Romans 8:6-9, MSG
Don’t suppose for a moment, though, that God’s Word has malfunctioned in some way or other. The problem goes back a long way. From the outset, not all Israelites of the flesh were Israelites of the spirit. It wasn’t Abraham’s sperm that gave identity here, but God’s promise. Remember how it was put: “Your family will be defined by Isaac”? That means that Israelite identity was never racially determined by sexual transmission, but it was God-determined by promise. Remember that promise, “When I come back next year at this time, Sarah will have a son”?
Beloved,
One major force that makes us “an Israelite of the spirit” is PROMISE. The word of God which we receive as a promise is what brings us to the Jewish experience. It doesn’t matter how long you have been a Christian; you can be easily defeated if you don’t have a promise. It is the promise that gives us an identity in the kingdom. It is God’s promise directed towards us that gives us a chance and connects us to God’s commitment. God’s promise is an immutable trait of God; it is impossible for God to lie. In critical battles of life, you cannot win with general promises—you need a promise specific to you to wage your war.
So, when you are wondering why God’s word is not working for you, you would need to clarify if the word you have is your personal promise or a general one. Until it becomes specific, it will not be impactful. Abraham had many generalized sons, but the promise made Isaac the only person God could work with. Mary also received a specific promise which worked for her because of her reply. She said, “Be it unto ME, according to Your word”. Let your own reply to His word be the same.
I commend you to God and to the word of His grace.
I call you BLESSED. I call you NATIONS.
