Regina, SK – August 5, 2007
INTRODUCTION
God’s Full Provision for the Path of Faith
This afternoon I’d like to speak about the full provision God has made for the path of faith that enables the Christian to escape the pollutions of the world and live for the glory of God.
We have been called by a heavenly calling, and it makes us pilgrims on earth. This world is not our home; it is a defiled place and surely not our rest. “Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction” (Micah. 2:10). As pilgrims, we are merely passing through this scene as we journey to our heavenly home in the glory above. Our resources for the way are all found in God Himself who has called us. He is for us every step of the way! His love and power will bring us there in the end, but presently we have been provided with everything that we need for the journey. Praise be to His name!
Let’s turn to 2 Peter 1 and verses 3-4, for our text. “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain [relate] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption [pollution] that is in the world through lust.” This chapter lays out the divine means of being kept in an evil day. God wants us to be preserved in the path of faith, and He has made every provision necessary for it. Peter says that He has given to us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” This afternoon I would like to speak about what these “things” are and what they entail.
The end Peter has in view is that we would all have an abundant “entrance” into “the everlasting kingdom” (vs. 11). This is not referring to going home to heaven at the Rapture, as some have thought, but rather, when we come out of heaven at the appearing of Christ. God wants us to have an abundant entrance into the kingdom in its public manifestation in the Millennium. It is when our rewards will be on display before the world, and we will have different places of honour in the kingdom according to how we have lived in this world. All Christians will have an abundant entrance into heaven. There will be a glad welcome for every believer, regardless of how he or she has lived. Our responsibility will not be taken up at that moment. But when it comes to our entrance into the kingdom in its public display before the world (at the appearing of Christ), it may not be very abundant if we are lacking the rewards that could have been ours, had we lived more faithfully. This was Peter’s concern for the saints.
If we are going to have an abundant entrance into the kingdom, we will have to escape “the corruption [pollution] that is in the world through lust.” This will only happen if we avail ourselves of this great provision that God has made for us and if we are exercised about having the moral and spiritual qualities in our lives that are mentioned in verses 5-7—virtue, knowledge, temperance [self-control], patience, godliness, brotherly love, and charity [divine love].
TEN GREAT RESOURCES
As I have said, God has completely outfitted us for our spiritual journey from earth to heaven. He has provided everything that we will need to live a life of godliness, even though we live in a very corrupt and polluted world.
I’d like to address ten different things that God has given to enable the Christian to escape the pollutions of the world and live a life of godliness for His glory. (I don’t say that they constitute all of God’s great provision for us, but I believe they cover the main things.)
You will notice that each of these ten things has a sovereign side and a human side of responsibility connected with it—except one. It shows that it’s one thing for God to graciously supply these things, and it’s another thing that we would avail ourselves of them practically. It means that if we are going to be kept in the path, we’ll need to be exercised about utilizing what God has given to us. As we look at these things, it will be evident that we really have no excuse for failing because everything that we could possibly need for the path has been given us. But sad to say, we sometimes do fail.
1) Spiritual Capacity Through the New Birth
Let’s turn, first of all, to 1 John 5:4-54For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4‑5). “Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” The Apostle John is speaking here about how the Christian can overcome the world and be preserved from its influences.
The world, in the sense that he speaks of here, is an evil system that man has built up in his alienation from God for his own pleasure and happiness. It has many departments—art, music, sports, politics, religion, etc.—something for everybody. And its purpose is to keep people from thinking about eternal issues and from coming to Christ for salvation. Satan himself is at the head of this system. In connection with religious things—and there is plenty of religion without Christ in this world—he is called “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)). When it is in connection with secular things, he is called “the prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:1131Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. (John 12:31)
30Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. (John 14:30)
11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:11); Eph. 2:22Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Ephesians 2:2)). We hardly need to say that anything, or any system, that would keep people from Christ is evil. Not only does this wicked system keep people from Christ; but it draws true believers away from Him! Therefore, we need to see it for what it really is—an enemy.
The great point in this passage is that God has enabled us to beat the world and all its seductions and allurements by imparting to us a new life through new birth. John makes the simple statement, “Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world.” God has given His children a new divine life, and that life has spiritual desires and appetites for the things of God. If you have been born again, you have the spiritual capacity to enjoy divine things, and it will be the means of your overcoming the world.
Now as I’ve said, there are two parts to each of these things that God has given. On God’s side He has given us the capacity to enjoy divine things, but on our side, we must exercise “our faith.” John, therefore, added, “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.” He is not speaking here of believing on the Lord Jesus for the salvation of our souls exactly, but of an on-going, living faith that lays hold of Christ where He is at the right hand of God. God would have us, by faith, to lay hold of that scene above where the Lord Jesus is the center of a whole other world. The person who sees Christ there on high in the glory, by faith, and enjoys through communion his blessings in Him, will be delivered from the seductions of the world.
The child of God who enjoys divine things while in communion with the Lord Jesus Christ will beat the world because he has touched something higher and sweeter than what the world can offer. As long as he enjoys sweet fellowship with the Lord over divine things, the world will have no attraction to his soul. Years ago, Mr. H. E. Hayhoe was on his way to the breaking of bread meeting on a Lord’s Day morning, and he met a fellow worker from their place of employment. There was an exhibition in town that weekend to which that man was going. As they met in the bus station he called to Mr. Hayhoe and asked, “Are you going to the exhibition today?” Mr. Hayhoe answered, “If you knew the exhibition that is going on before my soul, you wouldn’t ask me that!” He was enjoying something infinitely better than an exhibition that men were putting on, and he wasn’t interested. Now that’s what God does with us. He sets something brighter before our souls, and as we are attracted to Christ in glory, and our faith lays hold of Him there, we are done for this world. Mr. Darby put it simply. He said that it was like a child putting down one toy for a brighter and more attractive one.
It is very interesting to me how the Apostle John handles this matter of deliverance from the world and its seductions. He doesn’t say that the way to beat it is to walk in separation from it—which we might have thought he’d say—but rather, that our faith should be anchored to Christ where He is now in the glory. And through having communion with Him there, separation would naturally follow.
