You Can Have TRUE FAITH

You Can Build True Faith

You too can build true faith-the kind of faith described by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Hebrew Christians.  Such faith, he said, is "the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld."  (Hebrews 11:1) Having such faith, you will be absolutely sure that all your hopes and expectations, including God's promise of a resurrection, will be realized.  You will be convinced that such hopes are based on sure guarantees, not on wishful thinking.  You will know that Jehovah has never failed to keep his promises.  (Joshua 21:45; 23:14; Isaiah 55:10, 11; Hebrews 6:18)  God's promised new world will be as real to you as if it were already here.  (2 Peter 3:13)  And you will see how clearly with eyes of faith that Jehovah God, Jesus Christ, and God's Kingdom are all realities,not delusions.

You are not left on your own to build true faith.  Besides making his Word freely available, Jehovah has also provided a worldwide Christian congregation that is devoted to helping righthearted people build faith in God.  (John 17:20; Romans 10:14, 15)  Accept all the help that Jehovah provides through that organization.  ( Acts 8:30, 31)  And since faith is a fruit of God's holy spirit, pray constantly for that spirit to help you to develop true faith. -Galatians 5:22.

Do not be putting off by skeptics who scoff at anyone who professes faith in God and his Word.  (1 Corinthians 1:18-21; 2 Peter 3:3, 4) In fact, true faith is of immense value in straightening your stand against such attacks.  (Ephesians 6:16)  Sarah Jayne found that to be true, and she always encouraged those who visited her in the hospital to build up their own faith.  "Make the truth your own," she would say.  "Study God's Word. Stay close to God's organization.  Pray constantly.  Stay active in Jehovah's service." -James 2:17, 26.

Seeing her faith in God and in the resurrection,one of her nurses said:  "You really do believe this, don't you?"  When asked what gave her such an optimistic  outlook despite  her trials, she replied:  "It is having faith in Jehovah.  He is a real friend to me, and I dearly love him."


Next time: IMITATE JEHOVAH WHEN TRAINING YOUR CHILDREN

Watchtower, 2001

HELPING PEOPLE TO DRAW CLOSE TO JEHOVAH

God's Fellow Workers

Paul illustrated collaboration with God by referring to the cultivating of a field.  He wrote:  "What, then, is Apollos?  Yes, what is Paul? Ministers through whom you became believers, even as the Lord granted each one.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God kept making it grow; so that neither is he that plants anything nor is he that waters, but God who makes it grow.  Now he that plants and he that waters are one, but each person will receiver his own reward according to his own labor.  For we are God's fellow workers.  You people are God's field under cultivation." -1 Corinthians 3:5-9.

As God's fellow workers, we must faithfully plant "the word of the kingdom" in the hearts of people, then water  any interest shown by well-thought-out return visits and Bible studies.  If the soil,  the heart, is good, Jehovah will do his part by making the seed of Bible truth grow into a productive plant.  (Matthew 13:19, 23)  He will draw the person to Himself and to His Son.  In the final analysis,  then, any increase in the number of Kingdom proclaimers is due to Jehovah's work on the hearts  of people, making the seed of truth grow and drawing such ones to Himself and His Son.

Next time: Building Work That Will Remain

Watchtower, 2000