I believe each story, idea, concept, and principle relayed in the Bible are critical pieces in a wonderful puzzle. Once we understand the purpose of each piece and how they all fit together, we will start to see these truths dramatically change our lives.

The "Living in the Overflow" study is a compilation of articles that will guide you through the foundational Biblical truths and teach you how to live in the overflow of God's richest blessings.

If you would prefer to simply browse around the site at your leisure, please feel free to do that as well. We have encouraging articles, practical tips, free forms, and tools to help you simplify and get organized. We also have a section on humor and encouragement to bring a smile to your day. Whatever your purpose for visiting today, I hope this website is a blessing to you!

Kind Regards,

Christy (Your Host)

Part 1: OUTLINE

This study was designed to give you the building blocks that will give you a firm foundation for your faith. As a result, we recommend that you follow the outline below to ensure you don't missing any of the key elements. Because the study is long, you can bookmark this page and use this as your starting point each time. Simply click on the title where you left off and we will link you right to that section.

1. Outline

2. Introduction

How Do We Learn the Truth?

Does the Truth Have Power?

What's Important About Knowing the Truth?

Are There Any Practical Ways to Study God's Word?

3. Foundational Principles

Where Do I Start? (Religion vs Relationship)

What Should I Know First?

Is There A Biblical Type of Meditation?

What is God's Character?

What is God's Redemption Plan?

4. Covenant Promises

Who Am I In Christ?

What Do I Have in Christ?

Healing

Prosperity

Peace

What Is My Responsibility?

5. Kingdom Principles

Love and Grace

Faith Sees Results

Hope and Expectation

Seedtime and Harvest

Confession (Your Words)

The Word, The Blessing, and The Glory

The Believer's Rest

6. Other Faith Builders

Why "Considering Not" is Important

Biblical Revelations to Change Your Thinking

7. Resource Materials

Bible Study Forms

Word Study Forms

Study Questions

PART 2: INTRODUCTION

In order to believe something, you need to know the truth about it first. So what is truth? Truth is a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle or the like. (Source: Dictionary.com) Jesus speaks about the truth in John 8:31-32.

John 8:31-32

So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

Once we know the Truth of God's love for us. The Truth of God's amazing redemption plan that He used to save us. The Truth that God wants us to be healthy and prosperous right now in this lifetime. And once we know Jesus who is THE Truth . . . It is that knowledge and faith in Him that will set us free. When we know and understand who we are in Christ, what is rightfully ours and we know the life that God intends for us to live, it will change our beliefs. Our beliefs will then change the way we think and act which will start to change our situation.

How Do We Learn The Truth?

God's Word is the Truth for every situation so we need to study it closely so that it begins to change our beliefs and our thinking. It is not a book of stories or teachings that were relevant only for people in previous generations. It is a road map for our generation provided by God to lead us into complete wholeness in every area.

Have you ever heard the term "shalom?" This means nothing missing nothing broken. God doesn't want us to have success in just one area such as finance but still be sick in our bodies. He wants us to be prosperous in ALL areas and that includes our health, our families, our relationships, our jobs, our churches, our businesses and our finances.

Proverbs 4:20-23

My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

Proverbs 4:23 tells us that what we put into our hearts will come out. We need to be so full of God's Word that it is that Truth that comes out of our mouth when situations arise. We need to be so full of God's Word that it is bigger to us than any problem. We aren't denying the facts, the symptoms or the doctors report. But what we are saying is that we believe that God's Word is more powerful than those temporary facts that we see right now.

II Corinthians 4:17-18

For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.

As Christians we are supposed to walk by faith and not by sight. (II Corinthians 5:7) This means that we no longer say "I'll believe it when I see it." Rather, we believe first and because of our faith we will see results.

Does the Truth Have Power?

Did you know that the Word of God has power?

Hebrews 4:12 (The Amplified Bible)

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 (The Message Bible)

God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it—no matter what.