This is God’s way of delivering us from hankering after the things of the world—which will only trip us up and draw us away from the Lord. Let us be warned then, that if we’re not enjoying heavenly things, we are at risk of being attracted by the world and drawn away.
2) The Spirit of God
Let’s turn now to Romans 8:1-21There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1‑2). “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made [set] me free from the law of sin and death.” We have here another thing that God has given to us for the pathway that will help us live a life of godliness and escape the pollutions of the world—the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The subject in this chapter is deliverance from sin—that is, deliverance from the working of the old sin-nature in us. Paul begins this treatise on deliverance by speaking of the believer’s acceptance “in Christ” (vs. 1). He mentions this first to show how the Spirit of God, who will act for us in deliverance, is received. The moment the believer sees his place in Christ by faith, the Spirit comes to dwell in him, and he is saved (Eph. 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)). Verse 1 is acceptance, and verse 2 is deliverance.
Now God has not only given us a new life whereby we have a desire for the things of Christ, but He has also given us the Spirit of God who supplies the power to live a holy life for the glory of God. As we all know, the child of God is a unique creature; he has two natures. We have the old fallen nature (“the flesh”) that only wants to do its own will and sin. And we also have a new life and nature that desires the things of God. The problem is that the old fallen nature often lifts up its ugly head, and when we give in to it, we sin. This struggle between the two natures is illustrated in Romans 7:14-2414For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:14‑24). Hence, there is the need for practical deliverance from this enemy within. God understands our need and has given to us the Spirit of God whose power overrides the workings of the flesh so that we are able to live a holy life for God’s glory. Freedom from the indwelling sin-nature, none can know while they live in this world; but freedom from its power all can know if they act on the principles in these Scriptures before us in Romans 8.
The indwelling presence of the Spirit is spoken of here as “the law of the Spirit of life.” He works in us to set us “free” from “the law of sin and death,” which is the principle at work in our old sin-nature that works death in us. To illustrate this, think of the scientific law of gravity. Every object is being attracted downward toward the center of the earth with an invisible force called gravity—it happens over the entire earth; it’s universal. It is called the law of gravity, or the principle of gravity. Take any solid object in your hand—let’s say a book—and hold it out over the ground. If you let go of it, what happens? It falls to the ground. If you did it ten times in a row, it would fall to the ground every time. It is a universal principle and there is nothing we can do to change it. The workings of the sin-nature (“the law of sin and death”) is also a universal principle present in every human being living on this planet, because of the fall of man. When it’s let loose, it wants to do one thing—go downward toward sin.
Taking our illustration a little farther, suppose we wanted to change matters so that when we released our grasp of the book it would not fall to the ground under the power of gravity. If we attached some balloons that were filled with helium gas (which is lighter than air) to the book and we had enough of these balloons so that the lifting force of them was greater than the weight of the book, what would happen when we released our hold of the book? It would begin to rise instead of fall. And why is that? Is it because the principle of gravity has been taken away or made inactive by the balloons? No! The gravity is still there, but we have brought to bear an overriding principle to act on the book—a more powerful principle. Gravity is still operative, but the upward force of the balloons is greater than the downward force of gravity, and consequently, our book no longer falls, but rather, it rises through the effect of the helium.
This illustrates what God has done with the believer. The fallen nature is not taken away when a person gets saved. God has seen fit to leave us here in this world with the fallen nature still in us, and the state of our hearts is constantly tested by it. Instead of removing the fallen nature, God has made a full provision for us to live free of the power of that evil thing. “The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” like the helium, is brought into our lives to override the downward pull of the sin-nature. This is deliverance! What a wonderful provision this is.
Now, you might say, “That sounds very good, but I’m as weak as a kitten when I face temptation. I keep succumbing to the simplest things.” Well, that may be true, but it need not be. If you’re saved and feel quite powerless against the impulses of your sin-nature, it’s not because you don’t have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, but that He’s not at liberty to work in you as He would like.
The Apostle Paul anticipates this dilemma that so many of us have. After speaking of the principle of deliverance in verses 1-4, he goes on to speak of how we can have daily deliverance in our lives in verses 5-13. This shows that it’s one thing to have the indwelling Spirit as a provision to live a holy life, and it’s quite another to have Him working in us so that His power is evident in our lives practically. Galatians 5:1616This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16) gives it to us in a nutshell. It says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Walking in the Spirit, however, is a rather abstract statement that needs some further explanation. I believe Paul does that in this series of verses in Romans 8. He says, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” He explains that there are two domains, or spheres, in which a person can live: a sphere that pertains to the flesh, and a sphere that pertains to the Spirit.
He speaks of one sphere as being “the things of the flesh.” He does not go into specifics, but we all know what kind of things the flesh goes in for. He says, “They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh.” To “mind” something, means “to pay attention to it.” That’s the sphere where the lost man lives: he knows no other domain. But it’s possible for Christians to live in that sphere too! Then he speaks of another sphere—“the things of the Spirit.” Again, he doesn’t give specifics. These are things that have to do with Christ’s interests in this world. It could be praising the Lord, studying the Scriptures, singing and making melody in our hearts, going to Bible meetings or prayer meetings, reading good ministry, listening to recorded ministry, writing letters to fellow Christians, visiting people with a word of encouragement, sharing the gospel, passing out gospel tracts, etc. If we stand back for a moment and look at it, we’ll see at once that these two spheres are exactly the opposite of one another. Their interests are poles apart. One serves the interests of SELF, and the other the interests of CHRIST. A road, so-to-speak, branches out from each one that leads away from the other. One leads to what is truly “life and peace” and the other leads to moral “death.”
Then in verses 12-13, the Apostle draws a sobering conclusion, saying, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” This is a solemn word. He tells us, in no uncertain terms, that if we live in the sphere of the flesh it will lead to death in our lives! Now the way he speaks of death here is not physical death, but moral death in the believer’s life. Death in Scripture always carries the thought of separation, and in this case, it refers to a separation in our link of communion with God, which invariably results in failure.
