As The Man Is

“as the man is, so is his strength”
Judges 8:21

The true strength of an individual is the character of his heart and the verity of his faith. Who a person is concerning their relationship with God determines their strength. Teachings, doctrines and associations with great men of God cannot, in themselves, create godliness. Obedience, discipline and our interactions with God alone transform us from what we are by nature to what we are to be by grace. In Hebrews 11, we read about those who had faith in God and what it looked like in the lives of ordinary people.

“By faith Abel offered,
by faith, Noah prepared an ark,
by faith Abraham obeyed,
by faith Sarah received strength,
by faith Moses forsook Egypt…”
Hebrews 11

SELAH!

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen”
Hebrews 11:1

Faith is substance; THE substance of things hoped for. It is not a philosophical idea or a mental concept. It is, within itself, THE SUBSTANCE of the thing hoped for. It is vital and true, and will always produce works that please God. Faith transforms lost and ordinary individuals into expressions that reveal the Author. Faith fills and empowers its recipients to forsake (as with Moses) and leave their old lives behind. It will cause them to discover that all things are becoming new in Christ Jesus.

By Faith

By faith, Abel offered a more pleasing sacrifice. By faith, Noah built an ark, to the saving of his family. By faith, Abraham obeyed God and Sarah received the strength to conceive the child of promise. The faith spoken of in Hebrews 11 was the means by which God accomplished His purposes for their generation. Faith is ever stirring and ever moving His Own to participate in the specific purpose of God for the Day in which they live. Can we not feel the press of faith to answer the Call of God to our generation?

On the Day of Judgment, Noah, by faith, built an Ark. To do so in our day would be folly and disobedience. Faith is given for the Day; it is the power of God to create within His Own the evidential works consistent with His Will for that Day! Faith without the Works of God is dead, for it is BY faith we are in a relationship with Him and as HE Works so do those who abide and live in Him.

“If any man serve Me, let him follow Me;
and where I am, there shall also My servant be…”
John 12:26

His servants follow Him, they serve Him in what HE is doing. Faith transforms a life from a spectator into a vital participant. He is most pleased when He has people through whom He can show forth His purposes and power.

“But He said unto them,
Give ye them to eat…”

His purpose was for His disciples to move in faith and feed the multitudes. In each situation He sought to convey His desire that they, by the power of faith, be instruments of His power in that moment.

“And he called unto Him the twelve,
and began to send them forth by two and two…”
Mark 6:7

Why did Jesus send them forth? So that they might discover how to minister the things of God for themselves (each one individually). How few venture into the land of faith. How few cast themselves upon His promises. The Faith of Christ (Galatians 2:20) ever beckons and presses us to step into the vast resources of His wonder.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 (ESV)

A Personal Testimony

Over 40 years ago, my wife and I were on our way to Calgary and stopped in the small town of Claresholm to spend the night. The next morning we went for breakfast in the motel. As we were eating a young couple came in and sat at a table some distance from us. The Lord spoke to me and said “These two are mine.” It warmed my heart but made me wonder why God would communicate that to me. A few minutes later they were joined by an older man but I did not think any more of it.

We finished our meal and pulled out onto the highway to continue on our way. But I had lingering questions in my heart. I was perplexed as to why God would say that to me about this couple. Then a bigger question arose: “Was it even God who spoke to me?”

It was at that moment I knew I needed to prove His voice in my own experience. To leave without knowing would haunt me with doubt and uncertainty. I looked at my wife and told her we had to go back to the restaurant. I needed to assure myself that it was His voice that had spoken to me. The God of mercy was pressing me from supposing to knowing.

I got out of the car to go back into the busy restaurant but as I opened the door I was besieged with doubt and fear. I quickly turned into the empty restroom and stared at myself in the mirror. This was a defining moment for me; one filled with the fear of failure, yet one I had to step into. I pictured myself walking up to them, asking if they were Christians, and them staring blankly at me and responding, “No”. The enemy was at work to prevent me from solving my own mystery of knowing Him. What would I say? How would I respond if they said “No”? It was a paralyzing thought but the need to know was pressing me through the fears and into the unknown.

Finally, I approached their table and asked them if they were Christians, and they replied, “we are believers.” I sat down with them, looked at the couple and told them that God had spoken to me of them. They had finished their breakfast and invited us to come to their place which was close by so we agreed to do that. During our conversation, it became clear that they were under the authority of this older man. I felt very definitely that he was a false teacher and was exerting an evil influence over this young couple.

I expressed my doubt as to this man’s walk with God while he was there with us. I don’t remember all of the details but we continued on our way after our visit. I was only a few years old in the Lord and looking back I trust our interaction was sufficient for what they needed that day. I hope that it was enough for them to reconsider their relationship with this individual. But only God knows.

It was a day of discovery for me. I proved His precious voice to me and was obedient to Him. I am forever grateful for the pressing of His Spirit to walk through the fears into a new walk with Him.

“My voice shalt thou hear…”
Psalm 5:3

Related Post: The Hearing of the Wise

“As the Man IS”

(To be continued)

Brian Troxel