David J. Stewart: For We Walk By Faith And Not By Sight

Saturday, October 31, 2020

For We Walk By Faith And Not By Sight

2nd Corinthians 5:5-8, “Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

I have received numerous emails from Christian web visitors who are frustrated with God, prayer and life. They complain that God doesn't answer their prayers. They say that it seems like God doesn't exist. Everything they do feels wrong, and they are on the verge of losing all hope and some even committing suicide. One woman told me that she wishes a bullet would come through her front window and kill her, because she hates her life so much. At least a dozen web visitors have confided in me over the past couple years that they have contemplated suicide. If that is you friend, please read:

Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. I think of that verse often. People think negatively, so they are miserable. We have so much to praise God for!”

LOOKING UNTO JESUS, the Author and Finisher of our faith! I love that! Dear reader, where you look determines your mindset, and how you are going to view everything in life. If you watch the discouraging news each day, and listen to negative comments from your co-workers, friends and family, and then dwell upon the problems, needs and painful experiences from your past—you are going to be the most miserable creature!

The following passage of Scripture is so important. It is obvious to me that all these Bible verses go together. Please notice first that the Apostle Paul teaches us to REJOICE IN THE LORD. He doesn't say to merely rejoice, but to “REJOICE IN THE LORD.” No matter how unhappy and miserable I may be, I can ALWAYS rejoice in the Lord for something. Paul even repeats himself to get the point across:

Philippians 4:4-9, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

The things that hinder us from rejoicing in the Lord ought to be committed unto prayer. So we are commanded to always rejoice in the Lord, and to commit anything and everything that hinders us from rejoicing in the Lord to God in prayer. And then the Apostle teaches us to guard our minds against negative self-destructive thinking. Once you start down that road of not rejoicing in the Lord ALWAYS, you are headed down a death spiral. The human mind can (and often does) become its own worst enemy. I am just as guilty of this. Where do you think I learned it from? But when I was sinking in despair, depression and hating my life, I LOOKED TO JESUS (the precious Author and Finisher of my faith). Where are you looking today?

Philippians 4:8 tells us to “THINK ON THESE THINGS” (i.e., things that are lovely, of good report, lovely, virtuous, things of praise and truth, et cetera). Americans are notoriously complainers. The news media is inherently accusatory and negative. Revelation 12:10b calls the Devil “the accuser of the brethren.” Satan is the god of this world, which explains why ungodly sinners accuse others. The Bible teaches that love covers all sins (Proverbs 10:12). Satan never lets anyone live down their past sins, failures and mistakes! As Christians we hopefully choose to walk a higher path in life, one of love and forgiveness toward others.

Having said that, my response to those who tell me how miserable their life is, and how they feel like God is ignoring them completely—I feel THE SAME WAY! But I choose to walk BY FAITH, not BY SIGHT. If I walk by sight, then I have plenty of reasons to be miserable and doubt God. But if I live by faith, then I know according to John 14:1-3 that I have a home waiting for me in Heaven. I know according to Philippians 3:21 that I have a new immortal body coming, fashioned like unto the Lord's miraculous resurrected body. I know according to Romans 8:32 that God is going to give me “all things” in eternity. I have a blessed inspired Book in the King James Bible full of promises from God, that I can claim and cling to in hope during life's difficulties, worries and miseries. LOOKING UNTO JESUS!

That is the difference between someone who lives a defeated life as a Christian, and someone who walks by faith! My God is able! By sight, I feel like God doesn't care about me; but by faith, I KNOW THAT HE DOES, because 1st Peter 5:7 says God cares! By sight, I feel like God has abandoned me; but by faith, I know God has promised never to leave nor forsake me in Hebrews 13:5. So everything comes down to whether we choose as believers to walk by sight or by faith. I must walk by faith, or else I know that I won't make it. I know of at least 6 Christians who have commit suicide during my lifetime. Life is never fair. Some people have it much worse than others, but God is fair. I share the same sentiments as Job, who rightly said: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him” (Job 13:15). Good for you Job, I am with you buddy! Job 19:25, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:” Jesus said in Mark 11:22b, “Have faith in God.”