The point here is clear; if you live in the sphere of the flesh, you can expect that it’s going to bring forth death in your life. If we live our lives from morning to night in the sphere that pertains to the flesh, we cannot expect to have the power of the Spirit in our lives in any appreciable way. I’m sure you know what I mean. Maybe you spend most of your day at the beach playing volleyball, and then after that you hit a pizza parlor where they have thumping rock music going (and maybe it’s in your car on the way to and from the place too). Following that you go to a movie, or maybe a basketball game, and then when that’s over you come home and watch TV for a while. Since there is still a little time left in the day, you play a computer game or read a magazine, and then you go off to bed. To put it bluntly, what has happened is that you’ve spent your day in the sphere of the flesh. If you do that regularly, you can expect the flesh to raise its ugly head in your life and assert itself. I would not say that all of those things that I’ve described are sinful and wrong, but they are things that do not pertain to the sphere of the Spirit. On the other hand, if we live in the sphere of the Spirit, the Spirit of God will be free to work in our lives to keep the flesh in check, and we’ll have plenty of power to live for the glory of God. This is the real meaning of being filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:1818And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:18)).
Now, friends, it is glaringly obvious why we lose the battle to this inward enemy—we spend too much time in the wrong sphere, minding the things of the flesh! Let me ask you, “In which of these two spheres are you living? Is it in those things that pertain to the interests of Christ, or is it in the sphere of earthly and fleshly things?” Our problem is that we don’t live much in the sphere of the Spirit and far too much in the sphere of the flesh—and then we complain of a “power failure!” Well, it’s no wonder why! If we choose to live in that earthly and fleshly sphere, why are we surprised that we have no power to withstand the inclinations of the flesh? If we pamper the flesh, we’ll hamper the Spirit! I think we need to be exercised about what we do with our time and start living in the right sphere. If you’re a Christian, the sphere of the Spirit is your proper sphere. It’s the only place where you’re going to find true happiness and deliverance.
And let’s remember that today’s filling will not do for tomorrow! It’s not enough to say, “Well I’ve spent some time in the Word on Lord’s Day going to the meeting; that should be good enough for the week.” No, we must live in the sphere of the Spirit every day; then we’ll have victory over the flesh. It’s pretty simple, really; the Spirit of God dwells within us to help us, but we are responsible to live in the right sphere. God has ordered it that deliverance will only be had in that way, and by it the state of our hearts is constantly being manifested.
The Spirit of God has also been given to us to teach us the truth (John 14:26; 16:1326But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:13)). We all have this “anointing” of the Spirit to help us understand the truth when it is presented (1 John 2:21-2721I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 26These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:21‑27)).
3) The Word of God
The aspect of “salvation” that Paul is speaking of in this verse is not the salvation of our souls from the penalty of our sins (as announced in the gospel), but a practical salvation from spiritual dangers in the path. Timothy was called to live in a dark and difficult day, and there were many pitfalls into which he could very easily have fallen. He needed to be saved in a practical way from those dangers that surrounded him by heeding the guiding principles of the Word of God.
What a tremendous provision God has given us in the Scriptures. David said, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psa. 119:105105NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)). He also said, “The entrance of Thy words giveth light” (Psa. 119:130130The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (Psalm 119:130)). However, merely owning a Bible will not give us this light for our pathway; we need to gather principles from it by reading it and storing it in our hearts. David also said, “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against Thee” (Psa. 119:1111Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalm 119:11)). He hid the BEST thing in the BEST place for the BEST reason! God has given us this wonderful Book, and our responsibility is two-fold. We must be diligent to gather principles from it, and then we must be obedient to those principles. Diligence and obedience are the two necessary requirements for the Word of God to deliver us from dangers in the way. We mustn’t be hearers and not doers of the Word (James 1:22-2422But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. (James 1:22‑24)); we won’t get the blessing in that case.
This means that we’ll have to spend time in the Scriptures. Isaiah said, “Seek ye out the book of the LORD, and read” (Isa. 34:1616Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them. (Isaiah 34:16)). I like that verse! When we let the principles of the Word guide our path, and don’t lean upon our own understanding, we’ll be preserved from the mistakes that people make in life (Prov. 3:55Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)). The more we prayerfully read God’s Word, the more He will impart His wisdom to us which will guide us in the pathway. I’m afraid that our problem is that we don’t spend enough time reading the Scriptures. Ignorance of some principle has often been our downfall. Many of the mistakes we make in life are because of this. Proverbs 19:2 Says, “That the soul be without knowledge, it is not good.” However, we are sure to be delivered from all the dangers in the pathway by heeding Scriptural principles.
An incident in the life of Elisha in 2 Kings 6:8-108Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 9And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. 10And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. (2 Kings 6:8‑10) illustrates this. “Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.” The king of Syria, who is a type of the devil, sought to ambush the children of Israel. He set himself up “in such and such a place,” but each time he was defeated in his purpose because the prophet delivered the king of Israel a word from God not to go there. It was the (oral) Word of God that delivered the king of Israel from the mouth of the prophet. It brings another verse to mind, “By the Word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer” (Psa. 17:44Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. (Psalm 17:4)).
Just as there were certain places where the king of Israel wasn’t to go because his enemy was sure to get him, there are certain places in this world we shouldn’t be found in because our enemy (the devil) will lay a trap for us there. That place will probably be different for you than for me—it depends on what our interests are. The devil has watched your life enough to know where you go and what you do. He knows what you may have a weakness for, and he is waiting in such a spot to draw you into something that would lead you out of the path. He’s going to try to find a place where he can trip you up, you can be sure of that. The only way we can overcome the wicked one is to keep our feet in the path the Word of God has marked out. If our feet stay in that path, he can’t touch us!
4) The Throne of Grace
Now let’s turn over to Hebrews 4:1616Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16). “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain [receive] mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Here we have yet another great provision for the pathway—the throne of grace. Coming boldly to the throne of grace refers to our access into the presence of God in prayer. We have this privilege every hour of every day of our lives. It’s a 24-hour call line. Do we need help in the path? We certainly do. Well, prayer is still the best wireless connection! By it we are instantly connected to heaven.
This brings us to our side in this. God has provided the throne of grace for us, but our responsibility is to “come boldly” before it in prayer. If we don’t come to the Lord with our needs and requests, we can hardly expect to see the problems we face in life solved. The Lord still might do things for us that we haven’t asked for, but it manifests a lack of faith and confidence in Him if we don’t bring things before Him in prayer.
Now, in all of our requests that we make before the throne of grace, God has the right to deny what He in His wisdom sees what won’t be the best for us. It doesn’t say that He will automatically grant all of our requests as we would like them. Since the Lord does not make mistakes, we must submit our petitions before the throne of grace to His approval. We should always pray, “If it be Thy will.” These verses, in Hebrews 4, tell us that He will answer our prayers by giving us “mercy” or “grace,” depending on what He sees fit. Mercy delivers us out of the trial; grace is support given in the trial that He doesn’t see fit to take us out of.
In receiving “mercy,” the Lord grants relief from the trial by taking it away. He sees that the trial has worked its desired end in us, and He lifts it. I’m sure that’s what we all desire when we are in a trial. However, it may be that on certain occasions He will not grant our prayer requests as we would desire. He may not lift us out of the trial. Instead, He gives us a special supply of “grace” to go through it. In either case, the Lord does what His perfect wisdom deems best.
Acts 12 illustrates these two ways in which our prayers can be answered. The Apostle James was apprehended by the authorities and was killed (vss. 1-2). God did not lift him out of the trial, but rather, gave Him grace to die as a martyr. The authorities also apprehended Peter, and they intended to do the same with him. But the Church prayed incessantly for his deliverance, and God providentially stepped in and granted him mercy. He was lifted out of the trial by the angel who opened the prison and set him free (vss. 3-19). James received grace to go through the trial, but Peter received mercy and was delivered from the trial altogether.
Ultimately, it is God who orders all things according to His perfect wisdom. He knows what is best for us and answers our prayers according to His divine will. The thing for us to do (which is so hard) is to submit to what the Lord chooses. Remember, He never makes a mistake. Psalm 18:3030As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. (Psalm 18:30) says, “As for God, His way is perfect.” If we truly believe it, then we will have peace as we wait for His answer.
You might be saying, “I pray, but my prayers are never answered in the way I’d like.” Well, you need to understand that there are conditions under which we must pray in order for our prayers to be answered affirmatively. I remember hearing of a young lady who had gotten saved by the grace of God. She turned from the world and its follies only to be drawn back into it by carnal friends. To the grief of those who watched her, she absented herself from the meetings and began to frequent the halls of pleasure that are enmity against God. To any who would plead with her she would reply that she detested narrowness and legality. She told them that God has given us all things to richly enjoy (1 Tim. 6:1717Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; (1 Timothy 6:17)) and saw no harm in what she engaged herself in.
After some time, her beloved father was stricken with a severe illness that threatened his life. When her father was taken to the hospital, she was in great distress. He had to undergo a special surgery in an attempt to save his life. Turning to her Bible, she found John 15:77If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7), which says, “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” It seemed like a direct message from God to her. She went to her room and claimed that promise in prayer. She prayed earnestly that her father would recover and be restored to good health. She implicitly trusted the Word; she didn’t have a doubt in her mind and was sure that God would answer her prayer. Well, what happened was that her father died. His death came as a great shock to the girl. She was devastated. Instead of the incident turning her back to the Lord, it seemed rather to harden her against Him. She turned to the world more completely than before. She was full of doubt and uncertainty regarding her faith—even to the point of questioning the existence of God. She couldn’t pray and wouldn’t read her Bible. What hurt the most was that she had trusted God’s Word absolutely and she felt that she had been let down. Her faith had received a severe blow from which many thought she would never recover.
A brother visited her, and she related the story to him. He said to her, “Tell me what you call a person who tries to cash a check that is made out to someone else by endorsing it falsely? She said, “A forger.” He looked at her and said, “I’m afraid that that’s your case. You tried to cash a check on the bank of heaven that was not intended for you.” He opened his Bible to John 15:77If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7) and read it to her. “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” Then he asked her, “Is that you? Were you abiding in Christ when you went to the dancehall and floated over the ballroom floor? Were His words abiding in you when you went with your worldly friends to the movie theater? Was it abiding in Christ that kept you from the meetings?” He said, “Sister, I’m afraid that you are not that person. What right do you have to cash that check that was not intended for you?” The truth was that her father’s work on earth was done, and it was time for him to go, and the Lord called him. This shows there are certain moral conditions needed in us before we will have answered prayers.
The Moral Conditions For Answered Prayer
A Good Conscience (Heb. 13:1818Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. (Hebrews 13:18); 1 John 3:19-2219And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (1 John 3:19‑22)). We maintain a good conscience through self-judgment—by confessing and forsaking all known sin (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9); Prov. 28:1313He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)). God will not regard our prayers if we are going on in sin (Psa. 66:1818If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: (Psalm 66:18)).
Communion (John 15:77If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7)). The Lord said, “If ye abide in Me ... ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” As we walk in fellowship with the Lord, we will discern what is on His heart and what He is about to do, and accordingly, will ask for it.
Intelligence (John 15:77If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7)). The Lord said, “If ... My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” As we read the Word of God, we learn God’s principles, and thus, will pray according to His will (1 John 5:14-1514And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1 John 5:14‑15)).
Confidence (Faith) (Matt. 21:21-2221Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:21‑22)). The Lord said, “All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Oftentimes we pray, but don’t believe we’ll get the answer (James 1:6-76But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. (James 1:6‑7); Acts 12:5, 12-175Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. (Acts 12:5)
12And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. 13And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. 14And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. 15And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. 16But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. 17But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place. (Acts 12:12‑17)).
Importunity (Luke 11:88I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. (Luke 11:8)). This is urgency and earnestness. As we wait for the answer, God uses the exercise for the chastening of our spirits and the correcting of our attitudes, if need be (Dan. 10:1212Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. (Daniel 10:12)).
Perseverance (Eph. 6:1818Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18)). We often give up too quickly. We need to “continue in prayer” (Col. 4:22Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (Colossians 4:2)). Paul speaks about striving together in prayer. We don’t seem to know much about that (Rom. 15:3030Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; (Romans 15:30)). Nehemiah persevered in prayer for 4 months before he saw an answer (Neh. 1:1, 5; 2:1-81The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, (Nehemiah 1:1)
5And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: (Nehemiah 1:5)
1And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. 2Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, 3And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? 4Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it. 6And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 7Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; 8And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. (Nehemiah 2:1‑8)).
The Apostle Paul knew what it was like not to have a prayer request granted as he desired. He besought the Lord three times about his infirmity in the flesh, but the Lord didn’t grant him mercy and take the problem away. Instead, He gave him grace to go on. The Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Cor. 12:99And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)). Paul, therefore, submitted to it “most gladly,” and God gave him grace for the situation. And he got a practical blessing out of it. This is the attitude that we need to have in regard to the will of God in our lives.
5) The High Priestly Intercession of Christ
Let’s turn now to Hebrews 7:25-2625Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (Hebrews 7:25‑26) for another great provision that is closely connected with the previous one. “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost [completely] that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” This is another great thing that God has given to aid us in the path of faith—the high priestly intercession of Christ. In Romans 5 we are told that He went into death to save our souls from the penalty of our sins (Rom. 5:8-98But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:8‑9)), and now, He has gone into heaven to carry on a work to “save” our lives in a practical sense (Rom. 5:1010For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10)).
You might ask, “Save us from what?” He is there on high to “save” us from falling into sin. It is a practical salvation from spiritual dangers in the path. This shows that He is greatly concerned about us, and He doesn’t want to see us fall into sin and spoil our life and testimony. Not only that, but He also sympathizes with our infirmities (sicknesses). Everything that we may be going through as far as afflictions are concerned, whether they are emotional or physical, He feels and sympathizes with us in it (Heb. 2:17-18; 4:1517Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:17‑18)
15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)). This shows just how much He cares for us.
Now, as I’ve been saying, in each one of these great provisions of God, we have our responsible part. Our part in this is that we must “come unto God by Him.” This speaks of expressing our dependence on the Lord for His help daily. It is closely connected with the previous provision of prayer, but here it is more about expressing our dependence upon Him for every step in the path of faith rather than making specific prayer requests. We may feel the dangers pressing on us, but we can go to Him and ask Him to preserve us, and He is able to “save” us “completely” in the situation that we are in. We need to be like the Psalmist who prayed, “Preserve me, O God for in Thee do I put my trust” (Psa. 16:11<<Michtam of David.>> Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. (Psalm 16:1)). The Psalmist also said, “Hold Thou me up and I shall be safe” (Psa. 119:117117Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. (Psalm 119:117)). These are expressions of dependence upon God that should be with us every day of our lives.
This is a wonderful provision; it really is. If we are ignorant of some principle in the Word of God that would guide us in the path, yet we look up to the Lord and express our dependence on Him, He won’t let us down. He’ll preserve us from making a wrong step because God always honours faith. If we are daily committing our way to Him, He will step in and preserve us from making a mistake in our lives. That’s how good of a God we have! The Lord Jesus is on high interceding for us 24 hours a day. His great desire is that we might behave well in the path, and not fail.
When we pray, God wants us to be earnest about it. I remember one time when my business was not going very well and the sales were down, I would get down and pray in my office, and entreat the Lord earnestly for help. One day I was praying so hard that when the phone rang, without thinking I reached over and picked it up and said, “Our God and Father ... ” The person on the other end must have wondered what on earth was going on! I was in earnest and had totally lost track of what was going on around me.
6) The Advocacy of Christ
Let’s turn to 1 John 2:1-21My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1‑2), and we’ll get another great provision that God has made. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins.” Here we have the advocacy of Christ. This is a provision that God has made if we fail in that path. The work of Advocate is to bring about restoration in the life of the believer. He wants to restore us to communion with Himself and His Father. What a wonderful provision this is! And how greatly it’s needed, for we all fail—though there is no reason for why we ever should.
It’s unfortunate that this chapter break in 1St John 1 Comes in the middle of the subject. The latter verses of chapter 1 belong to this subject. If you look at the passage as a whole, you’ll see that a person turns to God and confesses his sins (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)) because of Christ’s work as an Advocate (1 John 2:1-21My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1‑2)). The first verse of chapter 2 indicates that the advocacy of Christ goes into action “if any man sin.” This happens immediately upon the person sinning, not when he turns and confesses his sin. It doesn’t say, “If any man turns to Him and confesses his sin, we have an Advocate.” If the Lord waited for us to turn to Him and confess our sin before He acted as our Advocate, we would never get restored, because left to ourselves, we would never turn to Him, for we can’t restore ourselves. You’ll notice that there is no exhortation in the Bible that says, “Restore thyself.” But there is a verse that says, “He restoreth my soul” (Psa. 23:33He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (Psalm 23:3)).
The point here, is that in a time of sin and failure we do not turn to the Lord without Him first working in us. He starts the work of restoration in our souls, exercising us about our state. This doesn’t mean that we have nothing to do. We are to repent and confess our sin, but that only happens when the Lord, as our Advocate, works in us by the Spirit to cause us to turn. Christ’s work as our Advocate, therefore, is not like a modern-day lawyer. The lawyer works only when his client turns to him and engages his service. Christ, as our Advocate, works for our good before we turn to Him.
I remember a brother who returned to the meeting after several years of being away, having backslidden terribly, saying, “I’ve turned back to the Lord. I’m back!” But really what had happened was that the Lord had turned him back. This brother was taking the credit for turning back, not realizing that if the Lord hadn’t worked, he wouldn’t have returned to Him. He didn’t understand the helpless condition he was in, being totally shut up to God.
I would also point out that the word “little” (in the KJV) is not really in the original text, because it’s not just little children who sin. It should read, “My children ... ” This shows that any one of the children of God can sin and get away from the Lord. An older one can fail as well as a younger one. In fact, if an older one sins, it is often more serious because he or she can influence others in that path. Dave Whitaker used to say, “I’ve never yet seen a young person lead a division amongst the saints gathered to the Lord’s Name”—and that’s quite true.
Notice also, it says, “If any man sin ... ” It doesn’t say, “When ... ” “If,” indicates the possibility of sinning, but “when,” would suggest that sinning is a normal order of things in the life of the believer. This, however, is not true. Sinning is something quite abnormal to Christianity. There is no need for any one of us to sin, but “if” one does, there is a provision so that that person can be restored. Sometimes we get the idea that in certain circumstances we just have to sin, but there is no truth to that. There is never a time when a child of God is justified in sinning.
