Principle of Faith # 2

Principle of Faith # 2

Bro. Lee Vayle - January 17, 1966

a) Now, remember that Word of the Lord needs revelation. The reality of the great truths of the Word of God are missing. And I cannot conceive for one moment that one man had it all and then he died and it went with him. I was just telling the brethren tonight that I didn't suppose it was their good fortune to have met men like Jonathan Goforth, not that I really met him and knew him. But the Lord made it possible for me to be in a meeting just before he died when he came back from China. Blind and deaf, about ninety-one years of age, and then he died shortly in Toronto, Canada. And I saw in him, Christ.

I saw in Bailey, of South Africa what I admired so greatly. I suppose I admired it, because I'm at fault in lacking what he had. He told that how that when he was on the mission field in Africa, that he had written a letter home to his mission board in America, and the Lord woke him up one night and said, "Bailey, I have somewhat against thee."

And he said, "What is it Lord?"

And He said, "It was that letter that you wrote home to your mission board. It wasn't what you said, but it was how you said it. I want you to get up and rewrite the letter and apologize and do it right this time."

He got up and he rewrote the letter and apologized and sent it on home. He went back to sleep the next night the Lord woke him up and said, "Bailey, I have somewhat against thee."

"What do you have against me Lord?"

And He [God] said, "When you made your last tour of the field what you said was right, to your fellow man, but how you said it was wrong. I want you to go and tell them you're sorry and you apologize."

And he went back and he apologized. God gave him the revival that you and I talk about, but, are never ever going to see, because we're too hard to apologize. God gave Goforth the revival in China, and literally shook Christendom by its impact, beauty, and grace where men confessed how rotten they were, but they confessed but we have an awful job saying we're sorry.

b) I saw a very tender thing once, I was in a Methodist camp meeting, they were Wesleyans. Now doctrinally we're far apart. But in that meeting whether it was God or emotions, or what it was it was working. I saw men go up and weep and hug their wives and tell them they were sorry. I don't know if I saw a woman say she was sorry. It just suddenly struck me. I don't mean to be particular humorous, but women are more tender than men, and I can't figure it. But I was humbly gratified to see that people could apologize.

The three hardest words in this world I believe to say, and yet are the greatest, "I was wrong." And so, we justify ourselves and go on miserably. The Philadelphian Age expired with men like Goforth, and Bailey. Bro. Branham came on the scene and in him was gathered up just about all the Christians graces that could be manifested and seen in one person. And the rest of us are all dry milk cows, because the milk is human compassion, and Christ like compassion is all gone.

c) You know the Bride was a full breasted woman, and she said our little sister has tiny breasts. We're very tiny breasted people. I'm not criticizing you, just more or less apologizing to God for all of us, because we're not too good shape. You know you can buy pot-holders, they’re called girdles, all they do is move the fat up or down for both men or women. Christians, you can put on your girdle all you want, or just move the fat around, and move the lumps here or there. It's time to get rid of the lumps. That's right.

I liken everything to this age we live in. The church is a woman, isn't she? She's got no breasts, but she's fat and lumpy, she's doing her best to hide it. It's time to get rid of the hypocrisy and all those things. I am disturbed to see one man have just about all the graces, and we all have so. I'm not talking about these men with big brown eyes, like a calf, they're so, soulful, and they're so sweet in human nature. When the chips are down they haven't got reality. I'm talking about reality, tonight.

d) So, I think the only thing that's going to bring it back to us is a revelation. Now, you don't get that revelation on your own. And God doesn't show it to you, if you're not going to get it. But the Scripture says, "The Bride has made herself ready." And I'm convinced that what we need today is a new revelation.

When I was twenty years of age, maybe twenty-one, God showed me the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. I went around for months, literally months, and every corner I turned I expected to see Jesus. Every night I looked up into the stars to see the signs to see that He was coming. I walked with a holy hush, it's almost thirty years ago. His Coming must be closer than when I first believed, and I believed when I was eighteen. I want to confess to you tonight, the Second Coming of Christ is no more real to me, then almost anything else. It is far off in distance. I have no real knowledge of His Coming. I say He is Coming, I know He is Coming. But my knowledge is skin deep. I know there's a God, because I'm not a fool.

e) And I also know that there's a God, because He has witnessed it by His Spirit. And that which held me which was the true baptism with the Holy Ghost, held me all these years will continue to hold me, because I'm sealed. But I am not satisfied, and I believe that satisfaction can only come by revelation. I don't believe it's any other way.

There are many things in this Word and from this Word which we know are irrevocably ours. Such as the, "The Gifts and callings are without repentance." [Rom 11:29] And God being of one mind, He cannot change His mind. God being omniscient, He cannot add to His knowledge. He always has had the same knowledge and nothing can be added to it, or taken from it, because He is omniscient, because He is God. What He is saying, I have no doubt of in an academic manner. Academically speaking, no problem. Spiritually speaking, I have a great problem. We need a revelation from God, that's all I know.

f) If I could come to you with another word, I would be glad to do it. But I haven't any word other than to say we need to assemble ourselves and pray for revelation, because if you separate yourselves, you'll get a revelation, but you'll go down the drain with it. I said, I will now present you the Scripture and show you that I am correct in my exegesis.

How is it then brethren when you come together, not stay at home? Did you hear what I said? I said, "When you come together and don’t stay at home."

"Everyone of you hath a song, a doctrine, a tongue, has a revelation, hath an interpretation, and let all things be done to edify." [1 Cor 14:26]

I am very skeptical of lay members who stay home and get revelation. I am not only skeptical, I am abhorrently unbelieving, will even challenge you. I do not say, "thus it defies membership of the body of Christ, who are given leaders, the apostles, prophets, teachers, pastor's, and evangelists." Because it is their job to have ahead of time the revelation and be prepared to bring God's Word.

g) I do not say however that one cannot as a lay member receive a revelation. But then the revelation must be brought before the judges in the church, and it must be judged. It must not be taught privately. Even the apostle Paul did not teach privately. So, no man can ever teach privately, it must be thoroughly exposed to public view, and to those who are somewhat of authority that it might be judged.

And I do not mean to accuse anybody here, for indeed I do not even know you. But lest, I do not even have food among you, and that's the only reason that I am here, believe me. Or, let us put assuage the major reason, I want some fruit amongst the people of God. I would say these things not with a barbed tongue, but that no man could stand in the judgment and say, that he was not forewarned. And that no man can ever be in my presence as a minister of the Gospel, and say that I did not teach the Word of God. Because I have no word of my own, or another man's to teach but, the Word of the Lord.

h) We need revelation, and we're going to have to gather ourselves together and believe God for it. We have already had great revelation, but we seem to need a sorting of the revelation. And a revaluation in the sense of an application of the revelation which we have had. Our doctrine is correct, it has been vindicated, because of the vindicated prophet. We have no doubt there whatsoever. But there are certain doubts in our minds as to where it leads, and how it would lead. But I believe God will show us, and that is our great need of revelation.

