Hebrews 4:2 “For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.” (NIV)
Do you remember that when you received your credit card it had a label on the front saying “must be activated before use?” You had been approved for credit, received the credit card, but the card was of little use to you unless you activated it. This verse teaches a similar truth. When you received Christ as your Lord and Savior, you not only become a child of God who has the promise of eternal life, but you also were promised abundant life in all its fullness. Many Christians believe in their salvation, but fail to experience the abundant life promised in Scripture. God’s Word shows how you are to take hold of the abundant Christian life, but we often walk away from the truths revealed before our eyes. James 1:23-25 says, “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does.” You must do more than read the Word of God; you must allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in a daily walk by faith. You must release God’s work in your life by believing His Word and stepping out in faith - believing that God is faithful and will do it. 2 Timothy 2:13 says, “If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown himself.” It is not enough to just accept Christ, but you must “activate your faith” by stepping out through the power of the Holy Spirit allowing the risen Christ to live through you!
Ephesians 1:18-20 “I pray . . . that you may know . . . the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” (NIV)