Delightsome Agbabo

November 1 HEART LOVE . . . The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. — ROMANS 5:5 “I hate my mother-in-law!” a minister’s wife once said to me. “I don’t even know if I’m saved or not, because the Bible says, ‘Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him’” (1 John 3:15). I knew this woman was saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. But I also knew that she was letting the devil dominate her through her mind and flesh. So I said, “Look me in the eye and say out loud, ‘I hate my mother-inlaw.’ As you’re saying this, check up on the inside of you — because the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts, not our heads — and tell me what is happening.” She did what I had asked and said, surprised, “Something is ‘scratching’ me down in my spirit!” “Yes, something on the inside of you is trying to get your attention,” I told her. “The love of God in your spirit wants to dominate you, b...

October 30 UNFORGIVENESS And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. — MARK 11:25 Jesus had just made those marvelous, thrilling, amazing, astounding statements recorded in Mark 11:23 and 24. (And no one has ever yet plumbed the depths of those statements.) But at the same time — at the same scene — and with the same breath — Jesus said, “And when ye stand praying, forgive . . .” If there is an air of unforgiveness about you, your faith won’t work! Your prayers won’t work! Unforgiveness is the only hindrance to faith that Jesus ever mentioned. Therefore, the subject of unforgiveness must be of primary importance. (If my prayers and my faith don’t work, the area of unforgiveness would be the first place I’d examine in my life.) However, I never permit unforgiveness about anyone to enter into my mind at all. I refuse to think about anything evil. I refuse to be resentful toward anyone. No matt...

October 29 STRONG FAITH He [Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. — ROMANS 4:20,21 “I’m weak in faith,” one woman said to me. “Will you pray that I’ll grow stronger in faith?” “No,” I said, “I won’t. To tell you the truth, you are strong infaith! You just don’t know it. May I ask you some questions?” “Yes, of course,” she said. “Are you fully persuaded — fully persuaded — that what God has promised He is able to perform?” “Certainly,” she said. “I know God can do anything He said He would do. And I know He will do it.” “Can you say, ‘Glory to God,’ and praise God for His promises?” “Certainly, I can. I do that every day.” “Then you are strong in faith,” I said, “according to Romans 4:20 and 21.” Abraham was also strong in faith. What is strong faith? Giving glory to God. And being fully persuaded that what God has promised He is able ...

October 28 IMITATORS OF GOD Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. —EPHESIANS 5:1 (Amplified) “I’m not going to believe I’ve got something I don’t see!” one preacher said to me. “Do you believe you have a brain?” I replied. “Certainly,” he said. “Have you ever seen it?” Abraham believed something he couldn’t see. Thomas refused to believe something he couldn’t see. Thomas’ name isn’t listed in the gallery of the heros of faith in Hebrews chapter 11. But Abraham’s name is. Another person once said to me, “Well, it would be all right for God to call those things which be not as though they were, because He’s God. But it would be wrong for me to do that.” If it’s wrong for you to do it, it’s wrong for God to do it! Children of the devil act like the devil. Children of God are to act like God. God is a faith God. And we are faith children of a faith God. Because we are faith children of a faith God, we are to act in...

October 26 HEART FAITH Who against hope BELIEVED in hope, that he [Abraham], might become the father of many nations, ACCORDING TO THAT WHICH WAS SPOKEN, So shall thy seed be. — ROMANS 4:18 For God’s own account of Abraham and his faith, read Romans chapter 4. Verse 18 says that Abraham believed. What did Abraham believe? He believed “. . . according to that which was spoken . . . .” Abraham did not believe according to what he could see. Abraham did not believe according to what he could feel. Abraham did not believe according to what his physical senses told him. Abraham did not even believe according to what his mind told him. Abraham believed according to what was spoken by God! Knowing this scripture has brought me through many hard places. When opposition and contradicting circumstances have said, “No, you don’t have it.” I’ve just stood my ground, I’ve said from my heart, “I believe according to that which is spoken.” And “that which is spoken” is God’s Word! Confession I believ...

