The Same Faith

Any child of God, who will faithfully honor Him and give Him time, can accomplish the most extraordinary things

I desire that all who read these details may increase their simple confidence in God for everything they need. I trust that these many answers to prayer may encourage them to pray, particularly for the conversion of their friends and relatives, their own progress in grace and knowledge, the state of the church of God at large and the success of the preaching of the Gospel. Especially, I affectionately warn them against being led by the tricks of Satan to think that these things are unique to me, and that they cannot be enjoyed by all children of God (see 2 Pet. 3:17).

Although every believer is not called upon to establish orphanages or charities and trust in the Lord for the support of these institutions, all believers are called upon to cast all their burdens upon Him (see Ps. 55:22). They are to trust in Him for everything (see Ps. 37:5; Prov. 3:5), and expect answers to their petitions according to His will (see Matt. 21:22).

Think not that I have the gift of faith that we read in 1 Corinthians 12 (NKJV), and which is mentioned along with “gifts of healings” (v. 9), “the working of miracles” (v. 10), and “prophecy” (v. 10). It is true that the faith I am enabled to exercise is altogether God’s own gift. It is true that I continually depend upon Him for it, and that, if I were only one moment left to myself, my faith would utterly fail.

But it is not true that my faith is that [spiritual] gift that is spoken of in 1 Corinthians 12:9 for the following reasons:

First, the faith that I exercise with reference to the orphanages and my own necessities is the same faith that is found in every believer, the growth of which I am most sensitive to within myself, for it has been ever increasing throughout my Christian walk.

Second, this faith shows itself in the same measure, for instance, concerning these points: I have never been permitted to doubt since I accepted the Lord as my Savior that my sins are forgiven, that I am a child of God, that I am beloved of God, and that I will be finally saved. This is because I am enabled, by the grace of God, to exercise faith upon the Word of God and to believe what God says in those passages that settle these matters (see John 3:16; Acts 10:43; Rom. 10:9-10; Gal. 3:26; 1 John 5:1).

Further, when I would have been overwhelmed in grief and despair, if I had looked at things “according to the outward appearance” (2 Cor. 10:7), at such times I have sought to encourage myself in God by laying hold in faith of His mighty power, love and wisdom. I have said to myself, “God is able and willing to deliver me, for it is written, ‘He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?’” (Rom. 8:32.) As I believed this promise through His grace, my soul was kept in peace.

Also, in connection with the orphanages and day schools, trials have come upon me that were far heavier than the lack of sufficient resources. When lying reports were spread that the orphans did not have enough to eat, or that they were cruelly treated in other respects, at such times, my soul was stayed upon God. I poured out my soul before God and arose from my knees in peace. Thus, because the trouble that was in the soul was cast upon God, I was kept in peace, even though I saw it to be the will of God to remain far away from the work.

Further, when I needed houses or fellow laborers for the orphans or for the day schools, I have been enabled to look to the Lord for everything and to trust in Him for help. I may seem to boast, but, by the grace of God, I do not boast in speaking the way that I do. From my inmost soul, I ascribe the glory to God alone that He has enabled me to trust in Him.

By the grace of God, I desire that my faith in God might extend toward everything: the smallest of my own temporal and spiritual concerns, the least of the concerns of my family, the saints among whom I labor and the church at large. Do not think that I have attained in faith (and how much less in other respects) to that degree to which I might and ought to attain. But thank God for the faith that He has given to me. Please pray that He will uphold and increase it.

Finally, I remind you not to let Satan deceive you in making you think that you could not have the same faith. When I lose something, such as a key, I ask the Lord to direct me to it, and I look for an answer.

When I do not understand a passage of the Word of God, I lift up my heart to the Lord and pray that He would be please, by His Holy Spirit, instruct me, and I expect to be taught, though I do not set the time and the manner in which His answer will come. When I am going to minister from the Word, I seek help from the Lord, and while I, in the consciousness of my natural inability and utter unworthiness, begin His service, I look for His assistance and I believe that He, for His dear Son’s sake, will help me. And thus in all of my temporal and spiritual concerns, I pray to the Lord and expect an answer to my requests.