Even in the message which I am bringing you on faith. We need a dynamic revelation in order to have the rapturing faith of Enoch, because he had this testimony before he was raptured, that he pleased God. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him. For he that cometh to God, must believe that He is, and is rewarder of them who diligently please Him." [Hebrews 11:6] Let's bow our heads in prayer.

Heavenly Father, we come again to Your Presence, knowing, Lord God, that we have only one word, and that is Thy Word. We have one spirit, that is one with Your Word. Therefore tonight, Lord, we are believing because of the assurance of the truth, not just a conviction, but the actual reality of His Holy Spirit living and abiding within us. Therefore, Thy must anoint, O God, the tongue, deliver the mind from any thoughts which is His Own. But every thought and every word in correct tone, correct expression, because the Spirit is in control. Everything there must be said in such a way, O God, to be bread to those who might hear and understanding and apply it for the glory of God.

Feed us tonight, O Lord, until this Word becomes the very part of us. For You have said, "Man shall not live by bread alone." We must admit we are not living too well these days, O God. We are not living too well, because somehow that bread is not become a part of us, and that wine has not exhilarated us. And somehow it seems as though the oil had not anointed, but we know that that is in itself wrong, because it must do these things, for You said it would.

Therefore, Lord, we're trying to believe tonight, yea, we are believing tonight, because You said, it, it's got to come to pass, therefore in Thy hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves, take charge. Not only in this meeting tonight, but in every moment of our lives, we pray it, and believe it in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

1. Now, our text of course is, "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen." [Heb 11:1] And we understand how important it is, because the Bible says, "Without faith you cannot please God." [Heb11:6a] It says, "That the shield of faith, whereby we quench the fiery darts of the wicked ones," [Eph 6:16] is the weapon of defense which must be applied with every one of our armaments, or they are ineffective.

It is also true, that though this Word of God is creative, that this Word of God is powerful, for by His Word God created heavens and the earth. And all the things we see and by this Word, all things are maintained. Yes, this Word in the believer's life is absolutely devoid of power, unless he believes It. This Word becomes a dead book, a letter of the law which does not justify but which condemns, if a man does not mix It with the living faith of the Living God.

2. Again in 1 John 5:4, It says, "That this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." A man cannot be victorious apart from the use of his faith. Try as you might, exercise all you want, develop every skill in this world, you will go down as a failure before Almighty God. And perhaps the world, and in your own eyes you'll fail all the more, because you have not developed and used your faith.

The cry and conviction within your heart tonight is not a harassment from God. Although many times, it could be an accusation by the devil, but God in His convicting power wants us to use our faith, and He leads us and begs us by His Word and by His Voice to walk in those paths of faith, whereby we come into a place of some great victory.

Again, the Scripture says, "We walk by faith, and not by sight." [2 Cor 5:7] Men are not called to have everything laid at their disposal, and thereby make a choice by reason. But men are disposed by God in His sovereign grace to ask you to believe Him in darkness, and walk by faith. The Scripture also says, "The just shall live by faith." [Rom 1:17b] That does not mean a halfway measure, because the Scripture refers to abundant life. And the abundant life of God cannot be had except as we rely upon the instrument of faith that God has given us.

3. And again, the Scripture says, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." [Rom 4:23b] So therefore, even though you are a Christian when you refused to walk by faith, you turn away from believing God, you are literally walking in sin. And the darkness of the imagination, the reasonings of your own heart. You can see how important this subject of faith is. How important it is, if I were to stop you, you might say, "Bro. Vayle, I'm going home to pray for faith." And I would say that's the last thing that last thing that you must do, because you must not pray for faith.

And the reason is that you must not pray for faith is because you already have faith. In the first place, you have human faith. Everybody has human faith. The human faith does not save you. Human faith does not make you a Christian, because if you had, you could rely upon your human faith. Then every single person a Protestant, Catholic, everyone who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died, that He rose for your sins, and justification. Every single person would be a believer, and therefore a true Christian. But everybody is not. They are not.

4. And the Scripture tells us distinctly, this is not so. Not only is this so, but the Word of God tells us in the Book of Thessalonians, "that wicked and unreasonable men do not have faith." [2 Th 3:2] There is a special kind of faith then, that wicked men do not possess. If that is true, there must be some Scripture that indicates that the righteous do have a faith that the wicked do not have. And that is true, because It says in the Book of Romans 12:[3b] "That God has granted to every brother, every believer the measure of faith." God has given every single believer 'the', not 'a', but 'the' measure of faith.

When did you get that faith? You got that faith according to the Book of Ephesians 2:8

(8) ... by grace are (you) saved through faith; and that (faith is) not of yourselves: ...

Human faith cannot save you, as I told you. It takes the faith of Almighty God Himself to save you. When the Spirit of God called you. "For My sheep hear My Voice." You would not have had the faith to follow Him, you couldn't do it. But God put that faith in your heart, that you may believe to such an extent that His Spirit could come on down, and baptize you into His Body, the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

5. But what is that faith we're talking about? The faith we talked about is found in,

James 2:1

(1) My brethren, ...

Notice, he's talking to brethren, even as Paul was talking brethren, 'God has dealt to everyone of you the measure of faith', and Paul said it. Now James says it:

(1) ...have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, ...

Not faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, don't put that in your Bible, it's not faith 'in', but it's faith 'of '. It's the faith of Jesus Christ Himself, and you are not to have it.

(1) ... with respect to person.

In other words, you must not rely upon the arm of flesh any longer. You must not trust in man, but you put your faith in God, because it's the faith of Jesus Himself. The faith of Christ as it were the homing pigeon, flies towards Jesus Christ. It doesn't go towards man, it relieves you of man's fear of prejudice and the futility of hoping in an arm of flesh, because people will disappoint you, but God won't. And in James says, "My brethren, don't you dare now having the faith of God put your trust in man, or what man can do for you." Very simple to do it, it's very easy to hint, and want people to help you. But God says, "That's not the way to do it."The way to do it is to put our trust in Him.

6. In the Book of Galatians 2:20, Paul speaking, It says:

(20) ...I live by the faith of ... (not 'in' the Son of God, but the faith 'of ' the Son of God.)

