<TITLE>04. Par 12-15</TITLE>L-12 Now, I know this is altogether not an evangelistic text by no means. And yet, it is an evangelistic text, because the Church can never progress until It knows what grounds It's progressing on. And I believe that before anybody can ever move or have real confidential faith, it's first they have to know where they stand and how to stand after they make their stand. I believe that's essential. For you cannot just headlong plunge into something with faith, when you don't know where you're plunging. You've got to know.
And if our faith is set right and in the right position, it gives a constant satisfaction.

L-13 It's just like it's been said about a woman. That maybe when she is married, if she's so--so anxious to embrace her first little baby, that she doesn't hardly know--can wait. But she... her anticipations is so, but behind that, there is a fear if it doesn't quickly show up that she will not have this baby. Then that drives her farther away all the time.
Now there's a remedy that they do in these days, and it's worked in all ages. If that woman sees or believes that she's not going to give birth to this baby, if she will just go out and adopt a baby, then the first thing you know, she will have one of her own.
Now, that's proven correct nine out of ten times, because that strain of wondering, "Oh, maybe I won't have it." But that takes that little satisfaction there, and it's maybe God's way of getting her in condition, then she will have her own baby, because that scare and anticipations will finally leave her.

L-14 That's the same way about people who want to get healed. They... If they can just have one little visible evidence. Like Elijah when he said... Gehazi said, "I see a cloud about the size of a man's hand." Elijah says, "I hear the sound of abundance of rain." He saw the evidence.
That's why, many times, I tell the people, "Go on. Start praising the Lord." See, because that is the adopted baby. 'Cause it's in their intellectual until it comes into their soul that they're healed. Then faith makes it right.
You've got to know what you're doing. You got to have confidence in what you're doing.

L-15 Therefore, so many times we hear this expression, "Oh, what is a Christian?" Some people limit it to joining a church.
Someone said, "Well, a Christian is a--a church member, someone who takes up their affiliations with the church." I believe that all Christians should do that. But I don't believe that's Christianity. See? That's what a Christian does after he becomes a Christian. But it doesn't mean that because he does it, that he is a Christian.
Then some say, "No, it's going to church and serving a declaration of creeds, and being loyal to those things in which the church teaches."
And then there are others that says that perhaps packing a little--a little something on them, a--a little cross or something, that that is the sign of a Christian. Well...
And then there's others who believe that, perhaps maybe, if they would burn a candle or do some kind of a penance, that that's a Christian. If they will merely be immersed in water, or they will do some sacrifice, or give some good to the church, or--or help the neighbor, buy some coal for the widow, or some shoes for the orphan... That's the acts that a Christian should do, but that still doesn't make them a Christian.


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