The Supreme Assertion of Faith
Greetings and good morning, brothers and sisters. This is Dr. James Perry continuing with our series where we seek to explore the deeper meanings of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years, the heavenly Father has revealed many revelations of spiritual truth to me, and I want to share them with you. This morning we seek to understand the supreme assertion of faith.
And now, sit back and listen to today's message.
The Supreme Assertion of Faith
"Behold what manner of love, the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." First John, Chapter 3, Verse 1
Brothers and sisters, in today’’s broadcast we examine the supreme assertion of faith. We shall show the basis for this supreme faith assertion. We shall show how the supreme assertion of faith may be realized. We shall show how the values and the subsequent meanings of this state are grasped and realized. Finally we shall examine the characteristics of such a life that has made this supreme assertion of faith. We are desirous of achieving such a state depicted by the supreme assertion of faith. We shall use a few material analogies to show us how spiritual values and meanings are grasped and firmly held.
Again we shall call upon our old friend, the ladder, to assist us. As we are all familiar with a ladder, the description of it is not warranted at this time, save to say there are rungs on this ladder, with intervening spaces. The purpose of a ladder is to take us from a lower level to a higher level that we are desirous of reaching. As we climb the ladder rung by rung, we move ever higher on the ladder until we reach the height that we wish to obtain. Now as anyone who has climbed a ladder will testify, the lower steps are easier to climb than the higher ones. When climbing, more force is required at the higher levels of the ladder than the lower levels.
We will also call into service our new friends, the analogies of the cogwheel and the valuable but rusty coin. A cogwheel is a marvelous tool. Because of the way it is constructed, it can turn another wheel. Once the teeth of the other wheel locks with the teeth of the cogwheel, it turns the other wheel. It is true that it might require a substantial force for the cogwheel to turn the teeth of the other wheel, but if the force is supplied the cogwheel will turn the other wheel, which may be in turn connected to some other wheel that produces useful work.
An old coin is found. It is covered with rust and other impurities that have accumulated on its surface during the time of its sleep in the earth. At first, the true value of coin is not apparent, but as a cleaning solvent is applied, gradually the true appearance and value of the coin emerges.
Now let’’s draw some comparisons between the material and the spiritual before we return to the meat of our discussion: the supreme assertion of faith.
The Ladder: Rungs on the ladder represent increasing meanings; the spaces represent the experiences that intervene between them. The top of the ladder represents the junction where supreme meaning meets with supreme assertions. It is here that we may leave the ladder and walk along the plane of the supreme spiritual height. Here, we realize the supreme assertion of faith. The force required to climb the rungs of the ladder is the force of faith, and it grows as we traverse the spaces (of experiences).
The Cogwheel: The teeth of the cogwheel represents ever-increasing divine meanings. These teeth radiate out from the center of the cogwheel, which represents the core divine values. The wheel that intersects with the cogwheel represents our grasp of the divine values and meanings. As the cogwheel turns, it also turns the teeth of our wheel, which represents our growing grasp of divine values and meanings. The force that turns the cogwheel of divine values and meanings is the Father’’s will. The force that turns our wheel of the grasp of ever-increasing divine meanings is our ever growing faith. As our faith grows, we grasp more and more of the divine values and meanings.
The Coin: The rusty coin represents unappreciated divine meanings. The solvent represent the submission of our will to the divine will, while the period that is required for the true meanings to emerge represents the growth of our faith. The time of sleep of the coin in the earth represents the period before submission of our will to the divine will.
And now back to our spiritual discussion: The supreme assertion of faith is that we are the sons and daughters of God, and therefore we are one with the Father through His Son. The basis for this supreme assertion of faith is the experience of the divine Son, Jesus, who declared that He and the Father are one. Said, Jesus, ““if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me.’’”” It is by his Spirit of Truth, that Jesus draws all men to himself. He says: "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." And if the Father and the Son indwell our souls, we can surely become one with them since they are apart of us.
We have been invited to become one with Father through His Son, Jesus. And this is the supreme assertion of faith because all other assertions are below it, and there are none that are above it. As we have climbed the ladder of faith, have been turned by the cogwheel of the Father’’s will, and have applied the solvent of faith to the unappreciated divine values and meanings, exposing them to our full appreciation, we now make the supreme assertion of faith: The Father and I are one through His Son, Jesus. And if we are one with the Father through His Son, Jesus, then are we the sons and daughters of God. Like the rungs on the ladder and the teeth of the cogwheel, once these steps of divine meanings are climbed, the cogwheel turns the teeth of the wheel of our ever-increasing grasp of divine values and meanings, the grasp of the divine values and meanings become irreversible. The door closes, and they forever become a part of us. We forever become the sons and daughter of the Father and function as such.
Because of the power of our faith, we have grasped the divine values and meanings associated with such an exalted state, even while we tread the path of our earthly existence. We have become the conduits of the Father’’s love on this plane of existence. With the mighty Spirit of Truth reinforcing the walls of our conduit, there is no limit to the force of the Father’’s love and His Son’’s mercy. No evil, no matter how entrenched, can withstand this ever-increasing force of love and mercy that flows continually through our souls to our brothers and sisters. And this continual flow is the realization of the supreme assertion of faith: the Father and I are one, through His Son, Jesus.
This concludes today's message on understanding the supreme assertion of faith. We hope you find something in this message to ponder and pray about as you go about your day.
Until next time, this is Dr. James Perry.
Your Kingdom Come; Your Will Be Done!
Inspirational Messages of Light
By Dr. James Perry
The Supreme Assertion of Faith
