HELLIGILD – Side 2 – Where I will post my updates

Faith in God is more than faith in His promises. It is also faith in His commands.

Faith in God is more than faith in His promises. It is also faith in His
commands.
On one occasion, Jesus spoke to a man who had suffered with an infirmity for
thirty eight years, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” John 5:8. Immediately the man
was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked.
In Acts 3:2-8, a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb, was carried
and laid daily at the gate of the temple which was called “Beautiful” to ask alms of
them that entered into the temple. Peter and John were about to enter the temple one
day, when this man asked an alms. Peter said,
“ . . . Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name ofJesus Christ of Nazereth rise up and walk.” Acts 3:6
Peter took the man by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his
feet and ankle bones received strength, and the man leaping up, stood and walked,
and entered the temple with Peter and John, walking, leaping, and praising God.
God’s command is not always a simple test of faith, it may be a test of
obedience as well.
In John 9:1, Jesus met a man who was blind from his birth. He made clay and
anointed the eyes of the blind man with it, and gave the man a command: “ . . . Go,
wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way
therefore, and washed, and came seeing.” John 9:7.
The blind man’s eyes were opened when he obeyed the command of Jesus.
Healing, or a deliverance of any kind, may be down the road of obedience.
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be
healed. . . .” James 5:16.
Secret sins can destroy faith and hinder a person from receiving healing and
other deliverances as well. In my ministry many people come to be prayed for but
receive nothing until they become humble and willing to confess their faults,
according to the scripture.
Many people have wronged others and have been unwilling to confess that they
have been wrong. With such rebellion in their hearts they cannot have real faith for
deliverance. God promises that if these faults are confessed, both the sin and the
sickness shall be taken away.
One day, Jesus cursed a fig tree because it produced no fruit. “ . . . No man eat
fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.” Mark 11:14. Apparently
there was no change in the appearance of the tree at the moment. But the next day
when Jesus and His disciples passed again that way, Peter was amazed, and said to
Jesus . . . “Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst, is withered away.” Mark
11:21. In this short time it had “dried up at the roots,” and was withered away. Many
diseases are healed in the same way. The “root” of the disease is cursed in the name of
Jesus, and no matter what the disease may be, whether goiter, cancer, tumor, or some
other sickness, IT MUST EITHER PASS FROM THE BODY, OR
DISINTEGRATE INTO THE BLOOD STREAM AND BE CARRIED AWAY. It
is easy to understand how a person could be truly healed, and yet continue to suffersome discomfort during the time this process is taking place. The suffering may even
be more acute for a short period of time, than it was before, as this dead foreign tissue
is being separated from the body and carried away. At this point many cast away their
confidence because they do not recognize what is happening, and give testimony to
the fact that they are not healed. Fear, loss of faith, and acceptance of Satan ‘s
suggestions in regard to the case, opens the door for Satan to replace the very thing
that had been cast out by the power of God. The healing is lost before any of its
benefits are recognized.
Although many cases of cancer are healed in this way, I have known many
instances of cancer disappearing instantly.
God has no set pattern whereby He heals or brings other deliverances. He
performs miracles in the way that brings most glory to His name. You must learn,
Student, and be able to teach others, to ACCEPT DELIVERANCES JUST AS GOD
GIVES THEM. If it is instantaneous, shout the praises of God and go on your way
rejoicing. If it is gradual, thank God for your healing, or deliverance, just the same,
and look forward joyfully to the time when you will be fully restored to health. If God
has cursed the root of a disease, as He did the fig tree, DON’T LET YOUR FAITH
WAVER, AND TEACH OTHERS TO HOLD STEADY, KNOWING THAT IT
IS FAITH THAT MAKES ANYONE WHOLE. But if God has commanded you
TO GO, TO DO, OR TO SPEAK, do not think that time alone will mend matters
— BE OBEDIENT TO GOD, AND THE VICTORY WILL COME!
MEMORY WORK FOR THIS LESSON
Revelation 12:9
Isaiah 14:12-14
James 4:7,8
I Peter 5:8
II Corinthians 2:9, 11
Romans 8:1
James 4:3
I John 3:21,22
Matthew 7:12
Luke 6:27
Proverbs 11:25
I John 5:14,15