October 25 HEAD FAITH The other disciples therefore said unto him [Thomas], We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days . . . came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and BE NOT FAITHLESS, BUT BELIEVING. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: BLESSED ARE THEY THAT HAVE NOT SEEN, AND YET HAVE BELIEVED. — JOHN 20:25-29 Thomas’ faith was head faith. And Jesus did not commend Thomas for it. Jesus said, “You have believed because you have seen.” Anyone can have that kind of faith, whether he be saint or sinner. That’s head faith. Head faith is believ...

October 24 HEART VS. HEAD Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. — PROVERBS 3:5 Your own understanding is simply your own mental processes — your own human thinking. In other words, we could read this verse, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own head.” Faith will work in your heart with doubt in your head! Many Christians are defeated because when a doubt enters their mind, they say, “I’m doubting.” But Jesus didn’t say, “. . . and shall not doubt in his head.” Jesus said, “. . . and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe . . .” (Mark 11:23). It’s heart faith that gets the job done — not head faith. Some of the greatest miracles that have ever happened in my life came when I began to make such faith statements as, “I believe from my heart that I receive my healing” — even though my head was saying, “It’s not so. It’s not so!” (And I was healed of two serious organic heart problems and an incurable blood...

October 23 SPIRIT BEING And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 Thessalonians 5:23 You are a spirit. You have a soul. And you live in a body. With your spirit you contact the spiritual world. With your body you contact the physical world. And with your soul you contact the intellectual world. These are the only three realms you contact. There are no more. Man is a spirit being who was created in the image of God, who is a Spirit. (See Genesis 1:26, John 4:24.) You, too, are a spirit being. And it will hellp your faith to think like that, because faith is of the heart, or the spirit, or the inward man. (The terms “spirit” of man and “heart” of man are used interchangeably throughout the Bible.) Faith is not of the head. Faith is not of the body. Faith is of the heart! Confession I am a spirit. I have a soul. And I live in a body. I am a spirit being created in t...

October 22 THE HIDDEN MAN But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. — 1 PETER 3:4 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. — 2 COR 4:16 Let’s allow God to tell us what the heart is. In First Peter 3:4, God says that the heart is a man — a hidden man. That is, this hidden man is hidden to the physical senses. You can’t see him with your physical eye, nor feel him with your physical hand. That’s because he is not a physical being; he is the “inward man” spoken of in Second Corinthians 4:16. These two expressions found in Scripture give us God’s definition of the human spirit: “The inward man” and “the hidden man of the heart.” Confession I believe God from the hidden man of my heart. I believe God from my inward man. I believe God from my spirit.

October 21 FAITH’S LOCATION For with the heart man believeth . . . . — ROMANS 10:10 . . . And shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe . . . . — MARK 11:23 Faith — real faith, Bible faith, scriptural faith — is of the heart, not the head. What does it mean to believe with the heart? What is the heart of man? Well, it’s not the physical organ that pumps blood through your body and keeps you alive. You couldn’t believe with your physical heart any more than you could believe with your physical hand, eye, ear, nose, or foot! Consider how we use the term “heart” today. When we talk about the “heart” of a tree, we mean the center, the very core, of the tree. When we talk about the “heart” of a subject, we mean the most important part of that subject; the very center of it; the main part around which the rest revolves. Likewise, when God speaks of man’s “heart,” He is speaking about the main part of the man — the very center of man’s being — his spirit! Confession With my heart I beli...

October 20 EXERCISE . . . According to your faith be it unto you. — MATTHEW 9:29 If you eat natural food regularly and get no exercise, you’ll grow fat and flabby. Likewise, if you don’t exercise your faith, your “faith muscles” will be flabby. Exercise your faith on the level where you are. Some Christians are beyond others in the development of their faith. As you feed and exercise your faith, it will grow. Remember, no one climbs a ladder by starting on the top rung! Some people have become defeated because they tried to believe beyond their level of faith. They heard faith taught, and they tried to start at the top of the ladder. Because their faith wasn’t at that level, faith didn’t work for them, and they said, “That faith business doesn’t work. I tried it, but it doesn’t work.” Faith will work for you as you exercise it. After awhile you’ll be able to believe God for things you never dreamed you could. According to your faith be it unto you. If your request is based on God’s Wor...

