And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me. Acts 27:22-25.
Although, God do speak to us personally and directly (Psalms 32:8-9), but we must be opened and discerning in heart and spirit to walk consciously in readiness in hearing and understanding the voice and will of God in whatever other way (s) he has chosen to communicate his will, plans and purposes to us, either through circumstances, or a small still voice, or by dreams and visions of the night, and by other means of spiritual communication. For full details order my book on How to know and to hear the voice of God by Emmanuel Adebiyi – Spiritual communication www. amazon. com
(1) The word of God, whether it is the old or the new Testament are both the written Testament will, plans and purposes of God for mankind on earth by which he has finally spoken to us through his Son Jesus Christ in this last days – forever O Lord, your word is settled forever in heaven. Psalms 119:89. Hebrews 1:1-2.
(2) You just know something as soon as you see it, and this is a sensory – discerning spiritual will of God you are capable to perceive, but it works with your spiritual perception through the mind of the spirit as a spiritual man who is able to judge all things – and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. Galatians 2:9-10.
(3) There is a revelatory will of God through other means of spiritual communication, but the entirety of the word of God, working with the spirit of God in us has the final authority after spiritual scrutiny, verification, sifting and judging to either overrule, reject, submit to, or admit in acceptance to other means of spiritual communication such as dreams, visions, prophets, trance, someone sent from God to speak to us in his name, or by a word of knowledge, the gift of prophecy which is not the same as the office of a prophet. Even a prophet, when he speaks in the name of the Lord, his word should be judged, and not be rushed into acceptance, lest we should act foolishly if he has not trully spoken from the mouth of the Lord. Acts 21:8-14. 1 Corinthians 14:29.
God also communicate to us through his angels who are sent to minister to the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14) as we see from the text before us, that an angel was sent to reassure the safety of the life of Apostle Paul in the stormy voyage he found himself, that because of his presence in the ship, and for the preaching testimony of Christ awaiting him at Rome, his life has secured and redeemed the rest of the travelers from untimely death. Note: true and spirit filled believers are indispensable on earth until the spirit of God is removed from the face of the earth. Personal consciousness of our redemptive worth and indispensability to the people around us, in our ways, or in our life, should make us fully give ourselves to God, and be available to him always as sanctified vessel, ready for every good use, so that his presence in us might be made manifested for maximum blessings to others.
This was the true confession of uncle Laban to Jacob, that the presence of Jacob in his life, business and household has brought untold blessings into his life! Genesis 30:27. Was this not the testimony of the scripture that Lot also, which went out with Abraham was blessed because of the presence of Abraham in his life? Genesis 13:5-8.
There is divine spiritual attachment (Acts 13:2), and there is a false carnal emotional attachment which could be against the will of God, if we cannot diffrentiated between the two.
Certain carnal emotional attachment not initiated by God like Jonathan left David in the wood to suffer alone, though claimed to love him, but he went back into the palace to continue living with his wicked father can bring you into the sin of false association with the ungodly and problems with God. It will stand against you in judgment because you think you can just bring everyone on board into your faith life and journey with God. Psalms 1:1-3.
God called Abraham alone, but for whatever wrong personal reason (to boost his confidence and moral in the journey God called him to make) he chose to take Lot out with him in the journey, but was not in the will of God; hence, the cohabitation with Lot became more difficult as time progresses, and separation for the sake of peace between both entails because Lot was not in included in the overall will and plans of God in the journey of life of Abraham with God.
The word, promises, faithfulness and power of God should be the Rock to stand and rest upon to boost your morale in the journey of faith on earth to heaven – you are never alone if you are walking in spirit and truth with God, – the angels of God encamps around them that fears him and delivers them. Psalms 34:7. Note: we commit sin, and seeks for personal or self inflicted problems, shame and confusion when we seeks for the company, rest and confidence from them which are not designed by God to be in our lives, prescribed and ordered by him. Can you imagined Jesus sleeping inside the boat while the sea rages and the winds was contrary to the disciples inside the boat? Note: those who are walking and living daily in a restful and rested faith knows that not a single hair from their head shall fall to the ground without the Father’s permission if they willingly confront their mountains and exercises their faith to speak to their storms and evils winds before them to stop.
He who handles a matter wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. Proverbs 16:20.
When you are in trouble, what do you do, and how do you comport yourself? Through stormy winds, rain and sunshine, mountain and deep hole like Daniel found himself in the dens of lions, but was sleeping, rested and restful in God, believer must be restful and rested on the word, promises, faithfulness and power of God able to save him to the end.
