One of the main reasons why we often find it hard to exercise faith, is because we keep looking at the human agent, instead of concentrating our focus on Christ. In all our experiences, whether they be trials or victories, the human agency is always to take a backseat in preeminence, and in all our calculations, and in our understanding, God should be first, and foremost in our minds. Whenever we focus on what man can do, Christ becomes little in our minds, and because of this, every daunting problem, difficulty, challenges, and obstacles, tend to loom larger, and often seem insurmountable.
As a general rule of thumb, our faith in what Christ can and will do should be open-ended, without any limits, and without tethering mere finite solutions,
to the potential outcome. In other words, when we become seriously sick, the power of God to heal and deliver should not be dwarfed by our understanding of medicine. When taking a math examination, our confidence should not rest solely upon how much we can cram, but rather on God’s ability to bring to our remembrance, that which we have studied.
In our efforts to live a healthy life, to lose weight, or to diet properly, we should not limit the power of God to the mere use of certain ordained foods, such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, and grains; for although He instructs us to use them, and great benefits will certainly accrue in obedience to His word, yet when His power is brought into the equation, those same benefits will multiply exponentially. In other words, our primary focus should not be on the veggies, but rather on the God of the veggies.
And the same principle of looking past the human agent, and focusing on Him who is invisible, also applies to soul winning. Success in evangelism is never about the preacher, or his tact, skill, charm, charisma, wittiness, education, experience, talent, energy, or his commanding demeanor. Neither is it about magnificent edifices, expensive pipe organs, or the amount of money spent in advertising. While all of these may have a part to play, the only reason why anyone will surrender to Christ is because of the work of The Holy Ghost, without which, the part that the human agent plays would have no salvific value.
Even that favorite hymn that we love to sing, which says “I surrender all” is actually a nonstarter in the spiritual realm, without the power of God, because if Christ is absent, we cannot even surrender. Christ grants unto us the gift of repentance, through the agency of His Holy Spirit, without whom, we cannot even feel sorry for sins committed. Esau, and Judas both tried repentance without God, by focusing on the human agent, and the rest is history, for Esau was never able, of himself to repent, and the other committed suicide. Let’s read:
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
When treating upon the same the issue of living by the power of The Invisible God, the apostle Paul cautioned the new believers to look past the human agent, and thus acknowledged the miniscule part a preacher, or evangelist plays in the bigger picture. He therefore describes the tendency of looking to human agents as being carnally-minded. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
The servant of the Lord also takes up the strain, by emphasizing our need of looking beyond the human agent, for whenever, and wherever this habit exists, there will be a noticeable lack of God’s miraculous power being displayed on a continual basis. And if the tendency is cultivated over, and over again, the concept of limitless possibilities becomes phantom to our minds, resulting in microscopic views of God, and a creeping fear of facing challenges. When the Bible says that the righteous are as bold as a lion,
it refers to our trust in God, not in man. Let’s read:
[Christ’s Object lessons. pp. 82] Whenever man accomplishes anything, whether in spiritual or in temporal lines, he should bear in mind that he does it through co-operation with his Maker. There is great necessity for us to realize our dependence on God. Too much confidence is placed in man, too much reliance on human inventions. Immeasurably inferior is the part which the human agent sustains; but if he is linked with the divinity of Christ, he can do all things through the strength that Christ imparts.
Whenever we cultivate the tendency of looking to human agencies, we will apply the same mode of thought on the flipside, when it pertains to trials, and aggravations, conceived, and implemented by our invisible adversary. In other words, the devil often moves upon the human agent to carry out his dictates; but those who have become accustomed to looking on the instrument, will only see a person trying to annoy, while the invisible agency remains hidden.
Thus, we come to the study of certain highlights of Moses’ experiences in Egypt, and beyond. We begin with his birth, which occurred at a time when the morale of the Hebrew people was pretty low, since they were suffering under the hand of pharaoh who was in opposition to God, and who issued the harsh, inhumane edict of commanding every male Hebrew child to be slain. In fact it was satan who was behind that edict, but many Hebrews only saw the human agent, and because of this, their faith had grown quite dim.
Moses was born at this time, but his parents who ever had God before their faces, looked past the pharaoh on his throne, and beheld the Omnipotent God who rules in the affairs of men. Thus it was that their ideas, concepts, decisions and actions became molded by what God could do, not what a pharaoh could do, and that makes all the difference. Let’s read:
Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
There are certain developments, certain decisions and actions currently being taken, which may cause us grave concern, and many have become fearful of the future, and what lies in store for God’s people. God bids us not to look at man, but to look to Him, who rules in the affairs of men. As a matter of fact, whatever is done by the human agent, whether for or against God, is actually incorporated into His will, and produce outcomes that are in line with what he had already planned to do.
When Christ was being crucified, the priests and elders thought that they finally got revenge for what they viewed as an affront to their authority. But under closer investigation, God’s plan for our rescue was being fulfilled to the letter, and instead of signal defeat, a triumphant victory for the entire universe was accomplished.
