LOOKING BEYOND THE CLOUDS Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Without faith it is impossible to please God: for he that cometh to Him must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him- Hebrews 11:1-6 Faith is trusting God--believing that He loves us and knows best what is for our good. Thus, instead of our own, it leads us to choose His way. In place of our ignorance, it accepts His wisdom; in place of our weakness, His strength; in place of our sinfulness, His righteousness. Our lives, ourselves, are already His; faith acknowledges His ownership and accepts its blessing. Truth, uprightness, purity, have been pointed out as secrets of lifes success. It is faith that puts us in possession of these principles. {Ed 253.1} It is faith that connects us with heaven and brings us strength for coping with the powers of darkness. In Christ, God has provided means for subduing every evil trait and resisting every temptation, however strong. But many feel that they lack faith, and therefore they remain away from Christ............... If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 9:23 {MH 65.3} .Faith that enables us to receive Gods gifts is itself a gift, of which some measure is imparted to every human being. It grows as exercised in appropriating the word of God. In order to strengthen faith, we must often bring it in contact with the word. {Ed 253.4} Many hold faith as an opinion. Saving faith is a transaction, by which those who receive Christ join themselves in covenant relation with God. A living faith means an increase of vigor, a confiding trust, by which, through the grace of Christ, the soul becomes a conquering power. {MH 62.2} True faith is not a faith that will fail under test and trial; it is the gift of God to His people. --The Review and Herald, Sept, 30, 1909. {2SM 375.2} Often the Christian life is beset with dangers, and duty seems hard to perform. The imagination pictures impending ruin before, and bondage and death behind. Yet the voice of God speaks clearly, Go forward. Let us obey the command, even though our sight cannot penetrate the darkness. The obstacles that hinder our progress will never disappear before a halting, doubting spirit. Those who defer obedience till every uncertainty disappears, and there remains no risk of failure or defeat, will never obey. Faith looks beyond the difficulties, and lays hold of the unseen, even Omnipotence, therefore it cannot be baffled. Faith is the clasping of the hand of Christ in every emergency.--Gospel Workers, p. 262. {ChS 110.1} The faith that strengthened Habakkuk and all the holy and the just in those days of deep trial was the same faith that sustains Gods people today. In the darkest hours, under circumstances the most forbidding, the Christian believer may keep his soul stayed upon the source of all light and power. Day by day, through faith in God, his hope and courage may be renewed. The just shall live by his faith. In the service of God there need be no despondency, no wavering, no fear. The Lord will more than fulfill the highest expectations of those who put their trust in Him. He will give them the wisdom their varied necessities demand. {PK 386.3} We should daily dedicate ourselves to God and believe He accepts the sacrifice, without examining whether we have that degree of feeling that corresponds with our faith. Feeling and faith are as distinct as the east is from the west. Faith is not dependent on feeling. We must earnestly cry to God in faith, feeling or no feeling, and then live our prayers. Our assurance and evidence is Gods word, and after we have asked we must believe without doubting. I praise Thee, O God, I praise Thee. Thou hast not failed me in the performance of Thy word. Thou hast revealed Thyself unto me and I am Thine to do Thy will. {2SM 243.2} That so-called faith in Christ which professes to release men from the obligation of obedience to God, is not faith, but presumption. By grace are ye saved through faith. But faith, if it hath not works, is dead. Ephesians 2:8; James 2:17. Jesus said of Himself before He came to earth, I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart. Psalm 40:8. And just before He ascended again to heaven He declared, I have kept My Fathers commandments, and abide in His love. John 15:10. The Scripture says, Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. . . . He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked. 1 John 2:3-6. Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps. 1 Peter 2:21. {SC 61.2} What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?-James 2:14,19,20 Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God. James 2:23. And Paul says, They which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. Galatians 3:7. But Abrahams faith was made manifest by his works. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? James 2:21, 22. There are many who fail to understand the relation of faith and works. They say, Only believe in Christ, and you are safe. You have nothing to do with keeping the law. But genuine faith will be manifest in obedience. Said Christ to the unbelieving Jews, If ye were Abrahams children, ye would do the works of Abraham. John 8:39. And concerning the father of the faithful the Lord declares, Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws. Genesis 26:5. Says the apostle James, Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 2:17. And John, who dwells so fully upon love, tells us, This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. 1 John 5:3. {PP 153.4} Now genuine faith always works by love. When you look to Calvary it is not to quiet your soul in the nonperformance of duty, not to compose yourself to sleep, but to create faith in Jesus, faith that will work, purifying the soul from the slime of selfishness. When we lay hold of Christ by faith, our work has just begun. Every man has corrupt and sinful habits that must be overcome by vigorous warfare. Every soul is required to fight the fight of faith. If one is a follower of Christ, he cannot be sharp in deal, he cannot be hardhearted, devoid of sympathy. He cannot be coarse in his speech. He cannot be full of pomposity and self-esteem. He cannot be overbearing, nor can he use harsh words, and censure and condemn. {2SM 20.3} Now, brethren, you have educated yourselves so much in doubts and questionings that you have to educate your souls in the line of faith. You have to talk faith, you have to live faith, you have to act faith, that you may have an increase of faith. Exercising that living faith, you will grow to strong men and women in Christ Jesus. God grant that this meeting that we are holding may be a meeting where the Sun of Righteousness may rise upon you and shine in your hearts with its clearest rays, making you all lights in the world. {FW 78.2}
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 06:08:43 +0000
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