October 19 A DEMAND But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. — HEBREWS 11:6 God demands faith of us. Now, if God demands that we have faith when it is impossible for us to have faith, then we have a right to challenge His justice. But if God places in our hands the means whereby faith can be produced, then the responsibility is up to us as to whether we have faith or not. God has given us His Word, and He has told us that, “. . . faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). F. F. Bosworth, an authority on healing and the author of the classic Christ the Healer, said, “Most Christians feed their bodies three hot meals a day, their spirits one cold snack a week, and then wonder why they are so weak in faith.” Confession I will please my Heavenly Father. I will walk in faith. I will feed my faith regularly on the faith food God has put into my h...

October 18 FAITH FOOD But he [Jesus] answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. — MATTHEW 4:4 Here, Jesus is using a natural human term to convey a spiritual thought. He is saying that what bread, or food, is to the body, the Word of God is to the spirit, or heart, of man. You can feed your spirit. You can feed your faith. God’s Word is faith food. Smith Wigglesworth, the great English preacher under whoseministry fourteen people were reportedly raised from the dead, is called an apostle of faith. He said, “I never consider myself thoroughly dressed unless I have my New Testament in my pocket. I would as soon go out without my shoes as without my Bible!” In Wigglesworth’s travels over the world, he stayed in many homes. People have reported that after each meal, even in restaurants, he would push back from the table, get out his Testament, and say, “We have fed the body; now let’s feed the inward man.”...

October 17 FAITH IS MEASURABLE When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. — MATTHEW 8:10 A centurion came to Jesus on behalf of his sick servant. When Jesus said, “. . . I will come and heal him” (Matt. 8:7), the centurion answered, “. . . speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed” (v. 8). Jesus said to him, “. . . Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee . . .” (v. 13). Turning to His disciples, Jesus said, “. . . I have not found so GREAT faith, no, not in Israel” (v. 10). Therefore, it is possible for a person to develop great faith. On the other hand, an example of little faith is seen when Peter began to sink after having walked on the water. Jesus chided Peter, saying, “. . . O thou of LITTLE faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matt. 14:31). If faith can be great, and faith can be little, then faith is measurable! Here are some scriptures that prove ...

October 16 GROWING FAITH We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak. — 2 COR 4:13 God gets all believers started off equally with the measure of faith after they are born again. He doesn’t give one baby Christian more faith than He gives another. After we are born again, however, it is up to each one of us to develop the measure of faith that has been given to us. Too many have done with their faith what the fellow did with his one talent: He wrapped it in a napkin, hid it, and didn’t use it. Your measure of faith can be increased — it can grow. But you are the one who increases it — not God! Your measure of faith can be increased by doing these two things: (1) Feeding it on the Word of God, and (2) Exercising it by putting it into practice. Confession God has given me the measure of faith. I will see to it that my faith grows exceedingly. I will feed my faith on the Word of God. I will e...

October 15 THE SAME FAITH We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.— 2 COR. 4:13 Paul wrote, “We HAVING the same spirit of faith . . . .” He didn’t say, “trying to have,” or “praying for,” or “hoping for”; he said, “having”! Having what? The same spirit of faith. And what kind of faith is that? The kind that (1) believes, and (2) therefore speaks. Isn’t that the same kind of faith Jesus is talking about in Mark 11:23? The kind that (1) believes in the heart, (2) says with the mouth, and (3) then it comes to pass? Yes! That’s the same spirit of faith! And Second Corinthians 4:13 says that we have it! Confession I have the same spirit of faith. I believe and therefore I speak. I have a measure of the God-kind of faith. I have a measure of the kind of faith that created the worlds in the beginning. I have a measure of mountain-moving faith.

October 14 THE WORD OF FAITH But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach. — ROMANS 10:8 God’s Word is called “the word of faith.” Faith is based on facts — the facts of God’s Word. Unbelief is founded on theories. This is my definition of a theory: “A theory is a supposition established upon ignorance of the subject under discussion.” The reason why many churches are full of unbelief is because they’ve heard too much theory. The ministry has thrived on a psychology of unbelief, and the poor, dear church members are simply a product of what they have heard their ministers preach. The best way to really help people is to tell them what the Bible says — to give them what God’s Word says — not what some man says. Man can be wrong, but God can never be wrong. No matter what the circumstances — no matter what has happened in your life — God’s Word has something to say on the subject. Find out what God’s Word says....