Where have you sought for defense, comfort, refuge, assurance and counsels ? To which God have you called upon or to what kind of men you approached for counselling when in doubts and uncertainties? Believers or unbelievers? How do you handle yourself and your situation in the times of troubles? Do you go or run to the unsaved sinners in the world who will mock behind your back or increase your fear by ungodly counsels? We distrust God when we failed to walk and live in a rested and restful faith. It is a rebellious sin against the spirit of faith – the Holy Spirit. It shows our unbelief in the word of God and impatient or restlessness in our walk of faith. Woe to the rebellious children, says the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: that walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. Isaiah 30:1-3.
Is God not beautiful for situations – is he not the perfect crisis manager? Psalms 48:2.
Is God not our refuge and strenght, a very present help in times of need? Do you find solace in the word, promises and power of God in your crisis – calm in a rested faith for his steady and present help in times of need? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope (rested and restful faith) thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Psalms 42:5.
When God is silent in your situation, meditate in silence on his past goodness and faithfulness, and put your trust in the Lord, it shall be your rewarding wisdom (Job 13:5) as you continue to praise and thank him for everything in Christ Jesus in a restful and rested faith in his word, promises, faithfulness and power.
Is it not good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD? Lamentation 3:26. Note: those who are not rejoicing in hope are not walking nor living in a restful and rested faith; – they are not quietly waiting for the salvation or deliverance of the Lord and shall not come into it.
God is not a talkative, neither incautious, but quietness is a divine virtue God seeks to teach you on how to be calm in every day’s life (study to be quite. 1 Thessalonians 4:11) and in any difficult situation: to teach you how to speak the right word in its due season; to possess instructive tongue of someone who is teachable.
God will always lead you besides the still waters – the quietness and boldness of a restful life of a rested faith in the word, promises, faithfulness and power of God. Psalms 23:2.
Though you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, – though you are going through intense and fierce battles of spiritual assaults from the enemy, do not demonstrate or show fear or restlessness, lest you open the door for the enemy to prolong the assault because he can see your vulnerability by your reactions and confessions.
Let there be no complaining, murmuring or running here and there, or weeping in self pity before the Lord, lest he disapproved of you as lacking restful and rested faith in him: for thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. But ye said, no; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, we will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. Isaiah 30:15-16.
Remember that the main interest and purpose of God was to bring rest and quietness to his people from going out of Egypt into the scary and dangerous red sea, and into the wilderness to the Land of Canaan by guiding them through the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night – that led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble. As a beast goes down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest: so did you lead your people, to make yourself a glorious name. Isaiah 63:13-14.
Why did Moses not rested his faith on the word, promises, faithfulness and power of God’s presence to bring him back to the Mountain where he first appeared to him that he sought for another man’s help and presence to guide them through the wilderness? Exodus 3:12.
Except you are being led or instructed by the spirit of God, you do not need the company of a friend, relative, niece, aunt, uncle, unregenerate mother or father in law or whomsoever who is not in covenant relationhsip with God in your walk of faith, but to rest in his word, promises and the power of his presence and faithfulness to bring what he has promised to pass, and to be with you to the uttermost part of the earth.
Be careful of the prophetic! Who told you that the prophets cannot err in their thoughts and words?
Moses was a great prophet, but he erroneously, carnally and falsely sought after emotional attachment with his brother in law, sought after his expertise, instead of him to rest quietly on the guidance of God’s pillar of cloud by day, and on the pillar of fire by night which has been leading them, but he begged and sought for wrong guidance to lead and follow them deep into the journey to the Promised Land: but the ypoung man refused his invitation: and Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, we are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come you with us, and we will do you good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel. And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou may be to us instead of eyes. And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee. Exodus 10:29-32. Note: do not trust in a friend (except in the One closer than any brother – Jesus): do not put your confidence in a guide (except in the word and spirit of God, for as many as are led by the spirit of God, are the sons of God), and keep the doors of thy mouth (say not everything like Samson and King Ahab to your wife if she is bad) from her that lies in thy bosom. Micah 7:5.
There are various works, fruits, features and characteristics of faith without which you will not be made perfect and complete in the will of God if any one of them is lacking in your relationship and walk with God, this includes the restful and rested faith.
How can you fight a good fight of faith, if you are not walking and living daily in a restful and rested faith daily in God?
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing! 2 Corinthians 6:10. Note: those who will not presently rejoice ever more and to give thanks in everything unto God in Christ Jesus are not walking and living in a restful and rested faith in him, but they shall not see or witness the joy – eternal joy when its day shall dawn. Psalms 30:5.
How can you enjoy present divine rest and joy unspeakable full of glory for the believers before you get to heaven as the end result of yor faith if you don’t walk and live in rested and resful faith in God? 1 Peter 1:7-8.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour or strive therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Hebrews 4:9-11.
