NEW BOOK COMING SOON!
DEPENDENT
“But as it is written: “Eye hath not seen,
nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man THE
THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED for those who love
Him…” (1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV).
*
A DEPENDENT is someone who RELIES on another for some kind of
support assistance, or supply. The support, assistance, or supplies, for the
dependent, are necessary. The dependent can’t rely on their own strength to
meet their own needs.
A dependent usually cannot sustain themselves alone. A dependent
has to rely on the willful assistant of some else’s benevolence.
A dependent, therefore, is NOT self-sustaining and is at the mercy
of caregivers, family, friends, strangers, or companions for their support or
supply.
Normally, a dependent is a child, parent, or spouse, but it can
also be someone who is disabled, sick, jobless, elderly, or helpless.
A dependent’s very existence and ability to survive is determined,
contingent on, influenced, or controlled by someone or something else. A
dependent is the total opposite of someone who is autonomous
Remember an autonomous
person thinks of themselves as self-sufficient and not controlled by forces outside
of themselves.
An autonomous person
believes they do not need assistance, support, or anyone to help them supply
“their” needs.
The autonomous person
is convinced they have the free will and ability to make self-directing
decisions about their life choices or behaviors without outside interference.
An autonomous person
relies on themselves, but a dependent relies on something or someone else.
ALL TRUE BELIEVERS ARE
DEPENDENTS. Depending on God through Jesus Christ is foundational for the
Christian life. Christ informs believers, “…[They] can do all things THROUGH Christ which strengtheneth [them]…” (Philippians
4:13 KJV).
The believer DEPENDS on God for
everything. “….apart
from Me, you can do nothing…” (John
15:5 NIV). “…The Son …sustaining ALL THINGS
by his powerful word…” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV). “…in him (Jesus) ALL THINGS hold together…” (Colossians 1:7 NIV).
Believers DEPEND on God starting with
salvation. “…BY GRACE have ye been saved through (by)… FAITH;
and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; not of works, that no man should glory…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “…So the promise is received by faith…” (Romans 4:16 NLT). “…we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand…”
(Romans 5:2 NASB). “…the promise by faith in Jesus
Christ might be given to those who believe…” (Galatians 3:22 NASB).
The believer depends on God to cleanse his
or her heart. “…cleansing their hearts by faith…”
(Acts 15:9 NASB). “…I WILL GIVE you a
NEW heart, and I will put
a NEW SPIRIT in you…” (Ezekiel
36:26 NLT).
The believer depends on God for
sanctification. “…who have been
sanctified by faith
in Me…” (Acts 26:18 NASB). “… the God of
peace Himself SANCTIFY you ENTIRELY; and
may your SPIRIT
and SOUL and BODY be preserved COMPLETE…” (1 Thessalonians 5:23
NASB).
The
believer depends on God to live by faith. “…The righteous man
shall live by faith…” (Romans 1:7 NASB). “…we walk by faith…” (2 Corinthians 5:7 NASB). “..I live by faith in the Son of God…” (Galatians 2:20
NASB). “…I
live; yet not I, but Christ liveth IN ME…”
(Galatians 2:20 KJV). “…For it is God
who WORKS IN YOU…”
(Philippians 2:13 NIV).
The believer depends on God for
justification. “..a man is justified by faith…”
(Romans 3:28 NASB). “…ye are JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the SPIRIT of our GOD…”
(1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV).
The believer
depends on God for a right relationship with him. “…a
right relationship with God that comes by faith…” (Romans 4:13 NASB). “…a person is made right with God by faith in
Jesus Christ…” (Galatians 2:16 NLT).
The
believer depends on God for righteousness. “…the righteousness which is by faith…” (Romans 9:30 NASB). “…I am the Lord who …brings …righteousness to the earth…” (Jeremiah 9:23-24 NLT). “….not
having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that
which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith”
(Philippians 3:9 NASB).
The believer depends on God to keep his
Word. “…He has granted to [you]…
His precious and magnificent promises…” (2 Peter 1:4 NASB). “…As many as are the promises of God,
in Him they are yes …also … Amen …” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NASB). “And this is the confidence
that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will,
he heareth us…” (1 John 5:14 KJV). “…Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made
… failed;
all came to pass…” (Joshua 21:45 NASB). God is “…watching
over [his[… word to perform it…” (Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). “…So shall [his]… word be that
goeth forth out of [his]… mouth: it shall not return unto [him]… void, but it shall accomplish
that which [God]… please[s], and it shall prosper in the thing whereto [God]… sent it…” (Isaiah
55:11 KJV).
The believer depends on
God to meet their needs. “…My God will supply all [my need]… according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians
4:19 NASB). “…what is the riches of the glory…; …CHRIST IN YOU…”
(Colossians 1:25-28 KJV). “…Jesus Christ is in you…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…Christ in you, …” (Colossians 1:27 KJV). “…the Spirit of God
dwell in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…if Christ
be in you… (Romans 8:10 KJV).
