"Confidence, No Matter What" - Portion of a book that I am really enjoying

We have learned what God is like through the revelation of His word. We have experienced the blessings, the peace, the joy, the freedom, that comes through Jesus. Now we must calculatedly place our confidence in Him, no matter what.

"At times ... to exercise faith seems utterly contrary to all the evidences of sense or emotion; but our will must be kept

on God's side. We must believe that in Jesus Christ is everlasting strength and efficiency." -Our High Calling, p. 124.

"There are those who find it hard to exercise faith, and they place themselves on the doubting side. These lose much

because of their unbelief. If they would control their feelings, and refuse to allow doubt to bring a shadow over their

own minds and the minds of others, how much happier and more helpful they would be." -The SDA Bible Commentary, Ellen G. White Comments, on Matt. 28:17, p. 1110.

We must, then, choose to trust God. Having established in our hearts and minds that He is true, we must place our minds in an attitude of trust toward Him. This advice is sound psychologically, as well as spiritually. John Wesley's Moravian friend, Peter Boehler, advised him, "Live by faith until you have faith."

Ellen White gives the same kind of advice:

If you want faith, talk faith; talk hopefully, cheerfully. -Testimonies, vol. I, p. 699.

Those who talk faith and cultivate faith will have faith, but those who cherish and express doubts will have doubts.

 - Ibid., vol. 5, p.302

 

You have to talk faith, you have to live faith, you have to act faith, that you may have an increase of faith; and thus

exercising that living faith you will grow to strong men and women in Christ Jesus. -The SDA Bible Commentary,

 

Ellen G. White Comments, on Luke 17:5, pp. 1121, 1122.

Faith is simple in its operation and powerful in its results. Many professed Christians, who have a knowledge of the

sacred Word, and believe its truth, fail in the childlike trust that is essential to the religion of Jesus. They do not reach
out with that peculiar touch that brings the virtue of healing to the soul.

-Ibid., Ellen G. White Comments, on Rom. 5: 1, p. 1074.

Ellen G. White gives two other requirements necessary for faith: "In order for a man's faith to be strong, he must be much with God in secret prayer." -Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 236. "In order to strengthen faith, we must often bring it in contact with the

Word." -Education, p. 254.

We close with a word of caution, exhortation, and assurance. First, the words of caution and exhortation:

If we sink down and give way to the temptations of Satan, we shall grow weaker and get no reward for the trial, and shall not be so well prepared for the next. In this way we shall grow weaker and weaker, until we are led captive by Satan at his will.

-Christian Experience and Teachings, p. 103.

 

The very time to exercise faith is when we feel destitute of the Spirit. When thick clouds of darkness seem to hover over

the mind, then is the time to let living faith pierce the darkness and scatter the clouds. -Ibid., p. 126.

Then there is this statement: "Faith grows by conflicts with doubts" (Sons and Daughters of God, p. 191).

How to Be a Victorious Chrisian, Thomas Davis

Perception

Just finished presenting a 3 week project we've been working on at school. God has really just been revealing Himself so wonderfully to me throughout this year. If there is one thought I can hold as true is that in all things, God is really in control.

So the project was a group project, which will eventually lead up to a competition where the group selected within the class will then go to compete with other universities working on the same project. Now this was the 3rd group project this year, so some bonds have already been established among other groups who had been working together since the 1st one. The last group I was in was  a "chance" arrangement (I say sarcastically, with Rom. 8:28 in mind), so I really wasn't too sure what the arrangement for this latest would be. But having gotten the brief, I just committed the matter to God (yes I pray for my projects).

Day 1 of the briefing in class was after the holiday after the conference. By then some of the class had already gotten themselves into  groups and I personally wasn't too sure which group I would be in, but from the conferences experience I had the confidence that Go will still lead. So the morning continues and out of the blue one of my colleagues, whom I have really never had a conversation with, asks me if we could pair up. :), was slightly surprised there and, not having much of a choice, I agreed. We needed a 3rd person but everyone had already paired themselves so we agreed to work as just a team of 2.

Now to set all this in context, this brother is one who was in the very same year with me since first year, but still we've never really ever spoken. Various reasons for this come to mind but part of them area also really as a result of my own perception of him (and his possible perception of me.) This was the reason behind the surprise. I wont go into much detail of what my perception of him was but that it was very inaccurate.

