“And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform.” Romans 4:21
Dear Ones:
There are times in the life of the believer, that we could write that our experience is like that of Abraham: “….who against hope believed in hope.” (Romans 4:18) We have the promise(s) of God, like Abraham, but the rock that we are praying for to move just doesn’t seem to do so. We remember the words of the Lord Jesus who said, “…whosoever shall say unto this mountain, ‘Be thou removed, and be cast into the sea:’ and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says.” (Mark 11:23) How do we reconcile Abraham’s “hope against hope,” based on the promises of God, and this word from the Lord Jesus, where He tells us that we are not to doubt in our hearts, if we would see the “mountain” move?
The first thing we need to resolve in our minds and hearts is: “What is our attitude towards the word of God?” Do we see it as the specific, objective revelation of the will of God, and the promise to accomplish that will? This attitude goes beyond feeling and sight, to the taking of a position of faith, a resolute willingness and commitment to trust in God alone, and supremely. Will that attitude be challenged? Yes. At a time when the tempter of our souls comes to dislodge us from such a position of trust, of faith, the Lord Himself uses the opportunity to meet us in a new and fresh way, to “establish” us in our relationship with Him. Abraham had to “work through” the opposition of the enemy, the reason of his own mind and heart, to believe God alone according to the specific will, purpose, and promise of God. Likewise, the disciple who is confronted with the “mountain” in his path, is faced with the same challenge, believing God according to the promise, “pushing through” all opposition without and within, expecting to SEE the mountain move. Once we have resolved the issue of the position taken according to the word of God, how does one “push through” the difficulty to “see the glory of God?”
When David was fleeing Saul, he took refuge in a town called Ziklag. While he and his men were absent, having gone forth to fight the Philistines, the Amalekites came and burned the city with fire, stealing all of the families and goods. David and his men returned to find desolation and total loss. Their sorrow soon turned to anger against David, who also had suffered the loss of all. It was at this moment, when faith was low and “hope” was almost non-existent, that Scripture tells us, “…but David encouraged himself in the Lord.” (1 Samuel 30:6) He would seek the Lord, receive a word of encouragement, direction, and promise from Him. He then, with his men, would rise up, pursue the enemy, conquer them, and retrieve all that had been lost. The critical issue here of being able to “push through” the difficult moment, was “encouraging himself in the Lord.” Abraham would do the same thing. In Romans 4, we read: “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, GIVING GLORY TO GOD.” (v.20) Here is a man who has the promise of God clearly before him, but is giving glory to God in the face of that which is humanly impossible. He is rejoicing in the faithfulness of God, “…being fully persuaded, that what He had promised, He was able also to perform.” (v.20,21)
Dear Father, in those moments when faith is challenged with regard to Thy promises, give us grace, and strengthen our hearts, to encourage ourselves in You, giving you glory. Enable us to “stagger not” at Thy promises, but to resolutely, steadily “push through” all resistance without and within, to “see Thy glory” revealed in Your intervention. We praise and thank Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad