Faith For America
by
Pastor C.O. Stadsklev
God’s one challenge to man down through history has been to believe Him. He threw the challenge to Adam and Eve but they failed. He threw the challenge to Abraham. Because Abraham believed, America came into being with God’s many blessings poured upon this nation.
God’s challenge to Jacob, to Isaac and Joseph was to believe Him. Joseph believed God to the extent that when his ordeal in Egypt was over, he told his brethren, “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good...”
When Christ came, He made this statement repeatedly: “If thou canst believe.” He did not say, “If you can do so and so; if you have a certain ability; if you have a certain temperament and personality, I can do something for you.” Christ said simply, “If thou canst believe.” To believe God is the challenge before us today, and it is about the only thing God could ask us to do, for we read in Psalm 39:5:
“Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth (a short time); and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily everyman at his best state is altogether vanity.” So God does not expect much of us other than to die to self, believe Him and let Him do the work.
As kingdom believers, we are challenged to believe God far more than any other generation of Christian people during the church age. We have the light and revelation of God’s Word. One cannot exercise faith except on the basis of God’s Word. One thing we must do is constantly distinguish between knowledge and faith.
A certain amount of knowledge is necessary, but Bible knowledge is not faith. Faith is spiritual; faith is personal; faith lays hold on specific definite Scripture given to an individual by the Spirit.
In this article I would like to give briefly a basis from the Scripture for believing God for our nation. When we believe God in any realm, we release the power of God. Releasing the power of the flesh and the carnal mind is possible for us, also, and that can do a great deal of harm. However, when we believe God (and this is spiritual, something beyond the intellect), we release God’s power.
People who know very little about the great doctrines of prophecy and Anglo-Saxon Israel identification can have very great faith as they walk in the light and as they pray and feed on the Word. This is not to suggest that knowledge will work counter to faith, but if we overemphasize knowledge, it has a tendency to destroy personal, living, active faith.
Let us examine ourselves. Let us look at the kingdom movement as a whole throughout the nation. We must have the moving of the Spirit of God that will inspire and instill a living, active faith. Christ said we are to “become as little children”—in other words, we must have a simple, child-like, faith in the Lord.
Faith is never based on how one feels or on what comes through the five senses. Faith is never based on someone else’s experience or testimony. We must not build our faith on these. It is faith in God’s Word that triggers the working of God.
Let me give one further thought. In believing God, we must not constantly take a negative position, a position where we “will wait and see.” If one has the assurance, the witness and testimony in his own heart and mind and has prayed through, then his position is on the offensive, not the defensive. There are things one does not pray through on or get the answer on until he deals with the spirit that is behind that problem. Behind many problems and unanswered prayers are various spirits that must be dealt with—rebuked, confessed, acknowledged and commanded to depart.
Psalm 46 is one of many scriptures we can stand upon for America. This Psalm begins, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
If that one verse is isolated, we can apply it personally. However, in looking for the correct interpretation we find the Psalmist saw here the same trouble that Daniel prophesied about in Daniel 12:1. Daniel called it “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation.” It is the same trouble that Jeremiah prophesied about in chapter 30, verses 7 and 8. He called it “Jacob’s trouble.” It is the trouble of our nation, as we will see. Psalm 46 reads on from verse 2
“Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea...” We are now moving into this change where corruption, iniquity and wickedness are coming to the surface to be removed and eliminated. The last phrase describes the overthrow of nations, various nations and groups of people rising up all over the world to declare their independence and become sovereign nations. It is a picture of worldwide revolution, upheaval and revolt.
“Though the waters (the people) roar and be troubled, though the mountains (the nations) shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”
Then the Psalmist sees this in verse 4: “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God (the system, kingdom or order of God) the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.”
In the Old Scriptures, God said He would tabernacle or dwell in the midst of Israel So in this time of trouble and upheaval, there is a truth, a doctrine, teaching and spirit that shall make glad this order of God, this place where God dwells among the Israel people. It is the Gospel of the Kingdom, the gospel of redemption and our honor and privilege to proclaim this message.