Furthermore, it says that our Advocate is “with the Father.” This indicates that if a believer sins, he still has a relationship with God as his Father. It shows that he has not lost his salvation, as some mistakenly think. If it were so, then God would no longer be his Father. Nor would he need an Advocate; but rather, he would need a Saviour!
Now we might wonder that if the Lord is on high interceding for us as our Great High Priest, and the purpose of it is that we would not fail, how is it that anyone ever fails? Surely it couldn’t be that the Lord has failed in His priestly intercession. This question puzzled R. F. Kingscote (the man who wrote “Christ as Seen in the Offerings”) and he wrote to J. N. Darby asking him for help on it. Mr. Darby told him that there are times when the Lord may not intercede for us in His high priestly service, and thus, He allows us to fall so that we would learn from the fall what we were not learning from the Word of God. He cited Peter as an example. The Lord said to him, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:3232But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Luke 22:32)). Darby noted that the Lord did not pray that Peter wouldn’t fail, but that in his failure (which was inevitable) his faith would not be shattered. When our sin is so deeply ensconced in us that the Word of God, as applied by the Spirit of God to the conscience, does not bring us to self-judgment, the Lord may teach us to judge ourselves through the sorrows of a fall. This is a very solemn thing indeed, but such are the ways of God with us.
As noted, our responsible part in this is given at the end of chapter 1, where it says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)). We do not confess weakness; we confess sins. The Lord sympathizes with our weaknesses (Matt. 26:4141Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)), but He does not sympathize with our sins. Not only does He “forgive us” in the sense of bringing in restoration, but He also cleanses us from “all unrighteousness.” The Lord does this because there are many unrighteous things in our souls that often precipitate the acts of sin. The Lord wants to get to the bottom of it and “cleanse us” from those things too, so that there is a thorough restoration in our souls. It may be an attitude, or something else that causes us to sin. If we allow Him to address those things, He will do a deep and thorough work of cleansing our souls from “all unrighteousness” so that we will not fail in that matter again.
Again, this just shows how we are definitely shut up to the grace of God for our whole lives—from the beginning to the end. The grace that saves is the same grace that restores.
Four Things That Go Into Action in the Exercise of Christ’s Advocacy
Now you might ask, “How does Christ’s advocacy work exactly?” Well, there are at least four things that go into action in the exercise of it.
1) Christ Intercedes For Us on High. The Lord Jesus goes to the Father about our sad state and prays that we would be brought to repentance (Luke 22:3131And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (Luke 22:31)). At the same time, He maintains our cause in heaven before God against the accusations of the devil regarding our sin and failure (Rev. 12:1010And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (Revelation 12:10)). When Satan raises his accusations against us, the Lord does not excuse our failures, nor is He there to sympathize with them. He, so-to-speak, points to the blood and says, “I paid for that.” This is why it says, “And He is the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 2:22And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)).
2) The Spirit of God Brings the Word of God to Bear on Our Consciences. The Spirit of God will address our poor state and will occupy us with our failure until we own it and repent (Gen. 42:21-2221And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. 22And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required. (Genesis 42:21‑22)). He will use the Word of God to break down our sin-hardened hearts. “Is not My Word like as a fire? Saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jer. 23:2929Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29)) He may bring a verse to mind, either by hearing, reading, or remembering it, that will speak to our consciences about our course. God’s Word restores souls. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting [restoring] the soul” (Psa. 19:77The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. (Psalm 19:7); Psa. 119:99BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Psalm 119:9)). We see this illustrated in Peter’s failure. It says that the Lord looked upon Peter, and Peter remembered what? The good times that he had had with the Lord? No! The miracles that the Lord did? No! He remembered “the Word of the Lord” (Luke 22:6161And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. (Luke 22:61)). And it brought him to repentance.
The Spirit of God will impress us with the love and goodness of God, and it will break us down and produce repentance (Rom. 2:44Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Romans 2:4)). “Grace” and “love” will touch our hearts and turn us back to the Lord (Jer. 31:2-32Thus saith the Lord, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. 3The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (Jeremiah 31:2‑3): Mal. 1:22I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob, (Malachi 1:2); Rev. 3:1919As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Revelation 3:19)). It was the love of the Lord Jesus that was pressed home to Peter’s soul. W. T. P. Wolston said that it was a look of tenderhearted, disappointed love.
3) The Father Exercises Holy Discipline in Our Lives in a Governmental Way. God may use suffering and sorrow to speak to us in a disciplinary way. He will get our attention one way or another—even if it requires suffering. He loves us that much! He will knock, and knock again, until He gets our attention. “God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.” (Job 33:14-2214For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. 19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: 20So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. 21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. 22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. (Job 33:14‑22)) That is a verse that is usually thought to apply in the gospel, but it was said to a child of God (Job) to whom God was speaking.
If there is a Christian here today who is backsliding, hear this: the Lord will bring you back, sooner or later. He will have it out with you. He may have to make you smart with the rod of correction in order to accomplish His gracious purpose in your life. His love will stop at nothing. If we are wayward, Hosea 2:6-96Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths. 7And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now. 8For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal. 9Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness. (Hosea 2:6‑9) tells us how He will work. He will act providentially in our lives. He will “hedge up” our way, allowing all kinds of negative things to happen to us to frustrate our purposes. He’ll put flashing lights in the way, so-to-speak. If we run one red light, He may put another one in our way. He’ll speak louder and louder, until we get the message.
Would a loving father and mother allow a child to go uncorrected? No, and neither will the Lord (Heb. 12:5-115And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:5‑11)). He may have to strip us of everything that our hearts cling to here in this world—even if it means bringing us to our dying pillow to do it! The whole purpose behind it is to bring us back, and that He will do. The Psalmist said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept Thy Word” (Psa. 119:6767Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. (Psalm 119:67)).
