Years ago, the Holy Spirit taught me “Walk in your God-given authority or someone will take it from you and use it against you”, so I have tried through the years to obey this and taught it to the family and those I pastored. Now the Holy Spirit has used half the quote to correct my walk.
Romans 14:23 is so simple we say the words but ignore the factual warning that everything in life is either from faith or from sin; therefore, we either live and walk a “faith life” or a “sin life”, 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
This is why Hebrews 11:5 tells us Enoch’s life pleased God, so God took him to heaven still alive, so this is why verse 6 says, 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Everything is either from faith or from sin, and Romans 5:2 says it takes faith to get into (access) the grace and truth that John 1:17 says came through Jesus; thus, all things must be done in faith that Galatians 5:6 and 1 Corinthians 13:2 says works through love or it is dead, meaningless, sin.
Living, workable faith is why Jesus, in Matthew 9:29, told the two blind men, 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And her living, workable faith is why Jesus, in Luke 8:48, told the woman with the twelve-year issue of blood, 48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
Everything—every detail of life is either from faith or it is from sin; there is nothing in the middle to bring the two together, which is probably why Matthew 7:13-14 warns, 13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Probably “the few who find” eternal life in Jesus Christ are those who live a life of faith and not a life of sin, for “whatever is not from faith is sin”. According to Romans 14:23, it is either a faith-life or a sin-life, and we must be alert and watchful guardians of every detail of life, how we think, how we say things, and how we do things, for everything must be from faith.
Now the story behind all this: Fourteen years ago, I struggled to get enough breath to preach, talk, or walk; thus, I was treated for acute bronchitis, which continued to get worse, so I resigned the pastorate, changed states and doctors that found during a five-months stay in the hospital two of my heart valves were not working; one dead and one calcified. All this was corrected by removing the calcium and sewing in a pig valve. Now fourteen years later it has reoccurred, and I struggle for breath to do anything, but doctors put off doing anything for six months.
Sitting in my rocking chair Friday September 29, 2023, waiting from time to go for a doctor appointment, and talking to my Lord; for some strange reason I said to my Lord, “I would like to walk away from all this”, and the Holy Spirit immediately said to me, “Walk in your God-given authority and stop accepting things that are not from God”. I immediately repented, asked His forgiveness, saying “I know this but did not realize I had willingly accepted all this when Your word says I am healed.” Immediately all my strength came back, I stop struggling to breath, and began laughing that continued through the doctor visit that showed a whole in my heart among other problems, and the blood test was so bad it had to be repeated Tuesday October 3, 2023, but I really feel good as I, in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17), refuse to accept every detail about this that is not of God, for I choose to “Walk in my God-given authority”, living and waling from faith and not sin, for we willingly accept Satan’s “symptoms” without knowing everything he has attached to those symptoms, and it is a lot easier to refuse his symptoms than it is to get rid of everything included. I believe the secret to feeling God’s presence and His perfect peace is when we experience Galatians 2:20, for when Christ lives His life through us, we are crucified to the world and the world crucified to us; thus, He works for, in, and through us for His glory and honor.
Infectious Disease Control did a pet scan of me Monday October 16, 2023, and I received in the mail when I got home their letter of instructions about what to eat, wear, etc., but I do not know if Cardiology will do any more test. I definitely feel better today, Tuesday October 17, 2023, than I did Friday September 29, 2023, for the Lord has given me perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3), in all this.
Jim, Kim, and Tim Nabors
Jim, Kim, and Tim Nabors
