The Spirit of Faith Newsletter – October 1983 (Print Edition)
“God’s Commandments Aren’t Grievous”
“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and everyone that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.” (I John 5:1-3)
Whosoever is born of God loves those that are born of God. We are to love one another. We are to love God and keep His commandments. What are the commandments? There are not just the ten commandments. The commandments of God are found throughout His Word.
As a matter of fact, the ten are fulfilled in just two: “And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave commandment. And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. “(I John 3:23-24) Jesus said that on these two commandments the whole law and books of the prophets hang. (Matthew 22:36-40)
Now notice if you, as a believer, love God and are walking in love (divine love) toward the brethren and you have the inward witness of the Holy Spirit of God in your spirit, the Word of God says that we can know that He abides in us and we in Him. We can know that we are fulfilling the commandments! For a born again believer, walking in God’s commandments should not be grievous or hard!
Too many times we tend to go back and pick up our old sin-consciousness that we had before we were born again and return to the bondage of trying, in our strength, to fulfill the law. We are not under the law! Now, it is true that we cannot use our freedom from the law as an occasion to the flesh, but by love we are to serve one another (Gal. 5:13). But as we have heard Brother Kenneth Copeland say, “Believers are not looking for a way to sin, they are looking for a way to live above it.” If your innermost desire is to get away with some sin… get born again! But for those believers that are not looking for a way to sin… lean toward your righteousness!
I have noticed an unfortunate tendency among some that are in the ministry. They place believers under bondage to many rules and regulations, teaching them that if they do not do this, or that, just right, then they will not be blessed by God or helped in any way. God’s Word is full of conditions to receive. For instance, GIVE and it shall be given. If you don’t do the condition, the giving, then you will not receive the promise, the being given to. I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about teaching folks that they must grovel, groan and sacrifice to get God to even look kindly about what they are doing. I labored under the strain of this for some time. It seemed that every time I turned around someone was telling me that all I was doing for God was not enough because I didn’t fast enough. I didn’t pray enough. I wasn’t sacrificing enough personally to be really anointed by God for a supernatural ministry. Now please understand! I know that fasting, praying, etc., is necessary and important. But why are you doing it? Because God told you to – or in order to impress people with your spirituality? If we strain and sweat to do something in order to get God to bless what we are doing then our attitude is wrong! When God says to you, in your spirit, “PRAY AND FAST!” Then you should do so! For as long as He says and when He says. But if you do it because someone has driven you into the ground with condemnation because they don’t think you are spiritual enough to serve God, then you are in trouble! This attitude almost caused me to get out of the ministry. I finally thought one day, “I might as well go back to photography and be a layman…God can’t use me in the ministry.” God had to supernaturally speak to me, as clearly as though it were audible, “Hold it just a minute son. Don’t look at what you’ve done wrong, look at what you and I have accomplished together. Look at the good things… look at the people that have been born again, healed and delivered!” Then He took me to I John 5:3 and said, “I said that fulfilling My commandments are not grievous… it’s not hard!” Oh, how I needed that! You need to realize there are always areas for improvement. We need to always keep shooting for that high mark. Don’t become burdened by legalistic teaching and a sin-consciousness. It is not hard to live for God in all that we do. But be aware of the witness in your human spirit, “I’m in you, you are in Me, together we have overcome the world!”
Items of Interest in This Issue
Invitation to the Word of Faith Satellite Seminar at Taylors Grove Church… Radio Program Invitation… Itinerary… Tape Offer: “The Good News!” Tent Meeting Tapes
