South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-22

Lesson: The Fall OF Jericho
Joshua 0:1O-6:27.
Golden Text: All things are pos
sibIe TO him that believeth.-Mark
9:23.
THE VICTORY OF FAITH.
4. There is No Limit to the Pow
or of Faith. IN our sinful unbeliet
we are tempted to think that faith
has a limit, that it may accomplish
some things. but that there are things
which cannot be accomplished by
faith no matter how strong. II how
ever we are TO believe the bible, and
the experiences of the saints or COD
in al the ages, and even our own ex-
pefience, we shall find that the words
OF the text are absolutely true, that
all things are possible to him that be-
Iieveth All our needs are TO be sup
piled by faith, and ii is a fact that
faith is the basis of all our actions.
We undertake to do certain things be-
cause we have faith in the results.
We SOW our seed, in the faith that II
will result in a crop; we exercise falth
every time we place a letter in the
post office. 1T is true that in the first
instance we exercise faith in nature,
and in the second we show our faith
in man; but when this principle of
faith is applied to God, backed by
his promises, there is no limit of its
possibilities
>. some Great Things Done by
Faith The bible is an extensive rec
ord Of the deeds which have been ac-
cOmplished by faith. and yet for every
one the bible mentions there are ten
thousand faith victories unrecorded.
Noah, building the Ark, is an early
example of faith and its results. Noah
believed what God had said to him,
and for 120 years, worked in the pre-
paratiOn OF the Ark which God told
him to build, in which himself and
family. and a male and female OF
every living creature were TO be saved
from drowning when the rest of the
world should be destroyed by the
flood. AbTam heard the voice of
God. when living in his native land,
telling him 10 so out in search of an
other country. which God then prom
ised 10 him and his descendants; be
lieVing this inward voice he went out
by faith to find the country which he
had never seen. Abrams faith was
abundantly justified by subsequent
events. Abraham afterwards, in al
most blind faith in the promise of
God, sought TO OFFER, up his son Isaac,
as a sacrifice, when the only way he
could see by which God could keep
his promises was through the person
OF Isaac The eleventh chapter 0f
Hebrews contains a remarkable &C
count of a most extraordinary series
n OF the victories OF faitA; il tells of the
Caith of Isaac. Jacob, Joseph, Moses
Wand other men, referring also to the
suffering which the people endured
and the hardships through which
they passed il tells of the walls OF
Jericho having fallen by faith, of the
exploits of Gideon. of Barak, of Sam
son. of David, and samuel with
others. who through faith subdued
kingdoms, stopped the mouths OF
lions. and quenched the violence OF
fire.
3 Faith j. Belief i'm the UnseeI
God. Faith is a reliance upon the
promises of the bible. or the voice
OF God in our souls, and acting upon
these promises or commands, or what
ever the nature of the message may
be. 1t means stepping out into the
the unseen, II God SO directs, expect
ing that our feet viii ind a sole
foundation, and that we shall be able
10 walk Faith is simple childlike
confidence in God. and acting upor
that confidence with all the assurance
of certainty. The story is told of &
widow whose husband had been kill
ed; and because she could not pay
tile rent the landlord threatened heI
with cjectment. one of her two
small children then began TO pray
aloud for assistance. and while she
was praying a lady came 10 the dOOl
and heard her simple petition. Later
the lady called upon the widow offer
ing her a new home and a plan by
which she could provide for her needs
The widow and child attributed this
good providence 10 Gods answer &c
prayer, and who can say IL was not
There have been thousands in similar
difficulties. who through faith have
been delivered from ali their troubles
4. Through Faith Only Can Gun
Souls lie saved. Faith is accepting
the invitation OF salvation which Goo
freely offers 10 every man. IL is tax
ing God at his word. giving up sir
and turning 10 God with full purpose
OF heart. Jesus invitation IS Com,
unto me all ye that labor and are
heavy laden and / viii give YOU rest.
and faith Is the acceptance of this
gracious offer. God promises TO re-
move our sins from Us as far as tn,
east is from the west, and the accept
ance OF that Offer constitutes saVinl
faith. The fruition OF faith is the reali-
zatiOn that our sins are forgiven. ant
that our names are written I'm the
lamD's book OF life. III IS the sense OF
ardon. even of innocence. which Cod
ives as on our exercise Of faith. II
Us the love Of God shed abroad in oul
hearts by the Holy spirit given unto
rs. IL is the pease OF God which
passeth all understanding keeping oul
hearts and minds in the knowledge
and iOve OF God. I beg ~ you there
fore 10 PIT God 70 the test.
([OEyrlght. 1919, Dy r II Davidson