The absence of a restful and rested faith in the word, promises, faithfulness and power of God will weaken and discouraged your soul, – make you to be offended in Christ Jesus in the days of temptation, not living to enjoy the present rest of God and to miss his future and eternal rest – night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. 1 Thessalonians 3:10. Note: there is a faith, if it lacks work is dead: but there is another kind of faith where no work, neither strenght or leg of man, or of horse is required, than to rest, meditating in your heart, and waiting to see the salvation of God. Isaiah 37:33-37.
Except that everyone with Apostle Paul in the ship has rested on his word given by the angel sent from God, they should all have perished and lose their lives. They released the control of the ship to the wind and storm while their faith rested in the faithfulness and promised of divine safety by the power of God that brought them to an Island where miracles are wrought and favor were received.
A rested and restful faith in the word, promises, faithfulness and power of God will save you, and gives you increasing spiritual strength and confidence, for they shall not be ashamed that wait for him. Isaiah 49:23.
Like Caleb, with what strength, confidence and assurance can you patiently and quietly wait on God for a promise to be fulfilled after forty five years of waiting, if at forty years old, you first received the promise without a restful and rested faith in the word, promises, faithfulness and power of God as Caleb’s restful and rested faith? Joshua 14:6-14.
Was not our Lord strengthened, comforted and encouraged by the angels at the garden of Gethsemane to have his faith and hope rested in the promise of the resurrection power of the Father, when he prayed that the cup of suffering and death on the cross of Calvary should pass away from him, except that the will of God should be done? Note: except we live and walk in the rested and restful faith in the promises of God, his spirit will not activate or bring to life the manifestation of such a partucilar promise or promises.
Don’t we have a faithful high and sympathetic high priest in Jesus who can relate to our pain and suffering to help us? Sometimes, we shift our focus on our pain, shame and sufferings, instead by faith, to become restful and rested in the word, promises, faithfulness and power of God given to redeem us from our troubles. Psalms 25:22.
Has the word spoken about Christ suffering, death and resurrection by David was forgotten for a short period of time by our Lord’s because of his agony, though he once spoke about the temple of his body to be raised up on the third day? But the angels must come to minister the scripture to him once again, that his faith be rested on the word, promises, faithfulness and power of God which was spoken from the mouth of his son David, strengthning him to endure the cross with confidence to despise its shame: I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer your Holy One to see corruption. Psalms 16:8-10.
If you failed in the days of adversity, your strength, which should be found rooted, grounded and established in the word, promises, faithfulness and power of God is small Proverbs 24:10), having no anchor in his eternal unchanging word, could not be found restful or rested in the word, promises, faithfulness and power of God, – for by faith – restful and rested faith you stand. 2 Corinthians 1:24.
What is a restful and rested faith in God?
Just think about Peter being sleeping, not restless, thinking, worries, praying, crying nor begging for his life in the prison awaiting his death the next day, chained alongside two soldiers to secure his detention and execution but was miraculously and supernaturally loosed and freed from the prison to escape death by the hand of King Herod. Acts 12:7.
It is a faith that plays and trust childishly into the hand of God’s providence for him to determine the outcome of our life in every circumstances and situations in the present or near future, even to the end of our days on earth. It was the faith (rested faith in the sensory but spiritual, perceived will of God) demonstrated by the parents of Moses when he was born, they see a special and uncommon trait in him, and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment to kill children, but hid to keep him alive to fulfill his destiny in an hostile and cruel environment in Egypt, eventually was taken care of by Pharaoh’s daughter: by faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. Hebrews 11:23.
Restful faith in the word, promises, faithfulness and power of God gives you the assurance and confidence for divine strength needed to scale through the storms of life unmoved and win your battles unscratched. What did the three Hebrews men to quench the violent of fire made by the king to destroy them because they will not bow down to his golden idol for worship? They rested their faith in God’s faithfulness and power to deliver, though they are ready and willing to die in a peaceful and restful faith of obedience to enter into their eternal rest, if for whatever reason, God chose not to deliver to test them to the end: whosoever keep the commandment shall feel no evil thing (Ecclesiastes 8:5): though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shall stretch forth your hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. Psalms 138:7.
Without restful faith in the word of God, faithfulness and power of God, we cannot enter into God’s present rest, neither into his future eternal rest. If our faith is not increasingly restful in the Lord, the invitation to come and cast our burdens and heavy loads upon him will be half done or heedless to make the rest promised by the Lord ineffective. The measure of the restful faith determines the measure of loads, burdens, yokes and other troubles of life we are willing to confide and entirely cast upon the Lord to take care for us.
