Obedience to the will of God, whether His will is found in the Scriptures or revealed in the Spirit to the saint, is an important aspect of faith—the faith by which the righteous live.

It has become fashionable in Christian circles to speak of "challenging" our faith. The concept seems to be that the Christian is to announce what he would like to see happen and then, if he can summon the faith, God will do what he has asked. We are exhorted to think "big" because God is a "big God." We are encouraged to be aggressive in our "faith."

We are not certain there is merit in this approach. We do not see it in the Scriptures. The Scriptures are a record of God speaking to men, and of men demonstrating their faith by doing what God commanded them to do. The people described in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews showed their faith by being obedient to God, not by imagining some large enterprise and then attempting to exercise "faith" so God was compelled to do what they supposed was beneficial.

There is an aspect of asking largely of God that should be cultivated by the saint. God often puts a holy discontent in our heart concerning our current situation. Our response must be to go to God continually, believing He will do the impossible. It is a delight to God's heart that we bear much eternal fruit. As we bear permanent fruit, God continues to hear us, and so more fruit is borne. This process will continue throughout eternity.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16)

However, the process of bearing the permanent fruit of Christ's image and consequently having our prayers answered is different from the challenge, the dare, to "do great things for God." The former comes from the working of God in us as we grow in Christ. The latter, in many instances, proceeds from enthusiasm, personal ambition, ignorance of God, or some other undesirable motive.

The idea of doing "great things for God by faith" is common among Christians of our time, probably because we are not suffering tribulation or being persecuted severely. The concept of doing great things for God carries with it the idea that the mind and imagination of man are in control, not the Holy Spirit. It is not the faith of obedience, it is the faith that attempts to force God to do what man wants. God is made obedient to man as we exercise "faith."

To be continued.