H. J. FARMAN by H. J. FARMAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 6, 1906

H. J. FARMAN

By H. J. FARMAN

Our Greatest Needs—No. 2

H. J. FARMAN

Of the four graces which we need in greater measure, faith is the next in order. For “without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.” There are two things required in the text; namely, a personal faith in a personal God, and a belief that the possessor of such faith will be rewarded.

Nothing is more needed than the simple childlike faith that takes God at his word and believes that what he says he means and does. “Belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Rom. 10:17. As has been the experience and history of other denominations on this point, so it is in a measure with us; we seem to have lost the simplicity of faith and looked over it. There are many examples in both Testaments of the simplicity of faith which we may profit by if we apply the principles.

“There was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.” Right here Jesus tested his faith by saying: “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will in no wise believe.” So to-day, we want to see some great demonstration that we may believe; when, in truth, the great demonstration follows faith, as in the case of the nobleman; for said he: “Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. The man believed the word that Jesus spake unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, saying, that his son lived. So he enquired of them the hour when he began to amend. They said therefore unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.” John 4:46-54. The simple faith of the nobleman established his whole household in faith. Had we more faith like his, many more households would be established.

Another illustration of a like faith is that of the centurion, who came from Capernaum, “beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth in the house sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.” Here Jesus tested his faith by saying: “I will come and heal him. And the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed.” Of this man’s faith Jesus says: “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. . . . And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And the servant was healed in that hour.” Matt. 8:5-13. These two cases of real faith have been recorded for our admonition, and we shall do well to profit thereby. In how many ways Christ reproved the people of his day, and us in our day, saying: “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” “O faithless and perverse generation.”

When the disciples asked why they could not cast out the demon, “He said unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matt. 17:14-20. Do we simply believe this last promise along with a few others? “Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.”

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Our receiving depends upon our believing that we have the things we ask for, before they can be given. Jesus makes this plain when he says: “Have faith in God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them.” The one condition to be remembered, however, is that we ask in Christ’s name, which means according to his word and in faith; for he says, “If ye shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it you in my name. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full.” John 16:23, 24.

“Now faith is the giving substance to things hoped for [that is, believing that we have the things we ask for], a conviction of things not seen.” Heb. 11:1, margin. Believing that we have the things for which we pray before they are seen, is seeing things that are “invisible,” as Moses saw the Lord, and “kept the passover,” and “passed through the Red Sea as by dry land.” Heb. 11:27-29. So also it is the giving of “life to the dead,” and calling “the things that are not, as though they were.” Rom. 4:16-24. It was this faith which led the sick woman to say: “If I do but touch his garment, I shall be made whole. . . . And the woman was made whole from that hour.” Matt. 9:20-22. Another similar case was that of the Canaanitish woman, who came to Jesus, asking that her daughter might be healed, declaring that even the dogs ate of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table. To her Jesus said: “O woman, great is thy faith: be it done unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed from that hour.” Matt. 15:22-28. See also the account of blind Bartimaeus, to whom Jesus said: “Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And straightway he received his sight, and followed him.” Mark 10:46-52. O that we had a more simple faith! As the poet says—

“Just to take him at his word; Just to rest upon his promise; Just to know, Thus saith the Lord.”

Lynchburg, Va.