1. Faith that produces victory.

2. A belief that is to some degree similar to faith that produces trembling. “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19, emphasis supplied).

This second kind of “faith” is not really faith; it is called belief here. Although sometimes the scriptures use faith and belief interchangeably, there is a wide difference between the two. It’s important to believe that there is one God—very important. You are doing well to believe in one God. It is a good start but according to this Scripture, that is not enough.

When you come to the point in your life at which you believe that God exists, you have only gotten as far as the devil has gotten, and his belief will never save him. That type of belief does not produce victory over the world but, rather, causes a person to unite with the world.

Was the faith of Abraham victorious? We read that “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Galatians 3:6–9, emphasis supplied).

We read here that the children of Abraham have faith—real, genuine faith—and the blessings promised to him belong to them. Just as the “father” of western medicine was Hippocrates and the “father” of a system to distribute electricity was Edison—because of the influence they carried as a result of their discovery of how their particular specialty worked—likewise can Abraham be considered the “father” of faith. Just as Edison’s discovery made electricity available to us, so did Abraham’s closer relationship with God render faith more practical and understandable in order for us to have victory over the world.

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:1–3).

What does God tell Abraham? “Get out”—leave, depart, separate. Why was this necessary? Abraham was essentially being told, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17, emphasis added). Why is this so important?

“It is the duty of every child of God to inquire: ‘Wherein am I separate from the world?’ Let us suffer a little inconvenience and be on the safe side.”1

“Christ’s followers are required to come out from the world, and be separate, and touch not the unclean, and they have the promise of being the sons and daughters of the Most High, members of the royal family. But if the conditions are not complied with on their part, they will not, cannot, realize the fulfillment of the promise.”2

Why does God require them to be separate? What is the problem with intimately joining in the festivities of the world? Look at the experience of Samson. “At his marriage feast Samson was brought into familiar association with those who hated the God of Israel. Whoever voluntarily enters into such relations will feel it necessary to conform, to some degree, to the habits and customs of his companions. The time thus spent is worse than wasted. Thoughts are entertained and words are spoken that tend to break down the strongholds of principle and to weaken the citadel of the soul.”3

Let us evaluate the things Abraham was to separate from?

1. “Get thee out of thy country.”

Abraham was going to be a stranger, and all who would separate with him would be strangers in a strange land. What happens to national barriers among the followers of faithful Abraham? Will they exist among those who separate with him?

The Lord’s messenger relates her experience when visiting Europe: “So many say that the different nationalities . . . were peculiar and had to be reached in a certain way. . . . Let the Lord take possession of the mind and mold it as the clay is molded in the hands of the potter, and these differences will not exist. Look to Jesus, brethren; copy His manners and spirit, and you will have no trouble in reaching these different classes. We have not six patterns to follow, nor five; we have only one, and that is Christ Jesus. If the Italian brethren, the French brethren, and the German brethren try to be like Him, they will plant their feet upon the same foundation of truth; the same spirit that dwells in one will dwell in the other—Christ in them, the hope of glory. I warn you, brethren and sisters, not to build up a wall of partition between different nationalities. On the contrary, seek to break it down wherever it exists. We should endeavor to bring all into the harmony that there is in Jesus, laboring for the one object, the salvation of our fellow men.”4

2. Separate “from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house”

What happens to our family associations? “In order that God might qualify him for his great work as the keeper of the sacred oracles, Abraham must be separated from the associations of his early life. The influence of kindred and friends would interfere with the training which the Lord purposed to give His servant. Now that Abraham was, in a special sense, connected with heaven, he must dwell among strangers. His character must be peculiar, differing from all the world. He could not even explain his course of action so as to be understood by his friends. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and his motives and actions were not comprehended by his idolatrous kindred.”5

What was the main reason for this separation from close family members and lifelong friends? Was it in order to avoid being wrongly influenced by them? Have you ever found it difficult to explain your course of action even to your dearest friends—those who were such prior to your conversion? Why is this the case? “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Ur was one of the lushest areas of the world at that time. Fertile land; a place where one could amass wealth easily. And God tells Abraham, “Go away from here. And I’m going to show where you’re going to go when you get there.”

What does Abraham do with such a command? He begins packing his bags.