We see in Hebrews 4:12 that God's Word is alive today to work on your behalf. It can cut away the calluses that may have been built up around your hearts from past hurts. It can free you from bondages and addictions. It has power to defeat the enemy and take back the happiness, joy, peace, success, health and prosperity that has been stolen from you. Perhaps most exciting is that Isaiah 55:11 tells us that God's Word cannot fail. It has to produce what is promised. If you can find it in God's Word, you can stand on it and claim it as yours.

Isaiah 55:11

So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

What's Important About Knowing?

Remember in John 8:32 where Jesus told us that we will know the Truth and the Truth will set us free? The word "know" in that verse is referring to an intimate knowledge and understanding. It's not just something you know in your head. It's something that is rooted deep in your heart so that you "know that you know" it's true. There is no doubt. It's a deep seeded trust and assurance. That deep knowing is often referred to as revelation knowledge. It's only when God's Word goes from head knowledge to heart knowledge (i.e. revelation knowledge) will it start to make a change in your life.

So how do we get revelation knowledge? In John 14:16 Jesus tells us that the Father would send the Holy Spirit who would have many roles. One role was to counsel or teach us.

John 14:16-1 7

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever— The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.

Each time we read the Bible, we should ask the Holy Spirit to open our spiritual eyes to see God's Truth and open our hearts to accept and receive it. He is the one that will reveal to us the promises that God has prepared for us in this lifetime and in the eternal life to come.

John 16:13-15

But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. 14He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. 15Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the Spirit] will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.

Ephesians 1: 13-14

13In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit. 14That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it--to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:17-21

17[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, 18By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), 19And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, 20Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], 21Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.

Are There Any Practical Ways to Study God's Word?

There are a few different ways you can study the Bible.

1. Word Study - This is where you research a particular word to get deeper understanding of what it means and why it was used.

2. Topical Study - This is where you select a topic such as healing and focus your learning on that particular area.

3. Book Study - This is where you read and study a particular book in the Bible.

Oftentimes these studies intermingle which is perfectly fine. You may be doing a book study when a particular topic or word jumps out at you. Great. Follow that. Its the Holy Spirit prompting you to dig deeper and find the truth that God has hidden for you.

Please also note that there is no right or wrong method. The point of studying the Bible is to learn what God wants you to learn. Try not to get so caught up in a rigid schedule of reading whereas you might miss where God is trying to lead you.

I heard a preacher say that he had it in his heart to read through the entire Bible cover to cover. As he was doing this he read a verse that jumped out at him. His instinct was to start doing word and topical studies on that verse so he could learn more. However, he caught himself and remembered that he needed to follow the "plan" and complete his scheduled reading program. Why? Because we all know that a good Christian has read the Bible cover to cover. Well, God spoke to this man and basically said "Do you want to see what Im trying to teach you or would you prefer to do it your way?"

What a simple but profound revelation. It's definitely a good idea for Christians to read the entire Bible. But it's more important to stay tuned in to what God wants you to do. If He wants you to read the Bible cover to cover, then that's what you should do. If He wants you to start in the last book of the Bible, then that's where you should go. Always remember that the purpose of studying the Bible is to learn Biblical truths, gain deeper understanding and revelation knowledge that will change your life. It's not about marking it off your to do list.

If you're anything like me you probably have felt guilty at one time or another for not reading the Bible cover to cover. What God spoke to this man was so freeing for me. I no longer felt guilty for not completing this assumed obligation and began enjoying the treasures I found wherever God led me. I hope you can enjoy this freedom as well!

(For more details on how to do a word, topical or book study, please refer to the "Resource Materials" section for instructions and tools to get you started.)

PART 3: FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES

Where Should I Start? (Religion vs Relationship)

The first step is to realize that God is not about religion. He's about relationship. Just as an earthly father would want his child to love him based on the child's own free will, so too our heavenly Father gave us a free will so that we can choose to know and love Him. He wants us to know His character, His nature, and His love for us. He wants us to trust Him completely. But we can't trust Him if we don't know Him intimately as Father, Savior, Lord, Redeemer and Friend. If we don't know Him we will have difficulties believing that what He said in His Word will come to pass.

