The following is Lesson No. IV in FAITH (First Series),
compiled by the NORFOLK STUDY GROUP NO. 1 of the ASSOCIATION
OF RESEARCH AND ENLIGHTENMENT, INC., Virginia Beach, Va.
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall
be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."
(Eph. 6:16)
FAITH
WHAT IS FAITH?
Faith is an attribute of the soul. It is the inner spiritual
knowledge of the Creative Forces of the universe. As we
become cognizant of the physical body through the senses, so
we may become aware of the soul through the activity of its
attributes. Faith may be denied or renounced until it ceases
to exist within the consciousness of the physical mind.
It can be acknowledged and exercised until it will remove
"mountains." That which is brought into consciousness thru
the activity of spiritual forces, manifesting in and through
the spiritual force of the individual, becomes the essence
of faith itself. Hence it has been termed by many that
faith, PURE faith, accepts or rejects without basis of
reason, or beyond the ken and scope of that which is
perceived through that man brings to his activity through
the five senses.
"Faith," as defined by Barnabas, "is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith knows it
has already received and acts accordingly, doubting nothing.
It is the builder of the seemingly impossible. It is that
which has brought into manifestation all that has ever
existed since creation. God is, faith is. It is the
evidence of God's promise fulfilled. It is Man's divine
privilege to accept, use, develop and enjoy the fruits
thereof.
In the material world we often mistake CONFIDENCE for FAITH.
We are prone to depend upon our physical senses. Anything
that does not make us aware of a concept we often refuse to
accept, forgetting that our senses themselves are deceptive.
This is not faith, but confidence - for confidence comes
through the physical senses, and when trials and disasters
arise that are seemingly beyond our power to control, we
begin to sink and immediately in hopelessness and distress
cry out, "Lord, help me: I perish." It is then that the
Voice speaks, "O, ye of little faith."
LET US EXAMINE OURSELVES AND SEE WHETHER WE ARE HOLDING TO
FAITH OR CONFIDENCE. WE MUST VIEW SPIRITUAL THINGS FROM
SPIRITUAL STANDPOINTS AND ACCEPT THEM IN A SPIRITUAL WAY.
Many say, "We have faith," but begin to explain that it
applies to mental and not material things. We say, "We
believe, but -" which means there is doubt, the very OPPOSITE
of faith. Remember when we entered this material plane we
became subject to material laws. It is the failure of our
senses to perceive and understand fully these laws and the
subsequent destruction of confidence, that brings many of us
to the point where we have little real faith.
There is a world before us to be understood, the mysteries
of the universe, the laws of love, the power of thought, the
matchless gift of faith. We stumble, we falter, even when
we have the Divine promise, "If ye have faith as a grain of
mustard seed, ye shall say unto that mountain, 'remove hence
to yonder place,' and it shall remove; and nothing shall be
impossible unto you." With such a promise, would we not cry
out, "I believe, Lord; help Thou my unbelief?"
Faith is the essence of the Creative Forces within the active
force of that of individuals to which they apply themselves
in the spiritual activity of their experience. So, in the
application of that we know to do as an expression of that
faith, that is manifested in every child of God, does it
grow, expand and become the basis of our activities in all
directions.
Faith is victory for where there is faith rightly placed
there is no failure, but true success. "Be faithful and I
will give you a crown of life;" that is, be full of faith
and have as a reward life's crowning glories. We know that
all our development, physical, mental and spiritual, depends
upon our faith in God, in our fellowman, in ourselves. Just
in proportion to the amount of faith we place in God and in
ourselves, just so great has been our development. Why not
take God at his word, letting our faith become a living
faith by acting in the manner that shows to the world that
we know ourselves to be sons of God. There is no other way
to real victory.
Let us have more faith in our fellowman. He may reflect a
different ray from that we would have him, but who knows
whether he is not more in line with the Divine Plan than if
he were following our lead? It is well to remember that our
Ideal is manifested through our fellowman as well as through
ourselves, and it is therefore the more necessary for us to
trust him even though appearance may be against it.
It is not only our privilege, but our duty to have faith in
ourselves. We are workers together with God, and when we
doubt ourselves, we doubt the God within. He has promised,
"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Call to mind:
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
In His Name we are more than conquerors.
