Faith
The greatest victories gained for the cause of God are not the result
of labored argument, ample facilities, wide influence, or abundance of
means; they are gained in the audience chamber with God, when with
earnest, agonizing faith men lay hold upon the mighty arm of power.
True faith and true prayer—how strong they are! They are as
two arms by which the human suppliant lays hold upon the power of
Infinite Love. Faith is trusting in God,—believing that He loves us,
and knows what is for our best good. Thus, instead of our own way,
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 blessings. Truth,
uprightness, purity, are pointed out as secrets of life’s success. It
is faith that puts us in possession of these. Every good impulse or
aspiration is the gift of God; faith receives from God the life that alone
can produce true growth and efficiency.
“This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith,” [
1
John 5:4
.] It is faith that enables us to look beyond the present, with its
burdens and cares, to the great hereafter, where all that now perplexes
us shall be made plain. Faith sees Jesus standing as our Mediator at
the right hand of God. Faith beholds the mansions that Christ has gone
to prepare for those who love Him. Faith sees the robe and crown
prepared for the overcomer, and hears the song of the redeemed.
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Perfect faith, the surrender of self to God, simple trust in His
pledged word, should be a part of every minister’s experience. Only
as a minister has this experience can he make the subject of faith plain
to the doubting and distrustful.
Faith is not feeling. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen.” [
Hebrews 11:1
.] True faith is in no sense
allied to presumption. Only he who has true faith is secure against
presumption, for presumption is Satan’s counterfeit of faith.
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