Faith vs. Feelings

Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations & Quotes The Key of Promise

The Key of Promise

In one memorable scene from Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian, finding the pathway difficult, climbed over a stile to walk in a meadowy bypath. Eventually the ground grew soggy and covered with poisonous vines. The sky became black, and Christian spent the night huddled at the foot of an oak tree, caught in a downpour. Next morning, Giant Despair came upon him, captured him, beat him, and imprisoned him in the dungeon of Doubting Castle with its grim battlements and thick, black walls. Christian tried to sing, but couldn’t. His mood was dungeon-dark. Giant Despair beat him mercilessly, and he grew weaker each day. At length he found in his cell a rope, a knife, and a bottle, the tools of suicide, and for a moment he was tempted to end his misery.

But one evening about midnight he began to pray, and …

… a little before day, good Christian, as one half amazed, brake out into this passionate speech: What a fool am I, thus to lie in a stinking dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty! I have a key in my bosom, called Promise, that will, I am sure, open any lock in Doubting Castle.

It did. Using the key of God’s promises, Christian escaped, never again to fall into the clutches of Giant Despair or Doubting Castle.

Isaiah 1:18 NKJV

18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Are you enslaved to anything. Do you wrestle with habits that you are ashamed of? Many Christians, though water baptized continue to struggle with deepseated addictions for years. It could be food, it could be entertainment, it could be sugary foods, it could be activities that contain content that you would be horrified to reveal or have other discover. As a result, many who claim the name of Christ are in bondage and because of the shame they secretly bare, they are unable to be freed. The more they struggle to overcome, the more they are entangled in the web of sin. Can you identify with what I’m saying? Am I speaking the truth. You don’t have to answer that question. What every one longs for is peace, heaven’s forgiveness. I’m here to let you know that such peace is attainable.

Steps to Finding Peace

1. The first thing that you must do is confess your sin. Don’t make any excuses, just confess your sin.

Proverbs 28:13 NKJV

13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

2. Ask for the gift of repentance and put the sin a away.

Acts 5:31 NKJV

31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

3. Claim God’s promises that is applicable to your struggle.

Ezekiel 36:25–27 NKJV

25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

4. Believe God’s promise to you. Even if you don’t feel forgiven, believe that you are forgiven! Even if you don’t feel like you have a new heart, believe that you have a new heart!

This is where many falter. They do not believe that God will forgive them. After they have prayed sheepishly they walk away still carrying their guilt and shame. Worse yet, long time Christians feel even more ashamed because they say to themselves, “I’ve been a Christian for many years; I should know better. How could I have done such a thing.” Friend, what you need to understand is that whether you are a new born Christian, or a Christian for many years, God accepts your repentance and confession just the same. He doesn’t wag His finger and say, you should know better, how dare you come to me. A Sinner is a sinner, and God hates sin, but He loves the sinner.

Steps to Christ Chapter 6—Faith and Acceptance

Can you believe that when the poor sinner longs to return, longs to forsake his sins, the Lord sternly withholds him from coming to His feet in repentance? Away with such thoughts! Nothing can hurt your own soul more than to entertain such a conception of our heavenly Father.

5. Step out in freedom.

Two stories in the Bible illustrate the simple steps to finding peace.

Mark 2:1–12 NKJV

1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” 6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

The last story we will breifly examine is found in John 5.

John 5:1–8 NKJV

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”

The paralytic heard the word of Jesus, he believed the word of Jesus, and he received the word of Jesus by acting upon it.

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 1496 Faith and Doubt

1496 Faith And Doubt

Doubt sees the obstacles.

Faith sees the way!

Doubt sees the darkest night,

Faith sees the day!

Doubt dreads to take a step.

Faith soars on high!

Doubt questions, “Who believes?”

Faith answers, “I!”

—Gospel Banner

As you go, focus on today, don’t worry about being faithful tomorrow, focus on today. God will give you the strength needed for today.

Colossians 2:6 NKJV

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

Benediction:

When you are tempted, and you will be because the enemy does not recognize the authority of Jesus, ask the Lord to help you remember his promise to you, believe his promise and continue to walk in freedom.