MIXED WITH FAITH

“LET US THEREFORE FEAR, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them [the Israelites]: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” (Hebrews 4:1, 2).

 

It is clearly taught throughout scripture that our ability to enter into God’s rest does not depend on our personal strength, performance or willpower, but on our faith.  The Israelites mentioned in the above verse had everything they needed to enter into God’s rest with the exception of one key ingredient: faith. 

 

When our children were young, my wife would make homemade whole wheat bread for the family almost every week.  She would mix all of the ingredients together (including the yeast), distribute the fresh dough into loaf pans, and then set the pans with towels over them on top of the furnace floor registers to rise.  After a while, the loaves would puff up twice their size as the yeast would work its magic in the dough.  When the loaves were ready, she would slide them into the oven.  Soon the house was filled with the aroma of freshly-baked bread, and we were all in the kitchen begging for a slice of the still-warm bread.  We would slather them with butter; and as it melted over the top we would savor the aroma and flavor of every bite.  Of course, Mom would never say no, and before long she would be enjoying a slice right along with us!

 

I’m reminded of Jesus’ words in St. Matthew where He said, “Another parable spake He unto them; The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.” (Matthew 13:33).  Like yeast added to bread dough causes the whole lump to rise, faith is the active ingredient that causes God’s Word to come alive.  Without faith being mixed in, the Word is somewhat static (unmoving, unchanging); but when faith is applied, things begin to happen, and God begins to move.  There is a live culture in yeast that causes it to interact with the other ingredients in the dough causing it to grow and expand.  There is a spirit of life in our faith that interacts with the Word of God to bring it to life and causes us to grow also.  Our faith is inspired by the Holy Spirit and by a hearing ear.  “...faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17).  Like leaven, or yeast, our faith is an unseen force that works in all those of God’s children who have a hearing ear and a humble heart.  Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), but with faith all things are possible (Mark 9:23).

 

The woman in the parable was working with “…three measures of meal…” which is equivalent to about 50 lbs. of flour, or about a bushel.  So, it appears that the woman in the parable was a very serious baker!  She was not just baking a random loaf for herself or for some deserving individual.  No, she was baking for a mass of people.  This tells us that God does not want faith to work only in a few random people, or through powerful preachers alone.  He wants faith to be mixed into the whole body of Christ, inspiring, motivating, and raising us all together as one loaf.  This, says Jesus, is what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.  We can’t see the yeast once it’s mixed in, it’s hidden; but it is working, and it is giving life to the whole Body.

 

Several years ago, a brother in the Lord who was adding a second story to his house in the country asked the men of our fellowship if we would help him frame the addition.  We all agreed, of course, and met at his house on a weekend to help him.  During the day, one of this brother’s three young sons had climbed a ladder to the second story and reached out to grab a brace at the top to pull himself up to the deck.  The brace had been put in place, but not nailed in, and the boy lost his balance and fell backwards to the ground from the second story.  He landed on hard ground on his back, and it was clear that he was having trouble breathing.  We didn’t know if he had broken bones, had gotten a concussion, or had any other serious injuries.  We only knew to pray.  Immediately, the men gathered around the boy and began to call on God to touch and heal him.  Our wives also were crying out to the Lord.  When the prayer was ended, the boy sat up, able to breathe normally, and without any injuries.  In that moment, the Holy Spirit inspired faith in each one of us to believe that God would hear, and that He would heal, not because we wished it so, but because God’s Word said it.  And He did!  Faith was working in His Body to impart life and wholeness to someone in need.  The Word was mixed with faith, and God was able to move in a miraculous way. 

 

To enter into God’s rest is simply to cease from our own labors.  It is an acknowledgement that God has already finished the work of redemption in the world Himself, and all He asks of us is to believe it and receive it.  We must not add or subtract from what God has said: we can only follow and obey what He commands us to do.  “Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.  Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:5, 6). 

 

Faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4)!  Of the Israelites whom God led out of Egypt by the hand of Moses God said, “They do always err in their heart; and they have not known My ways.” (Hebrews 3:10).  Had they believed God from the beginning, they would have entered into the Promised Land 40 years sooner than they did!  They saw God’s miraculous works in Egypt and in the wilderness, but they neglected to recognize God’s ways.  In these last days we especially need to have an unwavering faith in what the Lord is speaking to us in His Word.  We must not conform ourselves to the world and its ways, but instead allow the Lord to transform us through His Truth.  In this way, our lives become the proof of the Life that is in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because of the genuine change that takes place in our lives.  “…that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).  Proofing yeast is a process that is used to make sure that the culture is alive and vital.  To proof yeast, you dissolve it in a small quantity of warm water with a bit of sugar.  If the mixture begins to form tiny bubbles and foam, you know the culture is alive and active.  Christians can be proofed by checking to see if the life of Jesus Christ is bubbling up from within them!  It’s then that we can know that faith is at work in their lives and that they are in that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God!