As we were going to site we got to speaking and I was very humbled at how similar me and him really are. He is really convicted on the importance of the family, and we shared a lovely discussion on the impact broken homes have had on society. We got to speaking about religion and the he is a faithful Christian too, rather devoted and also holds a position in his church. We had an interesting talk the one time on race relations, he's "Afrikaans" and it was really refreshing to be candid with each other. We both have a frustration with racism, (what's funny is that we are both frustrated with it when it comes our own races - that is: I am really unimpressed with racist behaviour from black people and vice versa).

These, and quite a number of other discussions really humbled me. I never realised how wrong, and possibly quite unfair, my views of him were. Must say I really learnt quite a bit. The experience has really been worth it.

For the past few weeks God has been teaching me a number of valuable lessons. The power of perception has been one to cherish. A pointed question that comes to mind is that what are ones perceptions of people really based on? Also the thought that what are peoples perceptions of me, and the Jesus whom I long to represent? I really think this idea of perception would change many a lives when really looked at critically. At times people do and say things which we may think are done for reasons entirely different to the original purpose, and the misunderstanding really is the result of how things are perceived. I think one can relate to the experience of doing something and then having it entirely misinterpreted from what you were trying to do.

I'm convinced that in everyone there's something valuable to discover, and it is amazing what impact a positive perception of people motives and actions can do when one choses to consider them in that light.

Hoping to get some rest tonight after the project, :). Till next post.

Back from an impacting experience

Got back recently from what has really been a powerful experience to me personally. I was privileged to be at the Mission Cohort 2014 conference and I can without a doubt say that the Holy Spirit was present at that gathering.

There were powerful devotions, plenary sessions, panel discussions and personal conversations which all in some way or another really hit home. The Lord really found a way to deal with my character. The sermons posed some very challenging questions and reminders of ones duty. Coming back, I've had some time to seriously reflect on ones own personal ministry and that's part of the reason why I've gotten back to blogging. I've learnt at least from this conference that reflection and reviewing is not likely to be a one time thing though. Something I always say to others has been my very own experience since the conference, that: "the greatest of convictions happen not so much when we are gathered in the assembly of others, but in the quiet quarters of private study and personal devotion.

As I continue, I will be posting, by Gods grace, some of the experiences, plans, thoughts and encounters that I have had from and since the conference. I have not been able to look at life the same since. I have, ever since I became Seventh-day Adventist believed that Jesus is coming soon, but that conference made me believe it more. This now comes with the responsibility of asking myself: How can I then practically respond to that fact. Not in an entirely sentimental, emotional manner, but looking at where God has placed me, how do I carry out my own personal mission (under the guidance of the Holy Spirit) to practically brighten the corner where I am.

Like Tom Davis says in His book "How to become a victorious Christian", answers to questions like these don't come in 30 minutes, but what one may be assured of is that in seeking diligently and listening out to the voice of God through His word, Spirit and providence, one may be sure of getting the answers.

Highlights to the conference:
- Speaking on the topic of "Communion with Christ", how we can have a sustained devotional life. In summary: they that water others shall themselves be watered.
- Righteousness by faith Plenary sessions
- Heart felt devotional messages. God really humbled me through 2 presentations which called for a thorough examination of oneself. Mark the words: "some of the things that are an hindrance between a person and God are other individuals, and sometimes we ourselves are those individuals..." (speaker 1). "We can be the enemies to the very cause which we profess to love... in refusing to let go of the issue we have, even among us here, we delay the coming of Jesus and can never expect to see thousands converted in a day (no matter how much we act like those issues are not there)." (speaker 2)... the details of what these led up to is a story for another day.
- Feedback session on peoples experiences of the conference. Some of the young people there were really on the verge of dying spiritually. Some had lost hope and confidence in God, people whom others see as "alright", expressing how much they themselves needed a personal revival and others admitting that God, through the conference had spoken mightily to them regarding the personal experiences they were having.
- The food :) and friends
- And many more.

Do look out for more posts though. Blogging has found its way into my schedule so by Gods grace I hope to post more soon. (I have been writing more than typing, but hope to transfer the handwritten stuff soon). Have had one or 2 disappointments since the last post, but I have been gladdened by seeing Romans 8:28 manifest itself, and give hope for the future...

My new favourite verse:
John 15:4
Abide.