Let us rid ourselves as much as we can of the idea that God has called us to do something for Him. As we believe God, God will work though us; He will use us not because of what we are, but in spite of what we are. That is why some church fathers and the great preachers in the past spent two or three hours everyday in prayer. We are not even “in it” if we are thinking we are working for God or are indispensable. Then we are like a squirrel in a cage—mu h activity but no progress. Such an attitude can wear one out mentally, physically, and spiritually. God’s promise is, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”
Verse 5 continues, “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.” This is the decree of the Almighty. If you believe it, even though yours is a very humble, insignificant life hid away some place, you put into operation the working of God. It is the humble Christian who has believed God whom God used throughout the ages.
Hannah believed God before Samuel was born—she received the witness, the testimony, and then thanked the Lord. Along came Samuel doing more, perhaps, than a million women like Hannah could do. How and why did Samuel come? He came because one lone woman, in spite of the apostasy of the church and the preacher, believed God. This is God’s method of operation even though the carnal mind resents and fights against it.
We read it, “The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted..” That is the power of God’s Word.
“The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” Ours is a nation in trouble today. But here is the prophecy, the promise and the basis for faith. I know that the reaction is, “Oh, you don’t believe in doing anything.” I believe in doing the greatest thing and about the only thing a mortal can do that counts—and that is to believe God.
“Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.” What is God doing? He is destroying Babylon. He is putting an end to our Christless, Godless, arrogant educational system. He is bringing judgment and cleansing.
“He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.”
Note the emphasis on what “He” will do. This is where we must put our faith and this is where we must base our preaching, teaching and exhortation.
As we preach the good news of the Gospel of the Kingdom over the radio and give it out through the printed page, we must give the people a message that they can lay hold on in faith. They can then believe God and bring the power of God and the fire of God upon our entire nation. People cannot believe without the Word.
There are many to tell all about what the Devil is doing and what the agents of Satan are doing, and certainly we should be made aware of the evil. However, Gospel preachers should give out the Word. As they do, people will lay hold on the Word and on God Almighty.
One of our problems is people do not take time to pray. One does not learn to appropriate the Word of God for a specific, personal need by praying to God occasionally or just at formal family worship. Take time to pray everyday, and be definite and specific in your prayers—don’t pray in general terms.
The Psalm ends “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” What more do we need?
by
Pastor C.O. Stadsklev
God’s one challenge to man down through history has been to believe Him. He threw the challenge to Adam and Eve but they failed. He threw the challenge to Abraham. Because Abraham believed, America came into being with God’s many blessings poured upon this nation.
God’s challenge to Jacob, to Isaac and Joseph was to believe Him. Joseph believed God to the extent that when his ordeal in Egypt was over, he told his brethren, “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good...”
When Christ came, He made this statement repeatedly: “If thou canst believe.” He did not say, “If you can do so and so; if you have a certain ability; if you have a certain temperament and personality, I can do something for you.” Christ said simply, “If thou canst believe.” To believe God is the challenge before us today, and it is about the only thing God could ask us to do, for we read in Psalm 39:5:
“Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth (a short time); and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily everyman at his best state is altogether vanity.” So God does not expect much of us other than to die to self, believe Him and let Him do the work.
As kingdom believers, we are challenged to believe God far more than any other generation of Christian people during the church age. We have the light and revelation of God’s Word. One cannot exercise faith except on the basis of God’s Word. One thing we must do is constantly distinguish between knowledge and faith.
A certain amount of knowledge is necessary, but Bible knowledge is not faith. Faith is spiritual; faith is personal; faith lays hold on specific definite Scripture given to an individual by the Spirit.
In this article I would like to give briefly a basis from the Scripture for believing God for our nation. When we believe God in any realm, we release the power of God. Releasing the power of the flesh and the carnal mind is possible for us, also, and that can do a great deal of harm. However, when we believe God (and this is spiritual, something beyond the intellect), we release God’s power.
People who know very little about the great doctrines of prophecy and Anglo-Saxon Israel identification can have very great faith as they walk in the light and as they pray and feed on the Word. This is not to suggest that knowledge will work counter to faith, but if we overemphasize knowledge, it has a tendency to destroy personal, living, active faith.
Let us examine ourselves. Let us look at the kingdom movement as a whole throughout the nation. We must have the moving of the Spirit of God that will inspire and instill a living, active faith. Christ said we are to “become as little children”—in other words, we must have a simple, child-like, faith in the Lord.
