The Desire of Ages--20--Except Ye See Signs and Wonders

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon and Sister Dorine!!

We are so obvious to God. He reads us like an open book. He gets why we do what we do, even more fully than we can discern. That is why what He says is so important. When the nobleman came to Jesus desiring to have his son healed, he put conditions on whether he would accept Christ as the Messiah, and upon those conditions he based his faith. But Christ longed to give to him an unconditional faith that works by love--a faith that could trust that no matter what the outcome of the immediate situation, his faith would be anchored in Christ as Redeemer. May we learn from this our deep need of God's grace to have Him transform the reason we do things from being selfish to being founded upon God's unchanging character and believing fully all His word reveals!

"Like a flash of light, the Saviour's words to the nobleman laid bare his heart. He saw that his motives in seeking Jesus were selfish. His vacillating faith appeared to him in its true character. In deep distress he realized that his doubt might cost the life of his son. He knew that he was in the presence of One who could read the thoughts, and to whom all things were possible. In an agony of supplication he cried, 'Sir, come down ere my child die.' His faith took hold upon Christ as did Jacob, when, wrestling with the Angel, he cried, 'I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.' Genesis 32:26."{The Desire of Ages, page 198, paragraph 4}

When we see our sinfulness, we are not to despond as is we have no Savior; rather, we are to come to Him as we are, surrender fully to the Holy Spirit, and let Him fill us with all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing as we are empowered to obey God affectionately because He first loved us! What goodness He lavishes upon us to lead us to repentance! Hallelujah!

[Richard Myers]

Do you feel badly, my friends when you are being shown so very much about God and His ways, when so very many do not seek to understand the wonderful gifts God wants to give to us all? Since we can do no good thing for the right reason until born of the Spirit, then how is it that anyone can be converted? We have the answer in today's reading. I know it was true with me, and I suspect we will find it true for all others since we are evil by nature and can do nothing good until born again.

   He who blessed the nobleman at Capernaum is just as desirous of blessing us. But like the afflicted father, we are often led to seek Jesus by the desire for some earthly good; and upon the granting of our request we rest our confidence in His love. The Saviour longs to give us a greater blessing than we ask; and He delays the answer to our request that He may show us the evil of our own hearts, and our deep need of His grace. He desires us to renounce the selfishness that leads us to seek Him. Confessing our helplessness and bitter need, we are to trust ourselves wholly to His love. 

Thus, we see His love and grace and we are converted. God allows the bad things to happen to "good" people who are open to truth. He then comes to our rescue and not only hears our plea for help, but when we see we have been wrong, we see we play a part in what happened to us, and we seek His help, and He gives it and then we are so very thankful to find a powerful and loving and forgiving God!!! How can we not love Him in return! Then, we have to learn it is a daily battle to remember how loving, kind, and powerful He is. How dull are our minds that we forget our continual need of Him and His great desire to bless us daily.

It would be good to copy the light God has given to us daily and share it with any who are open to truth. Not picking out the light, but our response to the light we have received. Seventh-day Adventists would especially be blessed. This is an open forum, so what we have written is in the public eye.

[Beacon]

"Like a flash of light, the Saviour's words to the nobleman laid bare his heart."

"He saw that his motives in seeking Jesus were selfish."

"His vacillating faith appeared to him in its true character. "

"In deep distress he realized that his doubt might cost the life of his son."

"He knew that he was in the presence of One who could read the thoughts, and to whom all things were possible.

"In an agony of supplication he cried, 'Sir, come down ere my child die."

"His faith took hold upon Christ as did Jacob, when, wrestling with the Angel, he cried..."

"I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.' Genesis 32:26."

"Confessing our helplessness and bitter need, we are to trust ourselves wholly to His love."

Are "WE" willing to confess "Our" helplessness and bitter need?

==============================

1
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
  Leaning on the Everlasting Arms!
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
  Leaning on the Everlasting Arms!
    Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
  Leaning, leaning,
  Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.
2
O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
  Leaning on the Everlasting Arms!
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
  Leaning on the Everlasting Arms!
3
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
  Leaning on the Everlasting Arms!
I have peace complete with my Lord so near,
  Leaning on the Everlasting Arms!

Lyrics:Elisha Albright Hoffman (1839-1929)
Music:Anthony Johnson Showalter (1858-1924)

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon!!