Friends may ask, “Where are you going?”

“God will show me.”

“What is the land like?”

“I don’t know.”

“Is it a wilderness?”

“I don’t know.”

We read that “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went” (Hebrews 11:8, emphasis added).

“It was no light test that was thus brought upon Abraham, no small sacrifice that was required of him. There were strong ties to bind him to his country, his kindred, and his home. But he did not hesitate to obey the call. . . . The happiest place on earth for him was the place where God would have him to be.”6

God often calls us to leave family and friends for His service. We may consider it a very difficult sacrifice, but it is the very thing that we need.

Are you searching for happiness? Happiness is not found in the change of environment—although it may help at times—or in a marriage, or divorce. The only way to find happiness is to be where God would have us to be. Does God ask us to leave those dear to us for the sake of His cause as he called Abraham?

“Many are still tested as was Abraham. They do not hear the voice of God speaking directly from the heavens, but He calls them by the teachings of His word and the events of His providence. They may be required to abandon a career that promises wealth and honor, to leave congenial and profitable associations, and separate from kindred, to enter upon what appears to be only a path of self-denial, hardship, and sacrifice. God has a work for them to do; but a life of ease and the influence of friends and kindred would hinder the development of the very traits essential for its accomplishment. He calls them away from human influences and aid, and leads them to feel the need of His help, and to depend upon Him alone, that He may reveal Himself to them. Who is ready at the call of Providence to renounce cherished plans and familiar associations? Who will accept new duties and enter untried fields, doing God’s work with firm and willing heart, for Christ’s sake counting his losses gain? He who will do this has the faith of Abraham.”7

We’re often inclined to call into the Lord’s work people who have nothing else to do. But when did Christ call the disciples? He called Matthew when business was great, when he had to sacrifice to enter the gospel work. “Matthew ‘left all, rose up, and followed [Jesus].’ There was no hesitation, no questioning, no thought of the lucrative business to be exchanged for poverty and hardship. It was enough for him that he was to be with Jesus, that he might listen to His words and unite with Him in His work.”8

The disciples went fishing and caught the biggest catch of their lives. It was then that Jesus said, “Now, I’ll make you fishers of men.” “To Matthew in his wealth, and to Andrew and Peter in their poverty, the same test was brought; the same consecration was made by each. At the moment of success, when the nets were filled with fish, and the impulses of the old life were strongest, Jesus asked the disciples at the sea to leave all for the work of the gospel. So every soul is tested as to whether the desire for temporal good or for fellowship with Christ is strongest.”9

I’ll never forget my own experience. I had finished missionary school and started college. I had plans where I would go from there—and that point my uncle offered me a job. I was 18 years old. He offered a partnership in his business, guaranteeing $40,000 the first year—an amount that could buy a house at that time and have some left over. That was my first test. I could not accept because he wasn’t a believer. I had to leave that behind.

I then went to Los Angeles and learned to build. While in construction I was just about to begin my apprenticeship in tile setting while also going to university. Another uncle offered me this apprenticeship and offered for me to then take over one of his companies. This particular uncle was a believer, so I accepted the opportunity. It was just when I had accepted that position and was preparing for the next semester at university that God called me to full-time gospel work. God asked me to go, I went—and I don’t regret it; but I still remember that time of struggle when the call came.

But this is what God expects from every one of us—to do the greatest amount of good possible. He may ask you to abandon a career—or whatever—that you might be able to render more thorough service to Him.

When Abraham went out by faith, was this acting only on the basis of some impression he had received? No, it was not a mere impression. Some people “follow impressions and claim to be taught of the Spirit; and like the fanatics that troubled Luther, they place these impressions above the written word of God, while they trample upon the divine law because their hearts are not in harmony with its precepts.”10

Was Abraham’s departure based upon feeling? “Feeling has nothing to do with faith. That faith which works by love and purifies the soul is not a matter of impulse. It ventures out upon the promises of God, firmly believing that what He has said, He is able also to perform. Our souls may be trained to believe, taught to rely upon the Word of God. That Word declares that ‘the just shall live by faith’ (Romans 1:17), not by feeling.”11

Abraham’s action was not emotional. As a matter of fact, it was contrary to feeling and emotion. It was based solely on one thing, and one thing alone—God’s Word. The Lord said, “Abraham, go.” He recognized that word and went.

