Beholding Jesus in His Amazing Grace, Session 13: “Jesus, Our YES!”

Beholding Jesus in His Amazing Grace, Session 13, “Jesus, Our YES!” from Parresia on Vimeo.

No matter how many promises God has made, they are YES in Christ! All of God’s promises for deliverance, healing, provision, restoration, peace, and abundant life are made accessible through Jesus. He is our access to God’s grace. “Access” means you have permission. “Access” means God has said “Yes” in Jesus. Jesus is our YES from God. Jesus said, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 12:14) (see transcript of teaching below)

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Parresia · Beholding Jesus in His Amazing Grace, Session 13, “Jesus, Our YES!”

Transcript for Session 13: “Jesus, Our YES!”

Introduction

Welcome to session 13 of Beholding Jesus in His Amazing Grace. This session is entitled, “Jesus, Our yes!”

2 Corinthians 1:20, NIV – For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.

I will come back to that verse in a few minutes, but first, I want to share a little bit about faith – as I have come to understand it – and I am still learning.

If You can?

I believe we are programmed to think of faith as something that requires us to focus on ourselves and ask ourselves, “Do I have enough faith?” As if our faith is in our faith.

But Jesus doesn’t ask, “Do you have enough faith?” He asks, “Do you believe that I am able?” Faith isn’t a bridge to Jesus. Jesus is the bridge to God’s promises.

Matthew 9:27-35, NIV – As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him [Jesus], calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 When he [Jesus] had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he [Jesus] asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith [Faith in what? In My ability!] let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored.

Jesus asked, “Do you believe that I am able? Do you believe that I have the ability to do this?” He didn’t ask, “Do you have enough faith?” Our faith isn’t able. He is able.

Mark 9 – Jesus sets a boy free

When Jesus came down the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James, and John, they encountered a scene of a man who was very upset because Jesus’s disciples could not deliver his son from an evil spirit.

Mark 9:14-27, NASB – And [Jesus] He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he [the father] said, “From childhood. [an evil spirit had made his son mute, foam at the mouth, grind his teeth and caused him seizures, slamming him to the ground. The father added – ] 22 It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” [The father says, “If You can,” in other words, “if You are able.” Same idea as with the two blind men. Jesus’s response was basically, “If you believe that I CAN, all things are possible.”] 24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe [Believe what? That Jesus CAN! Then he said something very honest -without any hypocrisy – he said ]; help my unbelief.” [Unbelief in what? That Jesus CAN do it! The man asked for HELP. So HOW did Jesus help this man to believe that JESUS CAN? HE PROVED IT!!!!! He delivered the man’s son.] 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” 26 After crying out and throwing [the boy] him into terrible convulsions, it [the evil spirit] came out…

Many of us have read Mark 9:23 (“If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”) with the emphasis on us instead of Jesus, as if we are to say to ourselves, “If I can only have enough faith, all things would be possible for me.” Rather than, “If Jesus can…all things are possible for Him.”

But what I see is a man who wants to believe that Jesus is able, and Jesus helps him to believe that He is able by demonstrating that He is indeed able by delivering his son.

And the way I see it, Jesus is the only one on the premises believing.

Did the disciples believe? No.
Did the boy’s father believe? Not completely.
Did Jesus believe? Yes.

In the Interlinear Bible it says –

Mark 9:23, Interlinear Bible – …all things are possible to the one believing.

Who is the One whose faith never wavers?
Who is the One who never doubts or hesitates?
Whose faith is always strong? Jesus!

2 Timothy 2:13 – If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

And I’m sure that the next time this man needs a miracle, he won’t need as much help! Will he?

Jesus was asked by His disciples –

John 6:28-29 – “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

If we have trouble believing, we just ask for help from Jesus, and He will give it.

Jesus cursed the fig tree

Now I want to turn your attention to the only time that Jesus exerted His supernatural power for destruction: the cursing of the fig tree. All of His other miracles gave life, so Why did Jesus curse the poor fig tree? Let’s read about it.

Matthew 21:18-22 – Now in the morning, as He [Jesus] returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves [the LEAVES INDICATED that there was fruit, so it had an outward appearance of fruitfulness, but it was fruitless], and [Jesus] said to it [the fig tree], “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” 21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, [In the parallel passage in Mark, Mark records Jesus’s words here as “HAVE FAITH IN GOD” – I will get back to that in a minute. So He says, “If you have faith and do not doubt -] you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Mark 11:22 – “Have faith in God….”