And you notice the word 'of ' is in the genitive and it means possession. In other words, "I live by the faith which is a possession of Jesus, but He gave it to me. Jesus gave Paul the measure of his own faith.

7. And in the Book of Acts 3:16 where Peter is speaking concerning the healing of the man. And they said, "How was his healing done?"

And he said, "It took Jesus' Name and the faith of Jesus." For he said in this verse:

(16) And (Jesus') name through faith in (Jesus') name (has) made this man strong, whom (you) see and know: yea, the faith which is by (or from, Jesus has) given this (man this) perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

You can see here tonight that it was Jesus' Name and Jesus' faith, they go hand in hand. And God does not want it otherwise. And I'm not saying human faith in Jesus' Name doesn't work miracles. I'm not even saying the human faith in God cannot work miracles. But it does, but salvation itself and the use of the real gifts of the Holy Ghost, depend upon the faith of God Himself, in the vessel. And that's exactly another reason, because faith is also a fruit, faithfulness. And that's exactly why you see today that many people are employing human faith. And then even the Holy Ghost will anoint it, to do great things, but their lives are shoddy, showing that they don't walk by faith. (See?) It's a complete coverage we're talking about tonight. We want the whole of it.

8. These Jews came to Peter and said, "By what power do you do these things?" By what name do you do these things?"

And he said, "Yes, there is a power, and there is a name. The power is, the power in faith, and the name is, the Name of Jesus Christ." And he said, "We do this." Not only as we see in the mouths of three witnesses, is this the faith of Jesus Christ? That this faith of Jesus Christ in our lives. And here's where is we need a revelation. This faith is so dynamic, it's absolutely all consuming, purposeful, and consummating in the life of a Christian, that is expresses a perfection of our ability to receive from God in prayer.

For, if I were to say to you tonight, what would you like to have as your experience as a Christian in your communication to God? You would say, "Oh that I might be able to always come into His Presence, that I might be able to come with assurance, confidence, leave knowing that I have the petition in my heart."

9. And that's exactly what God said we've already got. For It says in Ephesians 3:11-12

(11) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

(12) In whom we have boldness (which means 'freedom of speech') and access with confidence by the faith of him.

What does It mean? It means, I can come to saying, "My God, here I am, I need something." And then It says, "I've got access." Never turned away, always work. And then It says, "Confidence." What does John say about confidence? "This is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything concerning His will we know that He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, we know we have the petition we desire of Him." [1 Jn 5:14-15]

That is exactly what the Word of God says is our condition before Him tonight. On the grounds of the measure of faith which we now possess. Yet, there isn't one of us tonight is able to say, "This is exactly right, because God says It. This is exactly what I am employing, because I have it." Tonight, we can all say, "I have it." But we can't say we're employing it. What is wrong? The revelation is not there.

10. The revelation is not there. If you've got money in your pockets and don't know you've got it, you'll never spend it. And even then, it may be that you've got money somewhere, and you know where it is, but you can't get your hands on it. You'll never spend it. But there must be the awareness granted by God somewhere along this to make us to see that what He purchased through Christ's death, and gave us way of the Resurrection, shall not be in vain. (See?)

It must be workable, utilitarian. If Christ died and thereby did not accomplish. If He arose and thereby did not accomplish, then even God is in vain. How vain it would be then for Christians to have these treasures, which cannot be consumed? If your body through a faulty process of metabolism cannot ingest, and then utilize the food your body takes, you'll die by starvation. Even though you fill your bowels with food. Nothing wrong with the food, contains every element, and yet you die with a full stomach of starvation, because your body could not use the essential values that were there at its disposal. Then right tonight, we are in the very same position. And the reason that we cannot use this faith is because we have not been made alive to it, it has not been made alive to us.

11. In Galatians [2:] we have the very same thoughts, Paul speaking again in verse 16

(16) Knowing that a man is not justified, or declared righteous) by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus, (that's what it's done by) even we have believed in Jesus Christ, (on what grounds, because that faith was given to you) that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, (notice that, twice it's used there, faith of Jesus, faith of Christ) and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Now, man might quibble and say, "You see, Jesus had the faith, and all we do is look passively at it." No sir! Because God has granted, or dealt to every man, the measure of faith. It's nothing passive, it is active, it is real.

12. In Romans we find the very same thought in chapter 3:22

(22) Even the righteousness (with) God which is by (the) faith of Jesus ...

Your faith never saved you. You know you're saved? Positively. You know you've been declared righteous by God? Positively. We accept it, there's no doubt. No equivocation here, it's all a matter of strict truth we have received, the Scripture said so. Upon what grounds? Upon having received the deposit of the measure of faith of Jesus Christ.

The Book of Revelation in the Pergamum Age, chapter 2:13, Christ is commending them and He said:

(13) I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, ...

And you know, we're right at the place where Satan is going to be crowned as king of this world. This was just Satan's seed here in Pergamos, but now Satan is about to take over the whole world, and we're in that age. And notice the parallel, He said, "You've not denied My faith." And perhaps God has raised me up with this last day Message. The cry out, "You've got the faith of God." Don't deny it, don’t deny it. Because if I preach this Message many a place I've seen them seal the lips and harden their hearts. And I say, "Repeat after Me, I've got the measure of the faith of God." They'll deny it. You've sealed your doom child, you'll take the mark of the beast. You'll go to hell, you'll bend or break, because antichrist means anti-Word. "I don't feel it, God didn't do anything. " So, He's a liar, but I doubt if He gave it to you myself, if you talk like that.

Love believeth all things. Say you say you love God, you believe all things? You believe you've got the measure of the faith of Jesus Christ? The Bible says, "You have not denied My faith." Didn't say, you've denied faith in Me, It says, "You have not denied My faith." We'll see why this is so important as time goes on.

13. Now, let us go further, did you know that the faith, this faith which we are talking about, which is the supernatural gift of God. I repeat, this faith which is the supernatural gift of God was predicted by Jesus Christ Himself in Mark 11:22.

(22) And Jesus answering (said) ... Have faith in God.

No! A decidedness, translation. "He answering said, "Have the faith of God." Who is Jesus? Is He not God? Then if you have the faith of Jesus, what do you have? You have the faith of God.

Now, you will notice that Jesus was going to give His children in the faith an object lesson. And It says that, "On the morrow after having come from Jerusalem, they came to Bethany, they were hungry. And He saw a fig tree and they were no figs on it. So, He said, "No man eat fruit of thee here after and forever." [Mk 11:12-14]

And you notice It says, "His disciples heard it." He intended that they hear it. And no doubt they were a bit amazed, but they were with Him so long and have seen and heard so many strange things, they weren’t upset. They just thought, "Isn't that strange, He stilled the storm, He broke loaves and fishes, and now here He's talking to a fig tree." They might wonder about it and pass on.

14. Well, Jesus came to Jerusalem He finished His work, set out to go back, and He deliberately led them by the very tree that He had cursed. And He do doubt just walked over that way, and they just followed Him. He looked at the fig tree and as they looked they gazed wonderingly and they said, "Well look, the fig tree is dead from the roots up." [Mk 11:20b] Now, a tree dies from the top down, because the sap goes down. But this one was literally dead from the roots, because He had cursed it.

And they said, "How was it, done?"

Amazing, and Jesus said, "I'll tell you how it's done. What you need is the faith of God. I've got the faith of God. I now use that faith of God."

Now a lot of people would stop here and they'd say, "Now, Jesus is an animal trainer." He having a bit of trouble with His donkey, so He puts the carrot on the end of leash, the whip and the donkey takes a step, and the whip goes forward, he takes another step, and he never gets the carrot.

15. Now, listen to me, the Scripture says in Deuteronomy, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong unto us, and to our children for a thousand generations, that we may do all the works for the law." [Deut 29:29]

This is something revealed, the faith of God has been revealed, so therefore, it has now become obtainable to the children of God. Right? Well, come on now, make up your minds. "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things which have revealed belong unto us." Jesus has revealed that a faith of God was somewhere. The fact of His revelation proves it was available. And the next word proved that it could be, and would be there, because He said, "Therefore, for I for verily say unto you."

Now notice, they had said, "How was this done?"

And He said, "This takes the faith of God."

Now, did He say this? "For if...I'm showing you something interesting. What you saw was a demonstration of faith of God. But of course, you can't have it." (Ah, ah, ah, ah, too bad, eh, eh. eh, eh.) Oh, that's Simon Le Gree, and little Topsy. It's not God and His children.

Because He turns right around and He connects them with that faith. And He says, "You have the faith of God. For verily I say unto you." (See?) He’s telling them, “It's you that shall say to this mountain, not just this tree now, but this mountain. Be plucked up from the roots, be cast in the sea, not doubting in your heart." Human faith will make you doubt, because it's not strong enough to move mountains. But the faith of God can move mountains, and shall not doubt in your hearts, but shall believe that whatsoever things (He said) shall come to pass. He shall have it." [Mk 11:23]

16. Notice, He said, "Because this is true, I say to you, whatsoever thing you desire, when you pray, use this faith of God which is now available to you, and you'll have what you want." [Mk 11:24]

You say I'm reading something into the Bible? Not at all, not at all. Not at all. Why did God make Heaven, for Himself, or for you? Why did He make hell, for Himself, or for you? I'm talking about world now, men in general. God made a Heaven for His Elect, He made a hell for the devil and his followers, and He'll destroy in the lake of fire.

There's a revelation of Heaven, and there's a revelation of hell. There is a revelation of the faith of God, and it is absolutely ours according to what we have here. This is the faith of Almighty God. It was set forth here, and we have conclusive proof tonight, that this what Jesus Christ was talking about, is the very same saying, that Paul and James, and Peter spoke of. They knew that He was God, and this measure of the faith of Jesus Christ, is the faith of Almighty God. And Jesus said, "I am now putting you in position to receive My very Own faith, whereby you can and will be able to pray with such power, boldness, access, confidence, I've got it, to move mountains even." Now, that’s Bible.

17. What is this faith of God as defined in the Word of God? Turn to Romans 4:16-22

(16) Therefore, it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not (only) to that which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

(17) (As It is written, I have made thee (Abraham) a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, (whom Abraham believed) even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which (are) not as though they were.

(18) Who (when) hope (was gone, hoped on in faith) ...that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

(19) And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

(20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving (the glory to) God;

(21) And being fully persuaded that, what (God) had promised, (God would also) able also to perform, (and would do it.)

(22) And, it was imputed to (Abraham) for righteousness.

Now, listen to me, before you can put your faith in anything, the object of your faith, or the recipient of your faith must possess those qualities inherit in it, which makes it worthy to be an object of faith. Now, I cannot [hold] up my hands and say, I’m going to speak in this handkerchief here, and it's going to go through the wire of the loud-speakers, and you're going to hear my voice, because this handkerchief does not possess the qualities inherit in it, to make it the object of my faith it'll act as a microphone. It hasn't got it!

18. I can take this microphone here, and this microphone does possess in itself the qualities which justify my faith. That it’s a microphone, you follow me? The same thing holds good about God. What do we know about God from Scripture, that justifies our faith in Him? Why, or how can God be the object of our faith?

Now, before anything can be the object of anybody's faith, there has to be two things in it, two principles. One, it must have the ability to do what needs to be done. Right? And it must have that ability to such an extent it will ALWAYS do, what needs to be done.

Now, if I've got a watch here, and I say, this watch has the ability to give me the time, but tomorrow I know the spring is going to break. I can't put faith in that watch to always give me the time. It doesn't have what it takes to be the object of my faith to be an eternal timepiece.

Therefore, when I look at God I find two great qualities in God that He must have inherently, that His Own Word must reveal above anything else in this world to make Him the object of my faith. And those two qualities are ability and immutability, and that's exactly what God said about Himself. He said, "I can do it, and I've given My Word which never changes." That's ability and immutability.

19. So therefore, God is the object of our faith and you don't need to worry, because it's perfect. If you wonder if this is exactly according to the Word, turn to Joel 2:1, and notice what It says:

(11) And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: (now notice) for he is strong that executeth his word: ... (ability and immutability.)

God can do it, and It says He wouldn't lie about it, so there you see it.

20. Now, going back to Romans 4: and reading this again. And as we do, I want to show you something. Let us say which with our doing tonight, we are studying this subject of faith, and it is a very good subject to study. We are human beings, we don't only teach and understand by precepts, but we are also taught and understand by example. It's not enough to say it, we have to illustrate it.

Now, can we find somebody in the Bible who was so involved in the processes of faith towards God, that if we study Him, He therefore could illumine us and give us a deeper understanding concerning this same faith, which we have. That is exactly right, and that man is Abraham, because he is known as the father of faith, the father of the faithful, the father of us all, in whose footsteps we are to follow.

21. So, we're going to look at this once more. And we are going to see what Abraham understood about God in relation to faith, and thereby understand, the process or principles of faith in our own lives. Is that simple? You understand what I'm driving at? All right, read It again, [Romans 4:]

(16) Therefore, it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

(17) (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, ...

