That’s a crucial question for me to ask myself as I consider my mission of
ruling over the earth. Jesus is actually empowering me from within to rule right now, ONLY as I walk, not “according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4), i.e., as I live or walk “by faith.” “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).
How do I know I’m living this way? Simply “believing” Jesus died for me intellectually, as a historical fact as I live each day, is not “walking by faith.” Walking or living by faith is an experiential, trust relationship with God Who lives inside me by His Holy Spirit. When I am walking by faith, I believe what He tells me, just like a little child believes his Daddy.
My consistency in living this way is very spotty, at best. My addiction to still trying my best to be like God, persists daily. Still having all the answers, and being everyone else’s Holy Spirit is an addiction that I cannot shake. Even if I have learned not to say anything, being a know-it-all is still in my DNA. Why is being like a little child so difficult?
However, I am seeing progress, and I am encouraged! I am starting, on occasion, to recognize that others are on different paths than I am on, and I can let God work in their lives without my help. I see things differently than they do, but a sovereign God has got them right where He wants them, and He doesn’t need my input. When this is my attitude, I am “walking by faith,” trusting God with their lives.
I believe the Apostle John, in His first epistle, told us how we can know when we are “locked and loaded” and walking this way, genuinely sending fear into the hearts of Satan and his minions. John helps us know when this is happening in our lives:
“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” (1 John 1:6-10).
So, neither the professional preacher with the biggest crowds, nor the TV evangelist who sends shivers down my spine, is necessarily “walking by faith.” It is the one who walks in the light of the law of God with his brothers and sisters in the faith, and then openly recognizes, confesses, and repents of the sin that light of God has exposed.
All pretense, climbing and desire for recognition will evaporate. I know all my sin is forgiven, past, present and future. God has forgiven and forgotten them all (Jeremiah 31:34); they are irrelevant to Him, (though I will live with the human, earthly results of them). It is His job alone to change us all, and I am slowly, painfully learning to let Him do His job without my help (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
Just imagine when all God’s children begin to understand this concept of walking by faith “in the light,” and owning and repenting openly for the sin that light exposes. We will leave the house every morning, and as we interact with the world there is no thought of “witnessing,” “extending the kingdom,” or “winning the world for Christ.” No, only, “Daddy, I can’t wait to see who you will touch, be involved with, and love on today, through me! Let’s go!”,
We will be spreading out over the world, not proclaiming the “Law of God”—that is designed to kill us (Galatians 2:19) and that has become “the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). We will be proclaiming the “Truth of God”— that same Law of God, but applied and proclaimed by one who is “walking by faith” (John 1:17)!
The Truth will flow from this mighty army as we learn to be willing, joyous, forgiven, SINNERS—embracing the fact of our sin openly and triumphantly—with the result being natural, spontaneous and unconscious ministry, touching everyone we meet! Hallelujah! Our commission to rule over the earth is being realized!