The believer depends on God for the
awaited eternal life. “…we through the
Spirit, by faith,
are waiting for the hope of righteousness…” (Galatians 5:5 NASB). “…And
in the world to come that person
will have
eternal life…” (Mark 10:28-31 NLT). “…And being made perfect,
he became author of eternal salvation unto all
them who obey him…” (Hebrew 5:7-8-9 KJV).
Divine faith empowers,
through the indwelling Holy Spirit, the believer to depend on God. “…But the fruit of the Spirit… FAITH…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “…God hath dealt to every man THE measure of
FAITH…” (Romans 12:3 NIV). “…That great Shepherd of the sheep, EQUIP you with everything good [such as divine faith,]… for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “… [God] … grant[s]… you, according to the
riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might (faith) by his Spirit in the
inner man…” (Ephesians 3:16 KJV). “For it is God which worketh IN YOU both to
will (have faith) and to do
(live out faith) of his
good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).
The believer depends on God by divine faith.
God won’t try to prove he is dependable and God is NOT to be tested. “…Don’t you dare test
the Lord your God…” (Matthew 4:7
MSG). “…Do not put the Lord your God to the test…”
(Matthew 4:7 NIV). “…You must not test
the Lord your God…” (Matthew 4:7
NLT).
The believer CHOOSES to HEAR the Word of
God and is empowered to depend on God, willfully. “… I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life…”
(Deuteronomy 30:19) OR “…Choose
you
this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV). “…Jesus (the Living WORD) said… I am the LIFE…..”
(John 11:25 KJV).
Jesus sets you free
from sin. “..Who will free me from this
life that is dominated by sin?
…” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT). “…if the Son…shall make you FREE, ye shall be FREE
indeed.” (John 8:36 KJV).
When Jesus frees you
from sin, he OPENS the heart and FREES the human will to respond to the gospel. “…One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira
named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She
was a worshiper of God. The Lord OPENED her heart to respond to Paul's message” (Act
16:14 NIV).
Therefore, “…God
hath dealt to every man THE measure of FAITH…”
(Romans 12:3 NIV). “…BY GRACE have ye been saved through… FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; not of
works, that no man should glory…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “…a right relationship with God that comes by faith…”
(Romans 4:13 NASB). “…a person is made
right with God by
faith in Jesus Christ…” (Galatians 2:16 NLT).
Divine faith comes from hearing the gospel and the gospel is “…the POWER of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth…” (Romans 1:16 KJV). “…[The] Good News about Christ. It is the power of
God at work, saving everyone who believes…”
(Romans 1:16 NLT).
Jesus Christ is the
“good news” and by listening to it (the Word) and learning from it; it will
draw you to God. “…And I, if I (Jesus,
the Word) be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me….” (John 12:32 KJV).
NO
ONE can come to God unless he draws them
(John 6:44). Everyone “who HEARS” and
“learns” about God, will come to him
(John 6:45). "It
is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Every one that hath
HEARD and hath LEARNED of the Father, cometh to me…” (John 6:45
KJV). “…No one
can come to Me unless
the Father who sent Me draws him…” (John 6:44 KJV). “…no man can come unto me, except it were
given unto him of my Father…” (John 6:65 KJV). “…God hath dealt (GIVEN)… to every man THE measure of
FAITH…” (Romans 12:3 NIV). “…John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven…”
(John 3:27 KJV). “…He (Jesus) went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to
me unless the Father has enabled them…” (John 6:65 NIV).
Once God has drawn you
through the “good news” of the gospel, you will come to him. “…Every one that hath HEARD and hath LEARNED of the Father, cometh to me…” (John
6:45 KJV). “…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God” (Roman 10:17 KJV). “…[The] Good News about Christ. It is the power of
God at work, saving everyone who BELIEVES…”
(Romans 1:16 NLT). “…Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shall be saved…” (Acts
16:31KJV). “…BY GRACE have ye been
saved through…
FAITH; and that NOT OF
YOURSELVES, it is the gift of God; NOT OF
WORKS, that no man should glory…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).
Divine faith COMES when
it HEARS the word (Jesus) or the “good news.” Divine faith empowers you, by
HEARING the WORD, to experience the “…power of God unto
salvation…” (Romans
1:16 KJV). “…a right relationship with God that comes by faith…”
(Romans 4:13 NASB). “…a person is made
right with God by
faith in Jesus Christ…” (Galatians 2:16 NLT). “…BY
GRACE have ye been saved through… FAITH;
and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is the gift of God; NOT OF WORKS, that
no man should glory…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).
The dry bones in Ezekiel chapter 37 was
empowered to live again when they HEARD the WORD “…He asked me,
“Son of man, can
these bones live?” I said,
“Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” Then he said to me,
“Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘dry bones, hear the word of the
lord! ….So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying,
there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone
to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them
and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then …breath entered them; they came to life
and stood up on their feet—a vast army...’”