Now, what did he believe about God as concerning this faith and himself as he put his faith in God? Here's what it was:

(17) ...who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which (are) not as though they were.

The two things we talked about, ability. What more could you want in a God Who is going to raise the dead? We can get enough of atomic bombs to blow this earth to smithereens, and I know we can. Don't think we can't. We’re so ingenious that God gave us the time, we just end up on high, ...and I think we could blow other planets to smithereens. But never become so strong and ingenious you’ll ever raise the dead, you just can't be done. That's the ultimate, God raising the dead, that's the ability. And notice, He calleth those things which are not, as though they were, that's immutability. Because when God can put in past tense as though it was and is going to be in the future tense, brother that's the height and the depth of the whole thing. Ability plus immutability.

22. Now, let's study Scripture and find out exactly what these phrases mean. God who raises the dead. Turn to 2 Corinthians 1: (Ooh, I'm in voice tonight and I'm yelling, you better pray I get a sore throat and I'll calm right down. See, all things work together for good. All in these little sore throat, and I've got to calm right down.) "Ooh, yes, there's honey in the rock my brother." Now,

(8) For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we (had) despaired even of life:

(9) But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not (what?) trust in ourselves, ...

Anymore, than James [2:1] said, "Have not the faith that our Lord Jesus Christ the respect of persons." See?)

(9) ... (we didn't even) trust in ourselves, but in God (who what?) (raises) the dead:

(10) Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: (us from so great of death) in whom we trust he will yet deliver us; (from death by the Resurrection.)

What is Paul saying here: Paul said, "We came to a place that we were absolutely up against the wall." All that faced us now was death. There wasn't any way out, there wasn't any way down, there wasn't any way this or that way, there was nothing facing us, but death and we knew it. But he said, "It's in Father's Name, because we believe in a God who takes the dead and raises them.” And that's what exactly happened to Paul, because before his work was finished, they left him for dead outside the city, but he raised up by the power of God, he went on his way.

23. What is Paul trying to show the people here? Now, here is where you've got to listen and get this. Because our illustration is Abraham, (see?) and the association of this faith in understanding towards God in the life of Abraham, you've got to now see what Paul means, that Abraham means, and bring it right home to yourselves.

It means this: There is no position, there are no circumstances, there are absolutely no involvement no matter how complex, or distressing in this life concerning you! But you are able now by the faith of God. To look is right in the eye. We say, "Yes, I don’t care how impossible it looks, my God is going to deliver, is delivering, and will yet deliver."

24. Let me illustrate my point: Abraham had a son. His son's name was Isaac. And God said to Abraham, "Take now thy son, thy only son." Well, just a minute, he had several sons. Two at least we know of. See, that's the new man can only stand it, the old may can't. "Take now thy son, thy only son, take him up to Mount Moriah and there give him to Me for a sacrifice." [Gen 22:2] Our mental picture, because we see it in Sunday school, is a long bearded, white haired, old fellow, coming with the staff, got a beast of burden laying down. Got a little boy by the hand, goes up to the mountain.

The next picture we see is the angel in the cloud, we see a goat [ram] caught in the thicket. We see the man hands up raised. We see the boy lying upon the altar. But, we forget there's a little blaze here of fire, that Abraham is not only going to take his son's throat and cut it, and bleed him, but he's going to burn him to a handful of ashes and bones, and say, "Raise him, Lord." That’s the kind of faith that you and I got tonight. Exactly the same faith. No difference, so you're all going plumb to hell with bells on. You haven't got the faith of Abraham, and you haven 't got in all his children, we're all liars and we're all going to heaven. Because you deny your faith, you've lost your salvation right there. But you see, Abraham took that faith and he is associated with himself like Paul did.

25. What I'm trying to get across to you tonight is this: You and I have got to learn to put ourselves in that condition, or let God put us in the condition, whereby there's nothing but death, it’s collapsed. And stand there and say, "God raise him." How many people tonight can stand bankruptcy? How many can stand broken home? How many can stand persecution? How many can stand? Because the Bible says, "Having stood done all good to stand, stand." [Eph 6:13b] " And above all with the shield of faith." [Eph 6:16a]

You can know all the truth in this Word, you can be as prepared as any school could ever make you prepared. You can have an understanding which is wide and broad as any man has ever learned. But unless you've got a revelation of the shield of faith, there's nothing can go like the truth is going to work. You can glow for a little while in emotion while you read about Abraham and all the great men of faith, but when it comes to you until you yourself, and I myself get a revelation of this truth, we are going to stumble in darkness. We need the revelation of what we've got, because we've got it.

26. A lady came to me in Ohio, I know why now she came, because she had everybody in America hears me preach has got to hear this story. She came up the aisle for prayer. I set her in the chair as I used to do. Stood behind her and laid my hands on her and said, "Sister, you have trouble in your right arm, (or your left arm, I forget which I said) you cannot raise it."

She said, "That is true."

I prayed for her, I said, "Raise your arm." She raised it.

But she said, "Bro. Vayle, I did not come for that."

I said, "I know it. I don't need a revelation, to tell your eyes are bad, because your glasses are so thick, I couldn't miss them if I tried." I said, "Your problem is your eyesight."

She said, “That, is correct."

I prayed for her and something dark swept over my soul, and I hadn't got to God for one minute. I prayed the second time the darkness became deeper and more involved. I prayed the third time as though as I were praying for a lump of lead to turn into a pot of gold, or to take a kangaroo and turn him into a race horse or something, equally as ridiculous. It was so dark and so abysmally frustrating, that I said to God, "Lord, what is it anyway?"

27. And something like a conversation whereby I was hearing myself speak. I can't explain it to you how it was, but it came about something like this:

And I said, "Sister, you have been to a doctor."

And she said, "Yes."

And I said, "The doctor has said you are going blind."

She said, "Yes."

I said, "Furthermore, the doctor said you will be blind."

And she said, "That is true."

And I said, "Sister, when you are willing to believe God, that you will get well as thoroughly as you have believed the doctor, you are going blind, you will be healed."

I said, " Pray this week that we can come back and I will pray again."

She never came back, because she said, "I am going blind. And when I am blind it is all over."

My brother, my sister, God heals blind eyes, or I don't even know my Bible.

28. People say, "I'm getting old and cripple, and I get that wheel chair with arthritis I will never come out." God heals cripples. People say when my husband treats me so and so, It's all over. I understand that God can change the darkness in her heart. But you see, we don't want to be put in the position like Paul, where this faith moves mountains. We want a mountain moving faith and move toothpicks. We want a God who can change from the utter most to the uttermost, to give change just as much as our people. Because it's much easier. We don't want to know the limits, and yet God is a God without limits. The heavens cannot contain. You see, we have got to learn that if God is going to raise the dead, somebody's got to die! If God can heal blind eyes, somebody's got to go blind.

