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If anyone were to ask me what I consider the basic stone in the
foundation of victorious Christian living, or in the successful
activities in Christian work, I would unhesitatingly answer-Living
faith in God and His word of promise. One may have a sincere heart;
a willingness to sacrifice for the cause; a loving disposition;
devotion to their religion; one may be very honest and upright in
all their dealings with mankind. All these qualities are very good.
They are all absolutely necessary in the Christian life, but still
with any of these or with all of them together, the Christian life
is still lacking greatly if not actually unctionized and kept in
action by the power of faith. I fear that the people, so few in
number, who realize the value of definite living faith in the Lord,
are the only true Christians living. You may ask almost anyone if
they have faith in God, and the answer will be in the affirmative.
But do they really have faith in Him? Do they believe His Word? Do
they live by it?
To have faith in God, one must definitely have faith in His divine
plan that covers the needs of this life and of the life to come. One
must have absolute confidence in His word of promise, and if we do
have this faith it will work mighty things in our individual lives.
And the working out of these things will make our lives resplendent
with the Light of the Gospel of Christ. God is so mighty and His
promises are so very powerful (and dependable) that active faith
naturally brings results. Just as surely ness the Master replied
saying, "Have faith in God." Mark 11:22. Just following this
incident, a man went to Jesus complaining that he had taken his son,
possessed with a dumb spirit to some of the disciples asking them to
cast out the spirit, and that they failed to do it. Jesus then cast
out the dumb spirit from the boy and then He reproved His disciples
saying unto them, "Oh faithless generation; how long shall I be with
you." Mark 9:17-27. When the disciples saw the deliverance of this
boy they turned to Jesus with troubled hearts asking Him why they
had failed, and He replied saying to them, "This kind goeth not out
but by Fasting and prayer." These words of our Heavenly Father
convey to us a deep message of divine Truth. Fasting and prayer many
times accomplishes what prayer alone cannot do. Fasting does not
increase God's power or His willingness; but it does bring the
seeker into a depth of earnestness before God, that is many times
lacking in prayer alone. The act of self-denial manifested in
sincere fasting while presenting a burden before the Lord prepares
our hearts and brings us into closer relationship with the Lord. It
enables us to stand definitely on the promises of God, expecting the
answer. Fasting in prayer by individuals or by congregations is
today almost a forgotten service to God. If it were necessary for
Jesus to fast that He might have power and victory over the power of
the devil, how much more necessary for us today. If it were
necessary for Christ to so deeply feel the burden of responsibility
that was falling on Him-the Son of God-that He was carried off alone
in fasting and prayer until His soul was saturated with the divine
power of His Father; and He (Jesus) was strengthened to finish the
work the Father had given Him to do in His great redemption plan,
how much more necessary it must be for us to keep so definitely in
touch with His will that all He has purposed to be accomplished
through His Church may be demonstrated before the unbelieving world
through His children today. The world is full of infidelity today
because the professed people of God have so lowered the standard of
the Word that all they have to offer suffering Humanity is a
powerless message. If Christ were to open His lips in these days to
reprove the unbelieving professors, as He did in that day when he
was walking with some of His disciples along the country road, when
He finally, out of a burdened heart said, "Have faith in God", I
wonder what He would now say? May God put a Holy burden in each of
our hearts until we, as His chosen people; rise up to defend the
glorious Gospel in its fullness and power. Shortly after the
incident referred to, Christ again tried to draw His children into a
place where they could be strong enough to withstand the power of
darkness in the evil days that were coming upon the earth. He
pointed out God's faithfulness to those who call on Him in faith-but
He was able to see the great Apostasy coming in on the Church and
saw the day approaching when men just would "not endure sound
doctrine", and would lose their faith in God's power and in His
Written Word. He cried out of a burdened heart "when the Son of man
cometh, will He find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8. This sad
expression, wrung from the very heart of our Lord Jesus, should
awaken every true child of God; putting in each of their hearts, the
decision to so live that their own faith be not hindered, and that
they be determined that their own lives be a clear example and a
definite demonstration of what can be done through prayer and faith.
One thing that many times hinders the prayer of faith is having
brethren who are weak in the faith, and who do not trust God for
their own healing, come forward and lay on hands for the healing of
others. God's Word says in 2 Timothy 2:6 "The husbandman that
laboureth, must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say
and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." Oh, how very
necessary it is for us to really understand spiritual things. How
can one pray for the definite healing of another if they do not pray
the prayer of faith; or if they do not believe enough to trust God
to heal their own bodies? We must be living examples of unwavering
faith in the unchanging promises of the Father's Written Word, if we
are to be an inspiration and encouragement to our brethren.
God's Word not only contains promises of healing, but it contains
definite promises that actually cover every phrase of life--the
spiritual, the physical, and the temporal. God promises to keep by
His grace; to guide by His spirit; to comfort and strengthen; yes,
He promises to heal by His virtue. In few words He has promised to
be to us always "a very present help in the time of need" Psalm
46:1. If we live where we are on believing grounds, He will be to us
everything we have need of. Believing ground—"If ye abide in me, and
my words abide in you (then) ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall
be done unto you." John 15:7. Brother, do you believe this? Is it a
definite reality in your life? We read again in Acts 17:28 "For in
Him we live and move and have our being." Praise God. I ask
again-is this experience a blessed reality in your own life? If you
must answer no to these questions, then may I ask--what is Christ to
you? If He is not your present help in trouble, your deliverer, your
healer, your guide--your all and in all—then what is He to you? If
you know nothing of that close intimate relation between you and the
Lord Jesus, that just makes the promises a living reality, then what
are you getting out of the Christian life?
May God so move on the heart of His great Church that once more in
the "Evening of Time" we may see many mighty works being done, and
many mighty signs following as was seen in the Morning time of the
Gospel Age. We all believe He worked in mighty power in the Church
in the Morning Time. But what about these days? Why not now? God is
unchanging; His word is forever settled in heaven. Creeds of men may
change. Laws of men that govern any and everything that pertains to
this world may, and do change--but the laws of God including His
commandments and plans that govern the spiritual life as well as His
promises are unchanging. Weary Christian, lift up your eyes unto the
Lord from whence cometh your help, and draw nigh unto Him, seeking
divine help until you personally reach that place of restful
confidence that will bring an end to your struggles. Every promise
He has made should be as a landmark for our faith.
What is your need? Healing of the body? If you are living for His
own glory, then it is His will to heal you. Read 3rd John 2,
"Beloved, I wish above all things, that thou mayest prosper and be
in health, even as thy soul prospers." Read this over and over, and
meditate on it. Open up your heart and drink it in. This statement
was made for you. Reach up and make it your own. Let your soul
expand as you meditate on God's marvelous love and your faith must
enlarge until the first thing you know, you will be crying out from
the depth of your soul, "Yes, Lord I do believe, I do believe!" The
only answer there ever will be to the question asked by our Lord
Jesus--in Luke 18:8, "When the Son of man cometh will He find faith
on the earth?"--must come from the ones who truly represent Him here
in the faith. What will your answer to this question be? What will
my answer be? There will only be "faith on earth" at that last great
day If His True Children maintain their individual faith alive and
active to the end of their sojourn below. In so doing, they will
then have enriched the world and the Church by faith in Him; and by
their example and at their departure for the heavenly home, will
leave behind them seeds of gospel truth that will be eternal. Before
closing this chapter, let me ask the reader-what are you
individually doing by your life and testimony and teaching to
preserve to the end, the true Bible standard of faith in God and in
His Word? Let us develop by God's help to where we shall be living
examples of the believers-true disciples of our Saviour--Jesus
Christ. 'Have faith in God," and preserve it. |
