toencourage October 26, 2013 Vol 1 Issue 35

LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.  I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.  I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. Psalm 3:1-7

We live in a world today that easily becomes quite depressing when viewed through righteous eyes.  It seems as if everyday, news reports are filled with stories of violent assaults, senseless murders, gruesome deaths, scandals and child abuse, not to mention the increase in brutal attacks upon Christians.  As a matter of fact, if we were to focus just on crimes against the people of God alone, it would appear as if our own country was attempting to systematically eradicate the influence of fundamental Christianity and the precepts upon which it was founded from our Judeo-Christian heritage and culture.

Notice in verses 1 and 2  in our text above that David exclaims “how are they increased that trouble me!”.  It would appear as if David felt the same way as we might today.   Examine the apparent increase of His/our Enemies.  We now see daily the enemies of the Word of God rising from the depths of Hell from all sides, attempting to encompass the faithful witnesses whose beliefs and faith are in the ways of Christ.  Nevertheless, we should not be troubled or afraid, nor surprised as it has been recorded (better yet, prophesied), “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (II Timothy 3:13) and that “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” (I Timothy 4:1-2) We are also told, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God…” (II Timothy 3:1-4) in addition to “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of...” (II Peter 3:3-5).  Numerous other verses attest to the fact that in the latter days, the end times  in which we now live, people will become mockers, scorners, despisers, and deniers, willingly refusing to give heed and understanding to the perfect Word of God.  So why do we treat this as such a shock?  We have been warned.  Why do we stagger, appalled at the moral decay in the world today?  David was dispirited by the increase his enemies seemed to enjoy as they surrounded him and exclaimed that there would be no help for him in God.  Oh, how far from the truth that would be!

Beloved friends, the Lord is our Encourager.  David proclaims the Lord as “the lifter up of mine head” in verse 3.  In times of discouragement, despair and depression, it is the Lord who is our lifter and our encourager.  He is the One who allows our hearts and minds to refocus on Him as the Lord of our lives and to be encouraged that we are never alone.  In spite of what occurs around us, it is the Lord who lifts us up, renews our courage and carries us away from the hopelessness of situations that may seem to overwhelm.

The Lord is our encourager as He is also our Enabler.  In verses 4 and 5,  David cried unto the Lord who, in His grace, heard him,  sustaining him in the midst of his trials and tribulations.  What great comfort is found today in the fact that no matter what troubles may erupt in our lives, we can focus on the Lord, go to Him in prayer to be encouraged and enabled to carry on in the life we have in this world.

How often though do we focus on the Lord in the midst of problems and challenges?  Herein lies the root cause of why trouble affects us  so profoundly in our lives.  Day in and day out, we should have a building relationship with God, for He is our Eternal.  Rather than looking to the Lord only during times when our enemies and adversaries become more numerous and circumstances grow dark, we should remain focused on Him daily, looking toward Heaven and the glorious future that awaits us as we expend our lives in this very temporal world encouraged by the influences of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

How do you suppose this could be achieved?  Read with me Psalms 4:4 which says,“Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.”  When was the last time we paused to reflect in awe upon Who and What our Lord is?  With all of the distractions of the toys of technology and high-definition entertainment in the world today, it becomes ever more difficult to be impressed or moved by what we see and hear.  Too often this tendency masks God’s blessings and the great and wonderful things the Lord has done, is doing and will do for us.  Daily His hand is seen, down to the most insignificant of events.  Our meals, for example, are not a guarantee, but for most of us the Lord provides food and nutrition in excess of our daily needs.  When was the last time we stopped to gratefully consider God’s generosity in all that He has provided for us beyond the miraculous work of salvation?  We must not overlook the gifts and “coincidences” that should encourage us to trust in the Lord, nor forget to appreciate the smallest blessings (that become large losses when not accepted), that are bestowed upon us throughout our lives.

Let us be encouraged in that our Lord is our Eternal, providing daily as Encourager and Enabler in midst of our Enemy.

Thank you, Lord!

toencourage October 19, 2013 Vol 1 Issue 34

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

Dr. R. A. Torrey, founder of the Montrose Bible Conference in Pennsylvania, gives this definition of faith: “To believe God, is to rely upon or have unhesitating assurance of the truth of God’s testimony, even though it is unsupported by any other evidence, to rely upon and have unfaltering assurance of the fulfillment of His promises, even though everything seems against fulfillment.”

