How to Realize the Promises
By A. S. Booth
ALL depends upon doing just what the Lord says, in order to receive the promise. Complete surrender of the will to God will bring power and blessing into the life. The faith that grasps the forgiveness of sin should grasp the power of God to live above sin. God told Joshua and the people to go about Jericho thirteen times, blow the trumpets, and shout. Now Jericho was the city, and thirteen was the number of times to march around. They might have marched thirteen times around all the other cities of the earth, and it would have been simply a demonstration of their unbelief and hardness of heart. It was when they had performed God’s will, going thirteen times around Jericho, and then blowing the trumpets, and shouting the victory, that the blessing came. Elisha said to Naaman, who came to be healed of leprosy, “Go and wash in Jordan seven times.” Jordan was the river, and seven was the number of times to wash. Said Naaman, “Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?” The man Naaman might have washed in all the rivers on the face of the earth, and left Jordan out. It would have simply demonstrated his lack of faith, and he would have died of his leprosy. It was when he had performed the command of God by the prophet that healing came. Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stretch forth thine hand.” The man might have said, “But, Lord, I have not stretched it forth for years. Physically it will be impossible.” However, it was not a question with Christ as to the man’s not being able to put forth his hand. The question was, Will you make the effort? Will you grant the willing mind? When the man yielded the willing mind, and made the effort, the power came, and he was healed. Back of God’s commands is all power in heaven and in earth. He says: “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” “Thou shalt not steal.” “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” We furnish the will, without murmuring or questioning; and He furnishes the power to obey, and we get the blessing.