Faithwalkers: A Step by Step Guide to Pleasing God Through Faith

Copyright © 2012 Donald R. Cline II

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-5274-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-5275-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-5273-6 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012908913

WestBow Press rev. date: 05/25/2012

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgments

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Conclusion

Dedicated to every person who seeks to have a

closer walk with Jesus Christ

Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh,

shall he find faith on the earth?

(Luke 18:8)

Preface

The most important decision I made in my life was accepting Jesus as my Savior in September 1973 in Coos Bay, Oregon. Certainly marrying the love of my life, Cookie Weaver, in March 1968 was a monumental moment, but nothing can compare to meeting Jesus face-to-face. Words cannot describe the moment. One must experience it to understand.

I have had the privilege of working with many present-day heroes of the faith. Many pastors, missionaries, evangelists, and godly laypeople have molded my spiritual personality. One such hero is my life’s pastor, Dr. Dennis Brown. Although Dr. Brown has since gone on to heaven, the lessons I learned from him during the many years of sitting at his feet in Yakima, Washington, cannot be taught in classrooms, seminaries, or workshops. Spiritually speaking, he was a giant among men.

Dr. Brown had many fine qualities, but the one that stands out to those who knew him was his faith in God. I could fill another book of examples that would both enlighten and encourage the reader. Doc Brown simply lived his faith. He epitomized the biblical instructions about faith.

During my spiritual formative years Pastor Brown consistently challenged me to step out of my comfort zone. Whether it was teaching a Sunday school class, driving the church bus, singing in the choir, or preaching, he was always encouraging me to have a little faith in God. I can’t was not a response he would tolerate.

"Have a little faith!" I have thought long and hard about this advice over the years. It’s hard to believe in something you can’t see. Human nature (and common sense) demands evidence. The more I pondered this idea of faith, the more I realized how little I knew of it. So when God impressed me to write a book on it, I thought He was kidding, which is probably the same thing Noah, Moses, Gideon, and many others thought.

I explained to God that I thought He had me confused with someone else, but He wasn’t buying it. I further explained that I had never written a book and that if I did, people wouldn’t read it anyway. He told me to open my Bible to Exodus 4:10 and read how Moses tried that same kind of lame excuse.

And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. (Exodus 4:10)

That excuse didn’t work for Moses, and it didn’t work for me. God reminded me of my life’s verse in which Paul writes that we can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

(Philippians 4:13)

Well, like Moses I was out of excuses, so I asked the Lord what kind of faith book He had in mind. His response was "Write a book on faith … not on the Christian faith, or the faith of our Fathers, or the Catholic faith. Write a book on the faith that pleases Me … the kind of faith spoken of in the book of Hebrews.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

I tried to convince God that I really didn’t know enough about that kind of faith to write an entire book. God simply smiled lovingly and said, You’re right. You don’t know enough, and He reminded me of another verse in His Word.

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God for with God all things are possible.

(Mark 10:27)

Of course I’ve taken a few liberties about my conversation with God. No, I don’t believe God speaks to His children audibly. He doesn’t have to. We have His complete Word in the form of the Bible. I do, however, believe in the power of the Holy Spirit and His ability to direct our lives. I also believe all things really are possible with God. So I relented regarding this book and with God’s help will be obedient, writing to please Him. My prayer is that it will help you, too.

FaithWalkers; A Step-by-Step Guide to Pleasing God Through Faith is a book that will change your relationship with God … if you allow it. The word faith has lost its true meaning over the years. Many Christians put their faith in everything and everyone except God. We are God’s creation. He wants us to have faith in Him and Him alone. This book is written specifically for the purpose of bringing God’s people to the kind of faith that pleases Him.

If you are not a Christian today, you will have a clear understanding of how to become one by the time you complete this book. Let me clarify. There is a big difference between cultural Christians and born-again Christians. Cultural Christians believe they have always been Christians. They may have been raised in a Christian family or baptized into a specific Christian denomination. However, in the book of John, Nicodemas came to Jesus by night seeking eternal guidance. Jesus’ response establishes the only way to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

Only those born a second time, by the spirit of God, will enter heaven. This term born again is constantly misrepresented. Hollywood even made a movie mocking it. But Jesus was clear when He told Nicodemus that just as he was born once physically, he must be reborn into a spiritual relationship with God. Hence, Ye must be born again.

