Faith and Faith

 

 

Of what faith are you

Is a question often asked

And depending on who you are

This is an easy task.

 

I am of the Wesleyan faith

Or I am an Anglican,

I am a Moravian or Catholic

Or even Presbyterian.

 

Faith meaning sect

Is one of the expressions

That quickly come to one’s mind

When asked this question.

 

I am of Apollos

And I am of Paul

Of Cephas and Christ

Or none of the above at all.

 

Like the Pharisees,

That were none of the above,

They were sectarian and apart

And full of self-love.

 

So, faith as in doctrine

Is one definition of faith,

I will hurry on to the next one

I’ve reserved for this space.

 

Faith as in believing

For something to happen,

The faith expressed in a prayer

When something threatens.

 

Mustard seed faith

That will result in a miracle,

The faith that moves mountains

Or whatever the trouble.

 

 

 

So, faith as in a doctrine

And faith as in belief

Hence, the faith and faith title

In this poetic brief.

 

Both are important

One more than the other

And if not properly understood

They can be a bother.

 

Faith in God’s Word

Meaning one’s faith in the faith

Is what we should aspire to

And this by God’s grace.

 

The faith as in the doctrine

Purported by the apostles

Who also walked with Christ

As his first disciples.

 

And afterwards, Paul

And Barnabas and Timothy

And all in the New Testament

That we can see.

 

 

The apostle’s doctrine

Founded on Jesus the Christ

With Jesus the chief cornerstone

Does adequately suffice.

 

There is much dispute

In the church today

And many seek the miraculous

And keep doctrine at bay.

 

Sound doctrine I mean

As lived by the apostles

And this they have exchanged

For charismatic people.

 

Modern day apostles

And future telling prophets

Not necessarily based in the Word

They live to regret.

 

Emphasizing the gifts

While disregarding the Giver

And more or less placing faith

In a charismatic leader.

 

But faith is of no avail

If not placed in the faith

First given to the Bible apostles

That saw Jesus’ face.

 

 

A more-sure word of prophecy

Is how Peter put it,

One’s faith in this faith

Ought to be one’s daily habit.

 

To be like Jesus

This is the the faith to be,

Conformed to the image of Christ:

A reflection for all to see.

 

Stewart Russell © May 6, 2024

 

And Others

 

 

What a theme for a poem!

Not much sense as yet

But hopefully, not long from now

We will see its depth.

 

Turn with me to the Word

To a very familiar chapter

Where the hall of faith is paraded

But we will focus on the latter.

 

We will do so deliberately

Since it takes a different form,

The last five verses of Hebrews 11

Departs from the accepted norm.

 

In verses 1 through 35

Many stalwarts are mentioned,

From Abel to the prophet Samuel

And some that subdued kingdoms.

 

The faith of these are obvious

Particularly in light of great odds,

With their faith and trust in God

They accomplished great jobs.

 

Abel and Enoch and Noah

Abraham and also Isaac,

Jacob and Joseph and Moses

Gideon and Samson and Barak.

 

And there were not only men

But women are mentioned too

As in Sarah and also Rahab

To dispel any prejudicial view.

 

Today there is the hall of fame

But these were the stalwarts of faith,

And in many of their challenges

They came out untouched and safe.

 

There is another set, however,

Simply referred to as “And others”,

No names or miraculous escapes

They became the grim reaper’s fodder.

 

They were stoned and sawn asunder,

Tempted and slain by the sword,

They dressed in sheepskins and goatskins

Yet considered too good for this world.

 

These last five verses in Hebrews 11

Are very often not read,

Obscured by the 35 that go before

There is much that is not said.

 

 

“And others” means we must read on

There is more that is to come,

It’s no less important than what’s before,

Why stop before you are done?

 

Here is the caution for today

Re our obsession with the miraculous,

The greatest miracle of all time

Is the transforming work of Jesus.

 

Faith in Jesus is what it takes

It’s for every born-again believer,

However, Satan will make light of some,

After all, he is the prince of deceivers.

 

Stewart Russell © May 2020

 

Prophets for Profit

 

Please take careful note

Of the following promotion,

Examine in the light of current trends

And not your emotion.

 

Prophets for profit

Prophets to be hired,

The least you talk about sin

The less likely to be fired.

 

A dilution of the Gospel

The minimum requirement,

Salvation without change

Our version of repentance.

 

Prophetically incorrect

That doesn’t really matter

But to be politically correct

Is our regular chatter.

 

The miraculous is key

Even though feign

But it must be convincing

To build financial gain.

 

Just omit the word sin

And don’t ever mention hell,

Felt needs is where we are at

And all will be well.

 

Fake it till you make it

You must always look the part,

Nobody will trust a loser

Always take this to heart.

 

Be guarded about lies

That don’t sound like the truth,

Always have a back-up plan

To supply necessary proof.

 

Jesus is the springboard

His name will turn them on

And talk a lot about the Holy Spirit

Or soon they’ll be gone.

 

That’s all you will need

To enter prophetic school

Where you will learn much more

About our general rules.

 

 

If this Ad interests you

You can apply within

We preached a no saved salvation

Which is “saved in your sin”.

 

Nothing can be done

Without the $aviour of the world

So, apply today!

This message must be heard.

 

Stewart Russell © March 3, 2021