Faith of Our Fathers. Father s Day Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford

Transcription

1 Faith of Our Fathers Father s Day 2018 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford

2 D&C 83 A New Song 17a The Lord hath brought again Zion: The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace, which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers. 17b The Lord hath redeemed his people, And Satan is bound, and time is no longer: The Lord hath gathered all things in one: The Lord hath brought down Zion from above: The Lord hath brought up Zion from beneath; The earth hath travailed and brought forth her strength; and truth is established in her bowels; and the heavens have smiled upon her, And she is clothed with the glory of her God: For he stands in the midst of his people: 17c Glory, and honor, and power, and might, Be ascribed to our God, for he is full of mercy, Justice, grace and truth, and peace, For ever and ever, Amen.

3 D&C 83 A New Song 17a The Lord hath brought again Zion: The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace, which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers. 17b The Lord hath redeemed his people, And Satan is bound, and time is no longer: The Lord hath gathered all things in one: The Lord hath brought down Zion from above: The Lord hath brought up Zion from beneath; The earth hath travailed and brought forth her strength; and truth is established in her bowels; and the heavens have smiled upon her, And she is clothed with the glory of her God: For he stands in the midst of his people: 17c Glory, and honor, and power, and might, Be ascribed to our God, for he is full of mercy, Justice, grace and truth, and peace, For ever and ever, Amen.

4 D&C 83 A New Song 17a: The Lord hath brought again Zion: The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace, which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers.

5 D&C 83 A New Song 17a: The Lord hath brought again Zion: The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace, which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers.

6 D&C 83 A New Song 16e Woe, I say again, unto that house, or that village, or city, that rejecteth you, or your words, or your testimony of me; for I, the Almighty, have laid my hands upon the nations to scourge them for their wickedness; 16f and plagues shall go forth, and they shall not be taken from the earth until I have completed my work, which shall be cut short in righteousness; 16g until all shall know me, who remain, even from the least unto the greatest, and shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and shall see eye to eye, and shall lift up their voice, and with the voice together sing this new song, saying:

7 The Lord hath brought again Zion Isaiah 52 8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. 9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

8 D&C 83 A New Song 17a: The Lord hath brought again Zion: The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace, which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers.

9 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Isaiah 42 1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

10 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Isaiah 61 (Luke 4:16-21) 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion; to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

11 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Romans 8 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For him whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to his own image, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover, him whom he did predestinate, him he also called; and him whom he called, him he also sanctified; and him whom he sanctified, him he also glorified.

12 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Isaiah 42 1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

13 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Isaiah 45 4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name; I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

14 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Jeremiah 23 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jeremiah In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely, and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness. Jeremiah The Lord hath brought forth our righteousness; come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God.

15 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Isaiah 65 9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains; and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. 22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat; for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

16 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Romans 8 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

17 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Romans 8 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are after the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, though the body shall die because of sin, yet the Spirit is life, because of righteousness.

18 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Acts 4 12 Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Romans For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

19 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Mosiah 3 11 There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; Therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives. 12 And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, For he shall know the name by which he is called, For he shall be called by the name of Christ.

20 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Mosiah 3 13 And now it shall come to pass that whosoever shall not take upon them the name of Christ must be called by some other name; Therefore, he findeth himself on the left hand of God. 14 And I would that ye should remember also that this is the name that I said I should give unto you that never should be blotted out, except it be through transgression; 15 Therefore, take heed that ye do not transgress, that the name be not blotted out of your hearts.

21 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Genesis 15 IV 9 And Abram said, Lord God, how wilt thou give me this land for an everlasting inheritance? 10 And the Lord said, Though thou wast dead, yet am I not able to give it thee? 11 And if thou shalt die, yet thou shalt possess it, for the day cometh, that the Son of Man shall live; but how can he live if he be not dead? he must first be quickened. 12 And it came to pass that Abram looked forth and saw the days of the Son of Man, and was glad, and his soul found rest, and he believed in the Lord; and the Lord counted it unto him for righteousness.