It's such a wonderful journey getting to know God and the wonderful promises He has for us. However, we have to make the first move. God is a gentleman and He won't force Himself on anyone. He gave us free will so that we could choose to share in that relationship with Him and thereby also enjoy the blessings He has promised.

If you have never committed your life to Him, that is the first and most important step. Click here to pray a salvation prayer and start a true relationship with the Most High God, Creator of heaven and earth, the one true God who loves you so much that He sent His only Son to suffer and die so that we could have eternal life. Choose life and start your relationship with God today!

What Should I Know First?

Once you've made Jesus the Lord of your life, you've opened the door to a whole new world. This world contains health, wealth, prosperity, happiness, joy, peace, favor, and limitless blessings. Your spirit has been saved and if you were to die right now you would go to heaven. However, our bodies and souls (mind, will, and emotions) are accustomed to functioning under the world's system. Therefore, the next step is to renew our minds so that we think, believe, speak and act based on God's system.

The word synergy is defined as "the working together of two things to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects."(1)

I believe this is a key concept to keep in mind as you begin your journey with God. If you spend any amount of time reading the Word or listening to true Word of Faith teachings, you will learn about God's character, principles, spiritual laws and promises. God will also speak to your heart and give you greater understanding. This is called revelation knowledge. One of the things you will learn is that the kingdom of God functions under a completely different set of rules, laws and principles. When we function under His kingdom principles, we begin to see His Glory (manifested presence) in our lives.

The important point to remember is that His kingdom principles are intended to work together and therefore are going to produce optimum results only when they are implemented together. A practical example would be your car. You would tell me I was crazy if I thought I could drive it down the street with just one tire, right? We all know it takes many parts working together to move a car down the street. Each component such as a tire, the engine, spark plugs, and the steering wheel are limited as to what they can do on their own. However, when they are put together and work in unison something great happens.

It works similarly in the kingdom of God. Each precious truth that you learn will be a treasure but the fireworks will really go off when you begin to apply what you've learned and put them all together. That's when you are going to be amazed at the results. Once you grasp that concept it will make you hungry to learn more and more about God. You will want to learn all that He has to teach you so that you can move the car and see results.

Why did I mention this? I've seen many people get "head knowledge" on one Biblical truth, attempt to apply it on its own, and get frustrated when it didn't produce the full results they expected. This frustration turns to discouragement and eventually some even lose their faith in God. God's promises will ALWAYS produce results if acted on properly. One component these people were most likely missing was true faith in and revelation knowledge about the promise. Without these two it will be like our example of trying to drive a car with just a tire and no engine. It just isn't going to work. Make sure you have a strong foundation of faith built up and a revelation knowledge ("know that you know" down deep in your heart) about each concept and principle you learn. These are going to be key components in really tapping into all God has in store for you.

Reference:(1)Modern Language Association (MLA): "synergy." WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. 30 Dec. 2007.

Is There a Biblical Type of Meditation?

Meditation is an important step in changing our beliefs, building our faith and gaining revelation knowledge.

Joshua 1:8

This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.

Proverbs 4:20-23

My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines "meditate" as:

* To engage in contemplation or reflection

* To focus ones thoughts on; reflect on or ponder on

The synonyms that Dictionary.com lists provide an even clearer picture. Those synonyms are: ponder, muse, ruminate, cogitate, study, think, contemplate, plan, devise, and contrive.

Interestingly, meditate comes from a base in Latin called mederi which means to remedy. Thats what we want to do. Remedy the situation and get us back on track. When we were born again, our spirits were immediately brought back into relationship with God. However, our minds, wills and emotions need to be re-trained in Gods ways of thinking and acting. People will often call this process renewing your mind.