Friend, faith has a fourfold association within a person’s life:

• Hearing – Romans 10:17 tells us that, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  Isaiah 55:3 says to “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” 
• Looking – Did you know that we are to look for faith?  God’s Word tells us in Isaiah 45:22 to “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”
• Receiving – In John 1:12 we are told, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
• Believing – The word “believe” is found in the New Testament 247 times and faith is found 244 times.

Sunday School children across the world have learned the little acrostic of FAITH: Forsaking All, I Trust Him.

Beloved, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is never blind and relies upon a full knowledge of the Lord as given in His perfect Word.  Verse 6 of the 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews states, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  Despite all of the great accomplishments or contributions we may make in our lives, we cannot please God unless we have faith.

It is impossible to please Him in any way, word or work without faith.  As a matter of fact, without faith we are actually living in Sin.  Hebrews 3:16 reads, “For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.”  The suffering of Israel was solely due to their lack of faith in God.  The misfortunes of an entire nation were the result of their lack of the one ingredient, faith, that would please Elohim.  Their afflictions that befell them were “Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation” (Psalms 78:22).  Without faith it is impossible to please God and without faith it is impossible to refrain from the disobedience that arises from the dark and sinful nature we are all born with. 

Faith, my friend, is the key that unlocks the door to God.  There may be thousands of ways we can please Christ, but not one of them is without faith!

We know where our sinfulness comes from and we know that without faith, we will rely on our sinful nature rather than upon the Spirit of God in all of our decisions.   Let’s look upon Faith’s Source.  Simply put, our source of faith is GOD!  Faith is a gift of God and a product of God’s grace.  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8).  Read the verse carefully and you will understand that it is not just salvation that is a gift from God, but the very faith that is required to be saved by grace is a gift as well.  It is the gift of God!   What is “THE” gift?   The grace that saves through faith!  It is a threefold and unified gift from God and we can not remove one part or we will lose them all.  

It was Peter that said to the council in Acts 15:11, “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”  Faith is both human and divine.  Man has the capacity for faith and is responsible for it’s use and exercise.  Faith becomes divine as the Spirit of God moves within our souls. 

For I know in WHOM…!  There is your source of faith, beloved.  There is the avenue and the crosshairs for our faith, the very entity, whose glorious name is Jesus, who is needed for salvation.   It is Faith from where we draw our Strength.  Faith becomes our anchor in the storms of life and enables us to look from the ‘”crisis” to the Christ  (Read Acts 27:18-25).  Faith is the catalyst that enables us to be strong in our Saviour and it is that strength that is needed in this life.  We must ask ourselves daily what or whom we are trusting in for our strength.  In whom do we stand?  The Apostle Paul said,  “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (I Corinthians 2:5)

In Luke 17:5, the disciples said to Christ, “Increase our faith.”  Jesus’ reply was given in  the poignant “mustard seed” parable.  So often people will pray for strength in their lives, the reason being is that we need it!  In fact, people probably need it more today than ever and not because the world is harder, but because life has become so convenient.  When hard times roll in, most people are not acclimated to them and don’t know where to turn.  We would like our strength to be increased just as we want our faith to be.  But the only way our faith will ever be increased is if we exercise it!  It must be worked.  It must be utilized and practiced, otherwise, it will grow weak and die.  This is what Paul meant when he said “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)

The result of faith is the strength that enables us to be “more than conquers”.

The power and blessings that comes from faith is not the faith itself, but rather the Divine Object of our faith!

Friend, you may have a strong faith that has been placed in a weak object, much like thin ice on a frozen lake.  No matter how strong your faith is in that thin, crackling ice, it is not going to hold or support you.  It is important to recognize that while our faith may be valid, the object of our faith cannot support it unless it is in Jesus Christ. 

