Previously, we talked about what “the last Adam’s” (I Corinthians 15:45) ability “to seek and to save that which was lost,” which was the authority or dominion that “the first Adam” had lost in the garden when he ate of the fruit. Though many believe the son of man’s main purpose for coming was to save individual lost souls, we know that saving lost souls was “the by-product” of what he actually did. In getting back this “authority (dominion),” Jesus gave us “the power or authority over all of the power of the enemy,” which we know is the devil. He also gave us the “authority” to use “his name, the name of Jesus, to cast out demons (Mark 16:17 NKJV).”

“Yet it was because of this that God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name which is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11 TLB).

“The name of Jesus” has incredible power. For at the very “name of Jesus,” every knee shall bow in heaven, on the earth, and under the earth and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord. All of this power in a name because God gave him a name that is above every other name.

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There were many things lost because of the disobedient actions of “the first man, Adam.”

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

Not only did the “first man” bring sin and death into the world, he also gave away the authority, the dominion that God had gave him.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26-28).

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Recently, we talked about “taking a snapshot” of you and your faith. The purpose of “that snapshot” was not to give you a picture of where you wanted to be with your faith but to reveal to you where you were with your faith and where your faith currently stood. Just in case your faith is not where it should be, we thought it would be encouraging to look at a portion of the life of Abraham (Abram before his name changed), who would later become known as “the father of the faithful” and see how he ended up with that honor.

“Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!) So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, ‘I have made you the father of many nations.’ This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing” (Romans 4:13-17 NLT).

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Did you know that the Bible is not a history book? No, it is not a historical accounting for all of mankind, though it does contain some historical facts. More interesting, is the fact that many of the events depicted in the Bible are not even in chronological order. They appear to be somewhat randomly placed. One can read about an event in one chapter of a particular book and find references to it or another version of the same event several chapters later and even in some cases, many, many books later. On the surface, it can be one of the most confusing books to pick up and read. So why are believers told to read the Bible?

What many people do not know is that the Bible is actually a mystery book. As one person once put it, “The Bible is a coded book, written as a kind of jigsaw puzzle creating a series of smaller pictures within an overall picture that only becomes clear in meaning when one properly piece together all passages on a subject.” The Bible is a book that holds a double message, one by which his children can find the true will of God for their life when they read it and one that just completely confuses the naysayers when they read it. The Bible is an instruction manual, designed to tell God’s children all they need to know to achieve the maximum benefits in this life. It is only when they find the keys that they are able to unlock the mysteries or put together the puzzle pieces that allows them to understand the true word of God contained in the Bible.

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Scripture clearly states that we are all involved in some type of warfare, where “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). You see, we do not wrestle against people made of flesh and blood but against the evil rulers of the spirit realm, against those mighty satanic beings, against the great evil princes of darkness, and against the wicked spirits of this unseen world. Although we live in this world in the flesh, we do not engage in this warfare according to the flesh and by human standards, as the world typically engages in war.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full” (II Corinthians 10:3-6 WET).

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Just how important is your faith? In past discussions we have defined “faith” as “the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen and it is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us even though we cannot see it up ahead.” Faith is “trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proof.” It can also be defined as “trusting in somebody that you consider worthwhile and truthful.” It is by faith that we “accept that something exists when there is no physical proof of its existence or of its reality.” But just how important is your faith in all of this?

We know that according to the scripture, “God has dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). We know from our discussions, that God has dealt to everyone “the same amount of faith.” This means that no one has been given more faith than anyone else has, for we all have been given “the same amount” and not some “random or varied amount of faith.” We also found that you could not get more than the measure that has been dealt to you at birth by God. We know that faith is something that you increase through exercise, where you sort of develop your faith by building it up. The only way to increase your faith is through the knowledge gathered through the word of God. But just how important is your faith in all of this?

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Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete (James 1:2-4 TLB). We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love (Romans 5:3-5 TLB).

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and desires, and enticed. Then when lust and desire hath conceived, it bringeth forth and gives birth to sin: and sin, when it is finished and full-grown, bringeth forth death. Do not err and be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness or variation, neither shadow of turning (James 1:12-17).

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So, if you be in Christ, then you be “a new creature” (II Corinthians 5:17). You are no longer a part of Adam’s sinful race, a race that has a fixed moral nature in sin. No, you are now part of a new race, a spiritual race, created solely by Jesus through death and resurrection. This new spiritual race has a nature that is fixed in righteousness. No longer do we “know good and are unable to do it.” No longer do we “know evil and are unable to resist it” (Ephesians 2:1-3). We have been given “a second chance.”

“But God is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the dead—only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved—and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms—all because of what Christ Jesus did. And now God can always point to us as examples of how very, very rich his kindness is, as shown in all he has done for us through Jesus Christ. Because of his kindness, you have been saved through trusting Christ. And even trusting is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it. It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others” (Ephesians 2:4-10 TLB).

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Most believers are familiar with “The Great Commission.” These were a set of instructions given to the disciples by Jesus Christ.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Jesus gave these instructions shortly before he ascended to heaven to “sit at the right hand of the Father” (Acts 2:33-34). These instructions basically told his disciples, which now includes all “those who have love one to another” (John 8:35) to go forth and to make disciples in all nations, teaching them “to observe all things whatsoever and to obey all the commands” that he, Jesus had given them. Some of you do not feel that you are qualified and will not answer the call. But if that be the case, then listen to these words of Paul.

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