My prayer for you would be that you make the most important decision you will ever make and become a born-again child of God.

As we take our journey, pay particular attention to the ShortHIKES. These mini-walks give additional insights into the thought at hand, and will help exercise your "faith muscles."

All Scripture references are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

So let’s take a walk. A walk of faith.

Together we will learn what it means to be a FaithWalker.

Don

Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge the enormous help given to me in creating this book. First, I thank God, for His infinite wisdom, guidance, and love. I also want to thank one of my heroes, my oldest sister, Star, for the hours she poured into my early manuscripts, helping me understand complex issues like past tense and present tense. And, of course, I thank my wife of forty-three years (and counting) for putting up with me for most of her life. Finally, I want to thank the faithful men of God who helped me understand what it means to be a true Christian:

•    John Matey, my first pastor, who convinced me that having a six-pack of Olympia beer in my refrigerator was not a good idea, and who did not slap me back during a pick-up game of basketball.

•    Dave Brown, pastor of the Yakima Bible Baptist Church, who became my best friend as his father, Dr. Dennis Brown, was teaching me the meaning of faith.

•    Jack Strickland, pastor of the North Valley Baptist Church (retired), who taught me how to build a church the way God intended.

•    Ty Horne, friend and co-mentor, who was instrumental in my conquering my fear of witnessing.

•    Gregg Stiff, pastor of the Fellowship Baptist Church, who taught me what pastoral humility is all about.

•    David Bueckert, pastor, missionary, and church planter, who showed me what pastoral perseverance really means.

I am forever in your debt.

Chapter One

Peter Takes His Faith

for a Walk

The Bible is full of great stories of danger, intrigue, and colorful characters. Peter the apostle was one particularly memorable character. His story begins—as all good stories do—on a dark and stormy night …

It was a dark and stormy night on the Sea of Galilee. A storm tossed the small boat carrying the twelve disciples of Jesus to and fro. Fear gripped their hearts. Chaos overwhelmed them. Then, when they believed their plight could not get any worse, a ghost appeared, walking on the water. It came toward them. Chaos turned into panic, and panic into terror. The twelve disciples began screaming and hollering like a bunch of teens watching the latest horror movie.

Straightaway, the ghost spoke. Be of good cheer; it is I. Be not afraid.

One disciple, Peter, stopped long enough to look over the gunwale of their little ship and answered, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. Peter was always a bit of a show-off.

This ghost then said, Come. Without hesitation, Peter jumped over the railing into the raging sea. Matthew’s gospel says he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

(Matthew 14:29)

Peter then did what most of us would have done; he took his eyes off the Lord to check out the twenty-foot waves, became afraid, and began sinking. He cried out, Lord, save me! Jesus immediately rescued him.

Many books and sermons exploring this passage dwell on its ending. Bible scholars focus both on Jesus’ rebuking of Peter for his little faith and on Christ’s ability to save us in times of trouble. There would be no story at all, however, if Peter hadn’t had the faith to step out of the boat in the first place.

Let’s take an in-depth look at the biblical account found in the gospel of St. Matthew.

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

(Matthew 14:22–23)

Jesus had just finished healing the sick and feeding the multitude. He was clearly moved with compassion but needed to be alone with His Father, so He sent His disciples away. Then Jesus departed to pray alone. Later, in the evening, a storm came up and the little ship carrying the disciples was tossed with the waves, for the wind was contrary.

The account turns its attention to the ship’s deck. Waves poured over the gunwales. The disciples, some of whom were experienced seamen, scurried about, securing lines, tying down supplies, furling the jib, and reefing the mainsail. Night was quickly turning into morning. The disciples were weary of their battle with the sea.

After praying, around 3:00