What a blessing it is to have Jesus deal with us in such a way as to purify our hearts and do more for us than we can ask or think! His grace has the power to reconcile us to God and to restore us into His image wherein all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing are manifest in the converted (fully surrendered, abiding) character! Let us trust Christ who has the power to convert the heart and guide us in His will and way as we overcome through Him and gladly obey Him up the light He has revealed to us! Like the nobleman who came to Christ, we need to trust that Christ will work with us in such a way as to change our hearts from selfish motives to ones that are selfless and pure, believing in Jesus regardless of the outcome of how He grants requests we may bring to Him. Trust His will and way is best!!

"The nobleman wanted to see the fulfillment of his prayer before he should believe; but he had to accept the word of Jesus that his request was heard and the blessing granted. This lesson we also have to learn. Not because we see or feel that God hears us are we to believe. We are to trust in His promises. When we come to Him in faith, every petition enters the heart of God. When we have asked for His blessing, we should believe that we receive it, and thank Him that we have received it. Then we are to go about our duties, assured that the blessing will be realized when we need it most. When we have learned to do this, we shall know that our prayers are answered. God will do for us 'exceeding abundantly,' 'according to the riches of His glory,' and 'the working of His mighty power.' Ephesians 3:20, 16; 1:19." {The Desire of Ages, page 200, paragraph 4}

No matter what we may think God has for us, His plans are even higher and better as we let His word work in and through us! Praise the Lord!

[Dorine]

  "The nobleman wanted to see the fulfillment of his prayer before he should believe; but he had to accept the word of Jesus that his request was heard and the blessing granted. This lesson we also have to learn. Not because we see or feel that God hears us are we to believe. We are to trust in His promises. When we come to Him in faith, every petition enters the heart of God. When we have asked for His blessing, we should believe that we receive it, and thank Him that we have received it. Then we are to go about our duties, assured that the blessing will be realized when we need it most. When we have learned to do this, we shall know that our prayers are answered. God will do for us "exceeding abundantly," "according to the riches of His glory," and "the working of His mighty power." Ephesians 3:20, 16; 1:19.

This has to be one of my favorite promises. Feelings can be very strong and there is danger in allowing them to control our thoughts and weaken our trust in God and belief in His promises. It's easy to talk but does our talk carry over into our lives when things go wrong for us? Jesus is all we have. Let's believe His every word and show as did the nobleman in our story that we do.

[Philip T]

  Like a flash of light, the Saviour's words to the nobleman laid bare his heart. He saw that his motives in seeking Jesus were selfish. His vacillating faith appeared to him in its true character. In deep distress he realized that his doubt might cost the life of his son. He knew that he was in the presence of One who could read the thoughts, and to whom all things were possible. In an agony of supplication he cried, "Sir, come down ere my child die." His faith took hold upon Christ as did Jacob, when, wrestling with the Angel, he cried, "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me." Genesis 32:26.
     Like Jacob he prevailed. The Saviour cannot withdraw from the soul that clings to Him, pleading its great need. "Go thy way," He said; "thy son liveth." The nobleman left the Saviour's presence with a peace and joy he had never known before. Not only did he believe that his son would be restored, but with strong confidence he trusted in Christ as the Redeemer.

We read in an earlier chapter doubt is Satan's counterfeit for Faith, and these two paragraphs shows how doubt works in the Christian's life, the nobleman when meeting Jesus, realized that his doubt could cost him his son's life, he was putting conditions on Jesus saving his son, or in effect conditions on his faith. When he accepted Jesus for who he was and cried in faith to Him, "Sir, come er my child die.", with his faith fully of Jesus then Jesus could not withdraw from him, and through this the nobleman's faith grew stronger, not only did he have faith Jesus had healed his son, but he now knew Jesus to be his Redeemer by faith.

[Richard Myers]

It is such a blessing to see the unity and how the Holy Spirit is leading us!

  The nobleman wanted to see the fulfillment of his prayer before he should believe; but he had to accept the word of Jesus that his request was heard and the blessing granted. This lesson we also have to learn. Not because we see or feel that God hears us are we to believe. We are to trust in His promises. When we come to Him in faith, every petition enters the heart of God. When we have asked for His blessing, we should believe that we receive it, and thank Him that we have received it. Then we are to go about our duties, assured that the blessing will be realized when we need it most. When we have learned to do this, we shall know that our prayers are answered. God will do for us "exceeding abundantly," "according to the riches of His glory," and "the working of His mighty power." Ephesians 3:20, 16; 1:19.

The lesson is on trust. Can we trust someone we do not know? God does not ask us to trust Him blindly. He gives us evidence that He is who He is.  Are we going to turn our lives over to Him, or not?  Given evidence that He is God, why would we not turn our lives over to Him? Not because we have not understood, but because we do not want to give up all we are all we have. Self refuses to surrender the whole heart even though we have enough evidence that God is God. Jesus tells us we can trust His Word. the nobleman had enough evidence to trust His Word, but wanted more. We are not to be baptized until we know Jesus well enough to give up self to Him, the whole heart. Faith is not blind as many heathen believe it is. No, we move because we have seen God and know of His love and justice. Being a forgetful people, we need to be continually reminded of His presence and His love and His power. We must die to self daily. By beholding His grace we shall be transformed daily into His character. Praise God!!

[Beacon]

"Not because we see or feel that God hears us are we to believe."

"We are to trust in His promises."

"When we come to Him in faith, every petition enters the heart of God."

"When we have asked for His blessing, we should believe that we receive it, and thank Him that we have received it."

"Then we are to go about our duties, assured that the blessing will be realized when we need it most."

"When we have learned to do this, we shall know that our prayers are answered."


Let us pray..."Lord I believe, Help Thou mine Unbelief." From this prayer He will in no way hold back His blessing!

=======================
1
Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.
    Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me,
    Spirit Divine!
2
Open my ears that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.
3
Open my mouth and let me bear
Tidings of mercy everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.
4
Open my mind that I may read
More of Thy love in word and deed;
What shall I fear while yet Thou dost lead?
Only for light from Thee I plead.

Lyrics & Music : Clara H. Scott

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon!

What if you came to realize that God's love for you is so great that He would even let you realize how sinful you are, so you could become transformed in character? After all, our character is the only thing we get to take to heaven with us when Jesus returns! Let us learn from the experience of the nobleman in John 4 how Christ reads the heart--not to condemn, but to purify and save! Then, when the ENTIRE heart is yielded to Christ and we are willing to seek Him for His will to be done and not our own, we can experience all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing as long as we are abiding in Christ! We can affectionately obey God up to the light He has revealed to us because we have Jesus living in us, the hope of glory!

"He who blessed the nobleman at Capernaum is just as desirous of blessing us. But like the afflicted father, we are often led to seek Jesus by the desire for some earthly good; and upon the granting of our request we rest our confidence in His love. The Saviour longs to give us a greater blessing than we ask; and He delays the answer to our request that He may show us the evil of our own hearts, and our deep need of His grace. He desires us to renounce the selfishness that leads us to seek Him. Confessing our helplessness and bitter need, we are to trust ourselves wholly to His love." {The Desire of Ages, page 200, paragraph 3}

When you trust God's love fully, worry no longer makes any sense. The only thing that does make sense is complete surrender and joyful union and communion with the God who gave His Son to save us fully! Can we not then trust Him in every other area of life? Praise God for the experience that comes to us when we do!

[Dorine]

"He who blessed the nobleman at Capernaum is just as desirous of blessing us. But like the afflicted father, we are often led to seek Jesus by the desire for some earthly good; and upon the granting of our request we rest our confidence in His love. The Saviour longs to give us a greater blessing than we ask; and He delays the answer to our request that He may show us the evil of our own hearts, and our deep need of His grace. He desires us to renounce the selfishness that leads us to seek Him. Confessing our helplessness and bitter need, we are to trust ourselves wholly to His love."


This promise is as true today as it was when Jesus blessed the nobleman. He longs to answer our requests but He loves us too much to give us what we ask for when there are characteristics in our character that do not reflect Christ. When we come to the place where we are willing to lay all on the alter for Him our requests will be answered according to His will in ways that supersede our expectations. When difficulties come I love to prayerfully wait to see how God will intervene. There is never any need to be anxious or stressed out. He knows the end from the beginning and he has the solution to every trial. It's amazing to watch Him unravel the most tangled mess. It may not be without pain but that pain suffered in patience brings about a peaceful and joyful end than what we could ever devise. These are experiences that build our faith and trust in Jesus. Just as it did for the nobleman and his family.