It is only by having the faith of a little child in the
abiding presence of the Christ that we can hope to inherit
the Kingdom. Faith is a bridge that spans the gulf from
the seen to the unseen. It is often all we have left when
everything seems against us. With this in mind, how
diligently should we cultivate and seek to increase our
faith when all is going well with us, in order that it may
be the stronger fortress when the storms of life begin to
beat upon us. LORD INCREASE OUR FAITH!
HOW FAITH IS DEVELOPED
Faith is developed by the use of it. It cannot be taught or
forced, neither - if true - can it be destroyed. In the
exercising of faith, there comes to each that which may be
given to another for his enlightenment.
Let the mind be in us that was in Jesus, the Christ, then
there will come a faith that is sufficient unto every need,
even faith which removes mountains, changes the destiny of
nations - yea - brings worlds into existence. Believest
thou this? How may this be accomplished? By opening our
hearts to the unseen forces, that surround the Throne of
grace, beauty and might, THROWING ABOUT US THE PROTECTION
FOUND IN THE THOUGHT OF THE CHRIST; then add to our faith
works, which showeth forth these attributes, that are
expressions of His Spirit in the world. So shall our faith
develop and become to us the evidence of things not seen.
Each of us must show by our actions in our daily life, that
we believe, that we have faith, and know that as we use what
we have more will be given.
In times of trials, let us think of the faith that sustained
others in troubles far greater than ours. When our conscious
minds would magnify our doubts, let us awaken our faith by
rising above the cries of the flesh. Are we not children of
the Most High? Let us hold steadfastedly to this gift that
is God-given, that will lead us upward along the Way of Life.
Let us have the faith!
In studying and applying Cooperation, the knowledge we have
gained in Knowing Self, in our Ideal, in the Faith that never
falters, we are building step by step that which may become
living truths in the lives of individuals who may come in
contact with each of us so applying same. Then as we apply
what we know, there is given the understanding of that faith
that may increase, enlarge, or cause to become a living thing
in our experience. We are in our own selves reflections to
others of what we worship. Let our lights so shine, that
others seeing the light may glorify God. By continuing to
lose sight of ourselves in the thought of Him, who is able
to make the tiny seed bring forth a tree - we increase our
faith. As self is lost in doing His bidding faith grows,
develops, becomes a living thing.
WHERE FAITH ABOUNDS
Only in the heart that is free from selfish love can there
come a faith that will sustain in all conditions of life.
Our faith must not only be a sustaining faith, but a living
faith, one that we can try out daily and know that it is sure
and steadfast. Where there is real faith, there is no fear;
for with faith in the abiding love of the Father, what cause
is there ever for an anxious moment?
Every step of the way is shown to the faithful; for "Thy word
is a lamp to my feet." When the way is dark and the barriers
seem impassable, then the Light of the Son of Righteousness
shines forth to those who rest in the promises made to the
faithful.
When faith abides within, we have, indeed, a true freedom and
the assurance that we have no master save one, even Christ;
that we are protected by the strong arm of the Father, yea,
even are, within His Hand, and no man can pluck us out.
There is the feeling of security, protection and peace that
passes understanding, that is found nowhere else. To those
of us in whom it may be said, "I have not found so great a
faith," there, too, is love; for faith and love go
together. With love comes power, power to supply every need,
power to help others as well as self, and with love finally
comes understanding. Every promise in reality is fulfilled.
FAITH IS THE PROMISE SENT ON BEFORE TO SHOW WHATEVER WE ASK,
WE HAVE.
SELF-ANALYSIS NECESSARY
As we, as individuals, hold fast to our Ideal, we are
building the basis for our faith. The higher the ideal we
hold, the higher the concept of faith. The solution of
mental problems is more important to man than physical,
although this does not seem true to the average man lost
in the twisted paths of materialism.
FREE THE MIND AND THE BATTLE IS ALMOST WON. MENTAL ANGUISH
IS FAR GREATER THAN PHYSICAL; FOR THE MIND CAN CONQUER
PHYSICAL PAIN, WHILE IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE SPIRITUAL FORCES
TO AID THE SUFFERING MIND.
