CHAPTER FIVE

To have more effective faith, we need to understand the part that the TRUTH of God in Christ Jesus plays for us. It is vain and counterproductive to believe any "truth" that is not of God! John 8:30-32: "As He spoke these words, many believed on Him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, if you continue in My Word, then are you My disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free".

God's Word is the truth that Jesus is referring to, as noted in John 17:17. "Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth". For the sake of this study, let us call God's Word the "True Facts". I am referring especially to the New Testament, though of course ALL Scripture is the true facts about everything written therein. The Scripture was written for our learning, that we might have hope.

It should be obvious that Jesus was not referring to just any "truth". This is true because some Biblical truth does not, by itself, make one free. For example, if it stood alone, Romans 3:23. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God". Yet that Scripture surely IS the truth.

By observation of Biblical facts, we can see that there are two main categories of truth. We, inescapeably, MUST deal with them. First, the redemptive truth that is in Christ Jesus, the TRUE FACTS. Second, the facts of the natural world around us. Let us call them the "APPARENT FACTS".

The Bible shows us the extremes to which this dichotomy goes. For example: "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life; He who believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this" (John 11:25-26)?

Jesus said that even if a believer dies (natural death), yet shall he live. John 11:25. The passage relates the death of Lazarus. Jesus was talking to his sister, Martha. Lazarus had been dead four days. That was a natural fact that could not be denied. But the TRUE FACTS in Christ, Himself the resurrection, said that Lazarus would live. The natural, apparent fact was that Lazarus was dead, and had begun to stink. But the REDEMPTIVE TRUTH in Christ proved valid, and Lazarus came out of his tomb, alive and well, praise God.

In our effort to "walk" in the truth of God we are often confronted with Apparent Facts that contradict the Divine truth. Our faith and believing are vitally important elements in overcoming such contradictions. Whether we overcome or not, is determined by whether we respond to the True Facts or to the Apparent Facts. The control of our thoughts, disposition, attitude, actions, and our WORDS is critically important at such times.

All born again believers have a measure of faith. But we have to stand firmly in it, lest pressure from "Apparent Facts" should make us fail through unbelief. At one time Jesus said: "...the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:47). And Romans 6:16 says: "Know ye not, that to whom you yield yourselves to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death or obedience unto righteousness"? These verses show that we need to persist in faith against "Apparent Facts". We aren't to PRETEND that Apparent Facts don't exist. Rather, in spite of them we are to hold firmly to the True Facts.

According to Ephesisans 3:16-17, we can receive strength from God in our inner man. "...that He would grant you... to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith...". We should ask God for strength in our inner man, so that we may hold fast to the True Facts, even if Apparent Facts contradict them. "For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4).

Please notice! This manner of dealing with things in life does NOT mean to ignore "Apparent facts" or to pretend that they are not real. Rather than to emphasize them, it means to confess what God's Word says, in spite of them!

Specifically, in the case of threatening or lethal sickness, TAKE the medicine that you need to stay alive, UNTIL DIVINE HEALING MANIFESTLY REMOVES the threat! You MUST stay alive until faith can OVERCOME the threat! Many have erred in judgement, not understanding that fact. They seemingly felt that IF they could somehow show God that they TRULY believed Him, that He WOULD heal them. Such efforts to "bargain" with God WAS THEIR ERROR. God already KNOWS how much we believe Him. The only exception would be if He clearly TELLS us to do something special. But faith which is the SUBSTANCE of our healing MUST correctly function through BELIEF to gain what we hope for. Trying to bargain with God so that He WILL heal us, is a misguided effort of UNBELIEF.

You see, dear reader, the "True Fact", the Truth of God in Christ, is that Jesus has already HEALED you! Ponder 1 Peter 2:24. When that "TRUE FACT' causes deep seated, unrelenting ASSURANCE in your heart, producing worship and praise and thanksgiving to God BECAUSE it IS so, you won't feel ANY need to convince God! It's yours! Believing that fact will cause a victorious response of gladness, worship and praise to God. Hallelujuah. Just go about in victory and enjoy what Jesus paid for, and did for you. Hold fast THAT confession. Faith and belief has CAUSED it in your heart and it rises TO your mouth for expression. It is a futile error to try to FORCE faith FROM your MOUTH into your heart.

That is true because Bible FAITH is produced in our heart in ONE WAY. It comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10:17. Then notice Romans 10:10: "For with the HEART man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation". What man BELIEVES in his heart is the confession his mouth must make in order to obtain salvation. Such faith and believing comes into man's heart by HEARING, and hearing by the Word of God. Our mouth CANNOT produce Bible faith. That's why it was stated above that it is futile to try to force faith FROM our mouth (by empty,groundless confession) INTO our heart. Such empty confession will always fail.

We can build up our faith before a need arises for it, by feeding on the FACTS of God's Word, the "True Facts". Then we can draw upon them when we need them. Even when we are not sick, we should frequently affirm the true facts of our salvation, healing and victories in Christ. It seems wise to do this before we get into a "faith fight". Too may times people fail to do so until a crisis comes. Then they try to rise to victory. It is more difficult to do that when we are fighting for a "faith victory" over "Apparent Facts".

Our testimony, confession, (the kind discussed above), attitude, and disposition needs to be established. They need to be strengthened and to grow, so that we may win the battles of life that all of us must face. It is important to understand that such resources of faith and belief usually are not gained with a single glance at God's Word. The Bible says with good reason: "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed..." (2 Timothy 2:15). That's the way to gain correct knowledge. Then using our faith, which comes from that knowledge, is the way to establish our testimony, confession, attitude and disposition.

Bible study is the way to renew our mind with the "True Facts". Such renewing of our minds (Ephesians 4:23) by the Scripture is one way of building up ourselves on our most holy faith (Jude 20). The "True Facts" of the Scriptures are the sources and the anchors of our confession.

We also need to discipline our thought life, which tends to agree with the "Apparent Facts". We must MAKE our thoughts and confesson agree with the Truth of God. God's Word IS the "True Facts" WHETHER we agree with it or not. But the natural, carnal mind of man is at enmity with God. Therefore, from our inner man we must FORCE our natural mind to agree with God, even against natural tendencies. In Christ Jesus, as believers, we have a NEW NATURE and mind. We must yield ourselves to them, instead of to the old nature and to the carnal mind.

The following Scriptures are excellent anchors of faith when we are attacked by "Apparent Facts". When any seductive or anxious, fearful, doubtful thoughts, or symptoms of "Apparent Facts" occur, these verses can encourage your faith. Psalms 27:1-2; 28:7; 91:2-5; 103:3-5; Isaiah 53:4-5; 1 Peter 2:24 and Philippians 4:19. The Lord may lead you to others, as you study the Scripture for yourself.