[Richard Myers]

Amen my dear friends! God loves us so very much. The Spirit reveals this great love and our utter great need of Him. We are indeed evil by nature and in need of a new birth so that we can be a blessing to others.

     Like a flash of light, the Saviour's words to the nobleman laid bare his heart. He saw that his motives in seeking Jesus were selfish. His vacillating faith appeared to him in its true character. In deep distress he realized that his doubt might cost the life of his son. He knew that he was in the presence of One who could read the thoughts, and to whom all things were possible. In an agony of supplication he cried, "Sir, come down ere my child die." His faith took hold upon Christ as did Jacob, when, wrestling with the Angel, he cried, "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me." Genesis 32:26.
     Like Jacob he prevailed. The Saviour cannot withdraw from the soul that clings to Him, pleading its great need.

[Beacon]

The nobleman had a degree of faith; for he had come to ask what seemed to him the most precious of all blessings.

"Jesus had a greater gift to bestow."

"He desired, not only to heal the child, but to make the officer and his household sharers in the blessings of salvation, and to kindle a light in Capernaum, which was so soon to be the field of His own labors."

"But the nobleman must realize his need before he would desire the grace of Christ."

"This courtier represented many of his nation."

"They were interested in Jesus from selfish motives."

"They hoped to receive some special benefit through His power."

"They staked their faith on the granting of this temporal favor but they were ignorant as to their spiritual disease, and saw not their need of divine grace."

How many of "US" Are Ignorant to our Spiritual Disease?? How many of "US" are blind as to "OUR" need of Divine Grace.??

======================
1
Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.
    
2 Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me,
    Spirit Divine!
3
Open my ears that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.

4
Open my mouth and let me bear
Tidings of mercy everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.
5
Open my mind that I may read
More of Thy love in word and deed;
What shall I fear while yet Thou dost lead?
Only for light from Thee I plead.

Lyrics & Music :Clara H. Scott

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon!!!

Happy Sabbath!

With the eyes of faith enlightened by the Holy Spirit, we can see things before they happen before our naked eyes!!

"The nobleman wanted to see the fulfillment of his prayer before he should believe; but he had to accept the word of Jesus that his request was heard and the blessing granted. This lesson we also have to learn. Not because we see or feel that God hears us are we to believe. We are to trust in His promises. When we come to Him in faith, every petition enters the heart of God. When we have asked for His blessing, we should believe that we receive it, and thank Him that we have received it. Then we are to go about our duties, assured that the blessing will be realized when we need it most. When we have learned to do this, we shall know that our prayers are answered. God will do for us 'exceeding abundantly,' 'according to the riches of His glory,' and 'the working of His mighty power.' Ephesians 3:20, 16; 1:19." {The Desire of Ages, page 200, paragraph 4}

Right now, Jesus is in the heavenly sanctuary ministering as our High Priest. He hears and answers every sincere prayer in the way that is best. He is preparing a place for us, as well as preparing us for the place He has in mind. Let us by faith grasp our eternal home and live today as pilgrims and strangers on earth to do God's will in reaching others with the everlasting gospel! God is so good to give us eternal life as we surrender all to Him! All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be revealed in the life that is vitally connected to God by faith and true obedience will be reflected in mind and character as a witness of God's love at work in the soul! May your experience be more and more faith-filled, linking you to the unseen realities of the world to come!

[Richard Myers]

Amen my dear brothers.

     He who blessed the nobleman at Capernaum is just as desirous of blessing us. But like the afflicted father, we are often led to seek Jesus by the desire for some earthly good; and upon the granting of our request we rest our confidence in His love. The Saviour longs to give us a greater blessing than we ask; and He delays the answer to our request that He may show us the evil of our own hearts, and our deep need of His grace. He desires us to renounce the selfishness that leads us to seek Him. Confessing our helplessness and bitter need, we are to trust ourselves wholly to His love. 

Have you ever contemplated how a selfish person could be converted, not being able to do any good thing? Read again this quote.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Let God bless you in His way, in His timing, and for His glory!

"He who blessed the nobleman at Capernaum is just as desirous of blessing us. But like the afflicted father, we are often led to seek Jesus by the desire for some earthly good; and upon the granting of our request we rest our confidence in His love. The Saviour longs to give us a greater blessing than we ask; and He delays the answer to our request that He may show us the evil of our own hearts, and our deep need of His grace. He desires us to renounce the selfishness that leads us to seek Him. Confessing our helplessness and bitter need, we are to trust ourselves wholly to His love." {The Desire of Ages, page 200, paragraph 3}

We can trust God's love. If God sent His Son to die in our place and offer us eternal life, will He not also freely give us all things needful for this life and the life to come? When we live by faith on Christ as a personal Savior in complete surrender of our hearts to Him, all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be revealed in our lives. With Christ abiding in us, we are empowered to obey the law of God up to the light of His truth that He has revealed! He can cleanse us from all sin and make us like Him in mind and character!

[Philip T]

The nobleman wanted to see the fulfillment of his prayer before he should believe; but he had to accept the word of Jesus that his request was heard and the blessing granted. This lesson we also have to learn. Not because we see or feel that God hears us are we to believe. We are to trust in His promises. When we come to Him in faith, every petition enters the heart of God. When we have asked for His blessing, we should believe that we receive it, and thank Him that we have received it. Then we are to go about our duties, assured that the blessing will be realized when we need it most. When we have learned to do this, we shall know that our prayers are answered. God will do for us "exceeding abundantly," "according to the riches of His glory," and "the working of His mighty power." Ephesians 3:20, 16; 1:19.

We are to have faith in God's promises when we claim them. Believe God will answer the pleading of his promises by our hearts, even to the point of thanking God before he acts on our petitions. This one might be hard at times, but the Noblemen did just that not knowing if his son was healed or not. He believed his son was saved and that was that. Oh, the strength of faith, and this shows the wonderful mercy and love of God.

[Richard Myers]

Amen Pastor Sean and Brother Philip!  Welcome back dear Brother. We enjoy your thoughts. It is indeed His love and mercy that strengthens our faith. We begin our search for truth from a selfish position, but as we learn of Jesus our hearts are transformed.

   Notwithstanding all the evidence that Jesus was the Christ, the petitioner had determined to make his belief in Him conditional on the granting of his own request. The Saviour contrasted this questioning unbelief with the simple faith of the Samaritans, who asked for no miracle or sign. His word, the ever-present evidence of His divinity, had a convincing power that reached their hearts. Christ was pained that His own people, to whom the Sacred Oracles had been committed, should fail to hear the voice of God speaking to them in His Son.
     Yet the nobleman had a degree of faith; for he had come to ask what seemed to him the most precious of all blessings. Jesus had a greater gift to bestow. He desired, not only to heal the child, but to make the officer and his household sharers in the blessings of salvation, and to kindle a light in Capernaum, which was so soon to be the field of His own labors. But the nobleman must realize his need before he would desire the grace of Christ. This courtier represented many of his nation. They were interested in Jesus from selfish motives. They hoped to receive some special benefit through His power, and they staked their faith on the granting of this temporal favor; but they were ignorant as to their spiritual disease, and saw not their need of divine grace.   

Since we all are selfish until converted, then we do indeed begin our upward movement looking for something to gain. That is just who we are apart from Christ. And He knew that when we came to this dark spot in the universe to suffer and die for us while we were yet sinners!! Wonder O heavens and be astonished O Earth!!

[Beacon]

"Not because we see or feel that God hears us are we to believe.'

"We are to trust in His promises."

" When we come to Him in faith, every petition enters the heart of God."

"When we have asked for His blessing, we should believe that we receive it, and thank Him that we have received it."

" Then we are to go about our duties, assured that the blessing will be realized when we need it most. "

"When we have learned to do this, we shall know that our prayers are answered."

"God will do for us "exceeding abundantly," "according to the riches of His glory," and "the working of His mighty power." Ephesians 3:20, 16; 1:19."

Do "WE" put our Faith & Trust "FULLY in "JESUS"? & are "WE" willing to accept His Leading ??