Biblical meditation is the process of studying, reflecting, pondering, contemplating and reflecting on the Word so that it becomes deep seeded in your heart. By reading Scriptures and hearing them spoken over and over, you are building up faith and confidence that God will do what He said He would do. As you focus completely on the Word, the Holy Spirit will enlighten your mind and spirit and show you precious truths and promises. It's through meditation on God's Word, quiet time in prayer with God, and counseling by the Holy Spirit that the words on the page go from just "head knowledge" to "heart knowledge" which is revelation knowledge. And revelation knowledge is that peace in your heart that says, "I know that I know this is the truth. I cannot be moved from it." It's at this point that you can begin to act on your faith and see results.

What is God's Character?

When you know who God is, you'll be able to trust that He will do what He promised in His Word. When you have revelation knowledge about how much God loves you, you won't doubt that His will is that you live a good life in abundance, to the full, until it overflows. Without that foundation it will be difficult for you to stand in faith and see the promises of God take effect in your life.

So, who is God?

God is our Father.

Ephesians 1:5

For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [[a]because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]--

Romans 8:14-17

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! 16The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. 17And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.

Psalm 68:5

A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows is God in His holy habitation.

God is good. He cannot do or give anything bad.

John 10:10

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect ( free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].

I John 1:5

5And this is the message [the message of promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way].

God doesn't have love. He IS love and we are to abide in that love.

I John 4:7-9

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him]. 8He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. 9In this the love of God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son, the only begotten or unique [Son], into the world so that we might live through Him.

I John 4:15-17

15Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he [abides, lives, makes his home] in God. 16And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him. 17In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.

I John 3:1

SEE WHAT [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.

I John 2:5

But he who keeps (treasures) His Word [who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its entirety], truly in him has the love of and for God been perfected (completed, reached maturity). By this we may perceive (know, recognize, and be sure) that we are in Him:

John 16:27

27For the Father Himself [tenderly] loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from the Father.

God is compassionate, merciful and gracious.

Psalm 86:15

But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness and truth.

Psalm 86:15 (King James Version)

But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Psalm 111:4

He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious, merciful, and full of loving compassion.

Psalm 145:8

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness.

John 1:14

And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.

Acts 15:11

But we believe that we are saved through the grace (the undeserved favor and mercy) of the Lord Jesus, just as they [are].

Romans 8:38-39

Ephesians 3:17-18

Hebrews 4:16

God is our strength.

Psalm 18:31-32

For who is God except the Lord? Or who is the Rock save our God, The God who girds me with strength and makes my way perfect?

Psalm 18:39

For You have girded me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me and caused to bow down those who rose up against me.

God is our peace.

Psalm 34:4

I sought (inquired of) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Colossians 3:15

15And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

II Timothy 1:7

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

John 16:33

33I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

Ephesians 2:13-15

13But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near. 14For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us, 15By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace.

God is our protector.

Psalm 18:30

As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him.

Isaiah 48:17

17Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way that you should go.

Psalm 91

Proverbs 3:25-26

Isaiah 60:18

God is our healer, provider, helper and rewarder.

Philippians 4:19

And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 7:11

If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!

Psalm 68:6

God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

Ephesians 3:20

20Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—

Exodus 15:26

Job 4:4

Psalm 107:19-20

Isaiah 53:3-4

Isaiah 58:11

Proverbs 3:5-8

Proverbs 4:20-22

Romans 8:11

2 Corinthians 9:6-11

James 5:15

Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 13:5-6

1 Peter 2:24

God is faithful and never changes.

1 Corinthians 1:9

9God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:13

…But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

Hebrews 10:23

Hebrews 13:8

Isaiah 55:11

God gives knowledge, skill, and wisdom to His people.

Daniel 1:17

God sent Jesus to the world to save not condemn us. Jesus is the High Priest of our confession of faith.