In Mark 11:22, Jesus says, in the NKJV, “Have faith in God.” (you can say to the mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea) In the original Greek it is literally “Have faith God” which would be better translated “have the faith of God.” The phrase “of God” is called a Hebraism – a Hebrew expression occurring in another language.

As a Hebraism, “of God” here is more of a superlative adjective than a prepositional phrase. It’s not so much “have faith in God” as it is “have God-faith” – the kind that can only come from God – great and mighty faith – the kind that can tell a mountain to move, and it will obey. We cannot conjure that kind of faith. It comes from God. [the Greek word for “Have” in “Have God-faith” in this context means “to possess” in the sense of being joined in a bond with someone – for instance, joined in the bonds of marriage. We have God-faith through our bond with God]

Why did Jesus curse the fig tree?

Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? So here was a fig tree covered in leaves, indicating fruitfulness. But it was all an outward show. Promise without performance. No fruit.

The first mention of fig leaves was in the Garden of Eden with the fig leaves that Adam used to cover his sin and shame from God. Fig leaves were the first act of self-righteousness in the Bible.

Adam was trying by his own efforts to stand before God by covering himself with fig leaves – a bloodless religion. [Hebrews 9:22, NASB – without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.] When Jesus cursed the fruitless fig tree, He was cursing self-righteousness.

Remove the fig tree and all semblance of a fruitless outward performance – remove the Emperor’s new clothes – come as you are, naked and unashamed – and then you can remove the mountain.

Remove reliance on the flesh, [all self-reliance] and look to the perfection of Jesus and His righteousness, drink the sap of His word, and then heavenly fruit will come forth.

John 15:7-8, 16, NASB – [Jesus said – ] “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. [What is “bearing much fruit?” Asking WHATEVER you wish, and it is done for you. The fruit is what God does for you, not what you do for Him.] … 16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” [We’ll come back to what is means to “ask in the name of Jesus” in a minute]

Removing the fig tree represents the paradigm shift from law [self-reliance] to grace [reliance on Jesus]. From the dead fruit [the dead works] of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil to the everlasting fruit of the Tree of Life.

The two results of eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil are self-righteousness and victimization. We see both with Adam and Eve: self-righteousness is The fig leaves, and victimization is the blame game. When God outed Adam, he blamed Eve, and then Eve blamed the serpent.

With victimization (which often manifests as un-forgiveness), we point the finger to others. They become lord. With self-righteousness we point the finger to ourselves. We become lord. But true faith points to Jesus because Jesus is Lord.

Forgiveness and faith

In Luke 17, we see a connection between grace and faith. The basic tenet of grace is forgiveness of sin. True forgiveness requires the “faith of God” – a mighty God-given revelation!

Luke 17:4-6 – [Jesus said] “And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” [Jesus is raising the bar to an impossible standard – but it gets even higher with the New Covenant which would be enacted at the cross. We forgive – we let go of the offense – whether they come to their senses or not! Jesus is our example: While we were still sinners Christ died for us.] 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” [You mean we have to forgive OVER and OVER and over? That’s impossible!!!! What happened to an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!! Jesus, increase our faith!] 6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a [tiny] mustard seed, [Faith for WHAT? In the context, the faith to let go of offense! If you have even the tiniest revelation of grace, – ] you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

We must be free condemnation, free of giving and receiving condemnation, to enter the realm of faith where Jesus is central. And this realm comes by a revelation of the New Covenant.

Hebrews 8:12 – “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” [What does that do? It takes all limits off!]

If God forgets, we can, too. Under law they must forgive to be forgiven. Under grace we can forgive because we already are forgiven.

Ephesians 4:32 – And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. [past tense]

The “faith of God” (that comes from God) is the faith to let go of blame, of roots and causes, of introspection, of naval gazing – all of these are faith killers because they take our eyes off of Jesus!

Do you remember when the disciples asked Jesus, “Who sinned this man or his parents that he should be born blind?” [that’s the naval gazing] Jesus said,

John 9:3 – “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”

The realm of grace is an offense to the flesh – we know that there is blame. You can always find blame – you could blame yourself if no one else. How could Jesus deny that?

