We have most precious Promises in the Word of God, which ought to give us courage and confidence. They should enable us to come out of uncertainty and darkness, to come where we may know that the Spirit beareth witness with our spirit (mind) that we are the children of God. There is nothing wanting in the store-house of our God.
Romans 8:16
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus . . . . for who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? Moreover we have the mind of Christ !” Philippians 2:5 & I Corinthians 2:16
It is not enough to say, “I believe;” we must exercise the Living (active, moving) faith that claims the Promises of God as our own, knowing that they are sure and steadfast. The enemy of our souls would be glad to steal away these precious Promises from us, and cast darkness before our eyes, so that we should not be able to appropriate the good things that God means that we shall have !
Jesus has said, “Believe Me, that I Am in the Father, and the Father in Me . . . for God is a Spirit: and they that worship (serve and obey) Him must worship in Spirit and in Truth ! . . . John 4:24, or else believe Me for the very works’ sake.
“Believest thou not that I Am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the Words that I speak unto you . . . which are Spirit and they are Life . . . . I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works !” John 14:10 & 6:63
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me (the Word of God), the works that I do, shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father !” ref: John 14:12. The disciples of Christ are to do greater works than Jesus Himself has done. He says further: “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” “If ye ask anything in My name, I will do it.” Christ spoke these words for the comfort of all who should have faith in Him, and it is our privilege to believe that God will do just as He has said He would !
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men (yea, nay and maybe), but as It is in Truth (Verity), the Word of God (Deity), which effectually (fervently, actively, mightily) worketh also in you that believe . . . !” I Thessalonians 2:13
It is not enough to say, “I believe;” we must exercise the Living (active, moving) faith that claims the Promises of God as our own, knowing that they are sure and steadfast. The enemy of our souls would be glad to steal away these precious Promises from us, and cast darkness before our eyes, so that we should not be able to appropriate the good things that God means that we shall have !
God is waiting to do great things for us as soon as we come into a right relation with Him; but if we hold ourselves in doubt and unbelief, the enemy can keep the control of our minds, and intercept the Promises of God. Unbelief always results in a great loss to our souls. It was said concerning one place where Christ visited, “He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Christ cannot work in our behalf if we do not manifest faith in Him (the Living Word of God).
How shall we encourage you to have faith in God? You say, “How can I talk faith, how can I have faith, when clouds and darkness and despondency come over my mind? I do not feel as though I could talk faith; I do not feel that I have any faith to talk.” But why do you feel in this way? –It is because you have permitted Satan to cast his dark shadow across your pathway, and you cannot see the Light that Jesus sheds upon your pathway.
“For Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path . . . !” Psalm 119:105
But another says: “I am very frank; I say just what I feel, I talk just as I think.” Is that the best way to do? –No; God wants us to educate ourselves so that we shall speak right words,–words that will be a blessing to others, that will shed rays of Light upon their souls.
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; but an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth evil . . . . For out of the abundance (treasure) of the heart, his mouth speaketh . . . !” Luke 6:45
“Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee . . . !” Psalm 119:11
Suppose that at times we are destitute of the joy we should like to experience, can we not feel assured that the Promises of God are still Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus? II Corinthians 1:20. The Promises of God do not rest upon feeling. They have a foundation as distinct from feeling as Light is from darkness. We must learn to move from principle, and when we learn to do this, we shall move understandingly, and not be controlled by varying emotions.
Christ has said, “If ye abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” Brethren, can you explain why we are not more efficient in ministering to others, and why we are not better able to help the church, than we were ten years ago?
There is no reason why we should not be growing in efficiency and power to do the work of God. The Lord wants us to use every iota of the ability He has given us, and, if we do this, we shall have improved and increased ability to employ.
God desires that we shall have a thorough understanding of the Truth . . . Thy Word is Truth ! . . . John 17:17, as it is in Jesus. We should dig in the mine of Truth for the rich treasures of knowledge that are hidden in God’s Word. If we employ our talents in searching the Scriptures, and in imparting knowledge to others, we shall become channels of Light. You should not allow the channel between God and your soul to become obstructed. You should not be moved by circumstances !
– ST, November 11, 1889
[MORNING TALK AT MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., OCTOBER 19, 1888.]
By Mrs. E. G. White