They came to Him and they said, "Did this man sin that he became blind later in life, or did his parents sin, that he was born blind?"

He said, "Neither, but for the glory of God was this man born blind." [Jn 9:2-3] And He healed him. He said, "Ought not this daughter of Abraham be bound in this way, lo these eighteen years…” [Lk 13:16] And God healed her. But somebody had to be crippled. Somebody had to be palsy. Somebody had to be devil processed. Somebody had to go to the grave. Lazarus had deceased. The widow had to lose her son. (Huh?)

29. Sure, the revelation is missing, maybe it's our fault tonight. Because we don't want the sentence of death. What I'm trying to get across is this, we must associate in ourselves with the condition, and trust God not to take away those conditions, but to take us through the conditions thereby removing them. I'll explain that later, not just now. I don't mean you're going to stay blind, I mean you're going to get free from being blind. But the woman stopped, she said, "I'm getting blind, I'm going to be blind, and when I am blind it's all over." It isn't all over! God can heal blind eyes.

We're so scared of what takes place we destroy ourselves the things of God. Don't be afraid of what is going to take place, let it take place, but go with God. Sure, I see it coming down the road, the road, I'm seeing and maybe you see what your kids are doing. It's hard for me, I haven't learned it myself the revelation is too interesting.

But I've got to say, "Let them do it."

"Oh God, don't let them do it. Oh God..."

Aw shut up! You don’t even know what's it's all about. You've never learned what prayer is, or what God is. I'm not yelling at you, I'm yelling at the principle we're involved in. Oh God, we need a revelation tonight. It's by suffering we enter. I'm not talking about the more the bickering in suffering I'm talking about, triumphing, triumphant suffering.

30. Abraham taking his child not quivering for one moment. But saying, "Here, that's alright, Lord, I'll put him there, burning him up. Now, you raise him from the dead." - "Yea, though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, thou art with me and I'll fear no evil." [Ps 23:4] Why? Because God is our Provider and our Protector. "When thou walkest through the waters, they shall over flow thee." [Isa 43:2a] But there's waters to swim in.

You say, "Hold on Bro. Vayle, one of those waters you're talking about swim in is, the water is a spirit." My Bible says that Jesus was forever led of the Spirit to be tempted, and He swam in the waters. Yeah, waters to swim in my brother, my sister. There's waters of affliction too, because the Spirit, He's leading in all these trials. And God led Abraham to take his own son. And God led Paul to the place of death. And it's time for you and I quit setting limitations on God and hear Him. Oh, what the church is like, oh my, here's where I can help these dear pastor's, because I'll tell them what happened to me, and happens to them, and you'll understand it perhaps.

31. But just as soon as things start to get a little bit tough, all the dear lovely people desert the ship like rats, don't they? Oh, when things get rough and the crowds go, they say cut the preacher's salary, we already cut his throat, now we'll cut his salary. (Uh?) Oh...don't, I haven't talked to Bro. Lavin, my God I don't need to talk to any pastor, I pastored for years. I know who all gets the blame for everything, but never the credit. It's the fact, what do you think? (Huh?) I got it figured out, I don't know of anybody going to get rewards any of these days except the poor bunch of old stumble bum preachers, because in the congregation now, I haven’t seen too much of anything. (Huh?) Not even tithing. That's not my subject tonight I may teach on that sometime, open your eyes so wide you'll never get them shut again, I hope.

How in the world can you ever see a God-in-you, faith, if that faith in that God depends upon extremities? On impossibility. Paul said, "Like an eager wrestler I can hardly wait to get engaged in this fight of faith. And we say like a good old coward, I can hardly wait to run away before I get involved in what looked like a risky proposition.

Faith is a calculated risk, it calculates God can’t lie. He'll do it. And it just fell in the water, and watch. (Huh?) You're not just hearing a big mouth up here. When I went preaching people, I didn't know where I was going, and had nothing to get there, if I did know where I was going and I got there. Ha, ha. I can pack my grip [suitcase] and walk down that road, don't worry, I’ve done it. Abraham went out not knowing. Where? But he knew Who. Like Paul said. "I know whom I have believed." [2 Tim 1:12b] And the where is up to Him. You see tonight?

32. Let me give you some Scriptures on this. Turn to Psalms 46:1-3, I won't keep you much longer, and let you go home. Because I'm going to take my time preaching, and if I don't finish it, I'll stay on. If I don't feel like staying on and I'll go home and finish it another time. I'm not bound, we got no problems at all. And Bro. Lavin said, "You don't need to worry the money, because I'm not." Thanks for your offering, you give me some that's good, if you don't that's alright, I'll get it someplace else. Go to James Dunn, he said, "Give him a twenty-dollar bill, and I’ll rob a bank.”

I'll say, "How do you rob that bank without getting caught." [Bro. Vayle laughs] Oh, wouldn't that floor him if I said that? Oh, those money seekers with their big talk. Give him a twenty-dollar bill you'll get your prayer answered. You give God your faith child, you'll get everything you need. Bypass Mr. Dunn, go right to Jesus, Hallelujah. Don't go to Lee Vayle either, because he'll lead you wrong. Now listen,

33. Psalms 46:1-3

(1) God is our refuge and strength, (Oh, that's encouraging, that's your Protector and your Provider) a very present help in (time of no) trouble. (Oh, just a minute here,) in time of trouble.

(2) Therefore, will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

That's this last day, all power is going to fall. People are going to be upset, they are ...?... in every port.

(3) ... the waters roar and be troubled, (that's the day there never was a time of trouble amongst men as today, and) though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

Governments are toppling. (See?)

34. Now, compare that now with Isaiah 54:10, It says:

(10) For the mountains shall depart, (and they're going to, this is real now in the earth) and the hills be removed; but my (kingdom) shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my (what?) peace ...

How many tonight have got real peace? Well, I'll take your amen, and your hands up. I kind of doubt it, what I'm talking about now. I don't want to insult anybody now, but I'm talking about that peace where everything's alright, just go right along. They club you here, just right along. The roof falls in just go right along. The bottom falls out, just go right along. You lose your jobs. Now, I'm not saying you don't have it, I believe we all ought to have it. If you've got it, good. I want it, I don't experience it yet, I keep too nervous. And if you're nervous, you’re not at peace.

Now, this man says,

(10) (The) mountains shall depart, the hills shall be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of

my peace be removed.

