From: Francis Harper
wbfrmsup@iowatelecom.net
Francis Harper Message for 11/15/2019
Faith
On several occasions Jesus said to his disciples: “O ye of little faith.” Would he say the same to us? “. . . without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Abraham was noted as a man of great faith. “By faith, Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; not knowing whither he went” (Hebrews 11:8). He was seventy-five when he left his comfortable home at Haran and did not know where he was going! His friends and neighbors must have thought he had lost his mind. Noah must have been the laughing-stock of his community until it started to rain. And the court of Pharaoh must have wondered about Moses giving up all of the treasures and pleasures of Egypt for a life in the wilderness. But these men of faith had heard the call of our invisible God. It is true that “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Paul wrote: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith gives us hope and purpose. Wherefore, whoso believeth in God, might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God” (Ether 5:4).
Faith is the key to God’s power. “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the ninth hour [3 PM.] for prayer. And a man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple . . . to ask alms . . . And Peter and John fastening their eyes upon him, said, look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee.” (Acts 3:1-6). Peter had great faith in God’s power as he said; “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk . . . and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength . . . And he stood, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him . . . And Peter said . . . ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? (Acts 3:6-12). Faith had unleashed the power of God.
People without faith are like a ship without a rudder. Without faith in God, their thinking often becomes irrational. They become susceptible to strong delusions. Professing themselves to be wise, they become fools (Romans 1:22). “Because they received not the love of the truth . . . God shall send them strong delusion” (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11). They lose their right mind and believe lies and the “father of lies” (John 8:44).
Without faith in God and his guidance we will soon drift off course. The Lord prepared a compass for the Nephites to show them “the course which they should travel in the wilderness; and it did work for them according to their faith in God” (Alma 17:73). They called this compass the Liahona. When they were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith in God they did not progress in their journey. “And now I say, . . . just as surely as this director [Liahona] did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow, into a far better land of promise” (Alma 17:80). Faith in the words of Jesus is our compass. As he said: “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh to the Father, but by me” (John 4:16).
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Dear Ones,
Abraham was a man of great faith, “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb; He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded, that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:18-22). Paul was quite likely referring to Genesis 15:6 KJV; 15:12 IV, which says, “And he [Abram-Abraham] believed in the Lord; and the Lord counted it unto him for righteousness?
What is the depth of our faith? Will a superficial faith be counted as righteousness? I think not. The level of our faith will determine the measure of our righteousness.
Mormon, the father of Moroni, spoke of the importance of faith: “Behold, my beloved brethren, . . . I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; if ye have not faith in him, then ye are not fit to be numbered among the people of his church . . . if a man have faith, he must have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope. And again, behold I say unto you, that he cannot have faith and hope, save [unless] he shall be meek and lowly of heart; . . . for none is acceptable before God, save [except] the meek and lowly of heart” (Moroni 7:45-49). Faith is a gift of God, reserved for the meek and lowly.
Mormon asked: “Has the day of miracles ceased? Have angels ceased to appear to the children of men? . . . it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore if these things have ceased, woe be unto the children of men for it is because of unbelief . . . if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man” (Moroni 7:37-43).
Certainly miracles have not ceased, nor have angels ceased to appear, but these blessings are not as common as we would like them to be. Nor are they occurring as often as they should, or could be, if we had greater faith.
How can a greater level of faith be attained? Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit. See 1 Corinthians 12:9. Paul counseled: “covet earnestly the best gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31). We need to pray that our faith will be increased.
In Hebrews 11, “the faith chapter,” an interesting statement is made: “God having provided some better things for them through their sufferings, for without sufferings they could not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:40). None that I know prefer trials over prosperity, but times of adversity often result in spiritual blessings. Trials put us on our knees and we pray fervently! These prayers are often answered, giving us strong evidences of God’s love and power. Our faith is increased by these experiences.
On one of my trips to Nepal I got lost in the Hong Kong airport. My departure time was near and I was having difficulty in finding the gate for my departing flight. I had asked for help at an information desk but I could not understand the Chinese English! In my desperation, I asked God to help me! As I looked down the concourse I saw a man approaching. I said to him, you look like a person who can help me. He smiled, and in the most beautiful Mid-Western English, he assured me he could direct me to my gate. I wondered later if he was an angel? I didn’t ask his name or address. The Lord answered my prayer by sending an angel to help me. If he was not from heaven; he was at least an “earth angel.” I arrived at my gate in what I call “the precise timing of the Lord.” All of my fellow passengers were already on the plane. My faith was increased. Trials beget faith. Faith begets more faith.
My Love to All,
High Priest Francis Harper
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