Theword

?THE GRASS WITHERS, THE FLOWER FADES, BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD STANDS FOREVER.? (ISAIAH 40:8)

Pastor Ernest Martinez

The Community Church of Devore

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

A man came to Jesus whose son had been possessed by a demonic spirit all of his life. He said to Jesus:

"Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not (Mark 9:17 ? 18).?

Jesus responded by saying: "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me (Mark 9:19).?

They brought him to Jesus. Jesus asked the father:

??How long has this been happening to him?? And he said, ?From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.? Jesus said to him, ?If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.? Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ?Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!? (Mark 9:21 ? 24)?

With tears he cried out ?HELP MY UNBELIEF!?

How many of us have unbelief in our hearts? How many would be willing to admit it? As the book of Hebrews says:

?Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:12 ? 13).?

Furthermore, the book of Hebrews says in chapter 6 verses 17 ? 20:

?Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.?

What a promise! To those of us who flee to the open arms of Jesus are filled with hope. We have a sure ?anchor? which keeps us close to the Savior. Charles Spurgeon said of this anchor:

Moreover, the anchor is necessary so that we many be faithful and useful. The person who is easily moved and believes one thing today and another tomorrow, is fickle. Who knows where we will find him next? Of what use is he to young people or to those who are weak in faith or, indeed, to anyone else? Like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind, what service can he give in the work of the Lord, and how can he influence others for good? He himself does not believe; how can he make others believe? I think that the Christian who knows orthodox theology but who does not really believe is responsible for more unfaithfulness to God than a person who believes heresies. In other words, I am afraid that a person who earnestly believes an error has a less harmful influence on others than a person who holds the truth with indifference and with secret unbelief. The latter is tolerated in godly company, for he professes to be a believer and he is therefore able to cause harm within the body of Christ. You might say he stabs at piety beneath her shield. This person is not sure of anything; he only ?hopes? and ?trusts,? and when defending the truth, he concedes that there is much to be said on both sides, so that he kisses and stabs and the same time.
In Summary, our God has provided us with and anchor to hold us securely so that we will not be shipwrecked, to keep us in peace, to prevent us from losing ground, and to enable us to remain faithful and useful. These purposes are the result of God?s kindness and wisdom towards us. Let us bless the Lord who has so graciously cared for us.?

If you are someone who ?hopes? and ?trusts? this is all true, but are not convinced, repent and ask the Lord to help your unbelief. Otherwise, when you are with the people of God, don?t speak, keep silent, resist the temptation, for the Bible says ?Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive (Proverbs 17:28).? Don?t destroy the work of God because of your heart of unbelief. For the rest of us the Bible is clear:

?Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them (Romans 16:17).?

?Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself (Philippians 3:17 ? 21).?

May we keep our eyes on Jesus Christ, the anchor of our souls. May we believe everything He has taught us and refuse to let go of the truth. May the Lord show you the truth of these words and keep you spotless in a perverse and unbelieving generation.

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Published on: 2005-10-28 (2530 reads)