John 3:17

Hebrews 6:20

Hebrews 7:25

Some of the verses above describe Jesus. You may be wondering if God has the same characteristics. Jesus tells us that if we've seen Him we've seen the Father. Jesus is a reflection of the Father in human form. Every characteristic that we see in Jesus is representative of what the Father is like. Below are supporting verses that prove this.

John 10:30

John 8:19

Luke 10:22

John 8:25-29

John 10:15

John 10:37-28

John 14:7

John 14:10

Colossians 1:15

Hebrews 4:14

What Is God's Redemption Plan?

Now that we know God's character, we can better understand why he orchestrated such an intricate plan to save, redeem, and adopt us.

When God created the earth it was beautiful and perfect. (Genesis 1:1) The interesting thing is that Bible scholars have proven that there was a gap in time between verse one and two. During this hiatus, Lucifer, the angel who was the head worship leader on the earth, rebelled against God. (Isaiah 14:12) As a result, Lucifer became Satan and his followers became demons. All were cast out of Heaven. (To learn more about the story of Lucifer, click here to read a Bible study on the topic. It is available at CFAITH.com.) God was so angered by this situation He removed His Glory (which is His manifested presence) from the earth. This is why verse two starts out saying that the earth was dark. It is picking up after this tragic event occurred and is describing the current state that the earth is in.

Genesis 1:2 (King James Version)

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:2 (Amplified Version)

The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.

Isaiah 14:12 (Amplified Version)

How have you fallen from heaven, O light-bringer and daystar, son of the morning! How you have been cut down to the ground, you who weakened and laid low the nations [O blasphemous, satanic king of Babylon!]

The verse also tells us that the earth was without form and an empty waste. Why would the earth be without form and void? The reason is that all of the plant life and animals that God originally created in Genesis 1:1 died off because nothing can grow or live in darkness. When God removed His presence, nothing could continue to exist.

At the end of verse two we see that God came back to the earth and began to move. In Genesis 1:3 we see the famous line "let there be light." Here again is another interesting fact. When God said this, He wasn't referring to daylight or putting the sun, moon and stars in the sky. That doesn't occur until later. Genesis 1:3 is God calling His Glory (manifested presence) back into the earth. He's referring to THE LIGHT that comes from His presence. In Genesis 1:5 we see the concept of daytime and nighttime and in Genesis 1:14-15 God puts the sun, moon and stars in the sky.

Genesis 1:2-5

3And God said, Let there be light; and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

John 1:7-9

This man came to witness, that he might testify of the Light, that all men might believe in it [adhere to it, trust it, and rely upon it] through him. 8He was not the Light himself, but came that he might bear witness regarding the Light. 9There it was--the true Light [was then] coming into the world [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] that illumines every person.

Genesis 1:14-15

And God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs and tokens [of God's provident care], and [to mark] seasons, days, and years, 15And let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light upon the earth. And it was so.

II Corinthians 4:6

For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

Later in Genesis 1:26-31 we see where God created man in His image and gave him authority over all of the earth. Man then became a living being in Genesis 2:7 when God breathed life into him.

Genesis 1:26-31

26God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. 27So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth. 29And God said, See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the land and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30And to all the animals on the earth and to every bird of the air and to everything that creeps on the ground--to everything in which there is the breath of life--I have given every green plant for food. And it was so. 31And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

Genesis 2:7

Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being.

Let's stop for a moment and take a minute to grasp how powerful Genesis 2:7 is. God, creator of the universe, breathed His life into man. That means that God took a piece of Himself and placed it in Adam. God never intended for Adam to be a mortal man that was subject to death. God put eternal life in Adam. He was never supposed to die. That "life" God put in Adam is referred to as the "zoe life." It's the life of God. It's the true essence of God. It's what makes God God.

I saw Dr. Creflo Dollar give a great example on this. He took a sheet of plain paper, ripped off little pieces and handed them out. He asked each person, "What is that thing I gave you?" They answered "Paper." He asked, "Is that piece any less paper than when it was a part of the whole sheet?" Of course the answer was "No." It's still paper even though it was smaller in size. Just because a piece of something is broken off doesn't mean it is any less of its original nature.

Why is that so important? When God took a piece of Himself and put it in Adam, it didn't diminish in power. The exact same all powerful life that makes God God is what we have in us! The same life of God that created the heavens and the earth is in us. The same life of God that allowed Jesus and Peter to walk on water is in us. The same life of God that healed the sick is in us. The same life of God that brought limitless prosperity and favor on Abraham is in us. We'll talk about that more in later sections but this is a great point to meditate on. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to your spirit the significance of the zoe life of God that is in you.

Once God breathed the zoe life into Adam and Eve, their spirits came to life. They communicated with God spirit to spirit. They didn't know or learn things by reading a book or taking a class. They knew the truth directly from God Himself. Because they only received things from God, they knew no lies, fear, lack, poverty or sickness because God didn't have those to give them. This intimate relationship with Him allowed them to live in a state of constant revelation knowledge and complete provision.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate of the fruit (Genesis 3:6), the zoe life was cut off and their spirits died. There was an instant separation between them and God. They immediately fell under the curse which required that they toil for their living.

Genesis 3:17-19

17And to Adam He said, Because you have listened and given heed to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it, the ground is under a curse because of you; in sorrow and toil shall you eat [of the fruits] of it all the days of your life. 18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth for you, and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you shall return.

Life is much harder when you don't have the zoe life of God living inside of you. You now have to do things alone under your own human power which is not how God intended it. He always expected that our "natural" ability would be partnered up with his "super" ability to do supernatural things.

When you're living without God, you have to look to yourself to supply what you need. This is where we got the current idea of working. God never intended us to work for our provisions. They were already provided for us. We were supposed to labor to get into the rest He speaks about in Hebrews 4:11.

Hebrews 4:11

11Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell].

Our efforts are supposed to be in doing whatever it takes to get God's Word in our hearts so that it becomes revelation knowledge. Because once we have revelation knowledge, our spirits rest in the Truth that we now know and trust God to take care of things. We can then spend our time focused on our God given assignment and not our provision.

Unfortunately, people who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior (and even many Christians) are still functioning under the world's system. They are completely focused on working to supply their needs and they never get a chance to rest in God's provisions and work on their assignment. The good news is that's why God sent Jesus to the earth. He wanted to give us an opportunity to get back into relationship with Him and have that zoe life inside us again. To have all of our needs met and walk in the lifestyle of abundant overflow all of the time.

John 10:10

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

God prepared an intricate redemption plan that would give us an opportunity to return to that intimate spirit to spirit communication with Him where we live in constant revelation knowledge and all of our needs met. So how did that all happen?

Well first, let's go back to Genesis 2:15 where God put Adam and Eve in the Garden and told them to tend and guard it. He also gave them instructions to eat of any tree except the one of the knowledge of good and evil. Later, Genesis 3 begins the well-known conversation between Eve and Satan.

One key point to note here is that only beings that were without sin could enter and exist in the Garden. Because Satan had sinned, he was not able to enter on his own. However, by entering through the snake, he looked like he had "legal" access. Even though he had gotten in "legally" he was there "illegally" because he had sinned. Once inside the Garden, Satan planted a seed of doubt in Eve's mind with a simple question. "Is God really telling the truth?"

Genesis 3:1

NOW THE serpent was more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And he [Satan] said to the woman, Can it really be that God has said, You shall not eat from every tree of the garden?

At that point Eve had a decision. She choose to continue the conversation with a snake (crazy as that is in itself) and entertained that seed of doubt that Satan was planting. She stepped away from the truth that that she knew by the revelation knowledge of God and allowed herself to consider that God was wrong. By considering an option other than the truth of God, she opened the door for Satan to come in. He took that opportunity and convinced them to disobey God. In that one seemingly simple act, Adam committed high treason against God and gave the authority that God had given him over the earth over to Satan.

