. HE HAS DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS AND CONVEYED US INTO THE KINGDOM OF THE SON OF HIS LOVE, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:12-14

When you are born again, you are taken out of Satan’s kingdom of darkness, and you are placed into the Kingdom of Jesus, the Kingdom of light. It is not something you 8 just hope or wish for. It is a fact. The child of God does not have to be lorded over by
Satan ever again. ”Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus

This new kingdom is a spiritual kingdom; but just because salvation is basically a spiritual rebirth does not mean that it has no effect on your body, mind, or everyday living. It can and should have a great impact on every part of your life. In every society, there are certain laws that govern the actions of the inhabitants of that area. It is the same in spiritual life. There are laws for those in Satan’s kingdom, and there are laws for those in God’s Kingdom. The new birth gives you a new law.

“FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2)
The law of life includes love, joy, peace, happiness, prosperity, abundance, health, contentment and blessings.

These provisions are made for the Christian in the New Covenant. It is law – spiritual law. You must enforce it in your life. God will back you. His Word is true and unchanging.

Forgiveness – Remission of Sins

The day you make Jesus your Lord and Savior, you are forgiven of all your sins; in fact, you were legally forgiven when Jesus gave His life as a ransom for you. But you do not experience that forgiveness until you receive it by faith.

Although a person may have committed many sins, the chief sin of the unsaved is NOT BELIEVING ON CHRIST (John 16:9). When a person gets that straightened out, the root of the problem is solved. The blood of Christ cleanses the heart the moment a
person believes and confesses Him as Savior. Thus all past sins are remitted or taken away by the powerful cleansing work of His blood (1 John 1:7). “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”
(Ephesians 1:7).

Water Baptism

It is clear from the Scriptures that water baptism is important to the believer. In the Great Commission Jesus told His disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16: 15-16).

Matthew records these words of Jesus in the 28 th chapter and the 19 th verse: “Gotherefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the 9Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus Himself was baptized by John in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:13-17).

At the close of his message on the day of Pentecost, Peter told the Jews, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Luke records, “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized . . . “ (Acts 2:41).

Paul was baptized after his conversion (Acts 9:18). He later baptized the believers at Ephesus (Acts 19:1-6). Those at Cornelius’ house were baptized after they had received the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:44-48). The Philippian jailer and all his household were baptized after they had believed on Jesus (Acts 16:31-33).

Assurance of Salvation

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. HE WHO HAS THE SON HAS LIFE; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things have I written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, THAT YOU MAY KNOW that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to BELIEVE IN THE NAME of the Son of God. 1 John 5:11-13

If you meet the conditions given in God’s Word for salvation, you can know you are saved. God’s Word says that you can know. That is what you must stand on – His Word – not your feelings, emotions, church membership, high morals, or sincerity.

Prayer for Salvation

God in Heaven, I come to You in the name of Your Son, Jesus. I confess that I haven’t lived my life for You. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe that He died on the cross and rose again from the dead so I might have a better life now and eternal life in heaven. Jesus, come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. From this day forward, I’ll live my life for You to the best of my ability. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

You Are the Righteousness of God in Christ

December 15, 2010 by Olga 1 Comment

Righteousness simply defined is RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD. It gives you the ability to be free of guilt, condemnation, fear, and inferiority. These four problems rob many Christians of God’s blessings, It is easy to see why an understanding of
righteousness could transform your life. Imagine: no guilt, no fear, no condemnation, no inferiority. What a blessed life that would be!

Righteousness Is a Gift

There is a world of difference in a man’s self-righteousness and the gift of righteousness from God. Self-righteousness boasts in itself, but the gift of righteousness can boast only in the finished work of Christ.

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS will reign in this life/through the One, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17

Jesus Bore Our Sin

The human race owed a tremendous debt of sin. Because mankind was unable to pay its debt, God sent His own Son to pay for it (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus was your substitute. He took your place. He paid the awful price for your sin. He did it because
He loved you (John 3:16-17).

Now that the debt is paid, you are given a right standing with God. It is actually the right standing that Jesus earned as a result of His obedience unto death. You receive His righteousness the moment you take Him as your Lord and Savior. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

If Christ dwells in your heart, you have the righteousness of God. You are made to be the righteousness of God in Him.

Righteousness for All Who Believe

I had a struggle with the idea of being righteous because I was well acquainted with the scriptures declaring man’s sinfulness. What I did not realize was these scriptures refer to men who do not receive Christ. Since all men are sinners, the gift of
righteousness is available to all who believe on Jesus Christ.

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD,

THROUGH FAITH in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:21-24

Receiving Righteousness by Faith

Righteousness is actually received at salvation. Because many have not understood the righteousness of God which is by faith, they have failed to experience the full joy of God’s gift.
The message of righteousness is good news. The moment you hear this word, it should cause faith to rise up in your heart. You want to receive. It is yours – a gift from God. You must BELIEVE and CONFESS. “For with the heart one believes unto
RIGHTEOUSNESS, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10)

No Condemnation or Guilt

A sense of righteousness gives you confidence that God has truly forgiven you of your sins. You begin to see that the judgment and condemnation that you deserved fell on Jesus. You have been justified (declared not guilty) because of the blood of Christ that was shed for you (Romans 5:9).

“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” (Romans 8:1). You are freed from sin, with all its guilt and condemnation, so that you may become the SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (Romans 6:18).

By an act of faith, youbegin to think not of your sins and shortcomings, but of your righteousness in Christ. Why should you continue to think and talk about your unworthiness? You have been made worthy by Jesus Christ. He has qualified you to “be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Colossians 1:12). It is not your works but your faith in His works.

No Fear

Righteousness is right standing with God. If you are in right standing with God, then He is not fighting against you. He is on your side. He is for you. He desires your best.

What joy will fill your heart the day you realize, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Yu have nothing to fear. David said, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of
whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

God has given you the gift of righteousness because of His love for you. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made prefect in love” (1 John 4:18).

A loving father does not want his children to be so fearful of him that they are afraid to talk to him. He desires their respect, reverence, and obedience, but he wants them to feel comfortable in coming to him. God invites you to “come boldly to the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:1y6). “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

No Inferiority

Occasionally when someone is asked how they are doing, we hear them respond with these words : “Under the circumstances, I think I’ll make it.” As a Christian, thank God, you do not have to be under the circumstances. In fact, after you receive the
abundance of God’s grace and His gift of righteousness, you are to reign in this life by Jesus Christ.

Because you have a right standing with God, you do not have to feel inferior to the powers of Satan. You are an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17). As you receive the righteousness of God, you become partakers of the divine nature of
God (2 Peter 1:4). His strength has become your strength. His ability is your ability.
His life is your life.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME; and the life which I now live in the flesh I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Continual Cleansing from Unrighteousness

As a Christian, you may miss the mark and sin. Sin is unrighteousness. It is not pleasing to God. It must be dealt with. The best time to do this is immediately if not sooner. Do not wait to repent. The promise of God is, “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). “The BLOOD of Jesus Christ His Son CLEANSES us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Our Prayers are Effective

With a right standing with God, you can come boldly into His presence with your praises and petitions (Hebrews 4:16). One of the most important things you must do as you enter into God’s Presence is to be sure your heart is cleansed from all sin. This comes by faith in the cleansing power of the blood of Christ.

After you know you are cleansed, you can have confidence in your prayers. “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God” (1 John 3:21).

God delights in hearing the prayers of His righteous children. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:12). Evidently, if you are not righteous or if you are not seeking God’s righteousness, your prayers will not be very effective.

Thank God, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much “ (James 5:16). God will hear and answer your prayers if you maintain your right standing (righteousness in Christ) by faith.