some one rushes into an office of philosophical, higher-critical
professors, and cries, "Fire!" You would see those hard-boiled skeptics,
if they believed the cry, rush unceremoniously and indecorously out of
that building with all speed. People may scoff at faith working with
lightning speed; but every exhibition of it only proves that it does.
Now you mentioned that at times you feel as though you believe strongly,
and at other times you feel as though your faith is leaving you. You are
making a great mistake mixing up your faith with your feelings. They
never did mix; and all who try to mix them only get into trouble; for
faith is one thing and feelings are another.
The only way for you to know that you have faith is to believe something.
Do you believe anything? If so, then you have faith. Do you believe in
God? Then you have faith in God. Faith is believing, just as seeing is
seeing and hearing is hearing. If you see something, you know you have
sight; if you hear something, you know you have your hearing; and if you
believe, you have faith.
Faith in God is just like faith in anything else. God has said He will
do or has done something for you. Do you believe He has done something
for you? Do you believe He has done or will do that thing? If so, that
is faith.
For instance, you have repented of all your sins and have asked God to
forgive them. He has said that "if we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins" (1 John 1:9). Do you believe this? You
say, "Yes." Well, then, you have faith, and "by grace are ye saved through
faith" (Ephesians 2:8), and, "therefore, being justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). And,
moreover, "he that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in
himself" (1 John 5:10); or, in other words, when you believe you know
it, and God does for you what He promises to do.
The same reasoning holds good in entire sanctification. The conditions
are consecration and faith. You are to put all on the altar, and ask and
trust God to do the cleansing and give you the filling of the Spirit.
Have you thus consecrated? Have you given all? If you say yes, then do
you believe that God sanctifies you wholly? If you do, you have faith,
and you are sanctified wholly, because God can not lie nor fail.
Faith in God, then, is believing God's Word, the Bible. Whenever you
obey the Bible and meet the conditions laid down therein for any blessing
promised, you may then believe that God does or is doing for you whatever
He has there promised. And when you believe, you will have all joy and
peace in believing, you will enjoy the riches of God's grace, and He
will work in you mightily, as He does in all those who believe (Ephesians
1:19).
CHAPTER SIX
THE BEST INHERITANCE IN CANAAN
I am troubled about my sanctification. My conversion was so bright and
there was such a change that I never could doubt it. But when I was
sanctified, there was not so great a change. And it was not so great as
that of some I have heard testify. Neither do I feel as bold as some I
have heard speak, neither did I taste such a death as others have testified
too. In fact, when I compare my sanctification with what others say
theirs is, mine suffers in the comparison. I have often repudiated my
sanctification and endeavored to obtain an experience just like others';
but it seems I cannot. Must I try to obtain another, or be satisfied
with the one I have? Any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated.
* * * * *
Suppose we go over to Bethlehem this morning; there is a Brother Faithful
there whose acquaintance you positively will appreciate. He has been in
Canaan a number of years and doubtless can tell us some interesting
reminiscences of his life.
This is a famous place. Somewhere about here David killed a lion and a
bear and composed some of those inimitable psalms of praise to God. In
that field right over there Ruth gleaned for Boaz, and her maidenly
purity won the hearts of all.
Here is Brother Faithful's house. Let us knock and go in.
"Brother Faithful, how did you happen to get such a beautiful home in
Canaan!"
"Well, pilgrims, I did not just 'happen' to get it. The truth is, I did
all possible to gain a home at Bethel, or on Moriah; either place seemed
better than this; at least it did for some time, until I learned that
here was where Jehovah wished me to settle. Bethel is close to where the
tent of the Lord was pitched, and it has sacred memories of a ladder
reaching up to heaven and holy angels ascending and descending on
ministrations of mercy to man below. To me it, of all places, seemed
nearest heaven; but, if I may reveal a secret, I have found that Bethel
is not the only place that has associations of a ladder planted on it
and reaching heaven.
"The reason I wanted to stop at Moriah was because I heard Brother
Dreamgood who lives there tell of the remarkable experiences he had
there. I began thinking there was no place in Canaan like that, and I
did not stop to consider that all of us could not abide in one place.
