THE WORD MIXED WITH FAITH
THE WORD MIXED WITH FAITH
The text I give you is Hebrews 4: 11. You will have to be diligent to enter into God’s rest, lest you fall after the example of the Israelites, who hearkened not to the word. The word is — “go up and possess the land”. They heard the word but it “did not profit them not being mixed with faith”. You have heard the word, that you are quickened with Christ, raised up, and made to sit in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. The word has been often ‘preached’ to you. Do you believe that it is a fact that in God’s mind you have been elevated to this great height? It is true of you in God’s grace but it is only true to you as you in faith apprehend what is God’s mind for you. In faith you are assured of the fact, though you have not reached the fact, and by the Spirit you are in spirit there already. The Spirit of God is the power to carry you there, and as you are in faith as to God’s purpose for you, He gives you already to taste of the joys which belong to the heavenly rest. The question is — Have you faith in the word made known to you? Faith counts on the word of God outside and apart from everything here. When you are in faith you see nothing but God. The moment the heart is detained by anything here, faith is obstructed. The visible is antagonistic to the invisible. If you walk in the Spirit you will be sensible of this in a moment; the effects and influences of the visible are counter to the invisible. Eve had lost faith when she saw that the tree was good for food, and pleasant to the eyes. If she had kept the faith — dependence on God — she would not have looked, but she had parted with the faith which overcometh the world when she “saw”. I see it in myself and in every one; the moment one gets occupied with the visible one has parted company from the invisible, and is apart from faith, whether in personal matters or in the assembly matters.
The Lord grant that your faith may grow this coming year. J.N.D. has said, ‘To walk in faith you must be faithful’, that is, you must walk with a good conscience.
May the word of God be daily more precious to you. Avoid all reading which would divert you from it, or the society of any who do not minister to you from it.