Sickness IS NOT the will of God for His people

Sickness IS NOT the will of God for His people. IT IS THE WORK OF THE
DEVIL. It is the will of God that His people prosper and be in health — ”Beloved, I
wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul
prospereth.” III John 2. So, God’s people should come to Him for healing, or for
any other need (if they have paid the price for God’s faith) WITHOUT
WAVERING—IN FULL ASSURANCE THAT OUR PRAYERS WILL BE
HEARD AND ANSWERED.
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything
according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us,
whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of
him.” I John 5:14, 15.
According to the testimony of God Himself, Job was a perfect and upright
man, “ . . . one that feareth God, and escheweth evil.” Job 1:8. No divinity was
attributed to Job. No superhuman perfection was attributed to him. Any Christian
can and should be at least as perfect as Job was, for our opportunities, privileges, and
power are far ahead of his. Jesus left us this commandment to be “ . . . therefore
perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48. The
Scriptures, which Job never had the privilege of reading, because he lived before they
were written, were given “That the man of God may be perfect, . . .” II Timothy
3:17.
We may need to say with Paul, “Not as though I had already attained, either
were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I am
also apprehended of Christ Jesus . . . but this one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press
toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God . . .” Philippians 3:12-14. Our
goal should be kept before us at all times. PERFECTION IS THE GOAL! NEVER
MAKE EXCUSES FOR IMPERFECTIONS.
God accounted Job as perfect, because he sincerely feared God, and eschewed
(shunned, found no pleasure in doing) evil. However, there were reasons enough in
Job himself for his trouble being allowed to come upon him. God does not submit
His faithful and beloved followers to the tortures of Satan for no better reason than
to merely prove a point to the devil. Job’s faithfulness WAS proved, and Satan’s
boast proved empty, but a far greater issue than that was involved in the trial of Job.
EVEN A PERFECT MAN CAN KEEP GROWING IN FAVOR WITH GOD.
While Job was commended for his fear of God, that was not Job’s ONLY fear.When he found that he was bereft of family and possessions, suffering in body,
scorned by his wife, misunderstood and accused by his friends, he cried out, “ . . . the
thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come
unto me.” Job 3:25.
Fear is not faith. Faith is our protection against sin and sickness. Faith is our
defense when these enemies lay hold upon us. Satan saw it as a hedge around Job,
through which he could not penetrate, but fear, being opposed to faith, makes an
opening in the hedge through which Satan may enter. Job is not to be condemned for
his attitude, for he had not the Scriptures we have today. His knowledge of God and
His dealings with Job came only from oral tradition, and an incomplete direct
personal revelation of God. (The book of Job is generally recognized as the first
written book of the Bible.) Since “ . . .faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
Word of God,” it is little wonder that Job should have failed to have faith sufficient to
protect him from Satan’s attack.
Having God’s wonderful promises so easily accessible, WE SHOULD GRASP
THEM BY FAITH AND STEP FORTH INTO THE GLORIOUS LIBERTY OF
THE SONS OF GOD.
God did not afflict Job — Satan did, but with God’s permission.
“So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with boils
from the sole of his foot unto his crown.” Job 2:7.
In his desperation, Job examined his attitude toward God, and through the
struggles of his soul, he found a new relationship with God. He had feared God; he
had striven to do right; and he had avoided evil. But now, when his wife urged him to
curse God and die (“ . . . Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”
Job 2:9), and his friends accused him of every kind of sin (calling them by name), Job
discovered that only one thing remained a firm anchor in his fast changing world. In
his anguish he cried, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him . . .” Job 13:15. GOD
COULD NOT DISREGARD SUCH FAITH AS THAT. Immediately God began to
work toward Job’s deliverance. He revealed Himself to Job in such a splash of
splendor as has seldom been equaled in His dealings with any one man. In the light of
this revelation, Job had an opportunity to compare his own righteousness with that of
his Maker, and found himself sadly lacking. He then approached God in a spirit of
true humility and repentance mixed with faith, “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent
in dust and ashes.” Job 42:6.
Job was even willing to pray for his accusers, and “ . . .the Lord turned thecaptivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: . . .” Job 42:10.
After Job had repented of his self-righteousness and lack of trust, proven his
humility and forgiveness by praying for his friends, and God sets him free from the
CAPTIVITY OF SATAN, we see Job restored to all his former status, plus even
more than he had at the beginning. He lived another one hundred and forty years, and
there is no record that he ever had another boil to annoy him in all those years.
Student, if you have been down in an ash heap moaning over your fate, and
blaming it on God, or some one else, TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT JOB —
PLACE YOUR TRUST IN GOD, as Job did, THOUGH IT MAY SEEM TO
LEAD ONLY TO DEATH. Start searching the Scriptures, reading them prayerfully,
and as though you had never heard those explanations men have added by their
traditions. Look to God HIMSELF to find the cause of your sickness, other
bondages, or lack of faith, AND WHEN YOU HAVE FOUND THE CAUSE, GET
RID OF IT. Like Job, you will be set free, for GOD IS THE SAME TODAY AS HE
WAS IN JOB’S DAY.
Some people even say Paul had his own private physician, Luke, who traveled
with him to watch after his health. Luke HAD been trained as a physician, “Luke, the
beloved physician, . . .” Colossians 4:14, but there is as much reason to declare that
Jesus took Matthew with Him as His private tax collector, as to say that Luke was
chosen to go with Paul because of his skill as a physician. There is no record in the
Scripture that Luke ever treated Paul or any sick person in any place that they visited,
in the capacity of a physician. As the author of his writings in the Bible he records
many miraculous healings. NEVER ONCE IS IT MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE
THAT LUKE OR ANY OTHER PHYSICIAN APPLIED ANY MEDICAL AID
AS SUPPLEMENTAL TO THE MIRACLE-WORKING POWER OF GOD. No
doubt, Luke, being a physician, was especially impressed with the ease with which
Christ and His Spirit-filled disciples relieved diseases that the physicians had spent
much time and effort trying in vain to heal. In fact, it is Luke who records that “ . . .a
woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon
physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border
of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.” Luke 8:43,44.
Faithful physicians have relieved much human suffering, but there are many
people in the world today who have never heard or learned of the healing power of
God, who can keep all the physicians busy, fully justifying the existence of physicians
in the world. As Christians, we should know THE GREAT PHYSICIAN, wait at His
feet and find relief, FULL AND FREE, WITHOUT MONEY OR PRICE,
WITHOUT MEDICINE OR SURGERY, that our bodies may be well and strong forHis glory.
If your body needs healing wait upon God — heed His directions and carry out
His commands and you will be healed. If there is ANY need in your life, YOU CAN
HAVE FAITH TO BELIEVE GOD FOR THE ANSWER — WAIT UPON HIM
— WHEN HE SHOWS YOU THE PRICE YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY TO
HAVE THAT FAITH — PAY THE PRICE REQUIRED AND RECEIVE FROM
GOD THAT WHICH YOU NEED. Examine yourself according to the Word of
God. FIND WHAT HE SAYS TO DO AND DO IT. Believe the Word of God
— do not believe the traditions that have been built up around the Bible. As you pay
the price God asks you to pay, the flame of your faith will be made to burn brightly,
no longer wavering, and you may ask God WHATSOEVER HE HAS PROMISED
AND IT SHALL BE DONE UNTO YOU!
Jesus once said to a man whose faith was weak, “ . . . If thou canst believe, all
things are possible to him that believeth.” Mark 9:23.
The man replied, with tears, “ . . . Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”
Mark 9:24.
Jesus immediately helped his unbelief. His faith sprang up. He received the
faith God gives, and the thing he desired became a reality. HIS SON WAS
DELIVERED FROM SATAN’S POWER.
REAL FAITH WORKS! “ . . .faith without works (faith that doesn’t work) is
dead.” James 2:20. REAL FAITH BRINGS RESULTS, FOR GOD IS FAITHFUL
AND HE HAS PROMISED THIS TO US. Real faith is NOT HOPE — IT IS
REALITY!
Student, if you measured up to all that God requires of you, and your faith is
still weak it is because you have not asked for it- “ . . . ye have not, because ye ask
not.” James 4:2.
Two blind men were sitting by the wayside, and hearing that Jesus was passing
by, began to cry out, saying, “ . . . Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.”
Matthew 20:30. They were speaking to the right person, but they had not really asked
Jesus for anything. Jesus asked them, “ . . . What will ye that I shall do unto you?”
Matthew 20:32. When they asked Him to open their eyes that they might see, He
immediately opened their eyes –
“So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediatelytheir eyes received sight, and they followed him.” Matthew 20:34.
When you come to God, state your need definitely, God’s promise is, “ . . .
whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in
the Son.” John 14:13.
A man came in the healing line in one of my services who was deaf in one ear,
blind in one eye, and had rheumatism in his knees. As he came, he asked for
deliverance for his ear, which had been totally deaf for a number of years. As prayer
was offered and Satan’s power was broken, he received his hearing. This so inspired
his faith that he had courage to ask for healing for his eye. When this prayer was
answered, his faith was strengthened yet further, so that he asked for deliverance for
his crippled knees and received it. There was no real new need in the man, nor any
new willingness on God’s part to heal Him, but as each need was presented definitely,
God was true to His word, and DID EXACTLY WHAT WAS ASKED IN JESUS’
NAME.
The failure to make a definite request is often due to a lack of faith. When a
person comes to God believing that whatsoever he asks he shall receive, will naturally
ask for the things he desires.
The central secret of answered prayer is PRAYING IN GOD’S WILL. If you
are not sure it is God’s will for you to have what you’re asking, YOU CANNOT ASK
IN FAITH. No one can persuade God to do anything contrary to His will.
People who feel that they should add, “If it be thy will,” while asking God for
something, quote as an example the prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane, When He cried
out in agony of soul,
“ . . . Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my
will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42.
Jesus was not praying for something God had promised. He was not praying
with a desire to change the circumstances. Although this prayer was prayed by the Son
of God Himself, IT DID NOT BRING ABOUT THE CHANGE SUGGESTED
IN THE PRAYER. This was never intended to be a prayer to change things. It was
simply the agonizing cry of a struggling soul.
How different was the triumphant prayer at the tomb of Lazarus.
“ . . . Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thouhearest me always: . . . Lazarus, come forth.” John 11:41-43.
It is right that we should be concerned to know the will of God. When we
pray, we should pray in accordance with His will. When we pray, for instance, for
healing, we are praying for that which God has already revealed to be His will. Why,
then, would we say, “If it be thy will?”
We read in James 4:13,15,
“Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and
continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: . . . For that ye ought to
say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
In this case, God has not promised, nor revealed His will in the matter, but
God has promised and revealed His will in regard to the healing of His people. WE
NEED NOT SAY, “If it be thy will.” Instead, we should say: “I thank you, Father,
that you have revealed your will concerning this matter in the Word, and I know that I
am asking in your will.”
The “if” in many prayers not only denotes doubt, but it is a loophole through
which many hope to escape any possible charge of unbelief or unconfessed sin. If
healing fails to come, the person who prays thus can always excuse himself by saying
it just wasn’t God’s will to heal him.
A person’s lack in understanding of how God deals in regard to healing is the
cause of many remaining sick. The person who has already set a pattern in his mind
that he feels is the only way God can or will work is in danger of losing confidence.
He may even get the feeling that his prayer has not been heard or will not be
answered when the answer doesn’t come according to his mental pattern. And since
healing can only come by faith, it is easy to see the importance of understanding
God’s methods of dealing, so that faith may not be shaken.
Many people have been heard to remark that if God does the healing, it will be
instantly complete. The fact that this is merely man’s theory, and not God’s constant
pattern, can be readily seen from the fact that Christ Himself did not always heal in
this way. Many times Christ did heal people instantly, and many healings are instant
and complete today, but other patterns apparent today were also apparent in the
ministry of Christ.
A certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum, met Jesus and
“ . . . besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at thepoint of death.” John 4:4 7. Jesus said unto him,”
“ . . . Go thy way; thy son liveth.” John 4:50a.
The nobleman believed Jesus and went his way. As he was going down, his
servants met him, and told him his son lived. He inquired of them the hour when he
began to amend. When they told him the hour the fever left the child, the father knew
this was the same hour Jesus had told him his son would live.
Although the boy was truly healed, it was not instantly done, but the fever left,
and he “began to amend”, and was on the road to recovery.
In many cases today, the cause of the disease is driven out, yet some time is
required before normal processes of growth bring about a state of full and normal
well being.
In dealing with people about their healing, we need to know there are two
dangers involved in failure to understand this truth about healing. First, the person
may lose confidence in the healing power of God, due to disappointment in failing to
be made perfectly whole as he had expected. The loss of confidence opens the door
for Satan to return and take possession again of that which had been taken from him.
“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places,
seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from
whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and
garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked
than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is
worse than the first . . . .” Matthew 12:43,45.
This also accounts for many who testify at one time to having received a
“partial healing” and then in a little while are as bad, or worse than they were before.
There is the danger of accepting the partial deliverance as being all that God
can, or will do and failing to continue to stand against the devil by faith until the
healing is complete. If Satan cannot prevent a healing altogether, he will back up one
step, and try to hinder a person from receiving ALL that God intended for him to
have. God’s plan for healing is COMPLETE HEALING, whether it be instant or a
convalescent type of deliverance.
Student, in dealing with people for their healing, do not allow them to be
discouraged if they do not receive instant healing, but encourage them to keeppraising God by faith for that which has already been done in their behalf. Encourage
them to praise God, not only for the improvement they may feel, BUT ALSO FOR
THE STRIPES WHICH JESUS BORE AT THE WHIPPING POST IN
JERUSALEM TO PAY THE PRICE FOR THEIR DELWERANCE. Tell them to
keep right on looking to Jesus until the manifestation of their deliverance is complete.
As Jesus entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers stood afar off
and “ . . . lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” Luke
17:13.
“And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the
priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.” Luke
17:14.
Jesus did not tell them they were healed right there on the spot, but He did tell
them to go shew themselves to the priest, which they had no right to do UNLESS
THEY WERE HEALED.
As they started to the priest in obedience by faith, doing the thing they could
not do unless they were healed (although as yet there was no outward manifestation
of their healing), THEY WERE HEALED.
The healing of the lepers were not instant healings, BUT THEY WERE
GENUINE HEALINGS BY THE POWER OF GOD. THESE MEN TOOK
JESUS AT HIS WORD, AND IT DID NOT FAIL THEM. They acted their faith,
while it was not yet seen. As a result, in a very short time they SAW WHAT THEY
HAD FAITH TO BELIEVE.
Faith in God is more than faith in His promises. It is also faith in His

God’s formula for faith is:

God’s formula for faith is:
“Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and
do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” I John 3:21, 22.
God’s power is sufficient for anything we need, but God’s faith for these needs
is given to those who keep His commandments, walk in His statutes, and believe that
ALL his words are true.
Condemnation is perhaps the greatest hindrance to faith, but anything that is of
disobedience, of ungodly or of unholy nature, is a hindrance to faith.
Unscriptural relationships in the home can be a hindrance to faith, In I Peter
3:1, 7, Peter exhorts husbands and wives in regard to their relationship:
“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that if any obey
not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the
wives;”
“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor
unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the
grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” I Peter 3:1,7.
Unscriptural attitudes toward our fellow-men outside the home can also be
great hindrances to faith.
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye
even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12.“ . . . Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,” Luke 6:27b.
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring
one another;” Romans 12:10.
“ . . . love as brethren, be pitiful (full of pity; tender; compassionate;) be
courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: . . . let him refrain
his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil,
and do good; let him seek peace and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over
the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord
is against them that do evil.” I Peter 3:8-12.
“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also
himself.” Proverbs 11:25.
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: . . .” Proverbs 18:24.
An unforgiving spirit hinders faith.
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive
you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive
your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14, 15.
“ . . . Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till
seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but,
Until seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21, 22.
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as
God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32.
Many professed Christians live under condemnation because they refuse to give
God the tithe that He declares to be His.
“ . . . all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of
the tree is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord.” Leviticus 27:30.
People know that the Bible teaches tithing, that a tenth of their income belongs
to God, yet they refuse to walk in the light of God’s Word . THESE PEOPLE ARE
CALLED THIEVES.
“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have werobbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have
robbed me, . . .” Malachi 3:8,9.
Do not expect God to give you His faith if you are robbing Him of His tithes
and offerings. ASK GOD’S PARDON FOR BEING A THIEF, AND BECOME A
CONSTANT TITHER, AND THEN GIVE HIM OFFERINGS ABOVE THE
TITHE.
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine
house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open
you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be
room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10.
The law required tithing, but THE TITHE IS OLDER THAN THE LAW!
Another hindrance to faith is found in James 5:16:
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be
healed. . . .” James 5:16.
Many people are quick to see the faults of others, but are blind to any faults of
their own. With this spirit, one cannot have faith for healing, for deliverances of any
kind — God will not give faith to a self-righteous person.
Have you ever wondered why people pass through many healing lines and are
not healed? Few people claim to be perfect, yet when confronted with the idea that a
confession of their faults may be necessary before they can get their healing, there is
usually not one fault which they are willing to confess. These people need to call in
help — according to James 5:14, the elders of the church should be called in — and
with much heart-searching and prayer, they should trace out in their lives the reason
the healing has not taken place. Then, when God has revealed to their honest and
seeking hearts the cause of their failure to be healed, they should confess their faults
as they feel God would have them to do. (Whether it is to confess these faults to God
alone, or to the persons that have been wronged, or to confess them to the elders of
the church). Then they should ask for the prayers of those praying for them, that
these faults may be overcome. Then, in answer to the united prayers of the sick, and
the elders who are praying for them, SATAN CAN BE DRIVEN FROM THE
FIELD, AND A DOUBLE VICTORY WON. THE BONDAGE OF BOTH SIN
AND SICKNESS CAN BE BROKEN!

HINDRANCES TO FAITH . . . . . . . . LESSON 3

“Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt
worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Matthew 4:10.
There is a close connection between Jesus’ baptism and the temptation in the
wilderness. By His baptism, Jesus dedicated Himself to the way of the cross. In the
temptation in the wilderness the devil presented to Him ways of carrying out His
ministry which would have avoided the cross.
Jesus had fasted for forty days and nights. He was hungry. At a very weak time
in His life, Satan tempted Him to turn the stones into bread to appease His hunger.
Two other temptations followed this one.
Student, if Satan quickly tried to stop Jesus’ ministry as soon as His active work
was to begin, HE WILL BE AFTER YOU THE MOMENT HE SEES YOU IN
ARE EARNEST WITH GOD ABOUT YOUR MINISTRY.
Sin prevents one from HAVING faith, “Now we know that God heareth not
sinners: . . .” John 9:31a. The only promises in God’s Word that apply to sinners, are
promises to forgive sins if the sinner repents, and promises of judgement if the sinner
does not repent.
The promises of answers to prayer are for obedient children of God.
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it
shall be done unto you.” John 15:7
Abiding in Christ guarantees the answers to your prayers.
Failure to abide in Christ may well be placed first in any list of hindrances to
faith, for it annuls God’s guarantee to answer prayer.
Abiding in Christ is living IN the Word of God, BY the Word of God, and in
joyful fellowship with God.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1.
Some ask of God and receive from Him. Others ask in the same words, and
receive nothing. THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF CHANCE! THIS IS NOT A
MATTER OF RESPECT OF PERSONS! THIS IS A MATTER OF FAITH!
“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it on yourown lusts.” James 4:3.
This kind of asking can never be done in faith. There may be a desire to be
well, and even a hope that it “may work,” but there cannot be faith, for there is no
promise upon which faith can be based. There are those who desire healing in order
to be better able to carry on their sinful pursuits. A dancer who became paralyzed
because of an accident desired healing so that she might go back to her dancing.
Simon the sorcerer (see Acts 8) desired to be able to impart the Holy Ghost by the
laying on of hands, so that he might turn this gift to his financial profit. God does not
give faith to such people. God gives faith ONLY to those who abide in Christ.

BY A. A. ALLEN COURSE NO. 3, HOW TO HAVE GOD’S FAITH . . . . . . . . . . “GOD CAN” HINDRANCES TO FAITH . . . . . . . . LESSON 3

INTRODUCTION
There are many hindrances to faith, but when you are tempted, or a delay has come, stand still and wait upon God — HE HAS PROMISED TO DELIVER YOU, AND TO ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” I Corinthians 10:13.
The quickest and most effective way to hurt a mother or father here on earth, is to hurt one of their children. God is our heavenly Father, so Satan is not only seeking ways to hurt God, but he is constantly trying to do damage to God’s kingdom by hindering our service to God in some way.
God’s power is sufficient for anything we need — healing, salvation, baptism with the Holy Ghost, deliverances from bondages, miracle ministries, or anything else we need. BUT GOD’S FAITH FOR THESE NEEDS IS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, WALK IN HIS STATUTES, BELIEVE ALL THAT HIS WORD SAYS, AND CONSTANTLY ABIDE IN CHRIST.
As you study this lesson, let God’s Word speak to your heart and be on the alert for any appearance of Satan with his hindering devices.
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9.
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art
thou cut down to the ground, . . . For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: . . . I will be like the most High.” Isaiah 14:12-14.
Satan was cast out of heaven and he hates God — THE ONLY WAY HE CAN HURT GOD IS THROUGH GOD’S CHILDREN HERE ON EARTH. KEEP AN EYE ON SATAN AS YOU SERVE GOD.” . . . Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh to you.” James 4:7,8a.
HINDRANCES TO FAITH
There are many hindrances to faith. Why is this so?
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” I Peter 5:8.
“ . . . whether ye be obedient in all things. . . . Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” II Corinthians 2:9b, 11.
“For some are already turned aside after Satan.” I Timothy 5:15.
Immediately after Jesus was baptized He was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. When He had fasted forty days and forty nights He was hungry. The devil came to Him and told Him if He was really the Son of God to command the stones to be turned into bread. Jesus told him that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Then the devil took Jesus up into the holy city, and put Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and tempted Him again. He told Him if He were really the Son of God to cast Himself down for it was written in the Word that the angels had charge concerning Him: that they would bear Him up in their hands lest at any time He dashed His foot against a stone.
“Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” Matthew 4:7.
The devil took Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, and told Jesus he would give Him all of these things if He would fall down and worship him (worship the devil).
“Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Matthew 4:10. There is a close connection between Jesus’ baptism and the temptation in the wilderness. By His baptism, Jesus dedicated Himself to the way of the cross. In the temptation in the wilderness the devil presented to Him ways of carrying out His ministry which would have avoided the cross.
Jesus had fasted for forty days and nights. He was hungry. At a very weak time in His life, Satan tempted Him to turn the stones into bread to appease His hunger. Two other temptations followed this one.
Student, if Satan quickly tried to stop Jesus’ ministry as soon as His active work was to begin, HE WILL BE AFTER YOU THE MOMENT HE SEES YOU IN ARE EARNEST WITH GOD ABOUT YOUR MINISTRY.
Sin prevents one from HAVING faith, “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: . . .” John 9:31a. The only promises in God’s Word that apply to sinners, are promises to forgive sins if the sinner repents, and promises of judgement if the sinner does not repent.
The promises of answers to prayer are for obedient children of God.
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7
Abiding in Christ guarantees the answers to your prayers.
Failure to abide in Christ may well be placed first in any list of hindrances to faith, for it annuls God’s guarantee to answer prayer.
Abiding in Christ is living IN the Word of God, BY the Word of God, and in joyful fellowship with God.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1.
Some ask of God and receive from Him. Others ask in the same words, and receive nothing. THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF CHANCE! THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF RESPECT OF PERSONS! THIS IS A MATTER OF FAITH!
“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it on your
own lusts.” James 4:3.
This kind of asking can never be done in faith. There may be a desire to be well, and even a hope that it “may work,” but there cannot be faith, for there is no promise upon which faith can be based. There are those who desire healing in order to be better able to carry on their sinful pursuits. A dancer who became paralyzed because of an accident desired healing so that she might go back to her dancing. Simon the sorcerer (see Acts 8) desired to be able to impart the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, so that he might turn this gift to his financial profit. God does not give faith to such people. God gives faith ONLY to those who abide in Christ.
God’s formula for faith is:
“Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” I John 3:21, 22.
God’s power is sufficient for anything we need, but God’s faith for these needs is given to those who keep His commandments, walk in His statutes, and believe that ALL his words are true.
Condemnation is perhaps the greatest hindrance to faith, but anything that is of disobedience, of ungodly or of unholy nature, is a hindrance to faith.
Unscriptural relationships in the home can be a hindrance to faith, In I Peter 3:1, 7, Peter exhorts husbands and wives in regard to their relationship:
“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;”
“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” I Peter 3:1,7.
Unscriptural attitudes toward our fellow-men outside the home can also be great hindrances to faith.
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12.
“ . . . Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,” Luke 6:27b.
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” Romans 12:10.
“ . . . love as brethren, be pitiful (full of pity; tender; compassionate;) be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: . . . let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” I Peter 3:8-12.
“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” Proverbs 11:25.
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: . . .” Proverbs 18:24.
An unforgiving spirit hinders faith.
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14, 15.
“ . . . Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21, 22.
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32.
Many professed Christians live under condemnation because they refuse to give God the tithe that He declares to be His.
“ . . . all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord.” Leviticus 27:30.
People know that the Bible teaches tithing, that a tenth of their income belongs to God, yet they refuse to walk in the light of God’s Word. THESE PEOPLE ARE CALLED THIEVES.
“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we
robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, . . .” Malachi 3:8,9. Do not expect God to give you His faith if you are robbing Him of His tithes and offerings. ASK GOD’S PARDON FOR BEING A THIEF, AND BECOME A CONSTANT TITHER, AND THEN GIVE HIM OFFERINGS ABOVE THE TITHE.
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10.
The law required tithing, but THE TITHE IS OLDER THAN THE LAW!
Another hindrance to faith is found in James 5:16:
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. . . .” James 5:16.
Many people are quick to see the faults of others, but are blind to any faults of their own. With this spirit, one cannot have faith for healing, for deliverances of any kind — God will not give faith to a self-righteous person.
Have you ever wondered why people pass through many healing lines and are not healed? Few people claim to be perfect, yet when confronted with the idea that a confession of their faults may be necessary before they can get their healing, there is usually not one fault which they are willing to confess. These people need to call in help — according to James 5:14, the elders of the church should be called in — and with much heart-searching and prayer, they should trace out in their lives the reason the healing has not taken place. Then, when God has revealed to their honest and seeking hearts the cause of their failure to be healed, they should confess their faults as they feel God would have them to do. (Whether it is to confess these faults to God alone, or to the persons that have been wronged, or to confess them to the elders of the church). Then they should ask for the prayers of those praying for them, that these faults may be overcome. Then, in answer to the united prayers of the sick, and the elders who are praying for them, SATAN CAN BE DRIVEN FROM THE FIELD, AND A DOUBLE VICTORY WON. THE BONDAGE OF BOTH SIN AND SICKNESS CAN BE BROKEN!
Unwillingness to confess faults usually indicates a unwillingness to forsake them, or else a lack of confidence in the power of God to deliver from them. This is a
great hindrance to faith.
We are warned in God ‘s Word that in the last days there shall be those in the world “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: . . .” II Timothy 3:5. This applies to churches and ministers who make loud professions of godliness, but deny that there is any supernatural power in operation in the world today. These churches and ministers offer water baptism, church membership, and advise people to make good resolutions instead of being born again, and having a change of heart take place.
One such religious man, Nicodemus, came to recognize the futility of his own doctrine and sincerely sought God’s way, “. . . Ye must be born again.” John 3:7. Some who call themselves “Fundamentalists” accept this much of the miracle-working power of God, but no more. They agree with Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; . . .” but they deny the power of verses 17 and 18. “ . . .these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; . . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:17, 18.
These people gather together in churches and sing their hymns, preach their sermons, pray their beautiful prayers, and some even baptize in water, and take the Lord’s Supper. They have all the outward form of godliness. They are recognized by the world and by the government as “the church,” but they absolutely DENY THE POWER JESUS PROMISED TO LEAVE WITH THE GODLY. God says, “ . . .from such turn away. “II Timothy 3:5.
When the spark of faith has begun to glow in the hearts of many, they refuse to heed God’s warning to “turn away” from churches and ministers who “deny the power thereof,” and their faith begins to dwindle away. God tells us in Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; . . .” But we should turn away from those who do not believe in the miracle-working power of God and deny that there is any such power, and assemble ourselves together with others of like precious faith, who will encourage and guide us to an ever greater faith.
Your personal faith will not survive in an environment that denies the power of God. You will be turned away from the truth if you continue in the company of people like this.
Search the Scriptures for yourself. Build your faith upon the Word of God, and then get into a church that has done the same thing. The faith of many people is
hindered because they have failed to heed this important warning of God’s Word, “ . . . from such turn away.” II Timothy 3:5. If your minister or church denies the miracle-working power of God, heed God’s warning and “turn away.” If you do not heed this warning from God’s Word, this will be another great hindrance to your faith.
One of the most common hindrances to faith is found in the misconceptions regarding the teachings of God’s Word. These misconceptions are largely due to erroneous teaching by those who do not possess the power of God in their own lives, and make excuses for themselves by adjusting the teaching of the scriptures to their own thinking. Peter tells us how these people wrest the scriptures to their own destruction:
“ . . . as our beloved Brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” II Peter 3:15, 16.
Misconceptions of God’s Word causes faith to waver.
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” James 1:6,7.
Misconceptions of the Word of God have been taught for doctrines, but they cannot be proven by the Bible. They have become traditions of men that make the Word of God of no effect:
“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mark 7:13.
Jesus said of those who taught in this way, “ . . . in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Mark 7:7.
One of the most common misconceptions of the Word is the idea that some people cannot be healed because they are sick for the glory of God. This teaching is based upon two misinterpreted incidents in the ministry of Christ.
When Jesus was told that Lazarus was sick, he replied, “ . . . This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”
John 11:4.
When Jesus finally came to Bethany, and was met by the sisters of Lazarus, He certainly was not met with praise, nor were they glorifying God nor His Son. The Son of God was glorified WHEN LAZARUS CAME FORTH FROM THE TOMB.
“And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.” John 11:43,44.
In the other case of the misinterpreted incident in the ministry of Jesus, some of Jesus’ disciples questioned Him concerning a man born blind. They asked whether the man had sinned or his parents. Jesus answered, “ . . . Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” John 9:3.
This verse does not mean that this man nor his parents had never committed a sin, for we are told, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23. This verse means that the blindness of this man, which was unusual, was not a direct punishment of unusual sin, but was an occasion for the works of God to be made manifest in him. God was glorified when those who had known him to have been born blind, SAW THAT SUDDENLY HE WAS ABLE TO SEE.
Not once in all His earthly ministry did Jesus ever command any person be to sick, although He commanded many to be well, and healed them with His Word. Not once did a sick person come to Him asking to be healed and received the answer, “It is God’s will for you to remain sick for His glory.”
There is no place in the Word of God where sickness is declared to be an evidence of God’s favor. The reward of obedience is health and healing.
“ . . . if thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.” Exodus 15:26.
A glaring inconsistency in those who hold the view that sickness may be the will of God for some, is that, while they do not come to God for healing, they seem to feel no hesitancy in doing all they can to ease pain and restore health. If sickness really is God’s will for them, should they try to escape it?
Sickness IS NOT the will of God for His people. IT IS THE WORK OF THE DEVIL. It is the will of God that His people prosper and be in health — ”Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” III John 2. So, God’s people should come to Him for healing, or for any other need (if they have paid the price for God’s faith) WITHOUT WAVERING—IN FULL ASSURANCE THAT OUR PRAYERS WILL BE HEARD AND ANSWERED.
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” I John 5:14, 15.
According to the testimony of God Himself, Job was a perfect and upright man, “ . . . one that feareth God, and escheweth evil.” Job 1:8. No divinity was attributed to Job. No superhuman perfection was attributed to him. Any Christian can and should be at least as perfect as Job was, for our opportunities, privileges, and power are far ahead of his. Jesus left us this commandment to be “ . . . therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48. The Scriptures, which Job never had the privilege of reading, because he lived before they were written, were given “That the man of God may be perfect, . . .” II Timothy 3:17.
We may need to say with Paul, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I am also apprehended of Christ Jesus . . . but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God . . .” Philippians 3:12-14. Our goal should be kept before us at all times. PERFECTION IS THE GOAL! NEVER MAKE EXCUSES FOR IMPERFECTIONS.
God accounted Job as perfect, because he sincerely feared God, and eschewed (shunned, found no pleasure in doing) evil. However, there were reasons enough in Job himself for his trouble being allowed to come upon him. God does not submit His faithful and beloved followers to the tortures of Satan for no better reason than to merely prove a point to the devil. Job’s faithfulness WAS proved, and Satan’s boast proved empty, but a far greater issue than that was involved in the trial of Job. EVEN A PERFECT MAN CAN KEEP GROWING IN FAVOR WITH GOD.
While Job was commended for his fear of God, that was not Job’s ONLY fear.
When he found that he was bereft of family and possessions, suffering in body, scorned by his wife, misunderstood and accused by his friends, he cried out, “ . . . the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” Job 3:25.
Fear is not faith. Faith is our protection against sin and sickness. Faith is our defense when these enemies lay hold upon us. Satan saw it as a hedge around Job, through which he could not penetrate, but fear, being opposed to faith, makes an opening in the hedge through which Satan may enter. Job is not to be condemned for his attitude, for he had not the Scriptures we have today. His knowledge of God and His dealings with Job came only from oral tradition, and an incomplete direct personal revelation of God. (The book of Job is generally recognized as the first written book of the Bible.) Since “ . . .faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God,” it is little wonder that Job should have failed to have faith sufficient to protect him from Satan’s attack.
Having God’s wonderful promises so easily accessible, WE SHOULD GRASP THEM BY FAITH AND STEP FORTH INTO THE GLORIOUS LIBERTY OF THE SONS OF GOD.
God did not afflict Job — Satan did, but with God’s permission.
“So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.” Job 2:7.
In his desperation, Job examined his attitude toward God, and through the struggles of his soul, he found a new relationship with God. He had feared God; he had striven to do right; and he had avoided evil. But now, when his wife urged him to curse God and die (“ . . . Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.” Job 2:9), and his friends accused him of every kind of sin (calling them by name), Job discovered that only one thing remained a firm anchor in his fast changing world. In his anguish he cried, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him . . .” Job 13:15. GOD COULD NOT DISREGARD SUCH FAITH AS THAT. Immediately God began to work toward Job’s deliverance. He revealed Himself to Job in such a splash of splendor as has seldom been equaled in His dealings with any one man. In the light of this revelation, Job had an opportunity to compare his own righteousness with that of his Maker, and found himself sadly lacking. He then approached God in a spirit of true humility and repentance mixed with faith, “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:6.
Job was even willing to pray for his accusers, and “ . . .the Lord turned the
captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: . . .” Job 42:10.
After Job had repented of his self-righteousness and lack of trust, proven his humility and forgiveness by praying for his friends, and God sets him free from the CAPTIVITY OF SATAN, we see Job restored to all his former status, plus even more than he had at the beginning. He lived another one hundred and forty years, and there is no record that he ever had another boil to annoy him in all those years.
Student, if you have been down in an ash heap moaning over your fate, and blaming it on God, or some one else, TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT JOB –PLACE YOUR TRUST IN GOD, as Job did, THOUGH IT MAY SEEM TO LEAD ONLY TO DEATH. Start searching the Scriptures, reading them prayerfully, and as though you had never heard those explanations men have added by their traditions. Look to God HIMSELF to find the cause of your sickness, other bondages, or lack of faith, AND WHEN YOU HAVE FOUND THE CAUSE, GET RID OF IT. Like Job, you will be set free, for GOD IS THE SAME TODAY AS HE WAS IN JOB’S DAY.
Some people even say Paul had his own private physician, Luke, who traveled with him to watch after his health. Luke HAD been trained as a physician, “Luke, the beloved physician, . . .” Colossians 4:14, but there is as much reason to declare that Jesus took Matthew with Him as His private tax collector, as to say that Luke was chosen to go with Paul because of his skill as a physician. There is no record in the Scripture that Luke ever treated Paul or any sick person in any place that they visited, in the capacity of a physician. As the author of his writings in the Bible he records many miraculous healings. NEVER ONCE IS IT MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE THAT LUKE OR ANY OTHER PHYSICIAN APPLIED ANY MEDICAL AID AS SUPPLEMENTAL TO THE MIRACLE-WORKING POWER OF GOD. No doubt, Luke, being a physician, was especially impressed with the ease with which Christ and His Spirit-filled disciples relieved diseases that the physicians had spent much time and effort trying in vain to heal. In fact, it is Luke who records that “ . . .a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.” Luke 8:43,44.
Faithful physicians have relieved much human suffering, but there are many people in the world today who have never heard or learned of the healing power of God, who can keep all the physicians busy, fully justifying the existence of physicians in the world. As Christians, we should know THE GREAT PHYSICIAN, wait at His feet and find relief, FULL AND FREE, WITHOUT MONEY OR PRICE, WITHOUT MEDICINE OR SURGERY, that our bodies may be well and strong for
His glory.
If your body needs healing wait upon God — heed His directions and carry out His commands and you will be healed. If there is ANY need in your life, YOU CAN HAVE FAITH TO BELIEVE GOD FOR THE ANSWER — WAIT UPON HIM — WHEN HE SHOWS YOU THE PRICE YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THAT FAITH — PAY THE PRICE REQUIRED AND RECEIVE FROM GOD THAT WHICH YOU NEED. Examine yourself according to the Word of God. FIND WHAT HE SAYS TO DO AND DO IT. Believe the Word of God — do not believe the traditions that have been built up around the Bible. As you pay the price God asks you to pay, the flame of your faith will be made to burn brightly, no longer wavering, and you may ask God WHATSOEVER HE HAS PROMISED AND IT SHALL BE DONE UNTO YOU!
Jesus once said to a man whose faith was weak, “ . . . If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” Mark 9:23.
The man replied, with tears, “ . . . Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Mark 9:24.
Jesus immediately helped his unbelief. His faith sprang up. He received the faith God gives, and the thing he desired became a reality. HIS SON WAS DELIVERED FROM SATAN’S POWER.
REAL FAITH WORKS! “ . . .faith without works (faith that doesn’t work) is dead.” James 2:20. REAL FAITH BRINGS RESULTS, FOR GOD IS FAITHFUL AND HE HAS PROMISED THIS TO US. Real faith is NOT HOPE — IT IS REALITY!
Student, if you measured up to all that God requires of you, and your faith is still weak it is because you have not asked for it- “ . . . ye have not, because ye ask not.” James 4:2.
Two blind men were sitting by the wayside, and hearing that Jesus was passing by, began to cry out, saying, “ . . . Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.” Matthew 20:30. They were speaking to the right person, but they had not really asked Jesus for anything. Jesus asked them, “ . . . What will ye that I shall do unto you?” Matthew 20:32. When they asked Him to open their eyes that they might see, He immediately opened their eyes –
“So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately
their eyes received sight, and they followed him.” Matthew 20:34.
When you come to God, state your need definitely, God’s promise is, “ . . . whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13.
A man came in the healing line in one of my services who was deaf in one ear, blind in one eye, and had rheumatism in his knees. As he came, he asked for deliverance for his ear, which had been totally deaf for a number of years. As prayer was offered and Satan’s power was broken, he received his hearing. This so inspired his faith that he had courage to ask for healing for his eye. When this prayer was answered, his faith was strengthened yet further, so that he asked for deliverance for his crippled knees and received it. There was no real new need in the man, nor any new willingness on God’s part to heal Him, but as each need was presented definitely, God was true to His word, and DID EXACTLY WHAT WAS ASKED IN JESUS’ NAME.
The failure to make a definite request is often due to a lack of faith. When a person comes to God believing that whatsoever he asks he shall receive, will naturally ask for the things he desires.
The central secret of answered prayer is PRAYING IN GOD’S WILL. If you are not sure it is God’s will for you to have what you’re asking, YOU CANNOT ASK IN FAITH. No one can persuade God to do anything contrary to His will.
People who feel that they should add, “If it be thy will,” while asking God for something, quote as an example the prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane, When He cried out in agony of soul,
“ . . . Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42.
Jesus was not praying for something God had promised. He was not praying with a desire to change the circumstances. Although this prayer was prayed by the Son of God Himself, IT DID NOT BRING ABOUT THE CHANGE SUGGESTED IN THE PRAYER. This was never intended to be a prayer to change things. It was simply the agonizing cry of a struggling soul.
How different was the triumphant prayer at the tomb of Lazarus.
“ . . . Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou
hearest me always: . . . Lazarus, come forth.” John 11:41-43.
It is right that we should be concerned to know the will of God. When we pray, we should pray in accordance with His will. When we pray, for instance, for healing, we are praying for that which God has already revealed to be His will. Why, then, would we say, “If it be thy will?”
We read in James 4:13,15,
“Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: . . . For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
In this case, God has not promised, nor revealed His will in the matter, but God has promised and revealed His will in regard to the healing of His people. WE NEED NOT SAY, “If it be thy will.” Instead, we should say: “I thank you, Father, that you have revealed your will concerning this matter in the Word, and I know that I am asking in your will.”
The “if” in many prayers not only denotes doubt, but it is a loophole through which many hope to escape any possible charge of unbelief or unconfessed sin. If healing fails to come, the person who prays thus can always excuse himself by saying it just wasn’t God’s will to heal him.
A person’s lack in understanding of how God deals in regard to healing is the cause of many remaining sick. The person who has already set a pattern in his mind that he feels is the only way God can or will work is in danger of losing confidence. He may even get the feeling that his prayer has not been heard or will not be answered when the answer doesn’t come according to his mental pattern. And since healing can only come by faith, it is easy to see the importance of understanding God’s methods of dealing, so that faith may not be shaken.
Many people have been heard to remark that if God does the healing, it will be instantly complete. The fact that this is merely man’s theory, and not God’s constant pattern, can be readily seen from the fact that Christ Himself did not always heal in this way. Many times Christ did heal people instantly, and many healings are instant and complete today, but other patterns apparent today were also apparent in the ministry of Christ.
A certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum, met Jesus and “ . . . besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the
point of death.” John 4:4 7. Jesus said unto him,”
“ . . . Go thy way; thy son liveth.” John 4:50a.
The nobleman believed Jesus and went his way. As he was going down, his servants met him, and told him his son lived. He inquired of them the hour when he began to amend. When they told him the hour the fever left the child, the father knew this was the same hour Jesus had told him his son would live.
Although the boy was truly healed, it was not instantly done, but the fever left, and he “began to amend”, and was on the road to recovery.
In many cases today, the cause of the disease is driven out, yet some time is required before normal processes of growth bring about a state of full and normal well being.
In dealing with people about their healing, we need to know there are two dangers involved in failure to understand this truth about healing. First, the person may lose confidence in the healing power of God, due to disappointment in failing to be made perfectly whole as he had expected. The loss of confidence opens the door for Satan to return and take possession again of that which had been taken from him.
“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first . . . .” Matthew 12:43,45.
This also accounts for many who testify at one time to having received a “partial healing” and then in a little while are as bad, or worse than they were before.
There is the danger of accepting the partial deliverance as being all that God can, or will do and failing to continue to stand against the devil by faith until the healing is complete. If Satan cannot prevent a healing altogether, he will back up one step, and try to hinder a person from receiving ALL that God intended for him to have. God’s plan for healing is COMPLETE HEALING, whether it be instant or a convalescent type of deliverance.
Student, in dealing with people for their healing, do not allow them to be discouraged if they do not receive instant healing, but encourage them to keep
praising God by faith for that which has already been done in their behalf. Encourage them to praise God, not only for the improvement they may feel, BUT ALSO FOR THE STRIPES WHICH JESUS BORE AT THE WHIPPING POST IN JERUSALEM TO PAY THE PRICE FOR THEIR DELWERANCE. Tell them to keep right on looking to Jesus until the manifestation of their deliverance is complete.
As Jesus entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers stood afar off and “ . . . lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” Luke 17:13.
“And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.” Luke 17:14.
Jesus did not tell them they were healed right there on the spot, but He did tell them to go shew themselves to the priest, which they had no right to do UNLESS THEY WERE HEALED.
As they started to the priest in obedience by faith, doing the thing they could not do unless they were healed (although as yet there was no outward manifestation of their healing), THEY WERE HEALED.
The healing of the lepers were not instant healings, BUT THEY WERE GENUINE HEALINGS BY THE POWER OF GOD. THESE MEN TOOK JESUS AT HIS WORD, AND IT DID NOT FAIL THEM. They acted their faith, while it was not yet seen. As a result, in a very short time they SAW WHAT THEY HAD FAITH TO BELIEVE.
Faith in God is more than faith in His promises. It is also faith in His commands.
On one occasion, Jesus spoke to a man who had suffered with an infirmity for thirty eight years, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” John 5:8. Immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked.
In Acts 3:2-8, a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb, was carried and laid daily at the gate of the temple which was called “Beautiful” to ask alms of them that entered into the temple. Peter and John were about to enter the temple one day, when this man asked an alms. Peter said,
“ . . . Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazereth rise up and walk.” Acts 3:6
Peter took the man by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength, and the man leaping up, stood and walked, and entered the temple with Peter and John, walking, leaping, and praising God.
God’s command is not always a simple test of faith, it may be a test of obedience as well.
In John 9:1, Jesus met a man who was blind from his birth. He made clay and anointed the eyes of the blind man with it, and gave the man a command: “ . . . Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.” John 9:7.
The blind man’s eyes were opened when he obeyed the command of Jesus. Healing, or a deliverance of any kind, may be down the road of obedience.
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. . . .” James 5:16.
Secret sins can destroy faith and hinder a person from receiving healing and other deliverances as well. In my ministry many people come to be prayed for but receive nothing until they become humble and willing to confess their faults, according to the scripture.
Many people have wronged others and have been unwilling to confess that they have been wrong. With such rebellion in their hearts they cannot have real faith for deliverance. God promises that if these faults are confessed, both the sin and the sickness shall be taken away.
One day, Jesus cursed a fig tree because it produced no fruit. “ . . . No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.” Mark 11:14. Apparently there was no change in the appearance of the tree at the moment. But the next day when Jesus and His disciples passed again that way, Peter was amazed, and said to Jesus . . . “Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst, is withered away.” Mark 11:21. In this short time it had “dried up at the roots,” and was withered away. Many diseases are healed in the same way. The “root” of the disease is cursed in the name of Jesus, and no matter what the disease may be, whether goiter, cancer, tumor, or some other sickness, IT MUST EITHER PASS FROM THE BODY, OR DISINTEGRATE INTO THE BLOOD STREAM AND BE CARRIED AWAY. It is easy to understand how a person could be truly healed, and yet continue to suffer
some discomfort during the time this process is taking place. The suffering may even be more acute for a short period of time, than it was before, as this dead foreign tissue is being separated from the body and carried away. At this point many cast away their confidence because they do not recognize what is happening, and give testimony to the fact that they are not healed. Fear, loss of faith, and acceptance of Satan ‘s suggestions in regard to the case, opens the door for Satan to replace the very thing that had been cast out by the power of God. The healing is lost before any of its benefits are recognized.
Although many cases of cancer are healed in this way, I have known many instances of cancer disappearing instantly.
God has no set pattern whereby He heals or brings other deliverances. He performs miracles in the way that brings most glory to His name. You must learn, Student, and be able to teach others, to ACCEPT DELIVERANCES JUST AS GOD GIVES THEM. If it is instantaneous, shout the praises of God and go on your way rejoicing. If it is gradual, thank God for your healing, or deliverance, just the same, and look forward joyfully to the time when you will be fully restored to health. If God has cursed the root of a disease, as He did the fig tree, DON’T LET YOUR FAITH WAVER, AND TEACH OTHERS TO HOLD STEADY, KNOWING THAT IT IS FAITH THAT MAKES ANYONE WHOLE. But if God has commanded you TO GO, TO DO, OR TO SPEAK, do not think that time alone will mend matters — BE OBEDIENT TO GOD, AND THE VICTORY WILL COME!
MEMORY WORK FOR THIS LESSON
Revelation 12:9 James 4:3 Isaiah 14:12-14 I John 3:21,22 James 4:7,8 Matthew 7:12 I Peter 5:8 Luke 6:27 II Corinthians 2:9, 11 Proverbs 11:25 Romans 8:1 I John 5:14,15

