What Faith Is This?

How To Please God-Charles Spurgeon 

And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Heb.11:6

A few sermon-excerpts; 

'this faith must believe that there is a great reward in keeping his commandments, 

that He does hear prayer, 

that He does grant great blessings to those who truly seek Him.

We must believe this or else there is no real seeking of Him.

If we believe in God 

'we must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him'.

for,

'where trust has died out love has always died out too'!

Modern Theology...takes man from what is Written to what is thought.

It does not allow the sovereign Authority of Revelation and in disallowing that

their very foundations are removed, and much of the abounding vice of this day is

the direct result of this abounding unbelief in God, this

philosophical mistrust in Infinite Wisdom

A man only believes that which affects his life,

- Charles Spurgeon from the Sermon How To Please God 

What faith is this that we profess? 

Is what we cannot see 

That which turns would-be commonness 

Into holy, holy 

Faith without works is dead as dirt 

A cold and clanging bell 

Its specious substitutions flirt 

With godless death and hell 

What faith is this that we profane 

When we with pious nod 

Pronounce its syllables in vain 

With hearts afar from God 

What is this faith, mighty to save 

That sires sacred fear 

Is it the Confidence/Righteousness we have 

Or religious veneer 

Better to be without our eyes 

Or ears or homes or food 

Than to forsake Faith’s Enterprise 

And thus, God who is good 

Without faith we are naked, poor 

Lost, hopeless and condemned 

A ship without anchor secure 

A Soul without a Friend 

‘Without faith’ who would dare to wear 

Such a most awful plaque 

Or who would choose faithless despair 

If we beheld its lack 

In this land of revivals, bibles, 

Sunday morning church 

How is it that so much else rivals 

He who loved us first? 

What faith is this if once declared 

No work will prove its life 

What faith is this if it runs scared 

Beneath the Sculptor’s knife 

What faith were this that could attain 

The crown without the cross 

Or think ‘without works’ will retain 

Faith’s gain without its loss 

God is not mocked; no idol, He 

To put upon some shelf 

To gaze at whilst our loyalty 

Is faithful first, to Self 

Faith is Belief in One True God 

Its Must, a gift of grace 

A trust that very few applaud 

And fewer yet embrace 

Faith is greater than futile law 

Or works that cannot save 

Faith first believes, with humble awe 

God’s glorious gift of grace 

How can we approach Mercy’s throne 

Or know His love is just 

Without the essence of faith’s terms 

Belief and utter trust 

Ah, living, loving lasting faith 

In Jesus Christ, our Lord 

What profit hath each gifted breath 

If we miss faith’s reward 

Faith drives afar doubt’s shadowland 

And when things are the worst 

It reaches out and takes the Hand 

Of He who loved us first 

Oh, Spirit of the living God

Send home the Truth of Thee

By the power which saints applaud

Through faith that sets us free 

...free from fear's shackles, can it be

Anxiety and dread

Are swallowed up in victory

As we choose Faith instead 

© Janet Martin