A teaching by Rev. Barbara Williams, President of the Ministry of the Watchman International
Week of May 27-31, 2024
MONDAY
So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:6-7
In this passage, the apostle Paul is explaining to the church that we are at home in the body and absent from the Lord. This is a compelling statement. Being in the body is being absent from the Lord. We could also say that being aware of the body is being unaware of the Lord. Our souls are either focused on God and minding the things of the Spirit, or they are focused on temporal things, the things that the body makes us aware of. We cannot focus on both at the same time. What should be our focus?
Our focus should be on our faith. “Yes, Barb, but faith is invisible.” Yes, that’s right. So it should be easy to perceive if we are not focused on the body, or natural senses. The terms used to denote the carnal, rational or body-conscious man are defined in terms of man’s awareness based on his five physical senses. The natural man relates to what he can see, taste, touch, feel and hear with the natural senses. But the church, having Christ in us, the hope of glory, is a supernatural organism that can perceive the things of the spirit. It is this higher, supernatural realm that the Apostle says we must walk in.
If you are in need of healing, there is good news! Proverbs 4:20-22 SAYS:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
So there is life and health in God’s word. Since God’s word is medicine, we must take it like we would a prescription. I suggest three times a day, like you would your food. Remember, healing is the children’s bread. Consider this your “dose” for today. Remember, read, and meditate three times a day the following:
Rx: Matthew 9:28-30 ~ And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
If you’ve never studied the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we invite you to join us as we read through the Bible in a year. Read and meditate on these chapters this week:
May 27: Numbers 36, Psalms 80, Isaiah 28, 2 John 1
May 28: Deuteronomy 1, Psalms 81-82, Isaiah 29, 3 John 1
May 29: Deuteronomy 2, Psalms 83-84, Isaiah 30, Jude 1
May 30: Deuteronomy 3, Psalms 85, Isaiah 31, Revelation 1
May 31: Deuteronomy 4, Psalms 86-87, Isaiah 32, Revelation 2
June 1: Deuteronomy 5, Psalms 88, Isaiah 33, Revelation 3
June 2: Deuteronomy 6, Psalms 89, Isaiah 34, Revelation 4
TUESDAY
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
So how do we do this? Can we step out of our bodies, close our ears, shut our eyes, etc.? Of course not, that would be dangerous and foolish, also. As you know, these senses keep us in touch with our natural environment. We live on this earth, and our natural man must have a way to relate to his position in the earth. For instance, I may come into a friend’s kitchen and see a pot on the stove. It may look as though the pot is cool, but as I get closer, I can smell the faint aroma of chicken soup.
On closer inspection I can see a small blue flame under the pot. I remove the lid and steam escapes, letting me know that the contents are hot. If I did not walk by my natural senses, I would be at a loss to know what to do.
Now I hear some of you saying, “Oh, Barb, God wouldn’t let that happen to you.” Let me ask you this, have you ever been burned, or injured? God doesn’t have to tell us something that He has already provided the sense realm to tell us. He would have to retrain us totally, and how many of us are that developed spiritually?
So God in His mercy allows us to still function as natural men in things pertaining to the natural. But He does not want us to walk by natural means.
WEDNESDAY
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
So what does it mean to walk by faith and not by sight?
It means that God wants us to make decisions through our spirit man and to allow our spirit man to take over the helm of our lives, not sit idly by while we live a totally sensual life. When I say sensual, I mean the type of life we had before Christ entered our hearts. Walking by faith means living a life of obedience to God’s word, hiding the word in our hearts and allowing the word to settle all our problems. The walk of faith is one in which we are conscious of God and His commands and we obey them … all of them.
Here is the problem. We have conflict inside. We know what God commands, and we have our own ideas about the matter. In families, it is usually a matter of who must submit to whom. We know the word, but we feel like we shouldn’t do it, because “you know the last time I obeyed my husband we missed a good deal, so I feel like I should do what I think is right without consulting him. God understands.” Or, “I know I should go straight home after work, but this is important … the bowling league only meets once a week.”
Okay, girls and boys, you both got a dose. The sensual life is emotional and impulsive, also. Faith is not an impulse, it is a substance.
THURSDAY
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is spiritual substance. It is a higher sense realm than our five physical senses because it puts us in touch with the supernatural, invisible realm. While our physical senses do produce impulses, thoughts, feelings, and evidence to the mental (soul) realm, our faith sends information to our renewed minds (mind of the spirit), which is in contact with God’s Eternal Spirit. This is the highest form of living one can have. To walk by faith means to be in constant communion with God. We can have moment-to-moment, hour-to-hour communication with Him and be able to draw from God’s vast knowledge, wisdom, and power.
Walking by faith allows us to override the natural man and correct him so that we can begin to manifest the promises of God. Walking by faith makes the limitations of the physical man unimportant. Walking by faith means walking on the outside of danger, and on the inside of blessing. Walking by faith allows us to walk above the power of the curse because we are seated in heavenly places. Walking by faith allows us to tread upon our high places. High places are things like sickness, weakness, poverty, and fear. These are the things that the carnal man is still subject to without the application of our faith.
Faith is the power that overcomes these powers.
FRIDAY
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6
Pleasing God is important. It is so important that people go to great lengths to feel acceptable to Him. The gospel is such a blessing to those of us who have heard! Think of the people of pagan religions who offer their bodies to be burned, sacrifice their children, or carry crosses through the streets flagellating themselves. They don’t know how to please God and are desperately trying, (through the flesh) to accomplish what simple faith in God will do. Oh, the liberating power in one tiny verse of scripture!
When we come to God, we must come believing, not doubting, and not testing God by making Him prove Himself to us. We must believe that our God is alive and that He is just and fair and will reward those of us who give Him our best without quitting. That’s what it means to be diligent. He will bless and reward the diligent.
Are you waiting on a blessing from God? Maybe he has promised you a ministry or healing or a family or children … whatever He has promised you, He will reward you if you diligently seek HIM…not just the things you want. You must touch Him first to receive what you desire. Seek His way of doing things, not just the things.
To be diligent means to give ear to His word. It means to give ear over and over and over again. It means to meditate on the word when you’re not listening to it. It means to push your listening past the point of mental fatigue and move over into the realm of excess. That’s right, diligent means to exceed that which you would do for another human. Think of the sacrifices we’ve made for bosses, girlfriends, boyfriends or other humans.
Have you done that much for God yet? If not, keep pressing until you exceed the loyalty, commitment and sacrifice that you have given to a marriage, job or career. When you have done that, and do it consistently, then you are diligently seeking God … keep it up and you will soon receive your reward.