Now, what's the covenant? "I am your Protector and your Provider, it's alright as long I'm with you." Well, that takes care of it.

(10) ... (God is my Refuge) ...saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

35. Turn to Psalms 119:87

(87) They had almost consumed me upon earth; ...

There it is, so I ran like a scared deer. Is that what He said? I've backslid. I got mad and I walked out. I've had enough I'm quitting. No!

(87) ... I forsook not thy precepts.

Psalms 118:18-19

(18) The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

I'm scared, this is the end, I don't think I can take anymore.

(19) Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go (with) them, and will praise the LORD:

Oh, read verse 17-19, read all together, I should have read that too.

(17) I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

He said:

(18) The LORD hath chastened me sore: (for grief) but he hath not given me over (to) death.

(19) Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, will praise the LORD:

Notice that this man speaks of death, but he speaks of overcoming in the Lord Jesus Christ.

36. We go to,

Romans 8:35-39 and It says:

(35) Who shall separate us from the love of (God)? ...

Wasn't Jesus Christ the love that came to us? In other words, this union with us proves God's love.

(35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ: shall tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword?

(36) As it is written, For thy sake we are (what?) killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

(37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

(38) For I am persuaded, ...

Notice, this woman I talked about was persuaded that she was going to get blind. She was persuaded when she got blind it was all over. Why do we always want to quit? The Bible says, "Quip yourselves like men." But It doesn’t say quit. It means to...the word 'quip' would...I got the word in my mind, but just can't get it out here, is to be equip yourselves like men show that you are men. But don't stop.

(38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Aren't the things to come those that bother us. We're always worried about the future. It says,

(39) (Neither) height, (had something too high for us) nor depth, (that's something too deep for us) nor any... (part of any creation.)

And if it's not created then you don't need to worry about it, because there's nothing there. But there's a lot of things created right now that will give you pause for thought. But It says,

(39) (None of those, none) ...shall be able to separate (me) from the love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Do we believe that? Look, we will never understand the depth of this until we deliberately associate ourselves with those circumstances which demand the utmost from God. A great nation must first of all assume that it is great and live up to that mark. And a people that will be great must assume, take for granted what God said. And step out of the jaws of death. Because God will protect us.

37. Turn to John 11:21-26

(21) Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, (in that case) my brother had not died.

If the case was, that He had have been there he wouldn't have died. (See?) That would have been nice. Oh, we like that thought she said. But notice her faith:

(22) But I know, that even now, (though he's dead whatever) thou wilt ask of God, God will give it (to You.)

(23) Jesus (said,) Thy brother (will) rise again.

(24) Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection... (but I wasn't talking that.)

He said, "Neither was I. I am Resurrection, not the resurrection, I am Resurrection."

(25) (And like) ... he that believeth in me, though he were dead, (or as, it really says, Even if he dies, he) shall yet live:

(26) And whosoever liveth and believeth (or lives a believing life) shall never die...

Don't you know without using this faith God gave you, you'd die a million deaths, and so do I? Every time we're touched by the enemy we literally die in fear and trembling and defeat. And our greatest hopes, our truest gains, all go down into death.

38. But Jesus says here: "That this man believing knowing who he is, having this measure of faith, living this believing life, he doesn't die. Oh, he can see himself destroyed, and he's raised up again. He can see his hopes crumble, he'll go right on. He can see tragedy strike, but he goes on. Why? Because he has got this faith and the object of his faith is enable, (you see?) an omnipotence in beautiful God. One with ability and immutability.

But he must associate himself with this by saying, there is no circumstance, there are no conditions in which either God places me, or by my faith I place myself in obedience to His Word. But I'm more than conqueror, right now. You say, "What did you do it, and you go out there and die." That's alright He'll raise him.

"Oh preacher, why do you think you people that trust God, know anything about your wife and family. God will take care of them. Certainly.

(26) (Because he that) liveth and believeth in me... (he that lives that believing life he's not going to die, he's going to live.

39. They said to Job, "Job, everything's gone. Your fortune's gone, your family's gone, your health is gone." His wife said, "Why don't you curse God and die." [Job 2:9b] Now, that's a funny word in Hebrew, it either means 'curse', or 'bless'. Remember, Jacob blessed God, drew his feet up and died. She knew that, so she was saying, "Why don't you just now turn over, draw your feet up and say a prayer to God and expire?"

He said, "You talk like a foolish woman, I'm going to live."

His comforters came by and said, "Job, now just suppose you do die."

He said, "Well, what if I do die, my Redeemer is going to stand upon this earth, and I'm going to stand with Him." [Job 19:25] (See?)

That woman said, "The doctor said I'm going to be blind."

And God's answer to her was, "When you will believe God that you're going to get your sight as thoroughly as you have believed the doctor that you will be blind, you will get your sight.'

She said, "I'm going to be blind and that will end it, I'll never see again."

No sir! That's not God's Word, never has been, and never will be.

40. Turn over to Mark 9:23

(23) (And) Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

If, isn’t death pretty Isn't death final? Certainly, is not final, the second death is. But death isn't final. No, no, no, my brother/my sister. No, death isn't final, absolutely not. Death is merely a cessation of one form, but if you're born again child of God, it's going on in the spirit body just waiting to receive you. Oh, how we are so prone to find barriers. And then put a mark on the floor perhaps and say, "If that preacher, or that person says one more thing, I'm going to quit." He'll say it. He won't even say it, but you'll hear it.

41. Oh, a lady down in Florida got so mad at me because I preached the truth. One day she made a remark I guess to somebody about, Bro. Vayle does so and so, she's going to go. Of course, she's going to take her friend with her, (you know) sort of Mutt and Jeff, scheme. Not, Damon and Pythius, it's more or less Mutt and Jeff.

So, I said it, but I really didn’t say... she thought I said it, and she was gone. Oh yeah, you make up your mind that you're not going to stand in this faith. You'll hear it, but it won't even be said, but you'll hear it.

You see tonight the first definition this faith is based in a God who raises the dead, but somebody's got to die. You believe that God heals blind eyes? (See?) Somebody's got to go blind. You believe God heals sick bodies? Somebody's got to be sick. You believe that God helps people without jobs? Then, somebody's got to be without a job. (Huh?) You believe God can save drunken husbands that beat their wives? Then, some woman's got to get beat up by a drunk husband. That's not very pretty. Yes, it isn't very pretty.

42. Come on now, wouldn't you like to be able to see like Abraham say, “Here's my child, I'll put him on the altar, I'll burn him up.” Go trudging up there, the hill, cut the child's throat, shed the blood, lights the match. I'm not talking about a devil possessed fool now. I'm talking about a man possessed of the Holy Ghost walking in faith. (Huh?)