The savage worships a god who will send rain and sunshine and
protect him from lightening. The philosopher seeks a god who
will give him peace in mind and soul. "The ideal or standard
toward which one moves becomes the basis for the activity of
faith in constant action from the mental, the imaginative and
the spiritual forces of an entity to express or bring the
manifestation that held as one's ideal; not for
self-exaltation, or to show self superior to others, but
rather to show the blessings self has received and see them
manifested in the lives of others. A life reflects the
concept that it holds." Nature reflects that it has within.
It uses freely that it has, relying on the Creator that more
will be supplied. "Consider the lilies of the field, how
they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin."
Look into self. Know that God is and that we are workers
together with Him; that He is within each of us, ever
supplying that sustaining faith sufficient to the needs of
the day. It should not be a self analysis to find out just
where the flesh is weak, or where we are most likely to fail,
but as a reinforcement to self, as a good thought, a fervent
prayer for self, that will make us a little stronger to hold
on with unwavering faith to that Ideal that is set in Him.
EVIDENCES OF FAITH
EXPERIENCES
When the day is dark and the way is obscure and we can still
hold on, there is evidence that there is faith. When the sea
of life is rough and we have the courage to step out boldly
on the troubled waters, it is because there is still the
Divine gift at the very center of our being, that is saying,
"Peace, be still;" for "I am with thee and will not leave
thee." We have heard it. We can hear it always - if we
will but take time to listen.
When doubts have arisen and clouds of despair were thick,
have we not called out in the night to the very stars, "My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Did not an answer
come? Were we not stronger by having an experience that
gives us a better understanding of our brother who is still
out in the night calling, calling?
"Some years ago, I was with a party that was visiting a noted
cavern. Every one seemed very happy. After being in the
cavern for a short time, I became very frightened. The
thought came to me - how terrible, how dreadful it would be,
if we could not find our way out. The very air seemed to
press in upon me. Ages seemed to pass. Then came the Voice
that has sustained me so often, 'Lo, I am with you always.
Be not afraid.' With the words came the strengthening of my
faith."
"When loved ones are lingering in pain and no earthly help
is nigh, are there not evidences of the faith of our fathers
still revived, when we ask and receive? It brings the
greatest comfort to us not only in the trying times, but at
all times, to know inwardly that His promises are sure - and
we know their truth through the Divine abiding within us."
REWARD OF FAITH
Our rewards are in proportion to the faith we exercise.
"According to your faith, be it unto you." "Whatsoever ye
ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." There is no
limit to the reward. It is ours to measure, ours to claim.
"Prove me, if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour
you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to
receive it."
Let us open ourselves to be channels, have complete faith in
God; for "The battle is the Lord's." It remains to be seen,
what we can do, when we give ourselves unreservedly into the
hands of the Father. "And I will pray the Father and He
shall give you another Comforter, even the Spirit of Truth,
who will guide you into all TRUTH.
"AND WHAT SHALL I MORE SAY?
FOR TIME WOULD FAIL ME TO TELL,
OF GIDEON AND BARAK, AND OF SAMPSON AND OF JEPHTHAE,
AND OF DAVID AND SAMUEL AND OF THE PROPHETS,
WHO THROUGH FAITH SUBDUED KINGDOMS,
WROUGHT RIGHTEOUSNESS, OBTAINED PROMISES
AND THESE ALL HAVING OBTAINED A GOOD REPORT
THROUGH FAITH, RECEIVED NOT THE PROMISE.
GOD HAVING PROVIDED SOME BETTER THINGS FOR US,
THAT THEY, WITHOUT US, SHOULD NOT BE MADE PERFECT.
WHEREFORE, SEEING WE ARE COMPASSED ABOUT
WITH SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES,
LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT
AND THE SIN, WHICH DOTH SO EASILY BESET US.
AND LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE
THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US
LOOKING TO JESUS THE AUTHOR
AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH." [Heb. 11:
32-33, 39-40,
12:1,2]
Then let our prayer be:
CREATE IN ME A PURE HEART, O GOD!
OPEN THOU MY HEART TO THE FAITH THOU
HAST IMPLANTED IN ALL THAT SEEK THY FACE.
HELP THOU MINE UNBELIEF IN MY
GOD, - IN MY NEIGHBOR, - IN MYSELF. [
262-13]
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation