THE NEED FOR ACTIVE FAITH
A. Roy Steven
Hebrews 11: 6; 10: 35–I just have a simple impression, dear brethren, regarding faith. Scripture reminds us that the present time is “God’s dispensation, which is in faith”, 1 Timothy 1: 4. Then in the scripture which is our charter it says that we should pursue righteousness, and the next thing is faith (2 Timothy 2: 22). I have long had the feeling that it was placed in that order by the writer in a methodical way, because if we are to do what is right as christians, what is right and pleasing in the sight of God, it requires faith. I have the impression that the Spirit of God would freshly energise us as to faith, because we are in a time when things are becoming very testing. Many of us are experiencing testing times in our households. Some younger people have gotten off the line of faith and are being controlled by what relates to sight. But faith would count on God, knowing that with God all things are possible. Faith is not controlled in any wise by circumstances, and the power of God comes in to help us as we are on the line of faith because the Holy Spirit is only free to operate as we are in active faith.
One has not much to say, but I feel that if we are to come substantially into the great things that God has prepared for us it requires active faith. From the divine side things remain intact; there is no change with God. I am thankful that we are being encouraged constantly as to the unchanging character of the love of God, and He would stimulate us and help us to see that He remains faithful despite all the unfaithfulness that has come in, and that what He has prepared for us (as we are told in Corinthians, “Things which eye has not seen, and ear not heard, and which have not come into man’s heart, which God has prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2: 9)) also remains intact. As we are in faith, dear brethren, the Spirit would help us to enter substantially into these things that God has prepared for them that love Him. Our scripture says, “Without faith it is impossible to please him”. Love is great, but we notice that in the list in 2 Timothy 2: 22 it says, righteousness, faith, then love. All God’s operations are in love, yet His love is flowing on a righteous basis; God is not showing His love unrighteously. So we need faith to accept all these things. Much of what we are experiencing, publicly, may be difficult to understand.
I do not think any of us would be presumptuous enough to think that we can fully understand the extensive movements of God at the present time, but then faith would say that all is well; God is not against us in any wise, God is for us, and in faith we can count on Him that He will see us through. When I refer to circumstances I do not mean in relation to assembly matters, because I believe that the order of things that we enjoy at the present time will go through to the end. Let us not in any wise think that there is going to be a great public revival; I do not think God is on that line; but what He is doing is reviving the affections of the saints; the Spirit of God is helping the saints to enter upon things in a more substantial, living and vital way. So we need faith to link on with that and to experience the help of the blessed Spirit.
The scripture in Hebrews 10 would encourage us. It says, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense. For ye have need of endurance in order that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise”. What a great promise we have, dear brethren, the promise of God linked on with the time when the Lord Jesus will come into His rights publicly. He who is now cast out by men, despised and rejected, will come into His rights in a public way and we shall have our part with Him. But, by the Spirit, how blessed it is that we are now able to have part with Christ in His present position. I trust that we will be encouraged, stimulated and energised to be more on the line of faith—active faith—not just faith in an historical way that we have believed and have had our sins forgiven; it required faith for that, but the mind of God is that, as christians, we are to be those who are living by faith. So it says, “The just shall live by faith”. May we be helped in this for His name’s sake.
Word in meeting for ministry, Brooklyn, N.Y.
10 June 1975