Why, even though, some are in Christ Jesus, they are not living momentarily in the perfect peace of God which is more than all understanding of men to keep their minds and hearts in Christ Jesus? The answer is very simple because they are not living in the rested and restful faith before God. Was this not the reason the Israelis failed to enter into the Promised Land, because they failed to walk and live momentarily in a restful faith before God?
God called the Israelis in the wilderness as children in whom there is no faith (Deuteronomy 32:20-21) while Christ called the anxious, restless, covetous and lustful for cares and worries of this life present day believers of little faith. Matthew 6:30.
The children of Israel failed to enter into the land of Canaan because of thoughtfulness of what to eat, and the cares and lusts of other things. But, is life not more than food. Taking thoughts and worries about things that are not presently available for our use though we desperately need them cannot solved the problems, rather shows our unbelief, distrust, limitations of God, and disdain of his promises, ignoring his faithfulness, power, good thoughts towards us, and cares for us because we would not cast our cares unto him that cares for us to walk and live daily in a restful and rested faith. Are we nor better than many sparrows? Are we not better than the flowers or grass of the field, that Solomon in all his beauty and glory was not so glorious as they? Those who cast their cares on him and are walking and living daily in restful and rested faith will continue instantly in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving without complaining, murmuring and having their conversation with covetousness, but will be content with such things as they have, fir he has promised, never to leave them, nor forsake them.
In Isaac shall your seed be called. Genesis 21:12.
Was Abraham’s faith, though tested, not rested on the word, promise, faithfulness and power of God, accounting that God was able to bring Isaac back to life through resurrection (Hebrews 11:17-19) to make good of his promise of bloodline continuation of covenant of blessing through the life of his only son, though he was called upon and instructed to offer him up as a burnt sacrifice? Note: God was moved to swear by himself to bless and multiply Abraham because of his rested faith in the word, promises and in his power, – but he was angry and moved to curse the children of Israel, Abraham’s descendants because of their lack of rested faith in him. Will you trust God, because his strength is great? Or will you leave thy labor to God? Wilt thou believe him that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn? Job 39:11.
They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise (Psalms 57:6-7), but how many are the problems we have presented to the Lord in prayer in the past or present, but we keep murmuring and complaining and speaking negatively to re-establish our present situation, instead of continuous rejoicing in hope in our confession to truth of God’s word, promises, faithfulness and power in a rested faith? Note: those who will not live and walk daily in a restful and rested faith in God shall not enjoy nor experience or have his present rest, neither shall they be allowed to come or enter into his future eternal rest- be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer with supplication and thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace- rest or tranquility of God or from God shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
From the threats of the enemies or the furious blasting of the storms of darkness, or from the raging waves of life, – the seemingly high and lofty impossible mountain to climb, Be still and know that I am God, says the Lord. Like the instructions given from the Lord to Joshua for the fall of the wall of Jericho, many battles are half won and fought in quietness and assurance in the Lord’s faithfulness and power, if we follow after the Lord’s call to be calm or quite in a restful and rested faith, that we might know that he is God. Psalms 46:10.
Was not the threat of war from the king of Assyria against Hezekiah and the people of God won in quietness and tranquility (rested and restful faith) without verbal response or physical military confrontation? Isaiah 36:21. Isaiah 37.
Was the rebuke of Moses to the Israelis murmuring by their ungratefulness of spirit to be still at the sight of the enormous sight of Egyptians armies a great lesson for us not to falsely accuse God of wrong doing before the enemies, but to be grateful because of our salvation, despite anything we are to go through or face in life? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people, fear ye not (be confident) standstill (be quite) and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you today. Exodus 13:12-13.
Was the battle to cross over the red sea not won by God’s simple instruction to his people to move forward in a restful faith, instead of crying out of fear because of the sight of the great but powerless Egyptians armies and chariots in comparison to the Omnipotent – the all powerful Shepherd of Israel? And the LORD said unto Moses, wherefore cry thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward. Exodus 14:15.
If we don’t show or demonstrate restful and rested faith in the word, promises, faithfulness and power of God to make good of his word and to fulfill his purposes in our lives, we will get punished like Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist who was made to be dumb for a while, or get curse by God like he cursed the faithless children of Israel that they shall not enter into his rest because they walked not by faith neither lived in restful faith in him.
Are we not warned to fear, lest the promise to enter into his rest, any of us should seem to come short of it, that the word we heard should be mixed with a restful faith in us, if we must profit from the present rest of God, otherwise, we are likely to perish like a lord on whose hand the king leaned who openly defied the power and faithfulness of God to make good his word? 2 Kings 7:1-2. Note: rested and restful faith in God should be missing in us if the boldness coming from the inner assurance with a strong conviction to say that God is able to finish what he has began in us, and is faithful to keep that which we have committed unto him to the end as we rest in him, and keep his way to the end, come what may.