Brother Dreamgood told the wonderful story of angels and holy
manifestations and heavenly illuminations constantly occurring on that
sacred spot till I forgot all about asking where the Lord would have me
be, and forthwith started for Moriah. But I was baffled at every turn.
Especially was I chagrined to find there was no place for me on Moriah
at that time. Brother Dreamgood had a dreadful battle with the giants
before he won a home for himself, and I am not certain that I could have
fought them successfully.
"Then after that I fell in with Brother Worshipful who lived at Bethel.
After he told of the good things there, I concluded Bethel was the place
for me. But I made no headway in that direction.
"Having been in Canaan for some time and still unsettled, I began to
inquire of Jehovah where He would have me be. It was made fully plain
to me that God had the place for me that was best for me. A glad yielding
to this truth brought great boldness to my soul. I girded on the armor,
adjusted the shield of faith, grasped the sword of truth [Ephesians
6:10-17], and went where I was directed--toward Bethlehem, a place which
I had regarded as palpably inferior. After severe fighting, I won. And
I am satisfied."
* * * * *
Sanctification is a work wrought by God through the blood and Spirit.
It is both a cleansing from sin and an infilling of righteousness. It
has negative and positive aspects. It takes away from and adds to. Not
that sin is a sort of root or germ. It is an evil that affects our nature.
This evil is destroyed, and its effects banished. The Holy Spirit comes
in, filling the nature of man with righteousness and purity. You must
get your mind on the real work of sanctification, not on some of its
special manifestations in some people's experiences. The manifestations
of sanctification may be more specific for some people than others,
because they may need such.
It is possible, too, that your conversion made a greater perceptible
change in your soul and life than did your sanctification. This matter
of change depends largely on circumstances. If you were very deeply
convicted of sin and were very happily converted, your conversion may
have been greater apparently than your sanctification. But these
appearances are not essential considerations.
Still another point you must bear in mind, and that is that sanctification,
while a separate and distinct thing of itself, is only the second step
in a work already begun. Justification is essential to sanctification
and is the beginning of those things that work full salvation.
During a camp-meeting one time a minister related a glowing experience
he had when he was sanctified. He spoke particularly of boldness. He was
made very bold.
When the altar-call was made, an old mother in Israel came to the altar.
A minister asked her what she was seeking. She replied, with tears in
her eyes, "I thought I was sanctified; but since Brother A---- testified
to the boldness he received, I doubt whether I ever was sanctified. I
did not feel that way."
The instructor carefully led her away from any comparison between her
experience and others, and asked her if she were consecrated now.
"Oh, yes, just as consecrated as I know how to be!" she replied, weeping.
"Well, if you are all consecrated, what does the Lord do for those who
are all given up?"
"He sanctifies them wholly," she had to say.
"And if you do not have as much boldness as Brother A---- said he has,
probably you do not need as much. Or, if you really need more, would it
not be better to ask God for more rather than to give up your experience
of sanctification in a vain effort to feel as some one else feels?"
She saw the point, and her tears disappeared beneath happy smiles of
joy.
There is yet another item you should consider. Many times those who
testify so beautifully and graphically in describing their sanctification
are under an inspiration, and the blessing is set forth in glowing colors.
For the time being their trials and discouragements are forgotten, their
struggles to keep the victory are out of mind, and they speak in the
highest praise of the work God has done. In the exhilaration of the
moment they magnify the work. We do not say they overdraw their experience;
for really no tongue can tell it; but while they are all aflame with
ardor and praise, you may be going through a trial. So, of course, their
experience seems to outshine yours so far that yours suffers. But remember
this--the time may come when you will be testifying as they now are, and
they may be the ones going through a trial; then they may compare their
experience with yours, and they may feel that they are the ones, who are
behind. So compare no more. Be all for Jesus. If He gives some one
seemingly a better experience, let Him have His way. What is that to
you? Follow Jesus.
CHAPTER SEVEN
IN THE HANDS OF GIANT ACCUSER
I am having such dreadful battles! I have to fight, and fight, and there
seems to be no end to it. Surely I am not sanctified; if I were, I should
not be so tried. What shall I do? The desire to be all the Lord's is
uppermost; but can I truly be all for Him with so many thoughts of all
kinds running through my mind? Could I find rest from these battles
probably I could feel that all is well; but with this constant battle I
fear something is wrong. Isn't sanctification a grace where one will not
be tried or tempted very much, at least not with such things as I am
tried and tempted with? Why, the most terrible things ever heard of are
suggested to me to do! Can you help me any?
