THE FAITH BUILDING PROGRAM
On February 7th 1999 I took that first step of handing over my life to the LORD after running from Him for most of my life. A few years earlier I found myself been drawn closer to Him but fear of giving up the world that I had come to know and enjoy so well was holding me back. Soon I found I had no choice but to just give it up. I did not know what to expect from God: but in the early mornings of my new life I found the Lord developing a rather close relationship with me. When alone, I would talk to the Lord just as I would talk to anyone else, except there would be no audible response. Just a small still voice would kind of whisper a response to my mind and I would accept this as His answer. Some were positive, some negative, some were rebuke, some were encouragement while others would direct me to go and do some searching of the Scriptures. None of these silent responses would direct me to do something wrong. I delighted in those moments of father and son communion which I had with the Lord and had no fear or doubt in talking with Him about anything.
In about May of that year there was an all night Vigil schedule for a Friday night at the church I was attending then and I planned to attend the vigil. My wife who is a nurse works at a prison and at that time was working the 4: pm. - 12: midnight shift. I wanted her to attend the Vigil but did not have the courage to ask her to leave work after midnight and then attend an all night vigil, seeing she normally get’s home about 1:30 am to 2: am after leaving work. More than that, I believe that on that day she worked double starting at 8: am. So in one of my little talk with the LORD that morning I asked Him to bring her to the Vigil. I wanted her to come so we could pray with her as she had a procedure scheduled for a few weeks hence. I attended the Vigil and somewhere near 2: am that night I was asked to pray for the Youths in the area; which I did with much timidity. This left me thirsty with a very dry mouth. I went downstairs and got some water to drink and returned to the Sanctuary. As I was walking to my seat, that small, still voice that I had come to know and trust so well, told me to look behind me. I did but saw nothing unusual. I turned around to continue to my seat when the same voice gave me a little sharp rebuke like: “you fool look to your left behind you”. I turned around and saw my wife sitting there with her things and still in her uniform. She had left work and came straight to the Vigil. Just then that same voice said to me: “see I brought her for you”. At that point the benches appeared light and easy for me to kick over in expressing my joy, but sanity prevailed. I announced her presence and he circumstance. They called her up, we all prayed with her and the pastor anointed her. I later learned that while she was at work during the day she had this desire to come to the Vigil. The desire soon turned into a determination, to the extent that she was telling everybody that she would be going to church after she left work that night. They all thought she was crazy and maybe she was at that time, but the LORD used her that night, to confirm in me and for me: His faithfulness and His Faith Building Program. God has a Faith Building Program for all of us and he uses everyday life experiences to work His program as he blesses us.
The blessings of God are dispensed in many ways, through many gifts and one of the greatest gift, we could ever get is that of FAITH; which is given to all in a perfect measure for without it; it is impossible to please God. We do not always exercise our faith with the measure that it has been given to us. Instead we look for great and phenomenal things to happen, for us to trust God. God wants us to rehearse and rehash the total picture of our testimonial life, giving him all the Credits (the glory, honor and praise), recognizing the small things as with the great and trusting Him unconditionally. Faithfulness demands that we seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first and depend on Him to supply the rest. When we do that, everything else will be added. God sets standards for continued blessings in our lives especially our spiritual lives (Psalm 1) with principles which promote growth in faith (Matthew 6: 31 – 34). If we will therefore receive His Words, and hide His commandments with us, so that we incline our ears unto wisdom, and apply our hearts to understanding; if we cry after knowledge, and lift up our voices for understanding; and seek understanding, searching for it as we would search for hidden treasures; we will understand the fear of the Lord, and gain the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom: and out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly, for He keeps the paths of judgment, and preserves the ways of His saints. We will then understand righteousness, judgment, equity and every good path. When wisdom enters into our hearts, and knowledge is pleasant unto our souls; discretion shall preserve us and understanding shall keep us: to deliver us from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaks perverse things (Proverbs 2:1-12). Therefore: labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto us: for Him hath God the Father sealed (John 6:27); for this is the work of God that we believe on Him whom He had sent: Jesus the Christ. So: my brother, sister and friend. “Put on the whole armor of God; that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Take unto you the whole armor of God; that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. Above all, taking the SHIELD OF FAITH, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; take the helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:11-17) and be thankful always knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience in you that you may be perfect wanting nothing. The hottest battles produce the sweetest victories. The harder your enemies come at you the harder they fall. They who endure the greatest woes have the most to rejoice for. The longer the refining process the better the result. Learn to trust God: use the little faith that you have. It’s more than enough to produce great results with God. He is faithful in all His ways and true to His Word. If you never trust Him you will never know how faithful He is. You are in His Faith Building Program. Make full use of God’s Will for your life.
I am, loving you even more: stay blessed.
W. Bennett
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