Once again, I am writing to you to feed your faith, for it is in feeding our faith that our doubts will starve to death,
Over the years it has been my experience for God to build me up by correction. It is never a pleasant part of the journey but afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness (right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose).
In Hebrews 12:4-11 you will find this. Throughout the written Word of God and one of the most intriguing portions of scripture, which speaks to this necessary discipline is found in Isaiah 43:1-7:
1 But now thus says the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. (notice the words chosen here Jacob He has CREATED but Israel he has FORMED)
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when you walk through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4 Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
(Now God says concerning those who are called by His name, "I have created them. I have formed him. Yea, I have made him." In the language of the Old Testament, there are three different words: CREATED, MADE AND FORMED, as God speaks of His work. One is that of creating something out of nothing, which only God can do. And then how God made them and then formed them. Formed them and made them.) HE IS SPEAKING AS THE CREATOR TO HIS CREATION. As Isaiah continues, he makes a point that the Jewish people are God’s witnesses. It has been said, if you want proof of the Bible being God’s Word, just look at the Jews.
Check this out for yourself; read Isaiah 43:10-11:
“Ye are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside Me there is no savior.”
You may ask where is the discipline found in this passage?
It is in a promise and a rebuke, found in Isaiah 43:18-28: God promised a New Thing and then He called their attention to their inferior offerings or the fact they had not brought to Him sacrifices, they had not kept the covenant, therefore they have been desolated. He is speaking to those He has formed for Himself to show forth His name and then comes hammer time, “You have not called on Me, Oh Jacob; You have been weary of Me, Oh Israel.” In Chapter 44 there was a revival where once again they called themselves by the name of the Lord, those whom God had chosen, and God will affirm Himself as the Redeemer, the First and the Last, and beside me there is no God.
One of my college friends who became a well-known preacher on the West Coast, Jerry Barnard, had this as the theme song of his ministry.
MUSTARD SEED FAITH
Through faith in the Father,
through faith in the Son,
through faith in the Holy Ghost
battles are won.
I will just take a promise,
believeth in me,
If you’ll only have faith
of a small mustard seed
The mountain of doubt
the mountain of fear
the mountain of sickness
will soon disappear
So I’m trusting the Lord
and believing today
and I’ll say to that mountain
GET OUT OF MY WAY!!!
Cleddie Keith