(Ezekiel 37 NIV). .“…Faith cometh by hearing …by the word of God”
(Roman 10:17 KJV).
Divine faith is given by God as a gift. “…it is the gift of God; …” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). You cannot earn a
gift and usually a gift is unexpected or it wouldn’t be a gift.
The bible clearly emphasizes divine faith
as a “gift of God’ and eliminates any
misunderstanding that the glory and credit for salvation goes to any BUT God. “…it is the gift of God; NOT OF WORKS, that
no man should glory…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).
No “man
should glory” or boast that they did ANYTHING to obtain salvation. “…BY
GRACE have ye been saved through… FAITH;
and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is the gift of God; NOT OF WORKS, that
no man should glory…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).
Because of the finished work of Christ on
the cross are you saved through divine faith. “…Even when we were dead in our
transgressions, MADE US alive together]with
Christ (by
grace you have been saved), ….and might reconcile them both in one
body to God through
the cross, by it having put to death the enmity…” (Ephesians
2:5, 16 NASB).
“…God
hath dealt (GIVEN)… to every man THE measure of FAITH…”
(Romans 12:3 NIV). “…it is the gift of God; …”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “…[One of]… the fruit of the Spirit… is…FAITH…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).
Apostle Paul provides
an example of God-given faith and totally understood it was gifted to him by
God via grace. “…Even though I was once a
blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I
acted in ignorance and unbelief.
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, ALONG WITH FAITH
and love that
are in Christ Jesus…” (1
Timothy 1:13-14 NIV).
Salvation and every action done BY FAITH
is EMPOWERED by the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…the POWER of God unto salvation to everyone
that believeth…” (Romans 1:16 KJV).
“….For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?
And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1
Corinthians 4:6 NIV). “…For
what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you?
And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?”
(1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT).
“…God
hath dealt (GIVEN)… to every man THE measure of FAITH…”
(Romans 12:3 NIV). “…But
the fruit of the Spirit… is…FAITH…”
(Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). Hebrews 11 demonstrates how God-given
faith empowers actions:
BY
FAITH we understand …
BY
FAITH …Abel brought …
BY
FAITH …Enoch was taken up…
BY
FAITH …Noah BUILT
…
BY
HIS FAITH Noah CONDEMNED. …
BY
FAITH …Abraham obeyed …
he lived
there BY FAITH—
BY
FAITH …SARAH WAS ABLE TO
HAVE A CHILD…
BY
FAITH …THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE
RED SEA
BY
FAITH …the people of Israel MARCHED
AROUND JERICHO
FOR SEVEN
DAYS…
BY
FAITH these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled
with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the
mouths of lions, quenched the
flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness
was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put
whole armies to flight. Women received
their loved ones back again from death….” (Hebrews 11:1-35 NLT).
“…I will show you MY (divine, gifted) FAITH
by my deeds (conduct, actions, mannerisms, transformation, etc;)...” (JAMES
2:18 NIV).
God gave every believer
THE measure of faith. “…God hath dealt to
every man THE
measure of FAITH…” (Romans 12:3 NIV). One of “…the
fruit of the Spirit… FAITH…”
(Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).
God gave every believer
instructions on how to activate their “measure
of faith.” (Romans 12:3 NIV). “…FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, and hearing by the word of God…” (Roman 10:17 KJV). “…thy WORD is truth” (JOHN 17:17 KJV).
After “hearing” the word, the believer is
empowered to DEPEND on God, through the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…the Holy Spirit gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…”
(John 3:6 NLT).
Divine FAITH begins to work “IN” them, “THROUGH” them, and “FOR”
them. “…it is God which
WORKETH in [them]…
both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians
2:13 KJV). One of “…the fruit of the Spirit… FAITH…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).
“ … That great Shepherd of the
sheep, …may he WORK IN US what
is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ,
Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
“…[May he].. strengthened [you]…with
might by his Spirit in the INNER MAN…”(Ephesians 3:16 KJV). You “…can do all things THROUGH Christ which strengtheneth [you]….”
(Philippians 4:13 KJV).
“…It
was BY FAITH that Noah BUILT A LARGE BOAT
to save his
family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things
that had never happened before….” (Hebrews
11 NLT).
Divine faith worked
“IN” Noah: Noah BUILT. Divine faith worked “THROUGH” Noah: Noah built A BOAT.
Divine faith worked “FOR” Noah: it SAVED his family from the flood.
When divine faith works
“IN” you it will motivated you to do something. Noah built. When divine faith
works “THROUGH” people can see the witness of it by your deeds. Noah built a
boat. People SAW the boat. When divine faith works “FOR” you; it blesses you
and others will witness the blessed results. Noah’s whole family was saved from
the flood and everybody SAW it.
“…I will show you MY FAITH by my deeds (conduct,
actions, mannerisms, etc;)...” (JAMES 2:18 NIV).
Every Believer is a
dependent on Jesus to walk out the Christian life and do great things for God’s
glory. “….apart from [Jesus], you can do
nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
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