Yes, salvation comes to us through faith, through believing the good news. And we could state this to be true: everything God does for us comes through faith. Salvation comes through faith. Sanctification comes through faith. The mending of our broken hearts, the opening of our prison doors, and the lifting of the dark cloud of depression all come through faith. Simply believing the gospel brings all the power of the Holy Spirit to work in us, freeing us from our prisons, and lifting the cloud off of us. All the work that God wants to do and all the love He has to pour out, all come to us through faith. Perhaps you believe, but you need help with residual unbelief (Mark 9:24). What do you do? To combat unbelief of any kind, we must be told the good news of Jesus, we have to be preached to; we have to have someone who will show us the cross of Christ repeatedly, and call us to believe the good news of what Christ has done there.
“Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17 NIV).
That’s why we’re here, friend. Our role is to take you by the hand, invite you to pull up a chair at the cross with us, and simply view the events that happened there.
Listen to what was said at the cross, and then let’s discuss it together. Interacting with each other at the foot of the cross not only fosters faith but also enables true fellowship that lifts the soul and encourages the heart. So, my friend, God has not made this difficult for us. He has not told us that we get free by obedience to His law, by living in perfection like Jesus, nor by gritting our teeth and trying hard. No, He has told us that He has done the work and declared, “It is finished!” Now come and look! Come and see Him. And when you see Him, put your faith in Him and call out to Him. Tomorrow we will continue our study of Isaiah 61, as it has a special message for those of us who have experienced such powerful depression, darkness, and oppression that we’ve felt smothered by it and invalidated by it.
Oh, friend, depression has met its match at the cross, and I believe you’ll begin seeing the cloud lift and darkness being chased away by the light of the gospel.
As we close out our study today, let’s remember how we personally experience the mighty work of Jesus, His love, and His power, and that is through purposefully believing the message that you will see presented to you each and every day for the rest of this course. And as you feel the gospel dispel your darkness, you will also become a herald (messenger) of the good news. At the end of this course, you might even be so full of joy that you want to go on to the mentorship course and become a beacon of gospel hope and encouragement to future students of this course. I’m praying that some reading these words right now will do so.
So let me encourage you today that every time you read or hear the gospel, ask yourself, “Do I believe this? Really believe it?” And if not, ask God to give you faith to believe, because faith comes from Him. Even if you feel like you just half-believe it, ask God to help you fully believe it. “Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24 NIV). “The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" (Luke 17:5).
I remember when I saw from my heart the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection. I finally saw that He suffered in my place, shed His blood for my sins, and died in my place, thereby removing all guilt and shame. From the depths of my heart, I cried out to Him, “Oh, Jesus, why have you done that for someone so sinful as me? I have nothing to offer you, I can’t repay you; I have nothing! Oh, Lord Jesus, please release me from these chains and open my prison door! Please pull up this dark cloud that I’ve been under!”
And He did! It was as if the sun burned away all the darkness, and the glorious light of God’s presence came rushing into my soul. Heaven came down, and glory filled my soul.
I didn’t know it at the time, but I was calling on the name of the Lord. I had heard the gospel (Romans 10:15); I had believed in the One God had sent to rescue me (Romans 10:14), and so I called out to Him (Romans 10:13).
Have you heard and seen the gospel in this course, and would you like to call upon the name of the Lord? It’s a personal thing to call out to God, yes; but if you want to pray here, your mentor or accountability partner will join you and agree with you in prayer.
Question 6. Feel free to write your prayer as you call out to the Lord here. If you are not assigned to a mentor, you may write to helpdesk@settingcaptivesfree.com with questions or specific prayer requests.
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Harris writes, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you came to earth personally for me, and you went to the cross to die for me, for my sins, sorrows, sicknesses, and depression. With your resurrection, you brought joy to my life. Thank you, Lord, for all this good and great news. I am calling on you and your love for a change that will be a testimony to your wonderful work. Amen"
Michelle writes, "Jesus Christ, I have looked around me and seen You answer other people's prayers. I have ignored the fact that You love me too and that You died on the cross for me too. I have asked others to pray for me countless times because to me, You were like everyone else who didn't see me or who did see me but thought I wasn't worthy of their time. I have learnt that I matter to You and that You long for a relationship with me. I have learnt that as long a I believe in You, You will hear me when I call. I ask you to kindly help me get through this period of darkness and allow me to know You even more. I also ask You to keep Your word and meet me after this period of rest; be my promise keeper, provider, protector friend and most of all BIGGER THAN ALL I FACE. In Your Holy name, Amen!"