[originally published May 1, 2009—I re-read it and it made me feel great, so I'm re-posting it...]
Proverbs 13:12 says ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick…’ I was praying, feeling very heart sick, because while I know the hope of the gospel, I was not seeing the results I had hoped for in the natural realm.
And I heard “You must take hold of the hope set before you. Look at the unseen—you have seen the truth that, in the Spirit, all things belong to you, richly to enjoy. You have seen the truth that, in the Spirit, all of My promises are yes in Him. And I have showed you the truth about the unseen realm from My word…Hagar’s well, Isaac’s ram, Elisha’s army…you have heard that My angel encamps around those who fear or revere Me. My word is true and established forever in the Spirit. You must take hold of spiritual reality to bring the unseen into manifestation.”
I asked “How do I do that, Lord?”
He replied “You purpose in your heart to take hold of the blessings that belong to you. You purpose in your heart to see the unseen, to walk in My blessing, to walk in the fullness of My Spirit.”
In Jeremiah 4:28, God says “…because I have spoken, I have purposed…” We know that our words are important in creating our reality from both New and Old Testament truths. But we may be missing the element of intent, or purpose, when we speak.
For example, I have known for years that God’s promises have included favor, wisdom, health, riches, honor, long life and blessings for my family and me. I have confessed them endlessly, and have seen results in some of these areas. But the areas of greatest need seem to go unchanged, and this was causing me to be sick of heart. I knew what the word promised, but couldn’t seem to receive its fulfillment in the natural.
Before the Foundation of the World
Faith appropriates what God has already accomplished.
Faith appropriates what God has already accomplished.
Hebrews 4:3 says that ‘…His works were finished from the foundation of the world.’ We also know that Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the [Revelation 13:8] and that we were chosen in Him from before the foundation of the world [Ephesians 1:4].
Psalm 119:89 says ‘Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled [stand firm] in heaven…’ and Jesus told us to pray “Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.”
So we know that, in the Spirit, in heavenly places [where we are seated already in Christ] that every need is met according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus [Philippians 4:19] and He has given us the desires of our heart [Psalm 34:7].
Psalm 34:10 says ‘…but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing’ and I Corinthians 3:22,23 tell us that ‘…all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.’
The Missing FactorWhat, then, is the missing factor? We know the Word, we speak the Word…but we are not always seeing the results promised.
I believe it is the power of purpose …the power of what the Bible calls the intent of the heart.
In the story of the tower of Babel, God remarks that ‘…nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.’ [Genesis 11:6]
He knew that men, even unregenerate men, were created in His image—since His word does not return to Him empty, without accomplishing His desire—what He sent it for [Isaiah 55:11], neither would theirs.
The entire book of Proverbs instructs us in the power of our words, and Jesus taught us to speak to mountains and trees. But we must believe in our hearts—we must set our purpose, our intent, that what we say WILL come to pass, because God said that it would. Since it is impossible for Him to lie and everything He says comes to pass, His word concerning our words is established spiritual law.
Some have suggested that God is merely setting up hoops for us to jump through. How sad that they don’t know the love God has for us. No, He is explaining how things work—the natural realm responds to the word spoken in faith—with purpose. And it works that way because He said it would…
In the prophetic 50th chapter of Isaiah, Jesus talks about His crucifixion. He says “Therefore, I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed. He Who vindicates Me is near; who will contend with Me?” He knew that to accomplish His task on the earth, He would need to set His purpose—the intent of His heart—to go ahead with His assignment no matter what it looked like. He took hold of the hope set before Him—the hope of resurrection, the hope of bringing many sons to glory, the hope of Satan’s defeat, the hope of the joy of His Father.
So too we must take hold of the hope set before us in the Word—purpose in our hearts—to receive the promises and blessings of God in the earth.
Forever Settled
I see God’s word, forever settled in heaven, like a canopy above us, filled with all precious and pleasant riches [Proverbs 24:4]. We are told to look at the unseen and take hold of the hope—so we look at His forever settled word and speak “Your will be done, on earth, as it is [present tense] in heaven…”
I see God’s word, forever settled in heaven, like a canopy above us, filled with all precious and pleasant riches [Proverbs 24:4]. We are told to look at the unseen and take hold of the hope—so we look at His forever settled word and speak “Your will be done, on earth, as it is [present tense] in heaven…”
Hagar needed water for her son, Ishmael…God revealed the well that was there all along. Abraham needed a ram to sacrifice in place of his son…God revealed the ram caught in the bush. Elisha’s servant needed to know that he and Elisha were protected, so Elisha prayed that God reveal His army to him.
These were not magically created at the moment of need—they were revealed—there all along. Why?
Because God had promised Abraham concerning the well being of both of his sons—His covenant promise to Abraham formed the answer to every need in the spiritual realm. The provisions were there because they had to be there for God’s word to be true! Forever settled!
Elisha knew his covenant. He knew that God had promised him protection and blessing in the covenant promises of the Torah. So the angels had to be out there for God’s promises to be true! And he spoke the words…”Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around him.’ [2 Kings 6:16,17] Isn’t it interesting that he gave the word first and then prayed?
We need to get this into our hearts and minds—God’s word is true! We appropriate the provisions set out in it by faith—believing in our hearts and speaking with our mouths. Purposing in our hearts that God’s word is true, settled forever and spoken for us. Setting our intent to receive what He has promised.
Speak With Intent
It is clear that God speaks with the express purpose of His words coming to pass. [Isaiah 55:11] And we are told to act like Him, like children imitating their Father. [Ephesians 5:1] We are born of Him [I John 5:1,4]—Jesus is the Firstborn of Many Brethren [Romans 8:29] and we are those brethren! One Spirit with the Lord—as He is, so are we in this world.
It is clear that God speaks with the express purpose of His words coming to pass. [Isaiah 55:11] And we are told to act like Him, like children imitating their Father. [Ephesians 5:1] We are born of Him [I John 5:1,4]—Jesus is the Firstborn of Many Brethren [Romans 8:29] and we are those brethren! One Spirit with the Lord—as He is, so are we in this world.
Therefore, we are to speak with intent—the intent of knowing that John 14: 13,14 is true—“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”
The intent of knowing that John 15:7 is true—“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
The intent of knowing that 1 Corinthians 1:20 is true—‘For as many as are the promises of God, in Him They are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen [so be it] to the glory of God through us.’
The intent of knowing that all of the promises of deliverance, healing, abundance, wisdom, long life, blessings for ourselves and our children are true! Speak them with the same intent that God had when He first spoke them—that they should come to pass! Hallelujah!
We set our faces like flint to receive by faith what is already ours, bought and paid for. We purpose in our hearts to be more than overcomers—that our faith is our victory—that, being born of God, we overcome the world. We resolve to be rooted and grounded in love—to be filled with the glory of God as His temple.
We resolve to prove what the good and acceptable will of God is in our lives by renewing our minds to His truth [Romans 12:1,2]…to not be disappointed or ashamed of our hope…of our Father and His will towards us. Set your heart, your purpose, your intent to manifest the good will of God in your life today.
Hallelujah!