October 13 HOW FAITH COMES So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. — ROMANS 10:17 How does God give the sinner faith to be saved? Let me read along with you from Romans chapter 10, which talks about salvation and about getting faith to be saved. (My comments are in brackets.) “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach [Notice that God’s Word is called ‘the word of faith.’ That’s because it builds faith. It causes faith to come into the hearts of those who are open to it.]; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that  hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. . . . For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? [Now get this.] and...

October 12 SAVED THROUGH FAITH! For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. — EPHESIANS 2:8 Notice that the faith you are saved by is “not of yourselves.” In other words, it’s not a natural, human faith. It’s the gift of God! That agrees with Romans 12:3, which states that “. . . God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Yet Christians will say, “I just don’t have any faith.” I always answer by saying, “Then why don’t you get saved? Saved people have faith! You can’t be saved without faith.” All believers have faith. The Bible says they do! But many Christians don’t realize they do — and they’re not using the faith they have. By continually talking about how they don’t have faith, they “take sides” against God, against the Bible, and against themselves, without recognizing what they are doing. God’s Word is God speaking. God and His Word are one: If God’s Word says something, that is God saying it. And God’s Word says that God ha...

October 11 FAITH DEALT For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. — ROMANS 12:3 “Faith — that’s what I want!” many people say to me. “And I’m praying that God will give it to me.” If that’s what you’re doing, you’re wasting your time. It would do no more good to pray that God will give you faith than it would to twiddle your thumbs and recite “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” Praying for faith is lost motion and wasted time, because every believer already has a measure of the God-kind of faith. You don’t have to get it. You don’t have to pray for it. You don’t have to fast for it. You don’t have to promise to do better and be good to get it. You already have it! In this verse in Romans, Paul wasn’t writing to sinners, but to believers. He said, “. . . I say . . . to every man that is among you [not to every man ...

October 10 FAITH DEFINED For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. — MARK 11:23 Just after Jesus had demonstrated the God-kind of faith, He defined it. Mark 11:23 is Jesus’ definition of the God-kind of faith. He described it as the kind of faith in which: (1) A person believes in his heart; (2) Then, a person says with his mouth what he believes in his heart; (3) And, it comes to pass. God used that kind of faith to create the world in the beginning. God believed that what He said would come to pass! So He said, “Let there be an earth.” And there was an earth. In fact, He created everything — the sun, the moon, the stars, the plants, and the animals — everything except man — by believing what He said would come to pass. Then God said it. And it came to pass. That is the ...

October 9 FAITH DEMONSTRATED And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. — MARK 11:22 The margin of a good King James reference Bible renders today’s text as, “Have the faith of God.” Greek scholars tell us the literal translation of what Jesus said here is, “Have the God- kind of faith.” Some modern translations also show the verse that way. Even if you don’t know anything about Greek, you can readily see that this would be a correct translation of this verse, because Jesus had just demonstrated to the disciples that He had that kind of faith: the God-kind of faith, the kind of faith that God used to create the world in the beginning. Earlier in this chapter, Jesus had spoken to the barren fig tree. He hadn’t prayed. He had simply said to that tree, “. . . No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever . . .” (v. 14). The next morning, as Jesus and the disciples passed by the same place, they saw that the fig tree had dried up from its roots. Peter, remembering, said, “. . . ...

October 8 THE FATHER GLORIFIED And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. — JOHN 14:13 What a striking promise! When we are born into the family of God, the right and privilege to use the Name of Jesus is given to us by the New Birth. All authority vested in that Name is given to us so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. The Son was an outcast on the earth. He hung naked before the world and was crucified. But wherever the shame of the crucifixion has been preached, the might, power, and honor of His Name also has gone — shedding blessings upon the human race and bringing glory to God the Father. Jesus’ Name is to take Jesus’ place upon the earth. All Jesus could do during His earth walk can now be done by every believer. Jesus is in that Name. Jesus is that Name. All Jesus was — all He did — all He is — all He will ever be — is in that Name now! When we use Jesus’ Name, we bring onto the scene the fullness of His finis...