2nd Corinthians 5:7, “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”

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Inspiring Preacher Quotes

“Every word in this Bible is inspired by God almighty!” —Dr. Jack Hyles (1926-2001), "A Friend At Midnight"

“I never thought, I'd see a day when Baptist preachers would not preach the true Gospel. Tonight, all across this nation, Baptist preachers have succumbed to the heresy of John MacArthur. I said the heresy of John MacArthur! I said the heresy of John MacArthur! And somebody that's got several thousand people to hear 'em, who can go across this country, has got to alert Baptists that we have false teachers in our midst who are no longer teaching and preaching salvation by grace through faith plus nothing. Folks, we're fighting for our lives tonight!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "A Vote For Preaching"

“Before I got saved, I had troubles, and since I’ve been saved, I’ve had troubles, but I’m going to a land where there will be no more troubles.” —Pastor Paul Sisk

'The world' includes the mass of humanity that is alienated from God and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ. It involves worldly affairs, earthly things, riches, pleasures, and pursuits that are shallow, frail, and fleeting. These things stir desire, draw us away from God, and are obstacles to the cause of Christ. The divorced or torn relationships between Heaven and earth, between God and His creatures, finds its expression in the term 'the world.'” —Pastor Edward M. Bounds (1835-1913), "Guide To Spiritual Warfare"

"Unshakable faith comes from having your faith shaken" —Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001)

“The TRUTH is a thousand times more powerful than what these liberal churches are selling. The truth is so concentrated, that just one drop of the real unadulterated truth of THE GOSPEL, hard preaching—one clear 10-minute presentation of the Gospel—is more powerful than one hundred hours of NOTHINGNESS in their 'BLAH!' church or school!” —Pastor Steven L. Anderson, "The Dechristianization Of Our Nation"

“When America lost her way to the right kind of church, she lost her way to living right!” — Evangelist Lester Roloff (1914-1982), "Titanic"

“Lordship Salvation is the unsupportable and unbiblical belief that the performance of good works, the promise of good works, or the evidence of good works, must accompany faith in Christ to establish or provide evidence that such faith has resulted in eternal life.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Jesus versus John MacArthur"

“If it's settled in Heaven, why are we trying to change it down here?” —Brother Lester Roloff (1914-1982), sermon titled: "Wisdom Of The Word" (Psalms 119:89)

"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.” —Mark Twain (1835-1910)

“If you do not put a difference between justification wrought by the man Christ without and sanctification wrought by the Spirit of Christ within, you are not able to divide the Word aright; but contrariwise, you corrupt the Word of God, and cast stumbling blocks before the people.” —Evangelist John Bunyan (1628-1688)

“The only inspired Words of God are in the King James Bible!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, THE REAL BATTLE!"

“If there is a secret in my life it is this: I do everything by schedule.” —Dr. Jack Hyles

“We believe in the inspiration of the Bible.” —Dr. Bob Jones Sr., “Comments On Here And Hereafter,” page 103; Bob Jones University Press Inc., 1942

“I've stood for more sneers and scoffs and insults and had my life threatened from one end of the land to the other by this God-forsaken gang of thugs and cutthroats because I have come out uncompromisingly against them.” —Evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935)

“Be on guard against any tampering with the Word, whether disguised as a search for truth, or a scholarly attempt at apparently hidden meanings; and beware of the confusion created by the senseless rash of new versions, translations, editions, and improvements upon the tried and tested Bible of our fathers and grandfathers.” —Pastor M.R. DeHaan (1891-1965), “The Tabernacle,” Pg. 101

“God always finds someone to champion the cause.” —Pastor Jeff Owens, "Who Cares Anyhow?"

“More people will die and burn in Hell, because they're trusting too much!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Yea, Yea, And Nay, Nay!"

“Everything that's hard and complicated about salvation is God's side of it!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Yea, Yea, And Nay, Nay!"

“There is much mourning to-day over false 'isms,' infidelity, and the like, but sum them all up, and I do not fear them one half so much as that dead and cold formalism that has crept into the Church of God.” —Pastor Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)

“Now you say, 'Brother Hyles, you make an issue.' You dead sure better know I'll make an issue!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "THE BATTLE OF THE AGES"

“The King James Bible crowd is going to come out on top!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "THE BATTLE OF THE AGES"

“Repentance don't save you! Calling on the Lord don't save you! You know what saves you? Receiving what Christ done for you on the cross!” —Pastor Danny Castle, "WHY THERE'S A HELL"

“The religions of the world say, 'do and live.' The religion of the Bible says, 'live and do'.” —Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968)

“When a person is condemned and goes to Hell, you don't go to Hell because of what you did. You don't go because you lied, you cussed, you drank, you smoked, you drugged; you don't go because you're a homosexual lesbian, adulterer; you don't go to Hell because of what you did, you go to Hell because of what you didn't do! You go to Hell because you did not believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God! You go to Hell and you are rejected, and have God's judgment on you, because you refused to realize and embrace Jesus for Who He is!” —Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr., "Have You Been Born Again?"

