Faith

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of

things not seen.”–Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the assurance that Jesus will save us.
Jesus died on the cross to save us from sin. What else can He not give us according
to His will?
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” –Romans
10:17 As we have listened to the lesson study last week pastor told us that by
hearing the word of God we can have faith to choose Jesus and love Him. But there
are hindrances for us to choose Jesus. These are Satan’s temptations for us not to
have time to hear God’s word. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”-1
John 2:16 We might be loving many things that steal our time, from hearing the
word of God, having faith, and loving Him. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and
renew a right spirit within me.”-Psalm 51:10 Let us ask God for the daily renewing of
our hearts. That we may clearly hear His words every hour every day through His
Holy Spirit. By praying, studying the Bible and His words, daily devotional, and
studying the Spirit of Prophecy.
“In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of
advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what God has
wrought, I am filled with astonishment, and with confidence in Christ as leader.
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.” Christian Experience
and Teachings of Ellen G. White, p. 204. How has the Lord led our personal lives, our
personal living relationship with Jesus? Let us not forget how He has brought us this
far. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…Hebrews12:2 “…He
which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”-
Philippians 1:6 Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He will complete the faith
that He has started in us that we may be prepared for His coming.
“If they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading
them to the city, they were safe…” “Then we all cried out, "Who shall be able to
stand? Is my robe spotless?" Jesus spoke: “My grace is sufficient for you."-My First
Vision, Early Writings, p14, 15 EGW. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not
dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will
uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”- Isaiah 41:10 “That the trial
of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be
tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of
Jesus Christ: -1 Peter 1:7 Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus His hand is always ready to
help and encourage us in this life of sanctification for heaven.
How do we prepare for His coming? Pray, study your Bible, and serve. For
faith without work is dead. Let us pray for our families, love ones, friends, the
people around us, for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the latter rain, for the work
to be finished ,a and for the soon coming of Jesus.
As a 1000 Missionary I was assigned in Zamboanga Del Norte, Mindanao. I
was partnered with Nanay Salas. She was 86 years old that time, now she is 93
years old. I did not know why God has placed me in that mission field with Nanay
Salas but I believe God has a purpose. In that mission field a major problem of the
church are some members cohabiting as husband and wife without marriage. With
the strict and persuasive personality of Nanay Salas and my previous job
experience in the public attorney’s office to process all the required papers and the
marriage ceremony, with much prayer and God’s leading, we were able to help
these church members with their non SDA partners get wedded. And also have
church family seminar and church blessing ceremony. One of the member who got
disciplined because of the said issue was back to church. The Lord wants His church
to witness spotless and pure.
As a missionary in Korea, we visited a non SDA woman with two children. She
discovered that she got pregnant, but her husband decided to abort the baby. She
cried during the visit. We prayed for her. And after our visit she told us that her
husband decided not to abort the baby as a gift for their wedding anniversary. Now
this is the baby.
Here in Japan, as a missionary in Chiba International Church, I suggested that
the Healthy Cooking Demo and the Evangelism be advertised on newspaper to
reach more souls. As a result we have a good attendance during said events. One
attendee who heard of the evangelism through the newspaper now attends the
church and joining the church Bible Study group.
Giving tracks is also one of the best way we can reach the people. Let God
and His Holy Spirit move the people to read the tracks we give them or on their mail
boxes here in Japan. We have to do something. We can also pray for the people who
receive the tracks that our world church is giving. I met Pastor Fujita of Sodegaura
Church during my training as 1000 Missionary. He testified how his mother received
a track of an evangelism where his mother attended. Which in the long run also
made him an Adventist. This is a simple but effective work for reaching the people
that we can do, or pray for.
These were only done through much prayer, sacrifice, and faith. There are
many things to say but for now let us always ask God what He wants us to do to
help in finishing His work, may our effort be great or small. Let us do our best,
because we do not know what will succeed, this or that. “Revival Will Come Only in
Answer to Prayer—A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most
urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work. There must be earnest
effort to obtain the blessing of the Lord, not because God is not willing to bestow His
blessing upon us, but because we are unprepared to receive it. Our Heavenly Father
is more willing to give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, than are earthly parents
to give good gifts to their children. But it is our work, by confession, humiliation,
repentance, and earnest prayer, to fulfill the conditions upon which God has
promised to grant us His blessing. A revival need be expected only in answer to
prayer.”— (Selected Messages 1:121.)
I still do not know why the Lord has sent me here in Mobara. I have to pray
more. The emergency declaration could have last longer but thank God we can go
to church now. I believe this is not an accident that I could speak to you today, for
the strengthening of my faith, and I hope for your faith too. I believe God has the
best plans for the members of Mobara church. Our work might seem small in our
eyes but only eternity can tell. As we look back to how the Lord has brought us this
far, we know He has the best plans for us and we are training for heaven. Or maybe
we can do more and bigger work because we have a big God who is our partner. We
might be living in a critical moment but every crisis is an opportunity of reaching
the people. We are ready to be used by God for the finishing of His work.
"Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The
Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy
for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. The He bade them,
'Follow Me.'" . . . "Accompanied by the power of persuasion, the power of prayer,
the power of the love of God, this work will not, cannot, be without fruit" ( The
Ministry of Healing, pp. 143, 144). We are all waiting for Jesus to come. We can do
something for Him and for the people around us. Let us look for the needs of the
people around us. Let us ask God of what He wants us to do.
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any
means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”-1
Corinthians 9:27
With all these we have to keep watching and praying, study the Bible, do
God’s will and serve that we might not fall, to maintain our calling and election sure.
By having daily devotionals and studying the Spirit of Prophecy with my husband we
encountered these words in the book Adventist Home which stresses the
importance of our daily devotional: “Seek Opportunities in the Neighborhood—
Opportunities are within the reach of everyone. Take up the work that should be
done in your neighborhood, for which you are held responsible. Wait not for
others to urge you to take advance steps. Move without delay, bearing in mind
your individual responsibility to Him who gave His life for you. Move as if you heard
Christ calling upon you personally to awake out of sleep and to exert every God-
given faculty in doing the utmost in His service. Look not to see who else is
ready to catch inspiration from the word of the living God. If you are
thoroughly consecrated, through your instrumentality He will bring into the truth
others whom He can use as channels to convey light to many souls in darkness.”
Adventist Home 488.1Because of this we prayed and urged our family in the
Philippines to coordinate with our home church and contribute to give relief goods
to the people who cannot go out of their house and work because of the nationwide
quarantine. We suggested for them to give tracks. Approximately 300 people
received the relief goods and some were really interested with the tracks that we
give. During the time of need people are receptive of the gospel, a time when
people need a Savior. An example of which is the online evangelistic meeting
launched by It Is Written titled Hope Awakens, which brought 3600 people who
decided for baptism when the pandemic is over. This evangelism was prayed during
the 100 days of prayer of our world church. We can know that through prayer we
have more power.
 I hope we help to finish the work of spreading the gospel, and prepare
ourselves and our families, love ones, friends, and people around us for the soon
coming of Jesus.
We are living in the last days. I hope the following points would strengthen your
faith as we wait for the coming of Jesus.
1. . “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”-1 John 2:6
2. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the
Lord has led us.
3. “…He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of
Jesus Christ.”
4. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour
and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
5. “Pray, study your Bible, and serve.”
6. “Revival Will Come Only in Answer to Prayer”
7. “Wait not for others to urge you to take advance steps.”

This is my prayer.