* * * * *
Suppose we should visit a citizen of the land of Canaan and ask him if
he had any battles with the giants of the land. No doubt the twinkle of
his eye and the animated expression on his face would show that memory
was at work, and we should wait in all expectation. Ah! here's one; let
us hear him!
"Indeed, indeed. Many, many times did I battle with the giants of Canaan.
Many people suppose Canaan is the home for soldiers to rest, while in
truth it is the great battleground of the world. I recall one battle I
had with Giant Accuser [Matthew 4:1-11].
"Look right over the top of that olive tree due east, down toward the
Dead Sea. Do you see that shaded valley deep down between those two
mountains? That is the Valley of Sorrows. In that valley I had one of
the greatest battles of my life.
"It was before I possessed my home. I had been helping my brethren fight
off the inhabitants of the land and was out at this time looking over
the country. I entered that valley. The sun was sinking into the western
sea, and my thoughts grew gloomy and foreboding. All at once right before
me loomed the big form of one of the worst giants in all Canaan, Giant
Accuser. I could not run back, the cliffs were too steep on either side
to climb out, and the fierce old Giant blocked the way in front.
"'I rebuke you in the name of the Lord,' I said to him.
"'Ah, the Lord! Ha! ha! The Lord does not care for you. Steal that sheep
you see yonder; no one will see you. If any one sees you with it, you
can tell him a lie about it,' he said to me.
"I stood aghast at the suggestion. Never before had I had any evil
suggestion like that, and I felt sick at heart that any such thought
should enter my mind. The old Giant strode closer, and I trembled.
"'Curse and swear,' he roared at me, scowling down into my very face. And
from his coarse mouth there rolled a volume of blasphemy such as I never
had heard. The curses had a peculiar effect of sticking on my mind, until
they seemed to be within me.
"I fell on my knees, while the old Giant dealt me a blow over the head
with his club. 'You have cursed,' he shouted. 'See, your mind is full
of evil words. And you would steal; for the suggestion lodged in your
mind to steal that sheep. You are a sinner, that's what you are. Christians
never have such thoughts as you are having.' And again he struck me with
his club.
"I was too weak to fight. Finally I felt as if I really had sinned.
"The Old Giant then fell to beating me, and after half killing me and
laughing right in my face and telling me he was going to drive me out
of Canaan before he was through with me, he walked off.
"I lay there a long time thinking over the situation. Not an angel
appeared, and God seemed to have forsaken me. My mind was all confused
over the battle.
"While I was lying there, the old Giant came again. I was terribly
frightened, because it seemed I had no weapon that he feared; if I had,
I did not know how to use it. I tried to resist, and felt indignant
within that he should treat me thus; but how to overcome him I did not
know. I prayed, 'O God, help me! Help me!' But no voice answered, and
no help came. The Giant strode right up and, without saying a word, again
struck me with his club. The blow seemed to fall right on my heart, and
a sickening feeling of utter discouragement and helplessness filled me.
I groaned in complete confusion and bewilderment.
"'See how discouraged you are! You are not happy as are others in Canaan.
Evidently something is wrong. People in Canaan ought not have such
discouragements as you are having.'
"Then from some cause or other (it may be the Giant insinuated these
things into my mind), a whole variety of slimy thoughts, vulgar words,
bad imaginings surged through my mind and, together with a feeling that
all was lost, seemed to dig down into the depths of my soul. There I
lay, alone, forsaken, while the towering bulk of the Giant hovered over
me ready to club me back into utter helplessness any minute. Finally I
attempted to rise; but down came that dreadful club. Once more I struggled
to my knees, determined to arise; but a terrific blow just at my heart
felled me again.
"'You have sinned,' he hissed. 'You can not stay in Canaan. God has cast
you off. See, He has abandoned you. He loves you no more. Die and be
done with it. You are a sinner, anyway; you might as well do something
desperate and end all.'
