Charles Capps - The substance of things

Contents

Preface

In this book I refer to the heart and human spirit many times. I use them interchangeably for the purpose of making it simple to understand.

I realize that in Scripture they are not always the same, and I don't mean to imply that in every case they are the same. But in the context of this book, I am convinced that what the Bible calls the heart and the human spirit bring about the same purposethat is to receive, produce or lead us to all that is needed to bring fulfillment of the promises of God in our lives.

The Word Created

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:1 ,3

All things were made by him .... Him Who? Him, the Word.

Without Him was not any thing made that was made. Nothing was made without the Word. The verses above are talking about Jesus, Who is the Word of God personified.

And he (Jesus) is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Colossians 1:17 Everything was created by Him(the Word)and by the Word all things consist.

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Hebrews 11:3

In other words, we understand it was through faith that the worlds were framed by God's Word. Whether you realize it or not, you frame your world with your words daily. Whether you're speaking words filled with faith or fear, you're framing your world, and you will live in it.

Words transmit. They will transmit faith or fear. If you always talked about bad news, that transmits oppression and fear. If you talked about good news, that would transmit faith. Words produce after their kind.

The gospel is the Good News. Jesus said:

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

Jesus said, I am come. Thank God He has come. The Word has come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly. The Good News of the Word creates an abundant life for spirit, soul and body. Speaking God's words creates faith, and faith is the substance of things God has given us.

Words Create Images

If you continue to give voice to God's Word, if you continue to proclaim God's promises, they will create an image inside you. If you proclaim what the devil says, you'll have an image created by the devil's words. Images are created and perfected by words.

For instance, if you had never seen my automobile, I could describe it to you in such detail that you would have an image inside you of what it looks like. You could

go find it and say, "I know that is his car." How would you know if you had never seen it? Oh, but you did see it-just as I described it, because my words produced an image inside you.

Your mind creates powerful images out of words you hear. Words can even make you recall images that you have seen before. For instance, let me walk you around your house with words.

We will start at the front of your house. Look at the shrubs you have been intending to trim. You can see the front door needs painting. You can see the loose shingles that you've been intending to fix. You can walk all around your house and see it in your spirit. Why didn't you see a birthday cake? Because my words controlled what you saw.

Words produce images. They also recall and change images. Use the right kinds of words and you will create the right kinds of images. When the Word of God gets in you, it creates an image after its kind. When that image is perfected inside you, then faith has come.

Faith Comes by Hearing

Paul says , God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith (Rom. 12:3). What is the measure of faith? How do you measure faith? You measure faith by the amount of God's Word that abides in you.

Faith is in the Word. That is why faith cometh by hearing the Word; the Word controls the image you have inside. So the only way you can measure faith is to measure the amount of Word that is in you.

The measure is the faith that is in the Biblethat is the total measure. God has dealt that faith to every man, but not all men have faith because not all will receive the Word. But that is all the Bible faith there is, and God has given it to all who will receive it.

The process is started by hearing the Word of God. Faith is measured by the amount of Word you conceive in your heart.

Gods Provision Through Faith

For he (Jesus) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5:21

God has made provision, abundant provisions, for his people. He has provided salvation by the blood of Jesus for your healing by the stripes that were on his back. Jesus said:

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

The way you enter into those provisions is through faith. That faith comes from the Word. Paul put it this way:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17

Rightstanding with God comes only through faith.

The law of the Old Covenant was works. The law of the New Covenant is faith.

Under the Old Covenant there was a limited righteousness, and it came through works. Under the New Covenant we are under grace. The only way you can enter into grace is through faith. (Eph. 2:8; Rom. 5:1 ,2 .) It's through faith, not works, that you enter into a place of rightstanding with God.

We become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21.) It is not our own righteousness, but His righteousness that has been imputed to us.

Receiving What God Has Already Given

God has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. But we must act on His Word to possess what has already been given. Second Peter 1:3 says:

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

God has already given. It isn't a matter of praying long enough for God to give it to usit's a matter of receiving what God has already given us. The conception must take place in the human spirit.

Someone said it this way: It must be conceived in the womb of the spirit, then it will be manifested outwardly. Salvation, baptism of the Holy Spirit, divine healing whatever it is you receive from Godmust be received first into the heart which I will refer to as the human spirit. (Mark 11:24, Rom. 10:10.)

Faith works in the heart. Paul says:

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness.

Romans 10:10

You can't believe with your head the things you can believe with the heart. You can give mental assent, but faith works in the heart.

Romans 10:8 says: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach. The way you get faith into your heart is by hearing yourself speak God's Word. Faith in God and faith for the provision God has made for you comes from hearing the Word of God.

There is a reciprocal to that truth, and knowing it is vital. If faith in God comes by hearing God's Word, then faith in the devil comes by hearing the words of the devil.

You would be surprised at the number of people who say to me that the devil told them such and such and ask if I have a word from the Lord for them.

I say, "Yes, I have a word for you. Quit listening to and quoting the devil!" Faith comes by hearing whether it's God or the devil you're hearing.

Once you have quoted and spoken the promises of God until faith is abundantly in your heart, then because of faith you speak words that cause the manifestation of the things promised.