For instance, the story of Joseph who was a picture of Jesus – we know that Joseph’s brothers threw him in the pit, but years later when they needed the food that only he could supply, they begged for forgiveness; and do you know how Joseph responded? “It was not you who sent me here, but God.”

Genesis 45:5, 8, NASB – Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life…. [Do you know how long it was between when they threw him in the pit and this moment? 22 years! That’s a long time to let wounds fester. But not Joseph! He totally released them from their guilt. And not only that, he saw God’s hand in it.] 8 Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God…

Genesis 50:20 – [Joseph says to his brothers -] But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

When we live under grace, we don’t deny that something is evil, we just don’t allow ourselves to be victimized by it. Why? Because our eyes are fixed on Jesus. He is God’s Yes to every promise, no matter how bad things look, or how unfair it is, or how long it takes.

When the going gets tough, we just pray, “Lord, I believe. Help me with my unbelief.” And He will.

Faith “in” God or faith “of” God

I want to share something about faith that might be helpful – and it has to do with how to interpret a tiny preposition in Galatians 2:20.

Galatians 2:20 – 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.

Think about that statement: “I live by faith IN the Son of God.” that might sound like it’s all up to me. But listen in the KJV:

Galatians 2:20, KJV – I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. [now that sounds like it’s HIS faith given to me]

Which is correct? Is it “faith in the Son of God” or “the faith of the Son of God?” Let me give you a little grammar lesson to explain.

In the Greek for this phrase, “faith in or of the Son,” there is actually no preposition at all. It’s “I live by faith the Son.” In English we add a preposition so it makes sense. So how do we know if it should be “in” or “of”?

We have to see which “genitive case” “the Son” is. “The Son” is called a genitive. A genitive modifies another noun. In our English translation, “the Son” inside the propositional phrase is the genitive which modifies “faith” which is the noun outside the prepositional phrase.

Now, there are two genitive cases: objective. and subjective:

Objective would mean that “the Son” is the object of the action indicated by the noun it is modifying, which is “faith.” In other words, “I live by the faith I produce in the Son.”

Subjective would mean that “the Son” is producing the action indicated by the noun it is modifying, which is “faith.” In other words, “I live by the faith the Son produces in me”: “the faith of the Son of God.”

Which is it? Is “the Son” objective – we produce the faith – or subjective – He produces the faith in us. It’s Subjective.

Galatians 2:20, KJV – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: [Can you see that Jesus is our supply for everything! Including faith.] and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

I live by the faith produced by the Son of God, and this faith is activated when I put a magnifying glass on His love for me: “He gave Himself for me.” I look at Christ crucified and all that He accomplished for me in His finished work, and I have “the faith of the Son of God” for anything.

Believe that He believed

Von has mentioned a teaching that I did probably 10 years ago that I entitled, “I Believe that He Believed.” It’s something the Lord showed me that really helped me. I called it piggy-backing on Jesus’s faith.

The Lord asked me, “Do you believe that I believed that when I went to the cross, it would be enough?” And I took the things He accomplished at the cross and wrote, “I believed that You believed the cross would be enough for (and I listed those things).” I’ve included that handout for yall with your notes. (see below)

The gist of it is I behold Jesus in His faith, and it becomes mine. I behold Him as in a mirror, and I am transformed into that image.

Jesus was fully convinced that what God had promised He was fully able to perform. Jesus’s eyes were fixed on His Father who had promised that HIs plan, which would require the cross, would save the people from their sins, and through the resurrection, a whole new creation like Him would be born. Jesus was so convinced that He was obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

John 10:17-18 – [Jesus said -] “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. [This is Jesus’s faith in His Father’s promise.] I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

When Peter cut off the soldier’s ear when Jesus was being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, listen to Jesus’s rebuke of Peter –

Matthew 26:53-54, NIV – “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? [Jesus didn’t have to go to the cross. He did it by faith because He loves us!] 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

Philippians 2:9 – [Because Jesus left heaven and humbled Himself and was obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross – ] Therefore God also has highly exalted Him [Jesus] and given Him the name which is above every name…

Every thing and every person that has a name is under the name of Jesus. His name is above the name of anything you can name – cancer, depression, poverty, any ruler of this world, satan himself – AND His name is above even great names – His name is above the name of Claire – as much as even God has made a name for her, I don’t go to God through Claire.

John 12:14 – [Jesus said] “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” [Do you see the word “will?” He is not only able, He is willing!]