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ has and will stand the test of time awarding each one of us:

• Boldness to witness:  “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;” (II Corinthians 4:13)
• Steadfastness in a time of fear: “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.” (Mark 5:36)
• Eternal and glorious future: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (John 11:25)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for

toencourage October 12, 2013 Vol 1 Issue 33

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

Hebrews 11.32

Hebrews 11.32-39 sums up the chapter that has been dedicated to what many have labeled the ‘Hall of Faith’.  The closing remarks recorded in everlasting history list individuals such as David, Samson and Samuel (among others) who through their faith conquered kingdoms, escaped the edge of the sword and increased valiantly in the battle for the people and promise of the Lord.  Also, we find un-named souls that suffered for the name of God by way of mocking, scourging being destitute and afflicted yet never losing the focus which rested upon their faith.

In the past several issues we have heard of a Delivering Faith, Desperate  Faith, Determining Faith, Defending Faith, Diligent Faith, Defeating Faith and others.  These types of faith gave precedent of position and promotion to those which possessed such trust.  It allowed them to live eternally within the pages of the perfectly preserved Scripture as examples for us that would follow.  Yet with all the great feats they accomplished through their extraordinary faith in God, they earned a good report, but received not the promise (Hebrews 11.39).  Such promise we have enjoyed through the death, burial and resurrection of our glorious Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.  If these men and women can earn such accolades from the Lord, we that have read the completed perfected accounts can possess such faith as well as succeed in such endeavors.

One topic of faith that has yet to be discussed in our weekly issues, is not quite as positive in its details.  It is known as a Dead Faith. James 2.14-20 outlines this anemic attribute of so many in life today.  Often misunderstood and misconstrued, the teaching James offers is spectacular in it’s central theme of prevention rather than promotion.  I have experienced many times that from some men one can learn what ‘not’ to do rather than what ‘to’ do.  Such is the prophylactic depiction James offers a soul with dead faith. We understand that salvation is by grace plus NOTHING – If it is grace 99.9% and works .1%, such .1% will take a soul to hell.  If one feels as if good works will save them, they will never have assurance of salvation.  The best that will be produced is a ‘hope so’ and salvation my friend is never a hope so situation, it is a ‘know so’.  It was the Apostle Paul that quoted  Habakkuk in Romans 1:17 “…the just shall live by faith”.

Within the writings of James 2.14-20 we first must evaluate the apparent Contradiction in verse14.  It would seem as if teaching of James and Paul would be at odds.  In Romans 4:2,5-6 – Paul is preaching topically of Grace through Faith.  In James 3:21,24 the thematic centrality focuses on a Justification by works.  The reality becomes apparent of no real contradiction when correctly understood and rightly divided.  Beloved, Paul is speaking of justification before God, whereas James is speaking of justification before man.  You cannot see my faith,  you cannot see my heart, but God can: “…for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7)

One preacher said: “Paul covered the head of faith whereas James covered the tail of faith…”  Paul’s faith was about the root, James preached of the fruit.  Without the root, there is no fruit!

• Paul preached of the Provision of Faith, James the Product…
• Paul preached of the Inward faith, James the Outward…
• Paul preached of the Means of faith, James the Marks…

In the 18th verse, James is preaching of a ‘show’ so faith and in verse 14, James is asking can that faith save a man?  Man is saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone! It is followed by the marks of faith, such marks that are seen in the lives of these listed in the Hall of Faith, men and women that sacrificed their lives through faith in the promise, that we have received.

These marks include Compassion

as describe in verses 15-17.  Real, living faith will produce compassion for others.  How great is my faith if I tell a brother or a sister to ‘go and be filled’, yet offer no help?

Real, living faith possesses Communion (verses 18-19).  Within real faith there resides a love for God, a love and longing to be with the Lord Jesus Christ.  John said:  We love him, because he first loved  us. (I John 4:19).  Have you ever loved someone so much that you just longed to be with them, every moment of the day? That is what true faith produces in the believer.

Real living faith provides a Conversion (verse 20).  Real faith produces a changed life, outwardly. So many souls today come out of the midst of troubles claiming they ‘found Jesus’, as if He was ever lost!  Dear friend, it was not Jesus that needed to be found, but us.  When faith is involved, there is a conversion! Else it is not faith, no matter what you call it.

Tolstoy said:

“For thirty-five years of my life I was, in the proper acceptation of the world, a nihilist—not a revolutionary socialist, but a man who believed in nothing. Five years ago my faith came to me. I believed in the doctrine of Jesus, and my whole life underwent a sudden transformation. . . . Life and death ceased to be evil; instead of despair I tasted joy and happiness that death could not take away.”

