holyword.htm

Believe His Holy Word

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.; (Hebrews 11:1)

The outline of this article was started on Sunday 15 September 2002 after our gathering together in the name of our Lord, and through the gentle hand of the Holy Spirit has become what you shortly shall read and hopefully, understand.
: Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.; (Daniel 4:1-3)

Today is 18 September and for those who shall understand, here is evidence of the hand of the Living Loving Father and how He works in our lives when we look for Him and will to live righteously in the name of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is not an indication of the righteousness of this writer, but of the lovingkindness of our Lord who takes delight in manifesting Himself to His servants.


From the daily devotional book "Travelling Towards Sunrise" by Mrs Charles Cowman:

The substance of things hoped for
The entry for yesterday, 17 September:
: The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me. . .; (Psalms 138:8)

Assured hope keeps the heart young. Life is ever at the dawn. Life is continuously at a beginning. It is always morning. One cannot be discouraged no matter how long, or hard, or wearisome the way; one keeps right on climbing - for he knows the path leads not only somewhere, but to the Everywhere, He knows he shall arrive.

The day's long work is done, the west is red,
The plough stands still, the gathered sheep are fed;
And I, the Master's servant, turn and come
From furrowed field and pastoral upland, home;
Home, 'neath the vesper star to still repose,
Home - on the sounds of day the door to close,
Home, to the twilight home of peace and prayer,
Home - but a servant still, to meet my Master there!

An old man, at eighty-two, with a beautiful face said,
"I am going to live until I die, and then I'm going to live forever."

The evidence of things not seen
Today's entry:
: All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.; (Matthew 11:27)

Charles Garnett of Liverpool was converted at an infidel lecture. "Christ," said the lecturer, "is a myth: now does anyone want to ask questions?"
An old woman of seventy-two arose and said, "I do. What is a myth?" "Nothing," he said. "You mean that Christ is nothing?" she asked. "Well, I will tell you my experience. I was left a widow with seven boys, without a penny in God's world. You say He is a myth. I brought up seven boys on that myth. He has clothed them every one. He has fed them day by day. They are now working for the Christ that brought them up, and the poorest of them is a better man than thou art."
That testimony convinced Charles Garnett that Christ is what He said He was.

Let one more attest
I have seen God's Hand
Through a lifetime
And all was for best.

Robert Browning


Here we have seen Truth in action - for the building of one's faith; which is the subject of this dissertation - believing (having faith) in God's holy word and acting thereupon.

We have to start this writing somewhere, and as shall be explained later, the Lord chose to start here*:
: Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee. When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.; (Deuteronomy 32:7-14)
We see here that the LORD chose the Children of Israel, but like all other generations and nations, then and now, they sinned in His sight; which showed lack of faith or consideration for the One who created them.

So, in the desert the LORD nearly annihilated them all, but for the pleading of Moses:: And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.; (Exodus 32:7-14)

Why did God change His mind?

For the sake of His holy name:: As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.; (Ezekiel 20:39); Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman. Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it: And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land. But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.; (Ezekiel 36:17-23); So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.; (Ezekiel 39:7); Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;; (Ezekiel 39:25)

There are many, many other references to God's holy name; I'm sure you remember:: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.; (1 Peter 1:15-16)

Most of the Children of Israel are still in unbelief, as they were after God had repeatedly warned them that He would cause His servant Nebuchadnezzar to cart them away to Babylon; which he did before this:: Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.; (Ezekiel 33:30-32)

Nebuchadnezzar knew the Truth, as we have already seen, but he had to be persuaded, so to say; by some who already knew the Truth:: Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.; (Daniel 3:13-18)
From reading Daniel chapter six we can see that Daniel was thrown to the lions for the same reason.

Most professing Christians are in the same (sinking) boat as the Jews. Unfortunately they shall not be able to enter in at the strait gate, not seeing it as they walk by on the broad way to destruction, because they are not willing to be obedient to God's wishes in their lives.
: **A Song of degrees.** Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.; (Psalms 128:1-4)


With all the stress and importance that God has placed on His holy name, making sure that this is why He has remained faithful to a stiffnecked people, we see here that He has placed His word above His name!: I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.; (Psalms 138:2)

Jesus, who is the Word, confirmed that God's will, and His holy name are truly represented in His word, the Bible:: And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.; (Luke 4:4)
The devil also recognises the authority and authenticity of God's word:: Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.; (Matthew 4:1-7)

Christian, do you believe this?: He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.; (Psalms 91:1-16)

Do you believe this?: But 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?; (Hebrews 1:13-14)
: Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.; (Hebrews 2:1-8)


There is a great difference between knowing the word and knowing the Truth!

There are many church-goers who know the word but don't know the Truth!
: And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.; (Psalms 9:10); And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.; (John 8:32)
: Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.; (Hebrews 4:1-4)

Those who are fearful of worldly events round about them obviously don't believe God's word. If we don't believe His word, we don't believe in Him.
See what happens to unbelievers:: He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.; (Revelation 21:7-8)

Can you make out the spiritual meaning of the following?: And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.; (Luke 17:5-10)

Truly:: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.; (Romans 10:17)

And they shall know that I am the LORD.

: Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.; (Psalms 37:5)

Hallelujah!


* Please note that Deuteronomy 32:7-14 as well as Exodus 32:7-14 was used. When extracting the verse references from the Online Bible software, this writer typed in De "by mistake" instead of Ex. Read the passages again and see how they flow one after the other in the explanation of the article.
Also, please notice that the passage used in the 17 September reference and the one showing the importance that God places on His word are only six verses from each other!
Also, while searching for the Psalm 138:2 reference I "came across" the Psalm 128 passage. This and most of the Scriptural references in this article were obtained in the same way - through the intervention of the Holy Spirit.
Praise be and thanks to our Lord!