Faith Bible Study Guide
I want to use several scriptures that do not have the words “in Him,” “in whom,” or “in Christ” in them, yet they do infer something about our rights and privileges in Christ.
COLOSSIANS 1:13
13 Who hath DELIVERED us from the power [authority] of darkness, and hath TRANSLATED US into the kingdom of his dear Son:
The word “who” in this verse refers to God. In Christ we are delivered from the power or authority of darkness.
1 JOHN 4:4
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
A companion scripture to First John 4:4 in the Old Testament is Isaiah 41:10.
ISAIAH 41:10
10 Fear thou not; for I AM WITH THEE: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Then in the New Testament, God says something else that agrees with the scripture we just read.
ROMANS 8:31
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be FOR US, who can be against us?
Take these scriptures as a personal message from God to you. Remember, the Bible is God speaking to you. God said in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee….”And because we as Christians are under the New Covenant, we can also say, “Thank God, He is in us.” That’s the best reason in the world not to be afraid, because God is with us and in us. Sometimes we try to help people and we’ll say, “Well, the darkest hour is just before dawn,” or “Don’t worry, things will be better tomorrow.” But I’m glad God gives us the best reason in the world not to fear. He is with us and in us!
Did you ever notice that again and again when God sent a message to His people, He would say, “Fear thou not.” He would send a message, perhaps through the prophets, and say, “Fear thou not.” Also, Jesus said to Jairus when they came and told Jairus that his little daughter was dead, “Fear not, only believe” (Mark 5:36; Luke 8:50). If God just told me, “Don’t be afraid,” and left it at that, I might say, “I can’t help it.” But He said in Isaiah 41:10, “For I am with thee.” Can you really believe that He is with you and be afraid? No! Can you really believe that He is in you and be afraid? No! If you are afraid, it’s because you are doubting Him.
“Yes,” someone said, “but, Brother Hagin, you don’t understand. I am so weak.”
But God said, “… I will strengthen thee …” (Isa. 41:10). “Yes, but you just don’t understand. I just feel so helpless.” But God said, “… yea, I will uphold thee …” (v.10). Thank God, we already have the answer to every problem in the Word! But it is amazing how little the Word means to some people. We can help folks who want to be helped. But we can’t do anything for those who don’t want to be helped. If you beat people over the head with the truth, so to speak, that still does not help them if they don’t want to be helped.
Actually, love is the greatest tool there is for helping people. Just let people see that you really love them and that you are really interested in them. That will help them more than anything. I was reading an article in a magazine once which was written by the president of the American Medical Association. He said, “There are two things that the old country doctors, as we called them, had that the doctors today do not have: That is consideration for the patients and love and sympathy.” In the article, this man said that these two qualities are the greatest healing agents we have. I tell you, friends, I believe the same thing is true in the spiritual realm. I believe you will find that when the majority of folks who are really sincere, see what God’s plan is for them and know it, they will rise to the level of it.
Another way to say this is that if you will approach any subject from the positive side and not from the negative side, you will win more folks. Preach for something and not against something. I am glad that God is for me, aren’t you? “Fear thou not; for I am with thee …” (Isa. 41:10). And in the New Testament we read, “… If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31).
Our confession should be, “God is with me.” “Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.” You can fearlessly say, “God is in me now.” You may be facing some task that seems impossible. Instead of talking about how impossible that task is, look to Him who is inside of you and say, “God is in me now.” You will find that your confession of faith will cause God to work on your behalf. He will rise up in you and give you success. The Master of all of creation is in you. You can face life fearlessly because you know that greater is He who is in you than any force that can be arrayed against you. This should be your continual confession. Now hold fast to it.