Faith is never based on how one feels or on what comes through the five senses. Faith is never based on someone else’s experience or testimony. We must not build our faith on these. It is faith in God’s Word that triggers the working of God.
Let me give one further thought. In believing God, we must not constantly take a negative position, a position where we “will wait and see.” If one has the assurance, the witness and testimony in his own heart and mind and has prayed through, then his position is on the offensive, not the defensive. There are things one does not pray through on or get the answer on until he deals with the spirit that is behind that problem. Behind many problems and unanswered prayers are various spirits that must be dealt with—rebuked, confessed, acknowledged and commanded to depart.
Psalm 46 is one of many scriptures we can stand upon for America. This Psalm begins, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
If that one verse is isolated, we can apply it personally. However, in looking for the correct interpretation we find the Psalmist saw here the same trouble that Daniel prophesied about in Daniel 12:1. Daniel called it “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation.” It is the same trouble that Jeremiah prophesied about in chapter 30, verses 7 and 8. He called it “Jacob’s trouble.” It is the trouble of our nation, as we will see. Psalm 46 reads on from verse 2
“Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea...” We are now moving into this change where corruption, iniquity and wickedness are coming to the surface to be removed and eliminated. The last phrase describes the overthrow of nations, various nations and groups of people rising up all over the world to declare their independence and become sovereign nations. It is a picture of worldwide revolution, upheaval and revolt.
“Though the waters (the people) roar and be troubled, though the mountains (the nations) shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”
Then the Psalmist sees this in verse 4: “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God (the system, kingdom or order of God) the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.”
In the Old Scriptures, God said He would tabernacle or dwell in the midst of Israel So in this time of trouble and upheaval, there is a truth, a doctrine, teaching and spirit that shall make glad this order of God, this place where God dwells among the Israel people. It is the Gospel of the Kingdom, the gospel of redemption and our honor and privilege to proclaim this message.
Let us rid ourselves as much as we can of the idea that God has called us to do something for Him. As we believe God, God will work though us; He will use us not because of what we are, but in spite of what we are. That is why some church fathers and the great preachers in the past spent two or three hours everyday in prayer. We are not even “in it” if we are thinking we are working for God or are indispensable. Then we are like a squirrel in a cage—mu h activity but no progress. Such an attitude can wear one out mentally, physically, and spiritually. God’s promise is, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”
Verse 5 continues, “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.” This is the decree of the Almighty. If you believe it, even though yours is a very humble, insignificant life hid away some place, you put into operation the working of God. It is the humble Christian who has believed God whom God used throughout the ages.
Hannah believed God before Samuel was born—she received the witness, the testimony, and then thanked the Lord. Along came Samuel doing more, perhaps, than a million women like Hannah could do. How and why did Samuel come? He came because one lone woman, in spite of the apostasy of the church and the preacher, believed God. This is God’s method of operation even though the carnal mind resents and fights against it.
We read it, “The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted..” That is the power of God’s Word.
“The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” Ours is a nation in trouble today. But here is the prophecy, the promise and the basis for faith. I know that the reaction is, “Oh, you don’t believe in doing anything.” I believe in doing the greatest thing and about the only thing a mortal can do that counts—and that is to believe God.
“Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.” What is God doing? He is destroying Babylon. He is putting an end to our Christless, Godless, arrogant educational system. He is bringing judgment and cleansing.
“He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.”
Note the emphasis on what “He” will do. This is where we must put our faith and this is where we must base our preaching, teaching and exhortation.
As we preach the good news of the Gospel of the Kingdom over the radio and give it out through the printed page, we must give the people a message that they can lay hold on in faith. They can then believe God and bring the power of God and the fire of God upon our entire nation. People cannot believe without the Word.
There are many to tell all about what the Devil is doing and what the agents of Satan are doing, and certainly we should be made aware of the evil. However, Gospel preachers should give out the Word. As they do, people will lay hold on the Word and on God Almighty.
One of our problems is people do not take time to pray. One does not learn to appropriate the Word of God for a specific, personal need by praying to God occasionally or just at formal family worship. Take time to pray everyday, and be definite and specific in your prayers—don’t pray in general terms.
The Psalm ends “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” What more do we need?