"I was so confused, I hardly knew what to do. The Giant dealt me one
more blow, then left me to nurse my wounds.
"Finding myself alone, I began to endeavor to collect my thoughts and
find the significance of the encounter. But my mind was so confused that
the more I tried to reason out the why of the affair, the more confused
I became.
"And then, to my consternation, the Giant came in sight again. I knew
instinctively that he would once more beat and wound me. I made a feeble
attempt at resistance; but it seemed to avail nothing. He repeated the
beating I had before, and there I lay utterly baffled. The same thing
occurred for many days.
"Then one day my attention was called to the shield of faith [Ephesians
6:16] with which the Lord had equipped me. I had used it slightly, and
there it lay at my feet. And my sword of truth lay unused by my side.
Why I had not used it was a mystery to me. No giant can stand before it.
I then and there determined that if Giant Accuser came again to beat me,
I should use these holy weapons.
"Not long after this decision was made, the Giant came again. He came
up confidently, expecting to make short work of me and laugh at my
calamity. I did not shout at him, nor utter any sigh of despair as before,
neither was I trembling; for I now knew that all I had to do was to use
my weapons. When the Giant got close enough, he bawled out again, 'You
have sinned. Your thoughts have been on things that are wrong. You have
doubted. You must begin over. You are lost.'
"'You are wrong,' I declared. 'I am a full citizen of Canaan, with a
clear title to a home in this land of Beulah,' and with that I kept
before me my shield of faith, and drew the sword [Ephesians 6:17] and
struck at him with all my might. He winced, but immediately again braced
himself. He was not sure but that I might yield; so he began telling me
the wrongs and sins he was accusing me of.
"'I am not a rebel,' I declared emphatically, 'and these ugly things
coming to my mind are from you, old Giant Accuser,' I added. Then I
struck at him again with all my might. He gave way a little at that, and
I saw it, and it gave me immense encouragement. Then I rained blows on
him as fast and hard as I possibly could. Soon he started to run. Summoning
all the strength I had, I ran after him, giving him blow upon blow, until
he jumped into a deep place and disappeared. Then I dropped on my knees
and praised the Lord God Almighty for helping me win so signal a victory.
"I have fought with Giant Tempter, Giant Discourager, Giant Covetousness,
Giant Liar, Giant Lust, Giant Pride, Giant Doubt, Giant Fear, Giant
Worldliness, and many others. Thank our God for the weapons of warfare,
the shield and the sword, the breastplate and the girdle, which give us
power over them. I have not seen a giant for some time; but if any of
them should attempt an encounter, by God's help I am ready."
* * * * *
Sanctification does not deliver from temptations; but it does make us more
sure of winning over them. It is even probable that you will have more
battles to fight, have more temptations to overcome, after you are
sanctified than before. The spiritual foes are by no means confined to the
justified state; there are a host of them to meet in the Canaan experience.
Many newly sanctified people have been overwhelmed, just as you have,
with dreadful inner battles. Either the mind is harassed with constantly
recurring evil thoughts, or evil words keep popping into it till they
apparently spring from within. Or perhaps the suggestion to commit some
sinful act keeps persistently coming to mind. Maybe feelings one considers
foreign to the sanctified experience possess one. Possibly some diabolical
temptation keeps whirling one about. All of these are sent with the
avowed object of overthrowing the soul.
It is a favorite method of Satan's to suggest a sin or bring something
bad to the mind and then accuse you of being guilty of the evil. It is
as if a thief should turn around suddenly and accuse the owner of the
stolen property of being the thief. Satan may fill your mind with bad
things and then try to throw the blame for having them all on you. His
object is so to trouble you that you will give up your faith, after which
he will make short work of you.
Fight on! No one can grow strong without fighting. And the battles give
proficiency in the use of the spiritual weapons. When your faith is
assailed, you learn how to use the shield of faith. Then in the next
assault you can use it more familiarly. The same reasoning applies to
the using of the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. These
very battles which seem to be more than you can bear are only developing
that which will make you a strong and valiant soldier in God's army.