Here's the amazing part. The story doesn't end there. Thankfully, God didn't give up on us. Even though He was angered by their actions (Genesis 3:14-19), He loved us so much that He began executing an intricate plan that would give us an opportunity to get back into relationship with God and get the authority back.

Back in Genesis 2:9 we see where God created the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The interesting thing is that the tree of life had great power. If you were to eat of that tree, you would stay in the same spiritual state forever. This means that if Adam had eaten from this tree first, he could never have sinned. He would have been locked into that eternal relationship with God forever. However, if Adam sinned and then ate of that tree, he would be locked in a state of sin forever with no way of getting out.

This is why God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden after they sinned (Genesis 3:22-24). He wanted to keep them away from the tree of life so that they wouldn't ruin it for all of us who were to follow. He loved us too much to give up on us. The challenge was that God couldn't just swoop down and take the keys to the earth back from Satan. He had already given the authority to man and He couldn't go back on His Word. He needed another man to take back the authority.

In Genesis 12, we start to see God's plan unfold. God found a faithful man by the name of Abram with whom He could form a covenant. God tested Abram's obedience by asking him to leave his country and his relatives. In return, God promised to bless Abram abundantly.

Genesis 12:1-3

1NOW [in Haran] the Lord said to Abram, Go for yourself [for your own advantage] away from your country, from your relatives and your father's house, to the land that I will show you. 2And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others]. 3And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves]. 4So Abram departed, as the Lord had directed him; and Lot [his nephew] went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.

In Genesis 13 we see that God held up His part of the agreement and made Abram very rich. We also start to see the next part of the covenant unfolding in Genesis 13:14-18. Abram had no children but God promised to give him many descendants.

Genesis 13:2

Now Abram was extremely rich in livestock and in silver and in gold.

Genesis 13:14-18

14The Lord said to Abram after Lot had left him, Lift up now your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15For all the land which you see I will give to you and to your posterity forever. 16And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if a man could count the dust of the earth, then could your descendants also be counted. 17Arise, walk through the land, the length of it and the breadth of it, for I will give it to you. 18Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt among the oaks or terebinths of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and built there an altar to the Lord.

Later in Genesis 15:2, Abram questions God about not having any children yet. God reassures Abram in Genesis 15:5 by telling him that his descendants will be as many as there are stars in the sky. Abram's response in Genesis 15:6 is a great example of unwavering faith and how that faith was counted to him as being in right standing with God.

Genesis 15:6

6And he [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God).

As many of us have also done, Abram decided to take matters into his own hands in Genesis 16. He started focusing on the issues (such as the fact that he was in his eighties) and took his eyes off God's promise. As a result he had a child with his wife's maid thinking that this would be his heir. He got back into alignment with God's plan in the chapter of Genesis 17.

Now at that time it was common practice that when two families came into covenant together, they would take each others names. For example, the Robin family and the Son family would become the Robinsons. "Ham" in Hebrew means "God" therefore when Abram entered into covenant with God he took on the name Abraham. God promised to make Abraham the father of many nations and to make him exceedingly fruitful.

In Genesis 22, God instructs Abraham to take Issac, his first born son, to Moriah and give him as a burnt offering. Abraham obediently took Issac to the mountain and as he raised his knife to kill his son, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said that by his actions Abraham has proven his fear and reverence for God. As a result, a lamb was provided and was to be sacrificed in place of Issac.

Genesis 22:10-14

10And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took hold of the knife to slay his son. 11But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham! He answered, Here I am. 12And He said, Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear and revere God, since you have not held back from Me or begrudged giving Me your son, your only son. 13Then Abraham looked up and glanced around, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering and an ascending sacrifice instead of his son! 14So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, On the mount of the Lord it will be provided.

