COVER LETTER
Dearly Beloved:
DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD?
The Bible says, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God… Some must enter therein” (Hebrews 4:9, 6).
We are to pray, seek and ask, and then simply trust that God is at work. We are to believe he is leading us. And whether everything ends up in loss or gain, God has a plan. He closes one door to open another. Why the Lord has subjected his miracle-working power to our human faith, I can’t explain. All I know is that Christ shows us that unbelief paralyzes his work.
Time after time under Moses’ leadership, the children of Israel refused to lay hold of God’s past promises to them. Every word that God had said to them was useless in their minds. Because his glorious promises were not mixed with faith, they became void and ineffective.
Often the Israelites wanted a new word from the Lord. Despite his great promises to them, they asked in crisis after crisis, “God, are you with us or not?” In other words: “Lord, give us your word that you’re with us. We can’t see any evidence that you are. Give us a new revelation, some new evidence.”
In spite of their murmuring and accusations of unfaithfulness, God gave Moses a reminder: “Dread not, neither be afraid… The Lord your God shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt.” Note this was not a new word. Rather, God was saying, “I told you in Egypt I would go before you, I would fight for you, I would dwell among you.” The same reminder is echoed in both the Old and New Testaments: “The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:14).
Over and over God had told them, “I am with you. I will fight for you. Lay hold of my promise, and forget it not.” But here they were again, trembling before their enemies, voicing all kinds of fear, saying, “We are not able to go up.” They doubted God’s call on their lives, doubted God loved them, doubted his presence in their midst.
Many of us are so like Israel! We wonder, “God, are you really with me in this? I know what you promised me, but is it really true? Oh, Lord, I’ve got to hear from you. Please, speak a new word. Give me some new assurance. Will I be delivered from this?”
Why do we fear and tremble before our enemy? It is because we do not truly believe what God has already promised us. Often we act as if he has never said a word to us! The Holy Spirit does send us a special word of comfort, assurance or direction. But the surest word is always found in the Scriptures.
Do you tremble before an enemy stronghold? Remember what God has said to you: “I will fight for you! Dread not, neither be afraid. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. No man or devil can pluck you out of my hand. I will keep you and sanctify you by my Spirit.” Dear one, lay hold of the promises already provided. Trust God’s revealed Word!
Thank you for remembering our ministry worldwide to the poor, the needy, the widowed and fatherless. For information on these efforts and others, go to: www.worldchallenge.org/missions.
In Christ,
DAVID WILKERSON
DW:bbm 12.31.69