When the mob cried for Jesus to come down from the cross, it was actually satan begging Christ, in a last-ditch effort not to die, for he feared the dead Christ much more than the living Christ. But on that day, throughout all the back and forth, and mocking and scourging, many folks, even of the disciples only beheld the human agent.
[Prophets And kings pp 499>500] In the annals of human history, the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as if dependent on the will and prowess of man; the shaping of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, above, behind, and through all the play and counter-play of human interest and power and passions, the agencies of the All-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will.
Thus it was, when Moses came to the age of reason, he also followed in the footsteps of his parents, by looking past the human agent, and focusing his gaze on Him who is invisible. And this mode of thought ultimately shaped his world view, and every other consequent decision he would make. Some of these decisions may seem downright stupid, in the eyes of a secular mind, but to those who choose to live by the Invisible God, his decisions were intelligent and full of wisdom. Let’s read:
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
And over, and over again, throughout Moses’ life experiences, we’ll observe the same core principle resurfacing. In times of danger, when threatened by pharaoh’s army, in crossing the Red sea, in tackling the strongholds of Jericho, in dealing with internal insurrection, in the uplifted serpent, in obeying the command of God to be in Mount Sinai for 40 days without any food, in all of these instances, Moses continually looked past the human agent, instead focusing on Him who is invisible. Let’s read:
Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Exodus 14:10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.
11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever.
14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
In fact, the major fall which Moses took, in striking the rock, occurred when he focused on the human agent, instead of the Unseen God, as he had been accustomed to. Let’s read:
Numbers 20:7 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
This brings us to a critically important question: “What is entailed in living by the Invisible God?”
Answers:
[1] We must be willing to do whatsoever He bids us do, even when it is contrary to the popular majority opinion. God has called us to obedience, never to popularity, and thus, our commitment to serve, and to follow His directions must transcend mainstream ideologies, scientific research, or dogmas coming to us from religious or secular authorities. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 12:28 Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee forever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God.
32 What thing so-ever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
[2] We must be willing to wait upon God, for His purposes know no haste, nor delay. It is often the case that satan’s temptations assert their power over us, when we are put in the waiting mode. It is during such times we tend to become restless, and uneasy, and a restless frame of mind often becomes fertile ground for doubt, and wherever any doubt is encouraged, our minds become a breeding ground for alternative methods, and plans, which prove to be always contrary to God’s will.
Abraham was severely tempted whilst in waiting mode, and he succumbed. King Saul was severely tempted in waiting mode, and he also succumbed. And in many instances, we too become vulnerable to the assaults of satan, when we are bidden by the Lord to wait. The young, and the restless become impatient while waiting on God to provide Mr./Mrs. Right.
During the waiting period, satan comes along with an alternative who seems to have the blessing of heaven, and before you know it, your proverbial knight in shining armor turns out to be the devil in disguise. That’s why the following instruction is of critical importance to every Christian living today.
Psalms 27:14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
[3] We should never allow human agencies to cause Christ’s power to be dwarfed in our understanding. This is of critical importance as we face tremendous difficulties ahead. When we are bombarded with bad, or fake news, we are not to focus on what man can, or will do, but instead we are instructed by the Lord to “Look up” for our redemption draws nigh. Let’s read:
Hebrews 13:5 For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
[4] Trust His promises. The often murmurings and complaints of the Hebrews, and the sins that were the consequential result, can be summed up in the sacred history recorded by David, whilst he wrote under the influence of Holy Ghost. And very many of our own problems with health, with cherished sin, with discouragement, with the fullfilment of our fondest dreams, with reaching our fullest potential, with our finances, with evangelism, with our church building, programs, with forgiveness, and with a wide range of other temporal, social, and spiritual issues, can also be traced back to the same root cause, which affected the Hebrews in years gone by. Let’s read:
Psalms 78: 10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law.
11 And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.
12 Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.
14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the Most-High in the wilderness.
19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
20 Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also?
21 Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth
32 For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
And there are several vivid examples of those who limited the power of God in various ways, and for various reasons. Those who went out in search of food on the Sabbath, limited the power of God in preserving that which was kept over from Friday. Those who retreated in times of national danger, because of the supposedly superior strength, and size of the enemy, limited the power of God to save by few.
Those who sided with the spies, when God already promised them the goodly land of Canaan, limited the power of God in battle. Those who had withheld their tithes and offerings, limited the power of God to provide. Those who did not believe the second temple could be built, limited the power of God to restrain Tobias and Sanballat. Those who turned to wizards and magicians in times of health crises, they also limited God’s power to heal and restore.
Then there are those who limited God’s power to save to the uttermost. Those who trusted to their own strength, and those who stumbled at the food God ordained for them to eat. Those who trembled at the presence of Goliath, who shook his steroid-laden fists at Israel. Saul, who discouraged David from fighting the giant. Those who turned to the witch of Endor for advice, and those like Achan who hid stolen stuff in the earth, under his tent.
And the list goes on, and on, and on. One root cause keeps resurfacing, “They limited The Holy one of Israel”…. Which leads us to our closing statement coming from the pen of inspiration. Let’s read:
[L.D.E pp 72] In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, “We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history”…
May God add His blessing to the study of His word.
God bless!