The Angel of the Lord appeared again and re-confirmed the covenant between God and Abraham.

Genesis 22:15-18

15The Angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16And said, I have sworn by Myself, says the Lord, that since you have done this and have not withheld [from Me] or begrudged [giving Me] your son, your only son, 17In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies, 18And in your Seed [Christ] shall all the nations of the earth be blessed and [by Him] bless themselves, because you have heard and obeyed My voice.

Abraham trusted so much that God would make this work out for good that he believed even if Issac died, God would raise him up from the dead. God was moved by Abraham's faith therefore when Abraham went up to sacrifice Isaac, God provided a lamb and told him to sacrifice the animal instead. God then told Abraham that although Isaac did not have to die, He was going to let them kill his Son, Jesus, and was going to use Abraham's vision to raise Him from the dead.

It's again important to remember that God cannot go back on His Word. He gave authority over the earth to a man therefore a man needed to take the authority back. But, it couldn't be any man. All of the men on the earth were born in Adam's blood line therefore they were born in sin. God needed a sinless man with God's blood type to start a new genealogy of righteousness.

In Luke 1:26-38, the angel Gabriel visits Mary and tells her that the Holy Spirit is going to cover her with the annointing and make her pregnant. The conception occurred when Mary spoke her response in Luke 1:38.

Luke 1:38

Then Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said. And the angel left her.

Here we see an example of how our words call things into existence. One of God's Kingdom Principles that we'll cover in later sections has to do with the power of our words. God spoke in Genesis to bring things into existence. Another example is in John 1:14 where it says "The Word (Christ) became flesh…". It was when Mary got into agreement with what God said and spoke it herself that the manifestation (i.e. conception) occurred. Thats difficult for us to comprehend sometimes because we are used to saying I'll believe it only when I see it. But God's Kingdom functions under the principle that "I'll believe it THEN I'll see it." Believing comes first. That's why II Corinthians 5:7 says we walk by faith and not by sight.

As Jesus grew into a man, He demonstrated how a man should walk, act and handle situations when annointed by God. He was demonstrating to us how we should live once we are back in relationship with God. No longer restricted by the curse of the law but rather freed by the blood that Jesus was going to shed.

A key focal point is that Jesus never sinned while He was on the earth. He died a perfect man. However, a man has to sin in order to get into hell legally. When Jesus died, He exchanged His Robe of Righteousness for our coat of sin that gave him "legal" access into hell. This made Him look like sin even though He had never sinned. How did He do this? The law stated that the sins of the nation come onto a man when he is hung on a cross. If he is taken off the cross before sunset, the sins stay on the man. If he is taken off after sunset, the sins go back out onto the world. They took Jesus off the cross in the afternoon therefore all of our sins (past and present) were bore on His body on that cross. He never sinned but He bore our sins and was made sin for us.

After three days in hell, Jesus took off the coat of sin and declared that he got in legally, but was there illegally, because He had never sinned. He then took back the authority that Adam had given to Satan, took back the captives and rose out of hell to heaven. Jesus went from life to death and death to life. Sin, death and the grave couldn’t hold Him. He conquered all three so that we might have eternal life with God.

When Jesus died, he bought back for us the authority God had originally given to us over the earth. This means that once we are "in Christ" (born again), the authority over the earth belongs to us. As long as you have a birth certificate which means you are born of a woman, you can use that authority. The devil was not born of a woman therefore he does not have a birth certificate. As a result, he does not have authority over the earth, over us, over our families, over our jobs, or over our situations. The only way he can have authority is if we give it to him.

There are four ways we give the authority to the devil:

1. By not confessing Jesus as Lord and asking him into your heart. This is what makes us born again into the new life in Christ.

2. By not walking in love and faith.

3. By not protecting ourselves from the attacks of the devil.

4. By not exercising our authority in the Name of Jesus in the earth.

The following sections will teach you who you are in Christ, what you have in Christ, and what kingdom principles we should live by.