October 7 THE NAME . . . Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL POWER [authority] IS GIVEN UNTO ME in heaven and in earth. GO YE THEREFORE . . . . — MATTHEW 28:18,19 And these signs shall follow them that believe; IN MY NAME . . . . — MARK 16:17 What effect would it have on your life if a wealthy man  were to give you a legal document, telling you to use it to supply every one of your needs? Yet we have been given something even greater than that! God has given us the power of attorney to use the Name of Jesus! And that Name has authority in this earth. The use of that Name is not a matter of faith, actually, but rather it is a matter of assuming your legal rights in Christ, taking your place as a son of God, and using what belongs to you. His Name belongs to you! We have a right to use that Name against our enemies. We have a right to use that Name in our praise and worship. We have a right to use that Name in petitions. Praise God, that Name belongs to us! That Name has been...

October 6 SUFFICIENCY And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament [New Covenant] . — 2 CORINTHIANS 3:4-6 We aren’t ordinary people. We’re tied up with Omnipotence. We’re united with God Himself. We’re carrying out God’s will here on the earth. We’re the channels through whom God is pouring Himself out upon the world. It is perfectly normal, then, that God should become our sufficiency — that His ability should become our ability. Now we can better understand First Corinthians 3:9, “For we are labourers together with God . . . .” That’s fellowship with the Father! He supplies strength, wisdom, grace, and ability — the supernatural tools with which we work as able ministers of the New Covenant. Confession My sufficiency is of God, who makes me an able minister of the New Covenant. God is my sufficiency. He is my abilit...

October 5 JOINING FORCES What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? — ROMANS 8:31,32 God and you are working together in carrying out His plan for the redemption of the world. God can’t get along without you anymore than you can get along without Him. That’s one reason why Jesus gave us the illustration of the vine and the branches. The vine can’t bear fruit without the branches, and the branches can’t live without the vine. Our text today is a part of the conclusion of the first eight chapters of Romans. And this passage shows us the absolute oneness of the Father God with His children. It shows us the perfect fellowship and cooperation God’s children enjoy with their Heavenly Father. It shows the mastery God’s children have over the forces of darkness and circumstances. And God climaxes this passage with verse 37: “Nay, in al...

October 4 FELLOWSHIP IN PRAYER That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these thingswrite we unto you, that your joy may be full. . . . But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. — 1 JOHN 1:3,4,7 If you have fellowship with God, and you’re walking in the light as He is in the light, then prayer becomes one of the greatest assets you have inherited in Christ. Prayer is joining forces with God the Father. It is fellowshipping with Him. It is carrying out His will upon the earth. Prayer should never be a problem or a burden to you. It should be a joy! Prayer — real prayer — won’t take anything out of you; it will always put something into you! Because you are fellowshipping with God when you pray. Confession I have fellowshipped with my Father in...

October 3 FELLOWSHIP God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. — 1 CORINTHIANS 1:9 The highest honor God has conferred upon you is to be a joint- fellowshipper with God the Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit in carrying out God’s plan for the redemption of the human race. By virtue of the New Birth, you became related to the Creator of the universe! You became God’s child. You have a relationship with Him. But relationship without fellowship is a lifeless thing. It’s like marriage without love or fellowship. Fellowship with God is the mother of faith. And God has called you individually into fellowship with His Son. Confession God has called me into fellowship with His Son, Jesus hrist. I will walk in fellowship and communion with Jesus. I will talk with Jesus. I will work with Jesus. I am a joint-fellowshipper with God the Father, with Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit in carrying out God’s great plan of redemption for the hum...

October 2 HIS PERMANENT HOME May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts .  — EPHESIANS 3:16,17 (Amplified) How does Christ actually dwell, settle down, and make His permanent home in your heart? Through your faith. That’s what God wants to do: Make His permanent home in your heart! But that’s what Christians haven’t allowed Him to do! (Remember: This scripture was written to born-again, Spirit-filled Christians.) Christians sing, “Come by here, Lord, come by here,”  implying that the Lord’s not here — but if we could just get Him to come by, He might do something for us. And we sing, “Reach out and touch Jesus as He passes by.” All of these sentiments are based on physical sense knowledge. I don’t have to reach o...