I remember missing a sign one time, and it was awfully embarrassing. It happened when my wife and I went out for dinner. (Before I go any farther, you need to understand that when I’ve got to go to the bathroom, I’ve got to go right away.) Anyway, we were having a nice time as I drank the free refills of coke that the waitress kept bringing to us. All of a sudden, I had to go to the washroom and took off in that direction. I didn’t look up but just pushed the door open and went straight to one of the stalls (which I always use). After I was in there for a minute or two, I heard what sounded to me like a couple of children talking. But as I listened, I noticed that they sounded more like a couple of women rather than children. When I listened more closely, sure enough it was! I thought to myself, “Now what would a couple of women be doing in here?” Then all of a sudden it dawned on me—maybe I was in the women’s washroom! A moment later another woman came in and confirmed it.
I didn’t know what to do. I thought to myself, “If they find out I’m in here, they’ll scream, and everybody is going to think that I am some sort of a creep that spies on women.” I can tell you that this is not one of these situations where you can say, “What would Jesus do?” He wouldn’t have gotten Himself into that situation in the first place. How did I ever get myself into that situation anyway? I simply didn’t pay attention to the sign on the door. Well, after waiting until I figured they were all in a stall I bolted for the door and went back to my seat. A little later in the evening I had to go again, but I had learned my lesson. You should have seen how careful I was in obeying the signs on the doors of the washrooms. Someone said, “If we don’t learn, the lesson we won’t get the blessin’.” Well, let me tell you, I learned my lesson—the hard way!
4) God Exercises Our Brethren About Our State. God will also exercise the saints about our sad state, and they will do two things.
Firstly, they will pray for our restoration. And God answers prayers! Perhaps you have a praying mother and father. God will answer their prayers in His time. “Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy” (Jer. 31:15-1615Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. 16Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. (Jeremiah 31:15‑16)).
Secondly, God will exercise our brethren to go after us to restore us. The Apostle Paul said, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness” (Gal. 6:11Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1); James 5:19-2019Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (James 5:19‑20)). Our brethren will come and speak to us about our course. The duty of a brother is to warn an erring one who is heading for shipwreck in his or her life. Proverbs 24:11-12 Says, “If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not He that pondereth the heart consider it? and He that keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it? and shall not He render to every man according to his works.”
So, if the Lord sends someone to speak to us, don’t shoot the prophet—God may be speaking to you through him or her. Scripture says, “Despise not prophesyings” (1 Thess. 5:2020Despise not prophesyings. (1 Thessalonians 5:20)). Don’t be like Ahab who said, “I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me” (2 Chron. 18:77And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may inquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. (2 Chronicles 18:7)). When the prophet Nathan came after David and said, “Thou art the man,” David received it and judged himself and was restored to the Lord (2 Sam. 12). So much so, that he actually named one of his next children after the name of the prophet! “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Prov. 27:66Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. (Proverbs 27:6)).
The various things that we have looked at here will work together to produce repentance and confession that will lead to our restoration. I would add in the final analysis, that it is not the Lord’s disciplines that brings us back; it is His irresistible love and grace. Jeremiah 31:2-32Thus saith the Lord, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. 3The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (Jeremiah 31:2‑3) indicates this. “Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” In connection with Israel’s restoration, there will be the “sword” (which speaks of the Lord’s dealings in discipline), but there will also be “grace” and “love” that will work in their souls to bring them back. We get it again in Hosea 2:1414Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. (Hosea 2:14). It says, “I will speak to her heart” (margin). If there is someone here who needs restoration, the Lord wants to speak to your heart and draw you back to Himself.
All this points to the faithfulness of our God to restore His erring people. He is jealous over our affections and will not let us continue in the paths of unrighteousness forever. Cost what it may, God will bring the backslider back!
7) The Whole Armour of God
Let’s look at another one in Ephesians 6:11-1211Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:11‑12). “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” God has given us yet another provision for the way—the armour of God. This is spiritual armour for a spiritual warfare. If you read on in the chapter, you’ll find that there are seven pieces to this panoply of God, if you include prayer.
This passage indicates that there is such a thing as Christian warfare. It is not a literal battle with bombs and guns; but rather, it is a spiritual conflict against Satan and his emissaries. It’s sad to report that many dear Christians have fallen in this battle—and we very easily could be the next ones to fall if we’re not careful. In the fifth chapter of Peter’s first epistle, we are told that we need to be “sober” and “vigilant” on account of the movements of the devil to overthrow our lives (1 Peter 5:88Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8)). We are not living in a time of peace but in a time of war—spiritual war! We are to live our Christian lives in a state of high alert. And we need to be wearing this armour at all times, for we don’t know when or where there will be an attack.
It says, in Ephesians 6, that Satan uses “wiles” in his warfare, which means that he is exceedingly deceptive. He is a wily foe. A wile is something that looks fair and innocent, but the soul is deceived by it. The fact that it is in the plural (“wiles”) tells us that Satan has many deceptive lines of attack. What he might use against you he may not use against me. Mr. Kelly translates this, “the stratagems of the devil.” Stratagem comes from the word strategy and refers to the science of military warfare. What this means is that Satan is planning a special strategy to assault us! He has designs on your life and mine. It is not a haphazard attack but a carefully planned out thing. It’s a sobering thought. He knows, by observation, the tendencies of each one of us and will use a particular line of attack aimed at the place where he knows we are the weakest.
Satan’s attempt in this conflict is to spoil our personal enjoyment of our portion in Christ. Put simply, he wants to get us away from enjoying our blessings in Christ so that we’ll look for something else to satisfy our hearts. He will work to introduce persons and things into our lives to accomplish this. He will try to bring in all kinds of distractions with a view to overthrowing us in the path of faith.
The pieces of armour are as follows:
THE GIRDLE OF TRUTH—All our movements in life must be governed by the principles of the truth of God.
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS—This is protection for our hearts. We must be on guard against our affections being drawn away after things that are not practically righteous. Let us be careful not to love some thing, or activity, to the point that we become distracted with it.
SHOES (Feet Shod)—We are to walk in calm communion with God wherein nothing that Satan throws at us can distress us and we lose our peace.
THE SHIELD OF FAITH—We must not let the darts of doubt find their mark in our hearts whereby we become discouraged. The fiery darts can be Satan’s judgmental accusations aimed at our consciences. These are the enemy’s subtle attempts to get our eyes off Christ and looking at ourselves. Faith quenches these attacks and is able to say, “God is for me.”
