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That "faith cometh by hearing--and hearing by the Word" is true, and
today there is a great famine in the world--and this famine is
caused by a lack of the knowledge of God's full plan for the care of
His children. One thing that ought to be convincing is a statement
made in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. It reads thus, "What? know ye not
that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you,
which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought
with a price (even the precious blood of Christ) therefore, glorify
God in your body, and in your spirit, which are His." Yes, if we are
His children, we have been bought by Christ's sacrifice--both soul
and body. Then knowing that we have been bought definitely, and that
He owns us, should we not be able to believe that He wants to care
for us, both soul and body. Yes, His plan covers all, and if we can
grasp this truth, it will be a stay to us all along life's pathway.
The lack of knowledge of God's full plan for us is the basic cause
for the unbelief there is in the world today. The ministers of the
gospel of Christ are responsible for much of the lack of faith in
the love and power of God today. And my earnest prayer is that the
dear Lord may awaken His true ministers to a very definite
realization of their responsibility, and that there may be a mighty
revival of the old time confidence and faith in the Promises of God.
And to those of God's dear children who are not where they can have
their faith built up by the preaching of God's Word on these lines,
I am happy to say that you are not left without hope-for thank God,
we still have today the privilege of searching the Scriptures for
ourselves. By thus searching out God's divine plan, and His promises
for ourselves, we may build up our own souls in the most holy faith,
and keep the fire of faith burning within our hearts daily. In the
Bible we have an abundance of examples of what God has done in ages
past for those who have trusted Him, and if we do believe that He is
just the same today and will be the same forever, then we need not
go on suffering for the lack of His divine care, whether that is to
be manifested in the healing of our bodies, or the supply of our
temporal needs, or His divine protection, or His guidance in all the
various conditions of life.
In Acts 17:11, we read of some who were counted more noble than
others in that they searched the Scriptures daily to find out if the
things they heard reported were true. They believed the Scriptures
and took time daily to search out the great truths of God for
themselves. And it is true today that anyone who will do the same
thing, will be convinced of the Truth, and will be built up in the
faith, and will be able to see marvelous things done in the name of
the Holy Child Jesus. We only need to exercise faith in the Promises
of God and we shall receive. But since the promises of God are
Conditional--we need to carefully study the condition of each
promise and then see to it that we do meet these conditions, and
then faith will become active and will take hold of God and get the
answer.
In James 5:16 we read, "Confess your faults one to another, that you
may be healed." If there is ought in our lives that does not please
God, we must do our part to remove this--to get it out of the way,
and then prayer can be effective. Sometimes confession only needs to
be made to God, but there are times when we need to clear something
out of the way that hinders the confidence of others, and this can
only be done by confessing to the person concerned.
If there has been carelessness in our life in any way, or slackness
in our devotional life this must be definitely settled between us
and God and if we want His divine healing touch on our bodies, or
His help in other ways. In John 15:7 we read, "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." The condition--definitely abiding in the
Lord, just living a settled, solid life for His Glory.
In James 4:3 we read, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask
amiss, that ye may consume it upon your own lusts." Selfish praying
does not bring us in touch with the throne of God, and therefore
does not bring the answer down. What is the object of your desire to
have prayer answered? That God may be glorified? That Christ may be
exalted? Is it that the cause of Christ and His Gospel may be
advanced? Do you want to be healed so you can enjoy the pleasures of
the world, or so you may serve the Lord Jesus better? Let us examine
well our motives in coming to the Lord for His help, and then with
pure hearts and right desires let us approach Him in faith to
receive all He has promised in His Holy Word. May God bless and
inspire active faith in each reader, is my fervent prayer. |
