The Truth!

A newsletter from Pursuing the Truth Ministries

Greetings from Pursuing the Truth Ministries!

I pray all is well with you.  It has been a while since we've sent out our monthly newsletter.  However, we have been busy changing and this is one of the results of that change.  We are going to bring to you articles, studies, and the like that deal with real life experiences.  Christianity involves living on the real planet Earth and we want to present Christianity to you in those terms--really!

We will cover topics including marriage, sexuality, bible study, God's providence, the problem of pain (evil), and much more.  So stay tuned and enjoy.  Feel free to send us your questions and comments at question@pursuingthetruth.org.  God bless you always.

-William R. Cunningham

Fighting For Faith
Being Faithful in Your Circumstance

How many times have you heard the preacher say that we should have faith in God or that we should trust God?  I'll bet you were in many church services where they "faith" in the air was so think that you could cut it with a butter knife.  You feel so powerful and you feel like your faith can conquer the world or at least move the mountain that threatens you.  However, sooner or later you have to go home where there is no hype and excitement as it was in the church service.  How do you get that power back?  How do you activate your faith so to speak?

I remember when I lost my job in January of 2003.  I was devastated.  I had just started working at that company in April of 2001.  At first I was numb and then full of faith believing that God would give me a new job right away and that the situation would only be a blip in my life.  However, months went by and the money was running low.  Does that sound familiar to you?  I recall having to work hard to remain faithful because my circumstances was speaking very loudly to me--even louder than my faith.  Once you leave the hype of the church services things are much different.  Faith is work--hard work.  I was determined not to look back on that situation and be embarrassed by my attitude.  I tried my best to live the scriptures that I had studied for so long.  In particular I was motivated greatly by Ecclesiastes 11:1-6.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 (NASB95) {1}Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. {2}Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. {3}If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies. {4}He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. {5}Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. {6}Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.

What that verse basically means is, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket!"  This implies that you have to work to succeed in the things that you want.  Some people believe that we can confess things into existence, but the Bible does not teach us that.  I could have sat down and watched television all day believing that God would see me through.  God would have been there the whole time--even while going through bankruptcy.  However, as I tell people many times, "A loaf of bread will probably not fall out of the sky."  That simply means that I have to work and God will bless the things that I do.

Psalm 1:1-3 (NASB95) {1}How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! {2}But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. {3}He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

You've heard the saying that God helps those who helps themselves.  You also know that a parked car won't get you where you want to go even though you have all the faith in the world that it can.  The same applies here.  Believing God is not an excuse to be lazy.  Putting your faith in God is not a signal to sit down.  If anything it is a signal that you can do more--much more!  by faith I believe that God will bless the works of my hands.  By faith I have confidence that what I do will succeed.  Faith is hard work my friend and you should fight real hard to keep it because your situations and the cares of this world will do all they can to rob you of the very thing that you need, namely your faith.

Hope Before Faith
Pursue Your Dreams, but Dream First

In the previous article I made the point that faith is hard work and that we should fight to maintain our confidence in God's care for us.  However, there is something that is necessary before we can put our faith into practice.

Hebrews 11:1 (NASB95) {1}Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Before there is faith there is hope.  What is hope.  Hope is the vision, the goal, the purpose.  Hope is the thing that you see that does not exist.  It is the object of faith.  My hope was a new job and my faith was based on that vision (See the previous article).  I did not just hope that I would get a new job.  I believed that I would and began to do things to support that confidence in reaching the goal.  My confidence was pointed at the object and it was all held together and empowered by God.  If it weren't for God then my hope would merely be wishful thinking at best.  However, with God I know that it could happen because he is not bound by circumstances and he cares about me.

Also consider the following passage of scripture.

Mark 11:22-23 (NASB95) {22}And Jesus answered saying to them, "Have faith in God. {23}"Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.

Many preachers interpret this to mean that we can believe and receive.  I beg to differ.  We have to hope, believe, work, and then reap (receive).  You can't believe if there is nothing to believe in or for.  You can't move the mountain if there is no mountain to move.  First we need a mountain, the object for faith. That mountain is the vision of what I want to accomplish or acquire.  I then pray about it and pursue it.  It could be that God wants me to pursue it or it could not.  Either way I am bound to find out.  I know some of you faith folks believe that you can hear God talking to you and you know exactly what to pray for and pursue.  Well many people living a real life finds that it doesn't quite work that way.  Many times we have no idea of what God wants or what he wants us to do.  Remember Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 (see previous article).  We don't know what will prosper, this or that.

Now in order to have hope you must dream.  You have to have something to work towards.  You need faith to operate on something in accordance with God's will to the best of your ability.  Therefore, dream big and know God.  It's senseless to put your confidence in God if you don't know him and have a relationship with him.  Know him, and pursue your dreams.  Hope, have faith, work, and reap!  Put your hope before your faith and live abundantly.