Obstinate Faith
The sermon emphasizes the importance of having an obstinate faith that trusts in God's promise and plan, and how this faith assists God in carrying out His plans.
Charles E. Cowman preaches about the importance of bold faith and holy audacity in carrying out God's plans, using the example of the Levites carrying the Ark of the Lord into the waters of Jordan. He emphasizes how faith assists God in fulfilling His promises and how we should trust in God's supernatural power to accomplish the impossible. Cowman encourages believers to have audacious trust in God, to launch out into the deep waters of faith, and to attempt great things for God with unwavering belief in His strength.
Text
"And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon a heap." (Joshua 3:13).
Brave Levites! Who can help admiring them, to carry the Ark right into the stream; for the waters were not divided till their feet dipped in the water (ver. 15). God had not promised aught else. God honors faith. "Obstinate faith," that the PROMISE sees and "looks to that alone." You can fancy how the people would watch these holy men march on, and some of the bystanders would be saying, "You would not catch me running that risk! Why, man, the ark will be carried away!" Not so; "the priests stood firm on dry ground." We must not overlook the fact that faith on our part helps God to carry out His plans. "Come up to the help of the Lord."
The Ark had staves for the shoulders. Even the Ark did not move of itself; it was carried. When God is the architect, men are the masons and laborers. Faith assists God. It can stop the mouth of lions and quench the violence of fire. It yet honors God, and God honors it. Oh, for this faith that will go on, leaving God to fulfill His promise when He sees fit! Fellow Levites, let us shoulder our load, and do not let us look as if we were carrying God's coffin. It is the Ark of the living God! Sing as you march towards the flood! --Thomas Champness
One of the special marks of the Holy Ghost in the Apostolic Church was the spirit of boldness. One of the most essential qualities of the faith that is to attempt great things for God, and expect great things from God, is holy audacity. Where we are dealing with a supernatural Being, and taking from Him things that are humanly impossible, it is easier to take much than little; it is easier to stand in a place of audacious trust than in a place of cautious, timid clinging to the shore.
Like wise seamen in the life of faith, let us launch out into the deep, and find that all things are possible with God, and all things are possible unto him that believeth.
Let us, today, attempt great things for God; take His faith and believe for them and His strength to accomplish them. --Days of Heaven upon Earth
Sermon Outline
- God Honors Faith
- Faith assists God in carrying out His plans
- Faith stops the mouth of lions and quenches the violence of fire
Key Quotes
“God honors faith. 'Obstinate faith,' that the PROMISE sees and 'looks to that alone.'” — Charles E. Cowman
“Come up to the help of the Lord.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Let us launch out into the deep, and find that all things are possible with God, and all things are possible unto him that believeth.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We must trust in God's plan and promise, even when it seems impossible or daunting.
- Faith assists God in carrying out His plans, and we should strive to have a spirit of holy audacity.
- We should attempt great things for God and trust in His strength to accomplish them.