Maybe some of you young folk, think you really love somebody. Are you ready to put him on the altar? Put her on the altar? You'll never know what reality is until you want to seek God with all your heart. And you want to come to the place where it means death. (Hmm?) You want to know what true success is? Then you better become expendable, because you'll never become a sweet fragrant incense unto God, unless you're crushed.

43. Talk about faith, and then refuse to be associated with the passive faith. Talk about being married to one girl and whore around with another one. I use that... because I want to use that word. Because if we've got faith and we whore around with the little conditions of life that try to make us go to heaven on beds of roses my brother/my sister. That's all we're doing we're fornicating with the good things that God gave us…we’re lascivious.

How can you want to hold hands with the path of ease? When faith says that God raises the dead. Oh, this Age of Laodicean prosperity. How we kick against the pricks. Good jobs, all the overtime, all these things, oh my. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." [Mt 6:33a] Sounds kind of strange, doesn't it? (Uh)

44. Ever hear the Scripture that says that Christ is left us sufferings, that we've got to fill up? (Huh?) That's faith. Oh, I like this talk about Abraham got that big kind of faith. Oh, what I'm going to do is climb on this step and oh hallelujah, oh glory. And when I get this much done, stand like this, hallelujah, glory, oh my. Don't talk about... Christ stood before the Father and He said, "I'm ready for the Cross." He said, "Glorify Me, Thou glorify, and I'm going to yet glorify You. Glorify right on the cross.

Well, that's not my subject tonight. (See?) I’ve covered, as much as I’m going to cover. I have permission to keep you a little later than usual, because we didn’t get it done. And I think I’ve done it just right, I think I've done it just right otherwise. So, the Lord bless you. Come back for some more tomorrow night. [Bro. Vayle chuckles] Don't mean to be rough on you, but I'll tell you one thing, you can pay three dollars and ninety-five cents for a book on how to get crucified. If you want, it won't cost you a nickel to just listen.

45. You come and hear me preach the Word, and you take that Word you'll be crucified. It won't cost you two dollars and ninety-five cents for the book. We won't even pass the offering plate, we'll just ask you to give yourselves as an offering to God that's all. That's what it's going to take. Death, God raises the dead. You see what I'm driving at tonight? You've got to be in a position where something or somebody dies. (See?) It's got to be taken from you, so that God can get it back.

He that leaves father, mother, sister, brother and land. It doesn't say a wife leaves the husband, or husband leaves the wife. It says, "you can leave your father, and your mother, your sister and your brother and land." [Mt 19:29] God will give you a hundredfold in this life and life everlasting. But, you see it's got to be that limit. You follow me? God raises the dead. We were pressed out of measure, in so much we despair even of life that was gone. He said he even gave up on that. But we believed in God who raises the dead. (See?)

46. Abraham when hope was gone, hope found in faith. When there wasn't any use he kept on believing, and it was. You see what I mean? You've got to associate yourself with that. You've to see yourself that way. You've got to see this measure of faith that you've got, can measure you, puts you in a place where death does not stand impregnable, but it simply a step forward.

I'm not preaching positive thinking, I'm thinking God's Word. I'm not a modern pseudo psychologist, pseudo scientist, pseudo religionist. I'm a Christian teaching you God's Word like Paul said. It was death, nobody got passed. We just said, "Well, so we lose the first million dollars, we start on the next.

47. Gone through ten jobs now, there must be twenty more waiting for him. Preacher looses three congregations in a row, keep steady bud, you'll get the fourth. If that doesn't work there's a fifth and sixth, coming, or God's perfect number, seven. What make you so sure Dave, you don't pastor anymore, I know, but I learned what it is, I kept on sowing and I took my step at a time. Because I don't have any church to go to. I don't have any connection, but I take step at a time, and now I am reaping as I have never reaped in my life. Because you just keep on going, and going, and doing. "Then what if I fail?" Go ahead and fail. "A righteous man shall fall seven times, and the Lord will raise him up." [Prov 24:16a] For I am persuaded that these are height nor depth it's not too high, it's not too deep, there isn't any creation. Not even death, that's got the upper hand. Why? Because I've got it, more than conquerors through Jesus. We need a revelation, don't we? (Uh?) Oh, we're going to need to pray tonight.

So, let's rise. I still love you, but, I’m glad you’re here so I can talk to you. But if you weren't here I couldn't be inspired to encourage my own faith. Ha, ha, so come tomorrow night and I'll talk to myself once more using you for an excuse, I appreciate that.

Father, we thank You again for the privilege of being in Thy house together with this Thy people, we know You're here, because these good people brought You. Not as it was when they carried the ark upon the shoulders, but now in every heart two and three gathered together, there art Thou in the midst. And You also said, "If two be agreed upon anything as touching Your kingdom it should be done."

Now, Lord, because You said it, we're going to just lay this thing right on the table. We're all agreed tonight we need a revelation of Your faith and in our lives. Hallelujah. Especially, like Paul and Abraham. Now, God, tonight if we are really it, we know that there is one thing, You're more interested in than even we are, and that is training us up in faith. Give us the revelation now tonight, Lord, make it so real that though the earth tremble, the hills be removed even in the midst of Thee let it come. We won't be afraid not at all, because Thou art with me.

Father, I know it's true that we are more than conquerors, I know that, but I want to be made real. Now, Lord, where two or three are gathered together, You're right here, so You're hearing, don't even have to yell, because You're right here. Your ears not deaf, and You said, "If we be agreed on anything it would be loosed to us. Bind therefore, our unbelief, O God, and the laws which govern us, show us, Lord, tonight the revelation of bound unbelief, and open to our hearts by the revelation the Spirit the faith of God that see Him Who raises the dead, so thoroughly connected and joined and part and parcel of each life here. That we too will go right along with Paul. We accept nothing less, Lord, no Sir, nothing less, nothing less. We're not even going to say, "Well Paul was too big a man. No Sir! Because what he said is passed on to us. We're in the same boat.

They were pressed out a measure, let us be pressed out a measure, Lord, we'll accept that. We'll accept the revelation of it, but with it the revelation of we though having the sentence of death, believe in a God Who raises the dead. And our deliverance, and we know we're yet to be delivered, because You said.

Now, Father, I can't pray any other way, and if I'm lacking anything, O God, forgive me, make it up to us right now, we can have it, because we're tired. I know not too hard, not too good, but at least we're here. Count a little towards us tonight in the Name of Jesus Christ, Lord, for Your glory, but we do want to glorify and we hope You might. Amen. God bless you.