PREMINISTERIAL AND CHRISTIAN WORKERS’ BIBLE COLLEGE CORRESPONDENCE COURSES PREPARED BY A. A. ALLEN COURSE NO. 3, HOW TO HAVE GOD’S FAITH . . . . . . . . . . “GOD CAN” LESSON 2 YOU MUST HAVE THE FAITH THAT GOD GIVES

INTRODUCTION
The Apostle John declares, “ . . . if our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” I John 3:21.
We are told in Romans that faith cometh by hearing the Word of God.
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans
10:17.
Having been planted in the heart through the Word, faith must be watered and nourished through a genuine love for God.
“ . . . perfect love casteth out fear: . . .” I John 4:18.
FEAR IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF FAITH! FEAR IS THE MURDERER OF FAITH! THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE! YOU CANNOT HAVE FAITH IF YOU DO NOT LOVE GOD! If you love God you will keep His commandments.
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him.” John 14:21.
“. . .If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:23b.
Love is manifested by obedience. Disobedience to the known will of God is
poison to faith. Real, living, vital faith is impossible to those who are living in disobedience to God’s commandments.
“ . . . to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” I Samuel 15:22b.
REAL FAITH IS SIMPLY TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD.
YOU MUST HAVE THE FAITH THAT GOD GIVES.
There are thousands of promises in God’s Word, BUT EVERY ONE OF THEM IS CONDITIONED UPON FAITH! This is the faith that God gives, AND YOU CAN HAVE THIS FAITH!
On His way from Bethany one day, Jesus cursed a fig tree because it bore no fruit. He was hungry, and seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, “ . . . he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of the figs was not yet. . . , No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. . . .” Mark 11:13, 14. Although it was not immediately apparent, a miracle had been performed. Faith had been exercised. The following morning, the disciples again saw the fig tree, but it was dried up at the roots. Peter spoke in amazement at finding the tree withered. Jesus answered him, “ . . . Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Mark 11:22b, 23. The same faith Christ exercised in this passage of Scripture can be yours. Just as He told the disciples, HE IS TELLING YOU — YOU CAN HAVE THE FAITH OF GOD! THIS IS LITERALLY THE FAITH THAT GOD GIVES!
God gives faith to every person who wants it enough to pay the price He requires. THE PRICE IS WALKING IN THE FULL LIGHT OF THE SCRIPTURES — FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS—HE REQUIRES OBEDIENCE, GODLINESS, AND HOLINESS. THERE MUST BE FREEDOM FROM CONDEMNATION!
“ . . . if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” I John 3:21.
No matter how trustworthy an acquaintance may be, we can never feel entirely sure that he merits complete confidence until we are thoroughly acquainted with him. This is the reason many people fail to trust God. We become acquainted with God
BY WALKING WITH HIM DAILY, AND BY READING HIS WORD.” “ . . . faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17.
When you read God’s Word, read it as you would a letter from a trusted friend. Consider it the FINAL AUTHORITY! Turn resolutely away from those books and conversations that question the truth of God’s Word.
Jesus accuses a religious group in His day of “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, . . .” Mark 7:13a, and “ . . . teaching for doctrines the commandments of men,” Mark 7:7b. Many preachers today set at naught the promises of God, basing their teachings upon the things that they have observed around them, rather than upon the Word of God. FAITH CAN ONLY BE BUILT UPON THE POWER AND SUCCESS OF THE WORD OF GOD — NEVER UPON OUR OWN OR ANOTHERTS WEAKNESSES AND FAILURES.
Having been planted in the heart through the Word, faith must be watered and nourished through a genuine love of God. “ . . .perfect love casteth out fear: . . .” I John 4:18. FEAR IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF FAITH! Fear is the murderer of faith, THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE! YOU CANNOT HAVE FAITH IF YOU DO NOT LOVE GOD!
If you love God you will keep His commandments. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15.
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him.” John 14:21.
“. . . If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:23
The reason many do not have faith is because “ . . .faith. . . worketh by love. . .” and they DO NOT HAVE LOVE! LOVE IS MANIFESTED BY OBEDIENCE! Disobedience to the known will of God IS POISON TO FAITH! A lack of desiring to learn the will of God will bring the same results —- IF YOU LOVE HIM YOU WILL BE CONCERNED ABOUT KNOWING HIS WILL FOR YOUR LIFE!
The greatest hindrance to faith today is DISOBEDIENCE. John says, “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”
I John 3:21, 22.
Real living, vital faith is impossible to those who are living in disobedience to God’s commandments, and who are out of harmony with the personality and the Spirit of God.
Many people today who profess to be Christians are living constantly under condemnation for sin and disobedience to the known will of God, and to His Word. Such a person can never have real faith, the faith that God gives, until he has repented of his sins and turned his back upon them. Only when this is done will condemnation leave. Only then will he have a clear conscience toward God, which brings perfect confidence — perfect faith.
The confidence of some may be destroyed because of living in the condemnation that light (the light of the Scriptures concerning the Baptism of the Holy Ghost) is come into the world, and they have not walked into that light. They know that they should have this glorious experience, but have not met the conditions to receive it.
“ . . . Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? . . .” Acts 19:2.
This is not an unfair question to a Christian. Paul asked this question of a group of twelve believers at Ephesus. It is an experience that every Christian should have; not only because God commanded it, but because the Christian needs it, and that he may be ready to receive power to work and witness for his Lord.
In the New Testament Church every member was filled with the Holy Ghost. All Christian individuals and groups spoken of through the New Testament were baptized with the Holy Ghost, as a separate and different experience from conversion, and coming after conversion. The disciples of Jesus were all saved, inasmuch as Christ had commissioned them to preach the Gospel and to heal the sick, and had given them power and authority over devils.
“Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases, And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.” Luke 9:1, 2.
“Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you: but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20.
Having their names written in heaven is another evidence that the disciples
were saved. Yet, Jesus,
“ . . . commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:4, 5.
“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49.
This is not only a commandment for those few people in days gone by, but for Christians who have lived since those days, for Christians who are living now, and for those who will live in the future days. After Peter had been filled with the Holy Ghost, while preaching his first Holy Ghost sermon, he said,
“ . . . Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2:38, 39.
Many consider the Baptism of the Holy Ghost a mere privilege, instead of a direct command, for Paul said,
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess: but be filled with the Spirit:” Ephesians 5:18.
Since this is a command, God expects us to obey Him. If we have come into the light of God’s truth we are expected to walk in that truth; failure to do so brings condemnation.
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19.
Many people are living more or less under condemnation because they have not made a consecration of full obedience, that they might receive this glorious experience, THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST.
Those who have been obedient HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST.
“And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” Acts 5:32.
If you have not been filled with the Holy Ghost, it is evident, from this verse

