MESSAGE OF THE MONTH - FEBRUARY 2019 by Pastor Paul
THE ANCIENT PATHS - FAITH
“Stand in the ways and see
And ask for the ANCIENT PATHS
where the good way is,
And walk in it.
Then you will find rest for your souls.”
Jeremiah 6v16
Over these next few months we are looking at some of the ANCIENT PATHS which are ‘the good way,” trodden by those from ancient times who have gone before us. If we focus on these and walk in them the promise is that we will be safe and find rest for our souls...
This month we look at the ancient path of FAITH.
Hebrews 11 lists a number of heroes of faith who famously trod that ancient path before us and then in chapter 12 the writer of Hebrews says that, encouraged by their example we should overcome all obstacles along the way and finish the race like they did.
The way to do that is to fix our eyes on Jesus who is the author and the PERFECTER of our faith and who paved the way for us - by enduring the cross and arrived in victory at the right hand of the Throne of God (12:2).
If we look to Jesus in faith, we can endure all the hardships along the way until we finally arrive in the Kingdom of Heaven to which we belong (12:28).
We can follow in the footsteps of this ancient pathway of faith which heroes like Noah, Abraham, Moses and many others have pioneered and we can learn lessons from them about how faith works…
Faith Works by Believing
Hebrews 11:5-6
“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”.
The first step on the path of faith is to believe that God exists and that He rewards those who seek Him - just like Enoch did. In fact Enoch’s daily walk with God was so close that in the end he did not die, he just walked straight with God into heaven!
I love the stories of some of the old-time Methodists who lived so close to God that they did not die of sickness or disease - they just sat in their armchair and fell asleep in His arms. God is always pleased with those who are living by faith and whatever way we end our walk of faith we all end up in the same place – GLORY – so it’s worth overcoming any trial or difficulties along the way!
Faith Works by Seeing
Hebrews 11v1
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.
Faith sees the invisible.
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were made of things which are invisible (Hebrews 11:3).
Hebrews 11:27 says that by faith Moses “forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible”
Faith sees what is unseen
Hebrews 11:13 talks about Abraham and Sarah who died in faith not having received the promises but had “seen them from afar and were assured of them.”
Heb 11v1 can be translated: “Faith is the realization of things hoped for, the confidence of things not seen.” Faith is confidence in the unseen.
There are times when we have to hold on in faith - seeing the unseen with the eyes of faith, until it becomes a reality. Faith fills the gap while we are waiting for what we are believing for.
We will never achieve anything in life if we don’t have a go. The same is true of spiritual accomplishments. What you are believing God for at the moment? Make sure you are believing for the right thing - but then determine to keep “seeing the unseen” until it appears!
Faith Works by Hearing
Romans 10v16
“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”
An important way of checking we are believing for the right thing is to see if it aligns with God’s Word – and not just our interpretation of it either! Faith will never work if we are believing for something which is contrary to His Word.
If we are believing for something we need to listen out for God’s Word to direct our faith. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will quicken a Word to us to inspire our faith but we should not use the Bible as a promise box to get what we want.
The great evangelist Charles Finney spent many hours in prayer with God’s Word open before him to allow it to produce faith in him. He was involved in two great revivals in which millions of people came to Christ.
Faith Works by Speaking
Matthew 17v20
“If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
I once heard David Pawson preaching and he told the story of a man who lived very close to a mountain that really obstructed his view so he decided to take Jesus’ words literally and spoke to the mountain commanding it to be removed. He went to bed and fell asleep and when he woke up in the morning he opened his curtains, looked out of the window – and the mountain was still there. “I KNEW it!” he said. Sometimes what we say will reveal that there is unbelief in our hearts.
What we say is what we get. We need to match what we are saying with what we are believing for. I don’t mean “name it and claim it” or “speaking things into being” as some have preached - but I do believe that faith works by speaking in agreement with God’s Word.
Jesus encouraged us to speak to mountains of impossibility in faith. This can be done in fervent prayer and by conforming our words to God’s Word as we have discussed above. Jesus said “All things are possible to those who believe” (Mark 9:23).
Faith Works by Action
James 2v18
“I will show you my faith by my works”
All the people in Hebrews 11 did something which showed that they were men and women of faith. Abel offered the right kind of sacrifice, Enoch walked closely with God, Noah built an ark, Abraham started travelling not knowing where he was going, Moses’ parents hid him as a baby in the bulrushes, the walls of Jericho fell down under the leadership of Joshua, Rahab hid the spies and so on.
There can be no adventures of faith unless we are willing to step out and take risks. These risks should be undergirded by prayer, God’s Word, and common sense, but we need to walk the walk of faith and not just talk the talk!
There are many modern-day heroes of faith who have walked that ancient pathway of faith and achieved great things - such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Corrie Ten Boom, Jim Elliot, Richard Wurmbrand, Mother Teresa and Brother Andrew, just to mention a few.
Let us walk in the footsteps of giants of faith – looking unto Jesus.
The adventure continues….
Some talks I did on Heroes of Faith for UCB radio are available on the Resources Page
if you are interested.