FAITH AND THE COMPANY OF SAINTS

 On July 2, 2003, I went into a three-day, ‘conference’ with just the Lord, my Bible, pen and paper. The first thing God did was to give me a message about the role that “the company of saints” play in our lives today. You and I both know that we are forbidden in scripture to talk to or pray to people who have died. We end up talking to an impersonating demon. Plus, in doing so, we attribute omnipresence to them – an attribute only of God. When people do this, they are also assuming that the deceased loved one is not busy doing something other than looking down on us. (What ego when heaven is such a much more fascinating place!)

You will want to look all the scriptures up and check this out for yourself for this is not a lesson that is usually taught. Below is exactly the way I received it so you may have to go back and forth as you mull it over, especially since He often referred to the context of a verse. I’d never heard anything remotely like this instruction before so it takes a while to digest it. May God infuse it into you the same way He did to me.

The teaching began with Him explaining why my parents were still moving in awe and wonder even though Mother’s been there since Jan. 6, 2000 and Daddy since Oct. 19, 2001. He said…

“I wish people would take more seriously what I have to say about the company of saints in scripture. Read it. Hebrews 11:39-12:29.

First of all, you are to draw on the faith of those who have gone before. Where did their faith go? They don’t need it here! But you know from Hebrews 11:1 that faith is a substance. So where is it? It is eternal so it isn’t destroyed when a person dies. I’ll tell you where it is; it sits transfixed between heaven and earth until and unless some of you claim it! See Hebrews 12:23. It’s yours for the taking. Why don’t you take it? Ignorance, that’s why. And that’s why I’m telling you this RaJean, because I want you to publish the news. The great shaking talked about in Hebrews 12:26-27 is coming soon – as you count soon. “Therefore” (vs. 28) receive more of My kingdom, more of My grace so you can serve God more acceptably in these days of shaking.

Habakkuk 2:12 – The just live by his faith.

Romans 1:16-17 – In the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. What does this mean? Whose faith goes to whose faith? Faith belongs to someone. It doesn’t just float intangibly around somewhere. Faith comes from God. Man receives it by hearing the word (Romans 10:17). It doesn’t take much to move a mountain (Matt. 17:20) but you have to take the mustard seed of faith and add it to your own. In Matt. 17, the disciples already had faith; they just needed to take the mustard seed. There are many mountains (Matt. 17:20) and many mulberry trees (Luke 17:6) that need to be moved. In the Old Testament, I walked in the mulberry trees to signal when to go to battle. Now, it's time to pull up those mulberry trees by the roots and plant them in the sea. (Luke 17:6) I said this in response to the apostles asking Me to increase their faith. My response was to tell them about the mustard seed of faith that is available to them and use it as faithful humble servants. (Luke 17:5-10) If it's not taken, it’s not used. If it's not used in humility, it’s unprofitable.

When Paul talked about walking by faith (2 Cor. 5:7), it was in the context of preparing for, living toward the life here with Me. When he talked about the faith through which you received grace to be saved (Eph. 2:8), it is in the context of talking about God having already raised you up to sit with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (vs. 6) You see, you can’t separate faith from reality in heaven. Faith is an earthly substance. Something necessary for there. We don’t need it here. The shield of faith (Eph. 6:16) is that which you take from the spiritual realm. To use it, you have to be sitting with Me in heavenly places. Otherwise, it won’t quench the fiery darts of the wicked one.

[At this point, He showed me a diagram of two horizontal lines. The bottom line represents earth. The upper line the shield of faith. Coming from the bottom line were arrows shooting up toward the shield. The shield of faith works only as we are seated above the earth in the heavenly places, positioning our shield downward, between us and earth. How I’d always been taught was with the diagram of a person holding a shield to ward off arrows coming after him from a horizontal direction rather than from below. New concept to me.]

It is impossible to please Me without faith (Heb. 11:6), but look at the context of that verse. It is housed in what’s often called “The Hall of Faith.” Read through that chapter. Don’t you see that faith was building through the generations? It builds and grows like the mustard seed. All of them don’t get the full benefit without you. (vs. 39-40) And you cannot run your race without them. (Heb. 12:1) They are drawing and benefiting from you. You must draw and benefit from them. Take their faith. Add it to your own. I’m growing a mustard tree here. Recognize that and be an informed part. What is the purpose? A mustard tree does more than produce an herb. It also provides a home, shelter and a resting place for the birds of the air. (Matt. 13:31-32) Even so, faith nourishes and gives flavor. It also provides shelter and gives protection to others. Faith reaches up to Me as the branches of the tree stretch heavenward. But it is also useful and serviceable on the earth. Take all you can get. Use all that you have. Build on the faith of those who have gone before. Lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares you and run with endurance the race that is set before you. (Heb. 12:1) Just do it!