In Jesus’s Name

Ok, I want to pivot for a minute and talk about what it means to “pray in the name of Jesus.” We do that, right? And we’re correct in doing that. But let’s explore that a bit.

What’s in a name? A name is backed by what we know of a person. By their actions and words. By their background, family, accomplishments, profession, standing among people, etc.

We might say of someone who has worked hard to achieve success, “He has made a name for himself.” In other words, when people say his name, it comes with the package of all they know of that person and his achievements. For example, when I say “Tiger Woods,” it’s backed by all that you know of Tiger Woods. He has made a name for himself.

But there is always more to know about a person. Their name is only representative of what you do know.

So when we say the name of “Jesus,” we are associating His name with all that we know of Him. The more we know of Him, the more His name means to us.

David wrote in Psalm 138:

Psalm 138:2 – [I] praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word [which can also be translated promise or decree] above all Your name. [NIV says God’s decree “surpasses” His “fame.”]

Here’s my expanded translation: “Lord, You have magnified Your promise above everything we already know about You thus far – above everything You’re already known for – above any other manifestation we have seen of You. Your promise is immeasurably more than all we could have asked or even imagined – even with all the miracles You have done and all the ways You have already revealed Yourself to us. Your promise exceeds anything we have ever seen.”

It reminds me of how Jesus responded when the disciples brought to Jesus the news from Mary and Martha that their brother Lazarus was sick:

John 11:4-6 – When Jesus heard that [Lazarus was sick], He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” [That’s the Word of the Lord. A decree. A promise!] 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister [Mary] and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he [Lazarus] was sick, He [Jesus] stayed two more days in the place where He was. [Ensuring that Lazarus would die before He got there]

The promise – the word, the decree – that this sickness wouldn’t be unto death – even after 4 days in the grave by the time Jesus finally got there – was a promise that surpassed that His fame and what they knew of His name – it surpassed what they knew of Jesus.

While Jesus was on His way to Lazarus – too late by any standard – He said –

John 11:15 – “I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.”

When they said the name “Jesus,” they weren’t saying, “Jesus, who has made a name for Himself by raising the dead after they’ve been in the grave for 4 days.” They sent for Jesus because they knew He could heal the sick. Even Mary (who knew the one thing needful – you can look that up in Luke 10:42) fell at His feet when He got there and said –

John 11:32 – “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

In other words, “there is nothing that can be done now.” But Jesus had a purpose in arriving late: “I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe.” So that you may believe what? “That I am able.” And He proved it by raising Lazarus.

Faith comes by hearing the word of Christ

When we say the name of Jesus, it means different things to different people based on what we know of Him. The less we know, the less the name means. That’s why we want to know more and more about Jesus.

We can’t believe in something that we don’t know. So that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing right now.

Romans 10:14-15, 17, NASB – How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent?… 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

The more we hear the word of Christ, and the more the Spirit reveals to us about Jesus – the more His name means to us. And if I could put it this way – the more faith we will possess.

And we need to be hearing messages that are filled with grace without the leaven of the man-centered performance. The word of Christ – the Gospel of His grace is Jesus + nothing.

Jesus + nothing = everything.
Jesus + anything else = another gospel.

Galatians 1:8-9 – [It’s another gospel. Paul said – ] But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. [“anathema” – doomed to destruction. Paul pronounces a DOUBLE CURSE on anyone who preaches anything other than pure Grace!! He is saying, “May their ministry be as fruitless as the cursed fig tree!”]

So when we pray “in the name of Jesus,” it means we are praying according to everything that has been revealed to us about Jesus – through His word and through His works. And the more we experience His faithfulness, the more we expect of His faithfulness in the future.

Romans 8:32 – He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him [Jesus] also freely give us all things?

Everything we have ever needed or desired has been provided through the cross, and not only that, by His grace we have been deemed eternally worthy to receive everything that Jesus Himself is worthy of.

Ephesians 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places [where?] in Christ…

Jesus, our access to God’s grace; Jesus our YES

All of God’s promises for deliverance and healing and provision and restoration and peace and abundant life are made accessible through Jesus.

Romans 5:1-2 – [Remember Romans 5?] Therefore, having been justified [made righteous] by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand..

Jesus is our access to God’s grace. “Access” means you have permission. “Access” means God has said “Yes” in Jesus. Jesus is our YES from God.