So yes, the faith that produces a changed, Converted life to Christ possessing Compassion and Communion with the Lord is a living, thriving faith.  Anything else, is in fact a Dead Faith.

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

toencourage October 5, 2013 Vol 1 Issue 32

This is the second of two installments concerning Moses’ Delivering Faith.  

Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. Hebrews 11:29 

I hope that this will be especially meaningful to you and that you will look forward to next week!

Last week we began to examine Moses’ delivering faith, a faith that not only delivered him personally from the bondage of ignorance, but also his people from the slavery of Pharaoh.

We learned that a such a faith requires one to repent of self and sin so that we are able to recognize the true sacrifice of our Saviour.  When that repentance occurs and our faith in God grows, the Lord richly provides for us, His people.

As referenced last week: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19).  So just what are the riches in glory by Christ Jesus?  We find such riches within the text of Colossians 1:25-29 where the Bible tells us, “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”

 A delivering faith will produce a Reward.  In Colossians 1:26 and onward, we learn that faith produces the rewards in Christ that will come in the form of:

• Seeing – verse 27
• Security – verse 28a
• Salvation – verse 28

Beloved, these are three of the great benefits of having a Delivering Faith.  This is the faith that lifts us from the depths of sin and shame into the favor of a loving God and rescues us from the mire of unrighteousness where mankind has resided for six thousand years. 

Yet a Delivering Faith is only rendered as we are Reduced.

Let’s turn back to the Old Testament and read of the mighty event that is recorded in Exodus 4:2-3 where a staff in the hands of a frightened Moses became a symbol of strength.

John the Baptist proclaimed that “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30) and understood by faith that he would have to submit in order for God to become pre-eminent. John had to humble himself and surrender completely to God just as Moses had to surrender himself by faith to obedience in the face of fear.  God was not interested in their abilities and capabilities nearly as much as He was in their availability and dependability and was able to use them for His divine purpose, His “increase”, because they had been “decreased” or reduced.  For man to think that through his own intellect he can improve upon the inspired word of God is arrogant and contradictory to Scripture.  Psalm 39:5 tells us that ”…verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.  Selah.”   Here is a perfect truth from the perfect Word as a perfect reminder of What and Who God is in our lives.

The Lord wants us to possess a delivering faith by requiring us to Rely upon Him.  Moses was to cast down his own abilities in order to rely on God’s blessings and:

• Strength – Vs.4-5 – Once Moses put down his strength, he could take up the strength of God (verse 20)

A delivering faith will lead us to rely on God on what to:

• Say – (verse 10-12)

Such reliance on the Lord then allows us to be:

• Sent – (verse13)

 Moses was born in approximately 1520 B.C. at Heliopolis under Egyptian rule at a time the Hebrew population had multiplied greatly which caused fear in Pharaoh’s heart and mind.  It was at this time that the king decreed all new born Hebrew sons to be slain by casting them into the Nile River (this was also in honor of his worship of the river).  My friends, it was the mother of Moses who first Relied on God to protect her child as she constructed an ark, sealed it with slime and pitch and sent it down the crocodile invested river Nile.  Moses would later learn of his mother’s reliance upon the Lord which ultimately insured his survival.  He obtained a great wealth of knowledge when he learned of his mother’s faith, a delivering faith that continues to touch and inspire people even today.

The Chicago Daily News reported several years ago that the Standard Oil Company had discovered oil in Egypt and had begun operating productive wells there.  While this became common knowledge, the reason Standard Oil chose to go to that ancient land to explore for oil was probably not so well-known.  It was asserted that one of the directors of the company had read Exodus 2 with the third verse in particular catching his attention. This, of course, is the verse which describes the efforts of Moses’ mother to save her son in a basket “daubed with slime and with pitch.”  This gentleman wisely reasoned that where there was pitch, there must also be oil, and that if there was oil in Moses’ time, it would probably still be there.  It was with that reasoning that Standard Oil dispatched Mr. Charles Whitshott, their geologist and oil expert, to explore the area and to commence an investigation.  The result, of course, was that vast supplies of oil were discovered.

If oil can come from Moses’ crib, I dare to say a delivering faith can as well!

By faith Moses…