Isaiah wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 55:
6 Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
We are admonished to forsake our own thoughts and ways and pursue FATHER’S thoughts and ways. If we are to mature as Sons and Daughters, we must pursue FATHER’S ways. How am I to represent FATHER if I don’t reflect HIS Divine Intent? How can I be trusted with power and authority if I don’t know HIS thoughts and HIS ways? We are called to be in unity with HIM but there is no way for us to achieve unity if we don’t know HIS ways. FATHER has given us HIS Word and HIS SPIRIT to enable us to pursue HIS ways.
Wisdom wrote in Proverbs chapter 9:
10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.”
Giving FATHER reverence establishes the fact that HIS Ways are higher than our own. These writings are intended to promote a long life, wisdom, and understanding. It can only be done by each of us changing and becoming more like our elder Brother Jesus Christ. As I change internally, the external is affected. Simply look at Paul who had to change internally before he could positively affect the external. All of the disciples had to change internally before they could effectively minister. On the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2, the disciples had a dramatic internal change when they were filled with The Holy Spirit. They continued to mature and were able to effectively spread the Gospel as Jesus directed.
We must forsake the world’s way of living and pursue a life of Agape Love and great faith. Both are needed and we should have corresponding actions to affirm our walk. James wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 2:
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith alone without works save him?
Faith requires corresponding actions to truly be profitable. James then gives an example of Love without corresponding actions:
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
Both Love and faith require “fruit” and if you have none, then they are said to be dead and of no profit to you. It is extremely important to grasp this Truth in order to mature in the nature of Christ.
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
A foolish man is empty, vain, and devoid of truth. Let us not be foolish and think we have Love and faith when there are no corresponding actions as a result. We must take our eyes off the world and its ways and place our focus solely on FATHER’S ways. As we pursue HIS ways, we will ascend to a higher Spiritual state resulting in the fruitfulness we all have hoped for in our walk.