“You'd be shocked if you knew, how the versions of the Bible that are coming out, which are so unnecessary and not even Bible. You'd be shocked if you knew what they're doing to cause Christian people to feel subconsciously unstable. You'd be shocked if you knew what it's doing to the nervous system of our people! All these Bibles!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Don't Chase The Pendulum"

“You say, 'You shouldn't talk trash about other churches!' Well, if they'd stop being trash, I'd stop talking trash!” —Pastor Steven Anderson, "Queer Sounding Music And Skinny Jeans"

“You know the greatest difficulty and hindrance today, is not that people are not good enough. The great hindrance is they're not bad enough, to be saved!” —Pastor J. Vernon McGee (1904-1988), "Why The Gospel Is Not Preached Today"

“Sometimes you may leave here and say, 'I wonder what he's mad about?' I'm not mad about anything, I just know one thing—whatever a preacher quits preaching on, is what his church will fill up with!” —Pastor Phil Kidd, "I Am Ashamed"

“Never let your guard down!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "When You Have To Stand Alone"

“A man doesn't get better to get saved; he gets saved to get better.” —Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), "Salvation Crystal Clear"

“The greatest need of every individual is to know and hear the gospel and to accept it.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "LET'S GO SOUL WINNING!"

“You don't go to Hell because you won't quit your sinning!” —Pastor Curtis Hutson, "Why Do Men Go To Hell?"

“God doesn't need a brilliant mind, He needs a voice!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "I AM A VOICE!"

“I believe any man in this world, can love any other man in this world, if he thinks right! The reason you hate is because you think hate. The reason you love is because you think love.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "What The Law Could Not Do"

“I will not want the friendship of folks that will not give it to me. I'll be their friend, but I will not want the friendship of somebody that withdraws from me; because I want to be happy, and happiness and riches come when a person's haves and wants equal each other.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Be Content"

“If you want to never do anything that is terribly wicked, then you never do anything that is slightly wicked.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Unjust In The Least".”

“You see, we not only believe the fundamentals of the faith, we believe in Ecclesiastical Separation. You don't yoke up with somebody that is not saved and call him a Christian brother!” —Pastor Curtis Hutson, "Things That Are Different Are Not The Same"

“The only reason that we fear anything is because we are people of little faith. When your faith is small, your fear is great; when your faith is great, your fear is small! America has a fear problem; Christians have a faith problem. Why are you fearful?” —Pastor Chuck Baldwin, “A CONTAGION OF FEAR”

“Don't forget that the whole point of the 'main stream media' is to make enough noise that you don't know the truth!” —Pastor Joel C. Fugate

“I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.” —Third U.S. President, Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

“Human beings just want to be loved... just love the hell out of them!” —Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr.

“I cannot love you as I love myself until I love God as I ought to love Him.” —Dr. Jack Hyles

“The pastors have destroyed the churches, and they've been trained by people that have never built churches, and they have no compassion.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, “Many Pastors Have Destroyed My Vineyard”

“What we need in this generation, is for about 30,000 churches in the United States to go out of business, and just shut the doors, and let who mean business, get the power of God, and witness to this generation!” —Pastor Danny Castle, “How To Have Power With God”

“When you get dissed by men—the whole reason God allowed you to be dissed—is because He didn't want you to fit in! He don't want you to fit in with the world. He don't want you to fit in with the rest of the group! He don't want you to be just like them! 'Cause there is something special about you! There's an assignment for you. There's a call for you. There's an anointing for your life. God does not want you to fit in!” —Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr., “Being Dissed”

“Lord, help me to preach today as if it were the last sermon I would ever preach.” —Dr. Jack Hyles

“There is no greater joy in the Christian life than to trust Him and need no explanation.” —Dr. Jack Hyles

“Salvation can only be evidenced by works, if works are required to be saved.” —Pastor Ralph “Yankee” Arnold, “Why Lordship Salvation Is Wrong!”

Faith is the only righteous thing that I can do!” —Pastor Jack Hyles

“The world's greatest need is preaching preachers. The Gospel is our emancipation proclamation: let's take it to the slaves of sin.” —Brother Lester Roloff

“The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out.“ —Billy Sunday

“When someone does something wrong, make it a point to never forget all the things they did right.” —Pastor Bob Gray Sr.

“I've stood for more sneers and scoffs and insults and had my life threatened from one end of the land to the other by this God-forsaken gang of thugs and cutthroats because I have come out uncompromisingly against them.” —Billy Sunday

“We're saved because we have faith in Jesus. We believe that He died on the cross. We believe He was buried, and stayed there for three days, and we believe He got up out of the grave. ...The law never gives life!” —Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr., “Justified: The Book Of Galatians, Chapter 2”

“Nobody can love God who doesn't love sinners!” —Dr. Jack Hyles, “The Happiest Man”

David J. Stewart

Saturday, October 31, 2020

For We Walk By Faith And Not By Sight

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