Lesson 28: Believe to Receive
Kentucky Division Chaplain Chaltas

How many times have we been tested? How many times did we doubt? And how many times have we believed to receive? This past weekend I had the honor of being at the Three River Campaign held at Loretta Lynn's beautiful 3500-acre ranch outside of Nashville, Tennessee. The Alabama Division in conjunction with the Army of Tennessee graciously hosted the event. The crowd was grand and I was afforded the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people. But one in particular stands out in my mind. His name was Ron and was from Houston, Texas. He is a friend of Chaplain James Smith and what impressed me was his faith. He was a large man with a gentle spirit that was not ashamed to offer his testimony and believed that God would answer all needs. He had many sayings but the one that stuck in this ole general's mind was, "You have to believe to receive." I thought, "How true" and a spark was kindled.

In 2 Corinthians 5: 7 the Good Book states, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." And Ephesians 2:8 says that, "For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." Now if I have faith and earnestly seek God confessing my sins, I will be saved. If I have faith I will follow the Shepherd's lead and receive all things that I need with a joyful heart. Jesus taught me in Matthew 17: 20 that "If I have faith as a mustard seed, I would say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move; and NOTHING will be impossible for you." Believe to receive! But HOW do I obtain such faith? Again the answer lies within the confines of God's Holy Word. Romans 10:17 says, "So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." The answer is clear. We must dwell in God's word and allow the words to enter into our being. And once the spirit is purified by the confession of sin we must don the armor of faith. Ephesians 6: 16 tells us that, "Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Oh you will be tested but through faith you will conquer! You must have faith in the Lord to fight the principalities and realize that you must arrange your life to fit the teachings of faith in the Bible and not arrange the Bible to fit your life. He will meet your needs as surely as the sun shines behind the darkest of clouds. He stands at the door and knocks and if anyone hears His voice and opens the door, He WILL come in to him and dine with him and He with you." Revelation: 3:20. We have to believe in Him and be willing to open the door to allow Him to enter and then step out on the faith of our Fathers to receive the peace that passeth all understanding.

So it is your choice; your decision. We all must face trials in our life and we must chose whether we face them alone or ask the King of Kings to walk with us. The beautiful parable of Footprints in the Sand demonstrates faith better than my poor words. A man dreamed that he walked with Christ along a sandy beach. Many scenes of his life passed before his eyes and he noted that when trouble came there would only be one set of prints in the sand. This bothered him and he questioned the Lord asking him why he had left him whenever trouble or sorrow had came into his life. Jesus lovingly looked at the man and replied, "My son when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." How many times has God faithfully carried us? How many times have you doubted but He still stood by you? Won't you make a step of faith and ask our awesome Lord to save you and then go out believing that you will be receiving the goodness of God's love. Be blessed this day and believe to receive.