2 Corinthians 1:19-20, NIV – For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us— [Paul says – ] by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him [Jesus] it has always been “Yes.” [The Yes refers to Jesus Himself!] 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him [Jesus] the “Amen” is spoken by us [even our “Amen” is provided through Jesus!] to the glory of God.

Jesus Himself is our YES. We keep our eyes on JESUS, not on our circumstances or on ourselves. JESUS never changes. He isn’t “Yes” when our circumstances are good and “No” when they are bad. He is a resounding YES!!!!

Amen!

And when we say “Amen,” we are saying we agree with God that Jesus is our “Yes” from Him for all of His promises. We bring glory to Him when we say AMEN.

Definition of the Greek word “amēn” – firm, faithful; verily; at the beginning of a discourse means surely, truly, of a truth [Like when Jesus would say, “Truly I say to you”]; at the end of a discourse it means – so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled.

It became a custom in the early days of the church that when a prayer was offered up to God, the others responded “Amen,” and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own.

When we say “Amen,” we are making what was prayed for or spoken of our own. That’s why we don’t say “Amen,” unless we want to make what is spoken our own.

The word “amen” was transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and then into English and many other languages, so that it is practically a universal word. “Amen” is the best known word in human speech.

“Amen” is directly related — almost identical — to the Hebrew word for “believe” (aman), which also means “faithful.” Thus, “amen” came to mean “an expression of absolute trust and confidence.”

On April 8 of this year, the simple word “amen” was the word that God gave me for the day. On that day (among other notes) I wrote this prayer for my family:

Lord Jesus, You are the YES to every promise of God for our family. As surely as You bore our sins, were crucified in our place, were buried and resurrected as our representative, are seated in heaven at the right hand of God having finished the work to wash away all of our sins, and are now eternally interceding for us, it is JUST AS SURELY that ALL You have planned and spoken about our lives will come to pass. We say “AMEN” to every promise You have made in scripture for us. We say “AMEN” to every specific promise You have given to us for family. When we say “AMEN,” we are making the substance of what You have uttered our own. May it be unto us exactly as You have said. We put our absolute trust and confidence in You. In Your name I pray, AMEN.

Hebrew tenses

I know I have shared alot, but I wanted to get all of this in one message. So I want to share just a couple more nuggets with you. The first one is on perspective from the Hebrew language – the language of the Old Testament.

Hebrew only has 2 tenses: past and present. There is no future tense in Hebrew. For example, it’s either “the Lord bless you” or “the Lord has blessed you.” There is no “the Lord will bless you.”

The Hebrew writers would often express the certainty of an event by putting it in either the past or the present even though it wouldn’t actually happen until long after – maybe even ages or generations later. For example, when God said to Abraham, –

Genesis 17:4 – “…you shall be a father of many nations.”

…It was actually written as if it had already happened – even though Abraham did not have a son through Sarah yet.

Genesis 17:4, Young’s Literal Translation – …thou hast become father of a multitude of nations…

In the preface to Young’s Literal Translation, 1898, it says:

“It would appear that the Hebrew writers, when narrating or describing events which might be either past or future, uniformly wrote as if they were alive at the time of the occurrence of the events mentioned, and as eye-witnesses of what they are narrating.”

For example, Joel 2, verse 28 – the Young’s Literal translation says –

Joel 2:28-29, YLT – “And it hath come to pass afterwards, I do pour out My spirit on all flesh, And prophesied have your sons and your daughters, Your old men do dream dreams, Your young men do see visions. 29 And also on the men-servants, and on the maid-servants, In those days I do pour out My Spirit.” [not, “I WILL pour out My Spirit.”]

Praying from a heavenly perspective

I believe that the more we understand the finished work of Jesus – the more we will begin to think in past and present tense when it comes to the promises of God and the answers to prayer that we are waiting on.

A few years ago, God gave me a day-dream – a visual answer to my prayer for a miracle, and it was accompanied by inexpressible joy. And I heard this rhetorical question from Him in my heart, “Tricia, how would you feel if what you just experienced was actually happening right now?” I answered, “I would be overwhelmed with joy.” He said, “I give you permission to go ahead and experience that joy today because it is done in heaven.”

How is it possible to experience the answer before we see it in the natural? By the spirit. Heaven is where our spirit is seated in Jesus. From that perspective, it is finished. Heaven is outside of time. Since there is no time in heaven, there is no waiting.