Then, too, these violent spiritual battles are proof of your ability to
resist, else you would not have them (1 Corinthians 10:13). They are
proof of your trueness. So, instead of looking upon them as something
to be frightened or troubled over, see in them a signal proof of your
strength and of God's confidence in you. So, then, dear soul, be encouraged
concerning them; rejoice that God counts you able to fight for Him and
counts you able to win. By looking at them in this light you will make
of them a source of encouragement. That being the case, let the battles
come--they will do you good (2 Timothy 2:3; 1 Peter 1:7).
CHAPTER EIGHT
CONFLICTS WITH GIANT MISTAKE
I make so many mistakes, it seems I am just a bundle of contradictions.
I try to do good; but at times my efforts are so crude that I seem to
do more harm than good. What shall I do? And though all the time I try
hard not to make mistakes, yet I still make them. It seems to me that
surely I am not sanctified, or else I should be more perfect. Do not the
Scriptures command us to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is
perfect? I am not perfect; far from it. Really I must be very imperfect.
Is it right for me to claim to be sanctified? Can you help me?
* * * * *
Let us visit some of the pioneers of Canaan today and ask them to tell
us some of their experiences. Let us see if Faithful is at home. He has
a possession in one of the most charming vales of Beulah, and the beautiful
flowers blooming there and the luscious fruit growing there tend to make
him one of the happiest citizens of the country. I am just certain that
he will be glad to tell us a story.
Here we are close to his home now. Oh, see the garden! Just like the
Garden of the Lord.
See, it is just a little longer than it is wide, and is fenced with a
row of protecting flowers called Grace. The central feature of the garden
is that beautiful white lily called Love. It looks as though unusual
care has been bestowed on this plant; see how it towers above the rest
so grandly and yet is so majestically humble. Its fragrance spreads far
and wide. Doesn't it make you want to sit down under its magnificent
foliage and drink in of its glorious essence? Over there on the left of
Love is a group of flowers of different species. That large cream-colored
flower is called Patience. That crimson one is called Joy, and that with
broad, drooping white petals is Humility. The sweet perfume you notice
in any part of the garden is from Humility. That pink blossom on the
right is Peace, and a very pleasant odor it has. Next to it is Faith.
See it? It is a remarkably robust plant. Notice its blossom of pure gold
color. It has no perceptible odor. This flower here, with all the colors
mixed most intricately and beautifully together, is called Goodness. No
wonder Faithful is so happy and cheerful, with such a garden! [Galatians
5:22, 23].
Oh, hush! There is Faithful on his knees now, at prayer to the Almighty!
How sublime he looks! Come; he rises.
"Good morning Faithful."
"Good morning to you, pilgrims. Blessings upon you in the name of Immanuel.
What may I do for you?"
"We are pilgrims in Canaan and have only lately crossed the Jordan. We
seek a home. But we have heard of the giants and we saw one afar off,
too. We are a little afraid. We thought probably you would tell us how
to overcome these giants. Will you!"
"With the greatest of pleasure. One of my greatest joys is to teach
pilgrims the strategy of spiritual warfare and tell them how to overcome
the Anakims of Canaan [2 Corinthians 10:4].
"About the first giant I met in Canaan was one Mistake, a large,
loose-jointed fellow, who, I found, made a tremendous bluster but was as
weak as a pygmy. Really he is not a true Anakim, but a Gibeonite, who are
foes until they are conquered, and then they become hewers of wood and
drawers of water for us--they become our servants betimes [Joshua 9:21].
But at first Mistake assumes all the characteristics of a true giant.
"Not long after I crossed the Jordan, I met him. He came lumbering down
upon me, and I thought my days in Canaan were numbered. It was only after
I made some blunder or said some tactless thing that Mistake bothered
me, but at such times he gave me untold trouble. One time a pilgrim named
Slow was standing by the way. As I was passing him, I, not being as
careful as I should be, bumped into him and nearly knocked him off the
road. Poor fellow, he began to cry, and said he was ruined and believed
that if such was the way pilgrims treated each other, he would go back
into Egypt. This, of course, caused me to feel very sorry. I went back
and apologized the best I could, but it hardly consoled him. I started
on. And, do you know, up came Giant Mistake! He caught hold of me and
gave me a sound thrashing for what I had done [1 Peter 2:20].