22 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Genesis 7 73 And it came to pass, that Enoch saw the day of the coming of the Son of Man, in the last days, to dwell on the earth, in righteousness, for the space of a thousand years. 74 But before that day, he saw great tribulation among the wicked; and he also saw the sea, that it was troubled, and men's hearts failing them, looking forth with fear for the judgment of the Almighty God, which should come upon the wicked. 75 And the Lord showed Enoch all things, even unto the end of the world. And he saw the day of the righteous, the hour of their redemption, and received a fullness of joy.

23 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace James 2 20 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 21 Seest thou how works wrought with his faith, and by works was faith made perfect? 22 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.

24 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Genesis 7 (IV) 70 And righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine own elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare; an holy city, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion; a New Jerusalem.

25 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Genesis 7 (IV) 39 The Lord said unto Enoch, Behold, these thy brethren, they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their intelligence in the day that I created them. 40 And in the garden of Eden gave I unto man his agency; and unto thy brethren have I said, and also gave commandment, that they should love one another; and that they should choose me their Father.

26 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Foreordination does not precedes foreknowledge This was Satan s plan Foreknowledge precedes Foreordination This is the Father s plan in Christ Jesus

27 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Genesis 3 IV 1 And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying, That Satan whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning; 2 And he came before me, saying, Behold I, send me, I will be thy Son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore, give me thine honor.

28 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Genesis 3 IV 3 But behold, my beloved Son, which was my beloved and chosen from the beginning, said unto me: Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever. 4 Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man,* which I, the Lord God, had given him; and also that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten I caused that he should be cast down; and he became Satan. * See Mosiah 1:79-82 with Alma 16:219 & Moroni 9:6

29 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace John 6 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. John For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

30 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Alma 9 65 And this is the manner after which they were ordained, being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, On account of their exceeding faith and good works, in the first place being left to choose good or evil 66 Therefore they, having chosen good and exercising exceeding great faith, are called with a holy calling, Yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such,

31 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Alma 9 67 And thus they having been called to this holy calling on account of their faith While others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, While, if it had not been for this, they might have had as great privilege as their brethren; 68 Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren Thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts, being in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son which was prepared;

32 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace II Nephi For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness; 96 He doeth not anything, save it be for the benefit of the world, For He loveth the world, even that He layeth down His own life that He may draw all men unto Him; 97 Wherefore, He commandeth none that they shall not partake of His salvation. 98 Behold, doth He cry unto any, saying, Depart from Me? 99 Behold I say unto you, Nay! But He saith: Come unto Me, all ye ends of the earth, Buy milk and honey without money and without price

33 The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace Isaiah 55 1 Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

34 D&C 83 A New Song 17a: The Lord hath brought again Zion: The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace, which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers.

35 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Deuteronomy 8 2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. 3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.

36 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Isaiah For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

37 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Genesis 18 IV 18 For I know him, that he will command his children, and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he has spoken of him.

38 Genesis 18:19 King James Bible For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. Berean Study Bible For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.

39 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Genesis 22 IV 20 Thus saith the Lord, I have sworn by myself, that because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only Isaac from me; 21 That in blessing I will bless thee; and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. 22 And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

40 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Genesis 26 IV 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; 4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

41 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Deuteronomy I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live; 20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him; for he is thy life, and the length of thy days; that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

42 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Hebrews 11 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

43 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers I Nephi And He raiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth the nations of the wicked. 129 And He leadeth away the righteous into precious lands; and the wicked He destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes. 130 He ruleth high in the heavens, for it is His throne and this earth is His footstool. 131 And He loveth them which will have Him to be their God; 132 Behold, He loved our fathers, and He covenanted with them, yea, even Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and He remembered the covenants which He had made;

44 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers James 2 20 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 21 Seest thou how works wrought with his faith, and by works was faith made perfect?

45 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Matthew 5 46 But I say unto you, love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you; and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; 47 That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 48 For if ye love only them which love you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans the same? 49 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans the same? 50 Ye are therefore commanded to be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

46 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Romans 12 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God is. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly that he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

47 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Colossians 4 10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments; if he come unto you, receive him;) 11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellow workers in the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. 12 Epaphras, who in one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

48 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Romans Boast not against the branches, for thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 For if thou boast, thou wilt say, The branches were broken off, that we might be grafted in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear; 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

49 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Hebrews 6 3) And we will go on unto perfection if God permit. 4) For he hath made it impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6) If they shall fall away, to be renewed again unto repentance; seeing they crucify unto themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

50 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Ether 5 7 Wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, For ye receive no witness not until after the trial of your faith. For it was by faith that Christ showed Himself unto our fathers after that He had risen from the dead; 8 And He showed not Himself unto them until after they had faith in Him; Wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in Him, For He showed Himself not unto the world; 9 But because of the faith of men, He has shown Himself unto the world and glorified the name of the Father, And prepared the way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, That they might hope for those things which they have not seen; 10 Wherefore, ye may also have hope and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.

51 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Ether 5 22 And it is by faith that my fathers have obtained the promise that these things should come unto their brethren through the Gentiles; Therefore, the Lord hath commanded me, yea, even Jesus Christ. 32 For after that they had faith and did speak in Thy name, Thou didst show Thyself unto them in great power; And I also rememberest that Thou hast said that Thou hast prepared a house for man, yea, even among the mansions of Thy Father, in the which man might have a more excellent hope; Wherefore, man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which Thou hast prepared.

52 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers III Nephi 9 29 And I pray for them, and also for them which shall believe on their words, that they may be purified in Me through faith on their words, even as they are purified in Me; 30 Father, I pray not for the world, But for them which Thou hast given unto Me out of the world because of their faith, that they may be purified in Me, that I may be in them as Thou, Father, art in Me, that we may be one, that I may be glorified in them.

53 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers D&C 34 3d and the time speedily cometh that great things are to be shown forth unto the children of men; but without faith shall not anything be shown forth except desolations upon Babylon, the same which has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

54 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers D&C 8 3d And, therefore, whatsoever you shall ask me to tell you by that means, that will I grant unto you, and you shall have knowledge concerning it; remember, that without faith you can do nothing. 3e Therefore, ask in faith.

55 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers D&C 16 4b Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my Rock, and my salvation. 4c Ask the Father in my name, in faith believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost which manifesteth all things, which is expedient unto the children of men. 4d And if you have not faith, hope, and charity, you can do nothing. Contend against no church, save it be the church of the Devil.

56 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Luke For every one who asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. 12 If a son shall ask bread of any of you who is a father, will he give him a stone? or, if a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 13 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 14 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give good gifts, through the Holy Spirit, to them who ask him.

57 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers John 14 1 Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And when I go, I will prepare a place for you, and come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know; and the way ye know.

58 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers Hebrews Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

59 which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers John 8 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father; and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

60 D&C 83 A New Song 17a The Lord hath brought again Zion: The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, according to the election of grace, which was brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers. 17b The Lord hath redeemed his people, And Satan is bound, and time is no longer: The Lord hath gathered all things in one: The Lord hath brought down Zion from above: The Lord hath brought up Zion from beneath; The earth hath travailed and brought forth her strength; and truth is established in her bowels; and the heavens have smiled upon her, And she is clothed with the glory of her God: For he stands in the midst of his people: 17c Glory, and honor, and power, and might, Be ascribed to our God, for he is full of mercy, Justice, grace and truth, and peace, For ever and ever, Amen.

61 Faith = obeying God s commands through love for His words, which are truth This life is a probationary state, a time in which to prepare to meet God This understanding forms basis of the fear of the Lord, because His judgments are eternal) This is why it is written The just shall live by faith Faith involves reconciliation to God and His will His will that we would be sanctified by His word God s perfect will is manifest through His words, i.e. through His Word Therefore, we are to seek to prove His perfect will, which involves perfecting us Because of and based on His light and love, it is God s good pleasure to give to us the desires of our heart Therefore, He calls upon us to ask, knock, seek based on hope of truth God replies with conditions upon which the desire of our hearts may be granted In return He expects obedience so that we might confirm to His righteous ways of obtaining and abiding in His blessings In His own way, i.e. in the ways of righteousness and truth Otherwise He does not commit Himself as a result there is no faith exists Without His commitment to us, our faith is vain