Jesus is praying for us to be sanctified, which means to be set apart from the world to the Word of God, which is the truth. Other truths in the natural world such as sickness, poverty, fear and recession are only a truth but not the truth, and the truth will always supersede these truths when we apply it. Jesus is praying that we would be separated from the attitudes, dictates and opinions of the world and be joined with His Word—the truth.
When we see the integrity of God’s Word and choose to apply it in our lives, we will see situations and circumstances change, just like Abraham who, contrary to hope, believed God and called those things which did not exist as though they did. Not wavering at the promise of God, he was fully convinced that God would perform what He had promised.
Romans 4:17-21 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Facts including negative circumstances exist. While we don’t deny what’s going on, we deny their rights to have a place in our lives, and we change them by establishing the unchangeable truth of God’s Word in our hearts by meditating and acting on it.
We need to have this attitude towards God’s Word: God said it, I believe it and that settles it. It is His covenant Word with me and to me, and it is regardless of how I feel, how the circumstances are or the opinion of the world.
Whenever we encounter a problem and a negative truth that is set before us, run to God and seek a second opinion from the truth. God’s Word is forever settled in heaven, but it is up to us to settle it forever in our lives and to give it first place and authority in everything we do.
Sermon Series: Fight the Good Fight of Faith
在真理里成圣
当我们经历苦难时，比较容易在问题里打转，而不是专注在神的话语里面寻求到的答案，神通过祂的话语向我们显示祂的大能。因此，我们所需要的就是信心，来活出神的话语，而圣经将在我们的生命中成为现实。
约翰福音17:17 求你用真理使他们成圣；你的道就是真理。
耶稣常常为我们的圣洁祷告，让我们得以远离世界进入神的话语，也就是真理中。其他自然世界的存在如同疾病、贫穷、恐惧和经济萧条是确实存在，而绝非真理。当我们高举真理，这些自然存在的现象就必被真理取代。耶稣为我们祷告，让我们可以远离世间的态度、命令和意见，而得以进入神的话语 – 真理中。
当我们得以看见神话语的真实性，并定意在我们的生命里不断应用，我们可以看到环境和境况的改变，如同亚伯拉罕，在无可指望的时候，相信神并相信眼睛未曾看见的已成事实。不怀疑神的应许，他完全的相信神所应许的必定成就。
罗马书4:17-21 亚伯拉罕所相信的，是那叫死人复活、使无变有的神，他在主面前作我们世人的父。如同经上所记：“我已经立你作多国的父。”他在无可指望的时候，因信仍有指望，就得以作多国的父，如同先前所说：“你的后裔将要如此。”他将近百岁的时候，虽然想到自己的身体如同已死，撒拉的生育已经断绝，他的信心还是不软弱；并且仰望神的应许，总没有因不信心里起疑惑，反倒因信心里得坚固，将荣耀归给神，且满心相信神所应许的必能做成。
消极的境况确实存在。尽管我们不去否认事态的发展，我们拒绝它们占据我们的生命，我们靠着在心中建立神的话语这不变的真理，不断地思想和应用它，来改变环境。
我们要用这样的态度来看待神的话语：神这么说了，我相信了，这就成了。这是神与我所立的约，对我来说，是超越我的感受，境况，以及世界的看法。
当我们面对难题或消极的存，我们当奔跑向神，在神的真理里寻求祂的意见。神的话语在天国永远成就，但在我们生命中的永远成就在于我们要立定心意，无论做什么都将神的真理放在首位和掌权的位置。
讲章系列：为真道打那美好的仗