that you have not yet been fully obedient. You have been disobedient, and disobedience is sin. Sin brings condemnation. CONDEMNATION DESTROYS FAITH!
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7.
One must abide in Christ before he is in position to exercise real faith, BEFORE HE CAN UICEIVE THE FAITH THAT GOD GIVES. GOD DOES NOT GIVE FAITH TO PEOPLE WHO A RIDE NOT IN HIM. The blessings of God are for those who serve God and put Him first in their lives. ONE MUST ABIDE IN CHRIST BEFORE FAITH CAN ACTUALLY BE EXERCISED!
Now, let us look into God’s Word for the definition of “abiding in Christ.”
“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” I John 2:6.
If we profess to abide in Him, WE SHOULD BE WALKING AS HE WALKED! If you are not walking as Christ walked, YOU ARE NOT ABIDING IN HIM.
IT IS NO WONDER YOU HAVE NO FAITH!
YOUR SIN AND DISOBEDIENCE HAVE DESTROYED YOUR FAITH!
You can never be on real faith-ground until you abide in Christ, and walk as He walked. This is not only possible—-IT IS GOD’S COMMAND!
“ . . . Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin . . .” I Peter 2:21, 22.
“ . . . For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” I John 3:8. He resisted the devil and temptation, although He was “ . . . in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15. He is our example, and He stands ready to help us to walk as He walked — IN HIS STEPS!
“Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” I John 3:6.
God is no respector of persons—YOU MAY HAVE GOD’S FAITH, BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE FOR IT — THE PRICE FOR GOD’S FAITH IS OBEDIENCE AND HOLINESS! FAITH IS NOT AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HOLY!
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:14.
“ . . . Be ye holy; for I am holy.” I Peter 1:16.
“Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” I Corinthians 15:34.
People who are finding excuse for their habitual sin, according to this verse, do not have the knowledge of God. THIS IS A SHAME! It is evident that such professed Christians do not read their Bibles.
After Jesus had healed a man, He found him in the temple, and said, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” John 5:14b.
To the woman of Samaria, Christ Himself said, “ . . . Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:11.
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not . . .” I John 2:1.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.” Romans 6:1, 2a.
There is more than one reason for rack of faith, but the main reason is rack of holiness.
Another main reason for the lack of faith is the neglect of Bible study.
It is no wonder that faith is so low in the hearts of so many. The price of faith has been established. IT HAS BEEN SET BY GOD HIMSELF! The price is to LOVE GOD, READ HIS WORD, OBEY HIS COMMANDS, AND BELIEVE HIS PROMISES! God has enabled man to pay this price for faith. The same Christ who saves from sin will keep those who desire to be kept by His mighty power.
“But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” II Thessalonians 3:3.
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, . . .” Jude 24.
God has not only commanded that we abide in Him, but has made it possible by giving His children power to resist the devil in temptation.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” I Corinthians 10:13.
Those who have a real desire to please God, and pray and read their Bibles are attaining holiness. These are the people who are shouting the victory over the power of the enemy — GOD HAS GIVEN THEM FAITH!
Faith is listed as one of the nine spiritual gifts, “To another faith by the same Spirit; . . .” I Corinthians 12:9. The faith mentioned here is a gift of the Spirit, GIVEN BY THE SPIRIT. The church is admonished to covet earnestly the best gifts.
“But covet earnestly the best gifts: . . .” I Corinthians 12:31.
“ . . . 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.” Hebrews 11:6.
Without faith to accept Christ as one’s personal Savior, the benefits of Calvary could never be claimed . . . Jesus paid the full penalty for our sins when He gave His life to redeem us. THE PRECIOUS BLOOD SPILLED ON GOLGOTHA’S BROW THAT DAY FROM THE BODY OF JESUS CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN WHEN WE, BY FAITH, APPROPRIATE THESE BENEFITS FOR OURSELVES.
There are two common errors in the minds of people about faith. Some people say they have no faith. This is not true, for the Bible says that every man has faith. “ . . . according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3.
There are other people who come through our healing lines saying, “I have all the faith in the world.” This is not true. If they had faith in such proportions they would not need to be in a prayer line, but would probably be conducting healing campaigns of their own.
All Christians have a certain amount of faith. It is impossible to get saved without faith, so if you are a Christian, YOU HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FAITH. At the moment of salvation, faith begins to grow, as a fruit grows on a tree or a vine, for faith is a fruit of the Spirit as well as a spiritual gift.
“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23.
As some trees in an orchard produce very little fruit, or perhaps fruit of poor quality, so some Christians seem to produce very little of the fruit of the Spirit. Natural fruit must first bud, then grow and develop. Just as natural fruit buds, grows and develops, the fruit of faith must be properly nourished.
If you are going to have the faith of the Son of God, you must constantly abide in the Vine (Jesus).
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I roved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” St. John 15:1-10; 12-14.
Faith is used as a defensive weapon of Christian warfare. If we fail to exercise faith against our adversary, Satan, he comes in like a flood and we become overwhelmed by his onslaughts. BUT, IF WE ARE ABIDING IN AND HIS WORD IS ABIDING IN US, GOD’S FAITH IS FLOWING FREELY THROUGH OUR LIVES. WE ARE TRUSTING SO COMPLETELY IN GOD THAT WE CAN BELIEVE EASILY FOR GREAT VICTORIES.
Since faith cometh by hearing the Word of God, the Christian should read the Word often, memorizing many of God’s promises, THEN STAND ON THOSE PROMISES, QUOTING THEM AGAIN AND AGAIN.
Faith must be built upon the Word of God, AND ONLY UPON THE WORD OF GOD! The more of God’s Word you have hidden in your heart, the easier it is to believe, or to exercise faith in His Word. Base your faith upon the Word of God exclusively — DON’T TALK IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT FEEL. People who gauge their healing by their feeling, never credit anything to God’s Word. The person who accepts God’s Word as true in his own case, whether the results are visible or not, or whether he can feel the results or not, WILL SOON SEE AND FEEL THE RESULTS, FOR THIS IS THE FAITH THAT GOD GIVES. REAL FAITH IS SIMPLY TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD!
RECOMMENDED MEMORY WORK FOR THIS LESSON
I John 3:21 John 14:23 I John 2:6 *Romans 10:17 *1 Samuel 15:22 I Peter 2:21,22 *1 John 4:18 Acts 5:32 I John 3:6 John 14:21 John 15:7 *Hebrews 12:14 Jude 24 I Corinthians 10:13

ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF FAITH

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1.
“Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:29.
Thomas, one of the twelve disciples, had remarked to the other disciples that he would not believe they had seen Jesus alive again unless he saw “ . . . . in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:25.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1.
“All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:3.
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14.
“ . . .think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3b.
God has dealt to every man a measure of faith. We have only to look about us at the trees, grass, animals, and people in order to know that there has to be a creator. Then, we know that there was a creator in the beginning—trees come from trees, grass comes from grass, animals give birth to animals, and children are born into the world. BUT THERE HAD TO BE A BEGINNING OF ALL THESE THINGS, and it isn’t difficult for us to believe that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). It isn’t difficult to believe that all things were made by God (John 1:3), and we believe the Word was made flesh and dwelt on earth as a man (John 1:14). These things we readily believe, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE OUR FAITH INCREASED!
“And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” Luke 17:5.

As Christians, our faith should keep increasing. As we keep our feet under the Father’s table, eating the food He sets before us, listening to what He says to us, and keep obeying Him, HE WILL GIVE US HIS FAITH IN AN EVER INCREASING AMOUNT!
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17.
“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: . . . these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:30,31.
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” John 17:20.
“And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.” Acts 15:7.
We are told in Romans 10:17 that faith cometh by hearing the word of God. Our faith is increased as we read the written testimonies of Christ’s disciples. Jesus said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their (disciples’) word;” John 17:20. In Acts 15:7 we are told that our faith is increased by hearing the gospel.
“ . . . thy faith hath made thee whole; . . .” Mark 5:34.
“ . . . According to your faith be it unto you.” Matthew 9:29b.
“ . . . as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. . . .” Matthew 8:13.
“ . . . let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. . . . let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” James 1:6, 7.
A certain woman (Mark 5:25-34) had an issue of blood twelve years. This woman had suffered many things of many physicians, had spent all she had, but instead of getting better, she grew worse. When she heard of Jesus, she felt if she could only touch his clothes she would be made whole. She pressed through the
throng of people around Jesus and managed just to touch His garment, and was immediately made whole. HER FAITH HAD MADE HER WHOLE! Jesus said, “ . . . Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” Mark 5:34.
At another time (Matthew 9:27), two blind men came to Jesus for healing. He touched their eyes and they were opened. As Jesus touched their eyes He said, “ . . . According to your faith be it unto you.” Matthew 9:29b. Their faith, in cooperation with the power of God through Jesus Christ, brought their healing.
In Capernaum, a centurion came to Jesus beseeching Him to heal his servant who was sick with palsy and tormented. Jesus offered to go with the centurion and heal the servant, but the centurion said, “ . . . Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant will be healed.” Matthew 8:8. Jesus marvelled at this man’s faith, and said, “ . . .I have not found so great faith, . . . in Israel.” Matthew 8:10. He told the centurion that as he believed it would be done unto him. The servant was healed in the same hour.
All the promises of God are conditioned upon faith. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM GOD! James states this fact in the plainest possible language. “Let him ASK IN FAITH, NOTHING WAVERING. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed . . . let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” James 1:6, 7.
Faith is an absolute necessity before one can receive anything from the Lord.
Many have a mistaken idea today, that since many are exercising the gifts of healing and miracles, all that is needed is to get into one of these meetings where the gifts are being exercised, and that they will be healed, without necessity of faith on their part. They think that the gift of healing will take the place of their own faith in God. This is unscriptural! The gift of healing WILL NOT take the place of your own faith in God.
There is no doubt that Christ exercised ALL the gifts of the Spirit, including healings and miracles. Yet, when He went to Nazareth, “ . . . he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. . . . he marvelled because of their unbelief. . . . he went round about the villages, teaching.” Mark 6:5,6.
Paul met a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet. Steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that the man had faith to be healed, Paul said with a loud voice,

“ . . . Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.” Acts 14:10.
When Jesus healed the woman of Mark 5:25-34, he said, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” To the blind men who came to Him for healing in Matthew 9:29b, He said, “According to your faith so be it done unto you.” Paul perceived that the impotent man had faith for his healing, and he spoke the word and the man was healed.
Student, pay the price to have God’s faith — be sure your faith is increasing. How marvelous a privilege it is today to be able to attend meetings where God’s anointed preachers are bringing deliverance in the name of Jesus, BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU? WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO BRING DELIVERANCE TO THE PEOPLE? ARE YOU PAYING THE PRICE TO BE A DELIVERANCE PREACHER?
If Jesus conducted deliverance meetings today, He would no doubt say to people as in the days of old, “THY FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE !“ Many confess that they do not have much faith and wonder if it isn’t possible for them to be healed through the faith of some other person. I have had many people tell me they have no faith and want to know if they can be healed through my faith.
The Scripture states that, “ . . . The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” James 5:16b, but GOD’S GUARANTEE is to those who themselves have faith! If a person received healing without having faith himself, it would certainly be an exception and not the rule laid down in God’s Word.
A person might be healed through another’s faith, BUT HOW WOULD THAT PERSON KEEP HIS HEALING? Faith is necessary, not only to receive healing, but to retain that healing, for Satan is not easily defeated. Almost without exception, when a person is healed, he will immediately be attacked by Satan, in an attempt to snatch from him the gift God has given. Student, learn this well — IF A PERSON DEPENDED UPON YOUR FAITH FOR HEALING, SATAN WOULD ONLY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE NOT PRESENT TO FIND THAT FAITHLESS PERSON UTTERLY DEFENSELESS, AND TAKE THAT HEALING FROM HIM! This is the reason many are suffering from diseases from which they had once been healed.
Whether you are a pastor or an evangelist, REMEMBER IT IS IMPORTANT TO TEACH THE PEOPLE HOW TO KEEP THEIR HEALING. If they lose it, they become discouraged and even doubt that they were healed. This might even cause YOU to doubt their healing.
(ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF FAITH, is a chapter taken from my book, GOD’S GUARANTEE TO HEAL YOU.)

Student, pay the price God requires you to pay to have His faith, and you WILL have the miracle-working power of God in your life and ministry. If you will pay the price God WILL give you His faith — WITH GOD’S FAITH GOD’S POWER WILL FLOW THROUGH YOUR LIFE TO BRING DELIVERANCE TO THE PEOPLE AND TO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE — GOD CAN AND WILL USE YOU TO DO THE MIRACULOUS.
REMEMBER — GOD IS NOT ONLY THE AUTHOR OF YOUR FAITH, BUT HE IS THE FINISHER OF YOUR FAITH AS WELL. THERE IS NO PLACE TO STOP IN THIS RACE WHICH HAS BEEN SET BEFORE YOU. THE PRIZE IS AT THE END OF THE RACE — KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS FOR HE HOLDS THE PRIZE. IN JESUS WE LIVE, AND MOVE, AND HAVE OUR BEING. SATAN WILL ALWAYS BE ON HAND TO WEIGHT YOU DOWN WITH SIN, BUT THROW THESE WEIGHTS OFF AND KEEP RUNNING FOR JESUS.
RECOMMENDED MEMORY WORK FOR THIS LESSON
Hebrews 12:1, 2 1 John 4:18 John 20:29 John 9:4 Hebrews 12:14 Romans 10:17 Isaiah 35:8 Hebrews 11:1 James 1:6, 7 1 Samuel 15:22

EN TALE JEG HOLDT I 1993

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ISLAM EN KONTROLLÅND

Islam er en ånd av kontroll og tvang i samfunnet .

Islam er en sterk politisk religiøs kontrollånd !

Det er et bedrag at Islam er en fredens religion ,men det er en hatets religion . For enn muslim Blir lært opp til å hate de vantro .

Ekstreme imamer skal lære våre ugdom å hate vestens kultur, dvs vår norske kristne kulturarv som er byggd på bibelske prinsipper som vi finner igjen i grunnloven .

«HATPREDIKANT: Abu Usamah al-Thahabi, kommer til Norge i august for å undervise unge muslimer om islam. HATPREDIKANT: Abdurrahman Green.HATPREDIKANT: Hatiham al-Haddad.»

Så langt kristne avisen Dagen :

Det er tre åndsmakter og retninger som har Forført vårt folk og åpnet opp for Islam i det norske samfunn !

Disse åndsmaktene er :

1: humanismen

2: sosialismen

3: snillismen

Disse åndsmaktene har i en hel generasjon Arbeidet for å undergrave autoriteten i Guds Ord og gi oss en menneskelig og

Human tro uten kors og uten noe blod Som er nødvendig for å sone våre synder , Men i steden så blir vår forhold til den

Levende Gud basert på hvor humane og Sosialistiske, og snille vi er med hverandre !

Disse tre åndsmaktene samarbeider i dag med teologene på Menighetsfakultetet

Og i noen pinsemenigheter i vårt land !

Og da særlig en humanistisk og snillistisk tenkning preger forkynnelsen, og åpner Opp for at homosexualitet og uren sexuell livstil er akseptert bare det skjer I kjærlighet så det heter så djevelsk fint !

Muslimene oppfordres av sine imamer lærere i moskene til å hate alle vantro og arbeide for sharialov i det norske samfunn .Det betyr at de vil oprette en islamsk stat og domstol i Norge !

Vi må våkne , muslimene blir mere og mere radikaliserte i det norske samfunn i dag .

Og de påvirker mere og mere vår kultur, snart Så er det ikke noe igjen av vår kristne kulturarv i Norge !

Det er viktigere enn noen gang at vi som folk og nasjon står fast på vår kristne arv og kultur og holder fast på budet om

At vi ikke skal ha andre guder enn Herren !

La oss alle reise oss opp for vår konge Jesus og synge vår gamle fedrelands Sang :

» Gud signe vårt dyre fedreland,

Og la det som hagen bløma » !

Halleluja det er håp for en nasjon og et Folk som vil ydmyke seg under Guds hånd !

De ydmyke gir han nåde !

Vh deres ringe bror i Herren

Arne

BIBELEN OG JESU GJENKOMST

Selv om de fleste evangeliske troende i Norge tror og lærer at Jesus kommer før den store trengsel så behøver ikke den læren å være bibelsk og sann for det venner .

Teologisk arvegods bestemmer ikke hva som er rett .

All lære må være fundamentert på Guds Ord , og da ikke bare på enkelte vers men på hele bibelen .

Skriftvers må lede til lignende skriftvers og ting som det tales om en plass i bibelen må vi finne igjen mange andre plasser. Enten i det gamle eller nye testamente , for det er en helhet i Guds Ord !

Summen av Guds Ord er sannhet ,og denne sannheten kommer fram når det ene bibelvers får belyse det andre .

Hva lærte de første Apostlene og kirkefedre som kom etter dem om Jesu gjenkomst ?

Historiens vitnesbyrd belyser vranglæren om bortrykkelse før den store trengsel .

Før vi undersøker i detalj hva Bibelen sier om Guds menighet og den store trengsel, skal vi ta en titt bakover i tiden. Når vi ser på læren om endetiden i lys av historien, oppdager vi at troende har til alle tider lært at menigheten skulle gjennomgå den store trengsel. Etter denne trengselstid blir de troende rykket opp i luften for å møte Jesus når han kommer i makt og stor herlighet. Denne fremstillingen kan spores tilbake til oldkirken og har gjennom tidene vært rådende innenfor den største del av kristenheten.

Det finnes gode eksempler av skrifter fra den første menighetens tid som viser at en aktuell forventning av Jesu komme kan forenes med den oppfatning at den store trengsel går forut for Kristi gjenkomst og samlingen av de hellige. Denne tankegangen finner vi i Didaché (De Tolv Apostlers Lære), et skrift som var godt kjent i oldkirken. Det dateres så tidlig som ca. år 120 e.Kr., og var en av de viktigste håndbøker som regulerte de kirkelige ordninger. Her følger siste delen av skriftet:

”Våk over deres liv! La ikke deres lamper slukne og løs ikke beltet om livet, men vær beredt! For dere vet ikke i hvilken time vår Herre kommer. Kom ofte sammen og søk det som er til gagn for deres sjeler. For hele den tid dere har hatt troen, vil ikke hjelpe dere hvis dere ikke holder mål i den siste tid. For i de siste dager skal de falske profeter og forførerne bli tallrike. Sauene skal forvandles til ulver, og kjærligheten vendes til hat. For ettersom lovløsheten tiltar, skal de hate og forfølge og angi hverandre. Og da skal verdensforføreren komme til syne som Guds Sønn og gjøre tegn og under. Jorden skal overgis i hans hender, og han skal gjøre skjenselsverk som det aldri har vært maken til fra evighet av. Da skal menneskeslekten komme i prøvelsens ild, og mange skal falle fra og gå fortapt, men de som holder ut i troen, skal bli frelst av forbannelsen selv. Og så skal sannhetens tegn vise seg: Først det tegn at himmelen åpner seg, dernest basunstøtets tegn, og for det tredje de dødes oppstandelse – dog ikke alles, men som det er sagt: ‘Herren skal komme, og alle hellige være med ham’. Da skal verden se Herren komme på himmelens skyer” (16:1-8).

Dette er et klart vitnesbyrd om at helt fra begynnelsen har menigheten trodd at samlingen av de gjenoppståtte og levende troende hos Jesus i skyene finner sted etter den store trengsel.