What kind of questions did Abraham have for God? “Abraham’s unquestioning obedience is one of the most striking evidences of faith to be found in all the Bible. To him, faith was ‘the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’ (Hebrews 11:1). Relying upon the divine promise, without the least outward assurance of its fulfillment, he abandoned home and kindred and native land, and went forth, he knew not whither, to follow where God should lead.”12

The devils believe and tremble, but Abraham had more: He had faith that justifies.

“Faith is the only condition upon which justification can be obtained, and faith includes not only belief but trust.”13

“The faith that accepts Christ as One who is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him, means perfect belief and trust. To be intelligently convinced is not enough. [James 2:19 quoted.] Many there are who believe that Christ has died for the sins of the world, but they make no appropriation of this grand truth to their own souls. Their hearts are not enlisted in the service of God, their lives are not reformed. Their lives are not sanctified by the truth they profess to believe.”14

Abraham, on the other hand, revealed his faith by his works—offering up Isaac by faith. He believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness. (James 2:21–23.)

God is telling us to separate from something. Separate from what? We often tell people to come out of Babylon, and of course we want to come out, too. Yet how often do we bring Babylon along with us? What are we missing out on experiencing when we keep our attachments with Babylonish things? “Before giving us the baptism of the Holy Spirit, our heavenly Father will try us, to see if we can live without dishonoring Him.”15

God’s work in Abraham’s life was progressive. Consider his frailty when he said Sarah was his sister—and the conception of Ishmael through Hagar. But he eventually regained his first love when he was willing to obey just because God said so. Because he regained that experience, God permitted another test to come his way. This time it was a test of his love for Isaac, his miracle-child, to reveal whether that love was greater than his love for the Creator.

When we read that he was tempted, what exactly does that mean? “What is temptation—It is the means by which those who claim to be the children of God are tested and tried. We read that God tempted Abraham, that He tempted the children of Israel. This means that He permitted circumstances to occur to test their faith, and lead them to look to Him for help. God permits temptation to come to His people today, that they may realize that He is their helper.”16

What made this man to willingly offer up everything dearest in his life to God? “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac” (Hebrews 11:17). This trial was more severe than that which had come upon Adam. Because of Abraham’s loving, willing obedience to God, he actually was willing to surrender the son of promise to be a burnt offering—and, the amazing thing is, that Isaac was willing to comply with the idea. Why? What was their hope? Were they looking forward to the ashes that would remain?

“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. Of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called. Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure” (verses 17–19, emphasis supplied).

Yes, in his old age, Abraham truly believed in the power of God. This genuine faith in the Word of God could look beyond the present, beyond what things looked like—by trusting His Word and acting on that Word.

The Lord’s messenger to our generation warns: “From what was shown me, but a small number of those now professing to believe the truth would eventually be saved—not because they could not be saved, but because they would not be saved in God’s own appointed way. The way marked out by our divine Lord is too narrow and the gate too strait to admit them while grasping the world or while cherishing selfishness or sin of any kind. There is no room for these things; and yet there are but few who will consent to part with them, that they may pass the narrow way and enter the strait gate.”17

The other day I was at the bedside of a dying minister, Neville S. Brittain, as he spent his final conscious hours at the Palliative Care unit at Mount Druitt Hospital. It would be the last time that I spoke to him before he lapsed into unconsciousness and his final rest before that special resurrection. As he was laboring with his breathing, and taking longer than usual rests between sentences, his last thoughts were about the condition of the professed people of God. Are we truly ready to give up everything for the sake of eternity? Are we ready to truly come out and be a separate and distinct people, to truly have the experience of faithful Abraham?

What have you been doing in your life? Are you going to base your faith and evidences upon the Word of God and the Word of God alone? Or are you basing them upon feelings; upon friends; upon relatives; upon prejudice; upon what our forefathers have done? Upon what are you going to base your faith?

Faith means:

“I’m going to believe God’s Word, and I’m going to trust in this Word.

“I’m going to trust in it whether my spouse does or does not; or

“I’m going to trust in it whether my friends do or do not.

“I’m going to have my trust right here.”

Is this your experience today?