=============================
1
Not I, but Christ be honored, loved, exalted,
Not I, but Christ be seen, be known and heard;
Not I, but Christ in every look and action,
Not I, but Christ in every thought and word.
    Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord,
  Oh, to be lost in Thee,
Oh, that it may be no more I,
    But Christ that lives in me.
2
Not I, but Christ to gently soothe in sorrow,
Not I, but Christ to wipe the falling tear;
Not I, but Christ to lift the weary burden,
Not I, but Christ to hush away all fear.
3
Christ, only Christ, no idle word e’er falling,
Christ, only Christ, no needless bustling sound;
Christ, only Christ, no self-important bearing,
Christ, only Christ, no trace of I be found.
4
Not I, but Christ my every need supplying,
Not I, but Christ my strength and health to be;
Christ, only Christ, for spirit, soul, and body,
Christ, only Christ, live then Thy life in me.
5
Christ, only Christ, ere long will fill my vision,
Glory excelling soon, full soon I’ll see;
Christ, only Christ, my every wish fulfilling,
Christ, only Christ, my all in all to be.

Lyrics:Mrs. Ada A. Whiddington (1891)
Music:Albert Benjamin Simpson (1843-1919)

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon!!

How is your faith? Do you put conditions on whether you will fully believe God?

"The nobleman wanted to see the fulfillment of his prayer before he should believe; but he had to accept the word of Jesus that his request was heard and the blessing granted. This lesson we also have to learn. Not because we see or feel that God hears us are we to believe. We are to trust in His promises. When we come to Him in faith, every petition enters the heart of God. When we have asked for His blessing, we should believe that we receive it, and thank Him that we have received it. Then we are to go about our duties, assured that the blessing will be realized when we need it most. When we have learned to do this, we shall know that our prayers are answered. God will do for us 'exceeding abundantly,' 'according to the riches of His glory,' and 'the working of His mighty power.' Ephesians 3:20, 16; 1:19." {The Desire of Ages, page 200, paragraph 4}

When we truly have "the faith of Jesus" our lives will be brought into harmony with "the commandments of God" (Revelation 14:12), for His faith sustained Him to trust His Father even through the agony of Gethsemane and Calvary. Christ offers us salvation--and we need to realize that He hears our prayers, trusting Him to answer in the way He knows what is best for us. When we have unconditional faith by surrendering all to Him, letting Him produce in us all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing, the witness of God through each truly converted soul will be a great blessing! 

[Beacon]

"He who blessed the nobleman at Capernaum is just as desirous of blessing us." But like the afflicted father, we are often led to seek Jesus by the desire for some earthly good; and upon the granting of our request we rest our confidence in His love.

 "The Saviour longs to give us a greater blessing than we ask; and He delays the answer to our request that He may show us the evil of our own hearts, and our deep need of His grace. He desires us to renounce the selfishness that leads us to seek Him. Confessing our helplessness and bitter need, we are to trust ourselves wholly to His love."


"The nobleman wanted to see the fulfillment of his prayer before he should believe; but he had to accept the word of Jesus that his request was heard and the blessing granted."

"This lesson we also have to learn."

"Not because we see or feel that God hears us are we to believe. We are to trust in His promises. When we come to Him in faith, every petition enters the heart of God. When we have asked for His blessing, we should believe that we receive it, and thank Him that we have received it"

"Then we are to go about our duties, assured that the blessing will be realized when we need it most. When we have learned to do this, we shall know that our prayers are answered. God will do for us "exceeding abundantly," "according to the riches of His glory," and "the working of His mighty power." Ephesians 3:20, 16; 1:19".


May God grant us the wisdom to put our full trust in Jesus and to take Him at His Word.
==========================
1
Encamped along the hills of light,
  Ye Christian soldiers rise,
And press the battle ere the night
  Shall veil the glowing skies;
Against the foe in vales below
  Let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know,
  That overcomes the world.
    Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
  That overcomes the world.
2
His banner over us is love,
  Our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints before
  With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath,
  Swept on o’er every field;
The faith by which they conquered death
  Is still our shining shield.
3
On every hand the foe we find
  Drawn up in dread array;
Let tents of ease be left behind,
  And onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head,
  With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread,
  And echo with our shout.
4
To him that overcomes the foe,
  White raiment shall be giv’n;
Before the angels he shall know
  His name confessed in heav’n;
Then onward from the hills of light,
  Our hearts with love aflame,
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night,
  In Jesus’ conqu’ring name.

Lyrics:John Henry Yates (1837-1900)
Music:Ira David Sankey (1840-1908)