”For Herren sa: ‘Jeg er kommet for å samle alle folk, stammer og tungemål.’ Dette sikter til hans åpenbaringsdag, da han kommer og forløser oss, enhver etter sine gjerninger. Også de vantro skal få se hans herlighet og makt og vil bli bestyrtet når de ser verdensherredømmet lagt i Jesu hånd” (17:4-5).

Et annet eksempel på den første menighetens syn på Jesu gjenkomst finner vi hos Klemens som var presbyter i Rom. Det sies at han ble personlig undervist av apostlene, og brevene han skrev til korinterne nøt stor anseelse i oldkirken. Her følger et utdrag av hans andre brev til korintierne, skrevet ca. år 96 e.Kr.:

Klemens sier her at når Jesus kommer for å opprette sitt rike, vil han samtidig forløse de troende. Med andre ord, er det ikke flere år som skiller disse hendelsene.

Også andre kirkefedre fra det første til det tredje århundre e.Kr. ga uttrykk for det samme i sine skrifter. Disse er blant annet Justin Martyr, Ireneus, Tertullian, Lactantius og Hyppolyt. Felles for disse er overbevisningen om at menigheten skal gjennomgå den store trengsel før Jesus kommer igjen.

Darbyism

Det var ikke før på 1830 tallet at en ny lære oppsto. Den gikk ut på at en utvalgt gruppe av troende skal dra til himmelen før den store trengsel, men at også andre troende skal gjennomleve trengselstiden. John Darby (1800-1882), som var tilsluttet Brødrebevegelsen i England, ble denne nye læres fremste talsmann. Han fremmet sine synspunkter først i sitt hjemland og siden i Amerika. Selv om hans lære ble varmt mottatt av noen, ble den avvist av andre bibel-fortolkere, eller ble først mottatt og siden forkastet av andre.

Læren spredte seg sakte fram til begynnelsen av forrige århundre, da dens popularitet skjøt fart. Dette hadde sin grunn i at den andre utgaven av Scofield Reference Bible presenterte denne teorien som en læresetning. Over 3 millioner eksemplar av denne studiebibelen ble solgt innen 50 år etter at den ble utgitt i 1917. Millioner av troende ble etter hvert nådd med dette synet på endetiden.

Mange bibelskoler antok denne måten å tolke det profetiske ordet på, og profeti konferanser gjorde denne læren kjent. Det er derfor ikke rart at mange kristne ledere i den siste generasjon har antatt at ideen om menighetens bortrykkelse til himmelen før den store trengsel er en lære som har sine røtter i apostolisk tid. Men denne populære teorien har ingen støtte i den historiske tolkningen av Skriften.

Noen fortolkere mener imidlertid at Darbys lære er en gjenoppdaget sannhet, men kristne skrifter fra oldkirken bekrefter ikke dette.

Selv om teorien om menighetens bortrykkelse til himmelen før den store trengsel virker å være utbredt, tror fortsatt mange bibel-fortolkere at menigheten skal møte Jesus i luften når han kommer tilbake til jorden. Disse fortolkere har holdt fast på den bibelske og historiske troen på at menigheten skal gjennomgå den store trengsel før Jesus kommer igjen.

Vi ber dere, brødre, når det gjelder vår Herre Jesu Kristi komme og vår samling hos ham: La dere ikke så snart drive fra vett og sans! La dere ikke skremme, verken ved noen ånd eller ved noe ord eller ved noe brev som sies å komme fra oss, og som går ut på at Herrens dag alt er her. La ingen bedra dere på noe vis! For først må frafallet komme, og lovløshetens menneske* åpenbares, fortapelsens sønn. Han er den som står imot og som opphøyer seg over alt som blir kalt gud eller helligdom, så han setter seg i Guds tempel og gir seg ut for å være Gud. Minnes dere ikke at jeg sa dere dette da jeg ennå var hos dere? Og nå vet dere hva det er, det som holder igjen, slik at han først skal åpenbares når tiden for dette er inne. For lovløshetens hemmelighet er alt virksom, bare at den som nå holder igjen, må bli tatt bort. Da skal den lovløse* åpenbares, han som Herren Jesus skal ødelegge med sin munns ånde, og tilintetgjøre når hans gjenkomst åpenbares i herlighet. Den lovløse kommer etter Satans virksomhet med all løgnens makt og tegn og under. Det skjer med all urettferdighetens forførelse blant dem som går fortapt, fordi de ikke tok imot kjærlighet til sannheten, så de kunne bli frelst. Derfor sender Gud dem kraftig villfarelse, så de tror løgnen, for at de skal bli dømt, alle de som ikke har trodd sannheten, men hadde sitt behag i urettferdigheten.

2 Tessaloniker 2:1‭-‬12

HVEM ER DET SOM HOLDER IGJEN FOR ANTIKRIST ?

Det er den suverene Gud som holder igjen slik at ikke Antikrist kan få åpenbare seg for verden før Guds Ånd tillater det .

Og når tiden er inne så vil Gud for å stadfeste sitt profetiske ord i Daniels bok , trekke sin beskyttende hånd bort ifra denne verden ,

og menigheten som så ,vil bli kastet inn i en fryktelig tid av prøvelser og trengsler og i denne tiden så vil det bli et mannefall uten like av de troende på jorden , klinten vil skilles fra hveten .

Matt.24: 10-12

Da skal mange falle fra, og de skal angi hverandre og hate hverandre. 11 Mange falske profeter skal stå fram og føre mange vill. 12 Og fordi lovløsheten tar overhånd, skal kjærligheten bli kald hos de fleste

Vi vet at guds folk i Israel måtte lide i 400 år før Gud sendte sin redningsmann Moses som salvet av Gud førte Israels folk ut av Egypten ,og samtidig som Gud dømte Farao og Egypterene så holdt han sin beskyttende og allmektige hånd over sitt folk i landet Gosen i Egypt . Og ingen av de plager som rammet Egypterene rammet Israels folk ! Fordi Guds Ånd vil være over og iblandt Guds folk når den store trengsel begynner så vil Gud la hele verden få være vitne til at det i denne prøvelsen tid vil være forskjell på Guds folk og verden , han vil være med sitt folk og holde sykdom borte fra dem og styrke dem når de må lide martyrdøden for sin tro på Jesus !

Alle Apostlene bortsett fra Johannes måtte lide martyrdøden og det er de sterkeste og mest salvede tjenestene som menigheten har hatt. Kristne opp igjennom hele kirkehistorien har måttet lide martyrdøden venner.

Har denne generasjonen spesialavtale med Gud så den slipper å gå igjennom den store trengsel, jeg kan ikke se det i Guds Ord venner .

Bibelen sier alle som vil leve gudfryktig i Kristus Jesus skal bli forfulgt !

Så læren om at menigheten skal bli bortrykket før den store trengsel er en farlig vranglære ,som gjør at menigheten sover i dag og ikke vil være forberedt på de ufattelige prøvelser og lidelser som ligger framfor den og som Jesus advarte oss imot i sin undervisnig om kjennetegnet på denne tidsalders slutt .

Jesus forlot templet og gikk ut. Da kom disiplene hans for å vise ham tempelbygningene. Men han svarte og sa til dem: Ser dere ikke alt dette? Sannelig sier jeg dere: Her skal ikke bli stein tilbake på stein som ikke skal brytes ned. Da han satt på Oljeberget, og disiplene var alene med ham, kom de til ham og spurte: Si oss, når skal dette skje? Og hva skal være tegnet på ditt komme og på denne tidsalders ende? For mange skal komme i mitt navn og si: Jeg er Messias! Og de skal føre mange vill. Dere vil høre om kriger og rykter om krig. Se til at dere ikke lar dere skremme. For alt dette må skje, men ennå er ikke enden kommet. For folk skal reise seg mot folk, og rike mot rike, og det skal bli hunger og jordskjelv både her og der. Men alt dette er begynnelsen på fødselsveene. Da skal de overgi dere til trengsel og slå dere i hjel. Og dere skal hates av alle folkeslag for mitt navns skyld. Mange skal da falle fra, og de skal angi hverandre og hate hverandre. Mange falske profeter skal stå fram, og de skal forføre mange. Og fordi lovløsheten tar overhånd, skal kjærligheten bli kald hos de fleste. Men den som holder ut til enden, han skal bli frelst!

Matteus 24:1‭-‬3‭, ‬5‭-‬13

Jesus talte her om templets ødeleggelse og det vet vi skjedde i år 70 etter Kristus men han talte og om hvilke tegn som skulde fortelle oss om at denne tidsalders ende var nær . Et av de klareste tegnene vil være at det blir et massivt frafall ifra troen på Guds Ord , og at syndens menneske Antikrist vil åpenbares for verden . Han vil regjere i 7 år og midt i sin regjeringsperiode etter tre og halvt år ,så vil han sette seg i ett gjenoppbygd tempel i Jerusalem og utrope og erklære seg for å være den eneste sanne gud . Dette vil utløse den store trengsel i verden som er så stor og fryktelig at det aldri har vært noe lignende i menneskehetens historie . Men for menigheten vil den tiden bli forkortet ved Jesu synlige komme i skyene i sin makt og herlighet for

1 Johannes 4:1

Mine kjære! Tro ikke enhver ånd, men prøv åndene om de er av Gud! For mange falske profeter er gått ut i verden.

Mat.24: 23-31

Om noen da sier til dere: ‘Se, her er Messias’ eller: ‘Der er han’, så tro det ikke! 24 For falske messiaser og falske profeter skal stå fram og gjøre store tegn og under, for om mulig å føre selv de utvalgte vill. 25 Nå har jeg sagt dere det på forhånd! 26 Om de altså sier til dere: ‘Se, han er ute i ødemarken’, så gå ikke dit ut, eller: ‘Se, han er i et rom der inne’, så tro det ikke. 27 For slik som lynet går ut fra øst og lyser like til vest, slik skal det være når Menneskesønnen kommer. 28 Hvor åtselet er, vil gribbene samles.
29 Så snart denne trengselstiden er over, skal solen bli formørket og månen miste sitt lys. Stjernene skal falle ned fra himmelen, og himmelens krefter skal rokkes. 30 Da skal Menneskesønnens tegn vise seg på himmelen, da skal alle folkeslag på jorden bryte ut i klagerop, og de skal se Menneskesønnen komme på himmelens skyer med stor makt og herlighet. 31 Når basunen lyder, skal han sende ut sine engler, og de skal samle hans utvalgte fra de fire verdenshjørner, fra den ene enden av himmelen til den andre.

Jesus kommer ikke i hemmelighet tilbake til jorden for å hente sin menighet, men han kommer på himmelens skyer med stor makt og herlighet og han sender ut sine engler for å samle de hellige, hans menighet på jorden .

Og vi skal møte ham i skyene og derifra være med ham ned på jorden , for å regjere med ham over folkeslagene .

For slik som lynet går ut fra øst og lyser like til vest, slik skal Menneskesønnens komme være. Da skal Menneskesønnens tegn vise seg på himmelen, da skal alle folk på jorden bryte ut i klagerop, og de skal se Menneskesønnen komme på himmelens skyer med stor makt og herlighet. Når basunen lyder, skal han sende ut sine engler, og de skal samle hans utvalgte fra de fire verdenshjørner, fra den ene enden av himmelen til den andre.” (Matt 24,27.30-31)

Vh en enfoldig bror i Herren : Arne