When we stand on God’s promises, we are simply standing in the reality of heaven. Everything we have ever prayed for has already been answered by God. His answer is “Yes” in Jesus.

From the heavenly perspective we can always say, “today is the day of salvation” because it’s always “today” in heaven. Timing on earth is in God’s hands.

Jesus understands the time we are living in because He entered time Himself by putting on human flesh.

John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory…

He “dwelt” – literally “tabernacled” among us. He lived among us, and He understands what it feels like to wait in an earthen vessel, and He has not left us to wait alone. Now He dwells inside of us to wait with us and carry the burden of time for us.

To teach us how to pray while we are waiting, Jesus told the parable of the widow and the unjust judge. Here’s a couple of verses from that passage in Luke 18 –

Luke 18:1, 7-8 – [Jesus said] “Men always ought to pray and not lose heart [TPT – keep praying and never stop or lose hope.] …7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.”

Other versions:

NASB – He will bring about justice for them quickly.
Good News Translation – he will judge in their favor and do it quickly.
AMPC – He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily.
TPT – He will not delay to answer you and give you what you ask for.

In verse 7, notice the words “He bears long with them.” Bears long is actually one Greek word – makrothymeō. Here is part of the definition from Strongs concordance:

makrothymeō [mak-roth-oo-meh’-o] – [as I read this definition, remember it is GOD who is “bearing long with them” in this passage] – to be of a long spirit, not to lose heart; to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles; to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others.

Taking that definition, I’m going to expand that verse and read it with “Jesus” inserted for God because Jesus is the express image of God. And I’m going to put myself in there because I am waiting patiently myself for some of God’s promises to manifest in my own life:

Jesus bears long with me. Jesus is persevering patiently and bravely with me. Jesus is of long Spirit. Jesus never loses heart when it comes to avenging me. Jesus endures all of my misfortunes and troubles with me. Jesus is patient as He bears all of the offenses and injuries I have suffered because He is gracious and merciful to me.

All means all

Now, to close, I’m going to read some of Jesus’s own words. These words confirm from Jesus’s own mouth that He our YES to every promise of God.

And there are many other scriptures in your handout that I am not going to cover, but they are there for your own meditation.

John 16:23-24 – [Jesus said – ] “Most assuredly, [literally – amēn, amēn] I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

Matthew 18:18-20, NASB – [Jesus said – ] “Truly I say to you, [amēn] whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. [Why? because it is finished in heaven] 19 Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, [Say “AMEN!” and -] it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

Matthew 19:26, NIV – Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

1 John 5:13-15 – These things I have 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. 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him [Jesus], that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Do you believe that? Then say, “Amen!

More “all means all/ everything means everything/ nothing means nothing/ whatever means whatever” scriptures

Luke 1:37, NASB – For nothing will be impossible with God.

Genesis 18:14, NASB – Is anything too difficult for the Lord?

Jeremiah 32:17, NASB – Oh, Lord God! Behold, You Yourself have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You!

Matthew 7:7-11 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

Acts 10:38 – [Jesus] went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Matthew 8:16 – And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.

Matthew 12:15 – And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.

Luke 6:19 – And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

Luke 4:40 – When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.

Colossians 1:16-18 – All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

John 1:3 – All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Psalm 34:4-6 – I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him, He saved him out of all his troubles.

Psalm 34:10 – Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

Psalm 34:17 – The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 34:19 – Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Philippians 4:19 – My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 103:2-5 – Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Isaiah 54:13 – all your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children.

Psalm 145:17-19, NIV – The Lord always keeps his promises he is gracious in all he does. 14 The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. 15 The eyes of all look to you [Lord] in hope; you give them their food as they need it. 16 When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. 17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. 18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

Psalm 146:6-8, NLT – He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. 7 He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners. 8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.

Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV – Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen

Romans 8:28, 31-32 – And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose… 31 If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Romans 8:38-39, The Message – absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

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

Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I Believe that HE believed!

by Tricia Gunn

“I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, KJV)

How can we apply this in our lives? Just behold Jesus and declare, “Thank You for the gift of faith! Thank You for opening my eyes to heavenly reality! I live by faith in Your faith!”

Jesus, You died believing that Your blood would be more than enough to cleanse me from all sin and make me righteous! (1 John 1:7 and 1 John 1:9)