THE HELMET OF SALVATION—This is protection for our thoughts. When things other than Christ occupy our thoughts, the enemy can introduce distractions that will work to draw us away from the Lord. If we set our thoughts on Christ and what we have in Him, we will be saved from all kinds of things that Satan would introduce. THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT (the Word of God)—We must be careful to let the Spirit of God apply the Word of God to our walk and ways to expose any evil motives in our souls, so that we can judge it.
As we’ve been saying, we have a responsibility in each of these things that God has given us that pertain to life and godliness. Our responsibility here, is to be found wearing, or using, the armour of God. God doesn’t put it on for us; it is something we must do. If we are wearing the armour, the devil will be thwarted in his attempts to take from us the enjoyment of our portion in Christ and lead us out of the path of faith.
8) Angelic Agencies
Let’s turn now to Hebrews 1:13-1413But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Hebrews 1:13‑14). “To which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on My right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Here we have another gracious provision of the Lord for the path—the ministry of angels. This is the only one of these provisions that has no human responsibility connected with it, that I know of. God uses angels to work behind the scenes in our lives to protect us from certain temporal dangers that we might get into. Men have their fictitious ideas about the intervention of angels. They have their pictures of women with wings flying around tooting on a trumpet. Sometimes they portray them as fat little babies in swaddling clothes with a harp. But these are men’s ideas; they are not found in the Bible. In the Bible, angels take a human form for the purpose of intervening in matters of life on God’s behalf. However, they are never seen as women or as children, but always as men.
God sends these creatures to look after us in the path. I remember hearing of an example of angels helping a sister one night. She had worked late and had missed the last bus over a bridge to her home. This meant that she would have to walk over the bridge. When she got to the bridge, she noticed that there was someone loitering around up by the middle of the span. She waited for a while and then started over it. She walked right past this creepy-looking character and went on to her home. The next day it was in the news that someone was murdered on that same bridge that same night! The police had caught him and put him in jail. She was puzzled about this and actually went to the police station where they let her speak to the man. She asked him if he remembered her passing that way that night shortly before the murder. He said that he did. She asked why he didn’t try something when she passed by, and he said that it was because there were two big football-type guys walking with her! These, of course, had to be angels who, unknown to her, had escorted her across that bridge and had preserved her life.
9) Fellowship of Brethren
Now, let’s turn to the book of the Acts to see another provision of God for our pathway. Acts 2:44And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4)2 Says, “They continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Then, in chapter 4:23, “And being let go, they went to their own company.” This refers to Christian fellowship. From the very outset of Christianity, God provided a fellowship for His people to walk in. It is another great provision of God that I think we take too lightly.
There is a certain immunity to evil within the fellowship of the saints. This is one of the great benefits of immersing ourselves in the fellowship of the Lord’s people. It’s true that there can be evil even among the Lord’s people (Prov. 5:1414I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly. (Proverbs 5:14)), but under normal conditions, there is protection from the enemy within the flock of God. We see this illustrated in David’s men who are a type of the Lord’s people. They were like “a wall” of protection around Nabal’s servants at the time of shearing when robbers were likely to attack and plunder (1 Sam. 25:1616They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. (1 Samuel 25:16)). Likewise, if we surround ourselves with those who walk with the Lord, they can be a wall of protection for us in our weak moments. There is no question about it; godly companions can definitely help us in our spiritual lives.
In a sense, we are our “brother’s keeper” (Gen. 4:99And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? (Genesis 4:9)). It says in Leviticus 19:1717Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him. (Leviticus 19:17), “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.” This means that we are to look out for our brethren and are to warn them if we see them making false steps. In good Christian fellowship there is not only protection, but there is also encouragement, instruction, sympathy, and support in times of trial.
The problem today is that there may not be many with whom we feel we can walk because of the great ruin in Christendom. We live in days when every man does what is right in his own eyes (Judg. 21:2525In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25)). Hence, if we want to walk with all who “call on the Lord out of a pure heart,” it could be with a relative few (2 Tim. 2:2222Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)). We live in remnant testimony times, and the fewness of numbers is a test of our faith. We are not told to blindly follow our brethren, but rather, to “follow with them.” This means that they’re following too! They are following the Lord (or should be) and we are to follow the Lord “with” them.
10) Gifts Given From the Ascended Christ
Now, let’s turn to one last provision, Ephesians 4:11-1211And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11‑12). “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” We see here that God has also given to the Church specially gifted individuals who can instruct, shepherd, and thus, help us in the path. This may be done through their oral ministry, by recorded ministry, or by written ministry.
Now let me make this clear. My possessing a gift for ministry of the Word will not promote godliness in me personally. Gift is not godliness. But if one who has such a gift exercises it towards me faithfully, and I am receptive to it, I can be greatly helped in the path.
Our responsibility is to avail ourselves of these gifts to the Church, if they are walking in the truth. Again, the problem today is that the testimony of the Church is in ruin and many of these gifts are not functioning under the Lordship of Christ. Many have a gift, but they may not be instructed in the truth—either by design or by ignorance—and they sometimes mislead people. Therefore, it is important that we know whether such persons are walking in the truth before we listen to their instruction, whether it is on doctrinal issues or practical issues. The Apostle Paul said to Timothy, “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (2 Tim. 3:1414But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (2 Timothy 3:14)). We need to be careful in this regard. We need to know who these people are before we drink in their teachings.
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If we look back at these various provisions that God has made for us in the path of faith, we must all agree that there is really no excuse for any of us failing—though we sometimes do. He has truly given to us “all things” that pertain to life and godliness. This full provision for the path will enable us to escape the pollutions of the world and live for the glory of God.
Summary of the Great Provisions God Has Made For the Path of Faith
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit—to give us power to live a holy life (Romans 8:22For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)), and to teach us the truth (John 14:26; 16:1326But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:13)).
The Whole Armour of God—to enable us to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-1810Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:10‑18)).
B. Anstey
(Adapted)
ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS—God’s Full Provision for the Path of Faith
B. Anstey
First Printed Edition – August 2007
Printed Version – 1.0
Printed in Canada
First eBook Edition—May 2021
eBook Version – 1.0
Note: all Scriptures quoted are from either the King James Version (KJV)
or the J. N. Darby Translation, unless otherwise noted.
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