Read: Philippians 3:12-15 Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).
When Faith Is Hindered By Former Failures
If we have sought several times to be sanctified and for any reason have been disappointed in our search, we may expect a struggle at the point of faith. If we have backslidden through failure to walk in the light, faith for restoration is usually more difficult than when we first sought for holiness.
If we have formerly sought the blessing but, not receiving the witness of the Spirit, have relaxed our seeking and settled back resigned to a life without being sanctified wholly, we may expect the exercise of faith to require determined effort.
Sometimes the struggle to believe comes as a result of disillusionment. Because of faulty teaching we expected God to do for us at an altar and in a moment of time what He plans to do for us by the process of growth in grace. Failing to see the dramatic changes which we had expected, we assume that we were mistaken in our faith and inwardly resolve not to be caught that way again — we will believe when we see! This situation is near tragic, for it adds error to error. We are mistaken in our knowledge of what God proposes to do for us in the crisis experience, and we err again in refusing to accept God’s promise of entire sanctification by faith.
Whatever the past may be, we are confronted anew by God’s promises today. Let us bring our need to Him and cast ourselves upon the assurance, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).
I mean to keep believing when it seems I’m not receiving; I mean to keep on trusting in His name. I know He’ll not forsake me; whatever should o’ertake me, I mean to keep believing just the same.*
— Herbert Buffum
*Copyright John T. Benson, Jr. Used by permission.