Power for Abundant Living

The Power of BelievingIt is important that we know how. Since birth, wehave been taught how to receive material things. If wehad not been taught how to receive a material object,this book could be available, but we would not knowhow to go about taking or receiving it. So it is withthe Word of God. Spiritual things may be received onthe same basis as we receive this book in the naturalor material realm. In this book, not only do we lookfor what is available from God, but we also discoverhow to receive that which is available.For many years I moved among groups in which Iconstantly heard people preaching sin, condemnationand hellfire, and other negative subjects. These wellmeaningministers were not telling people how to getrid of sin, they were just saying that it was wrong. Totell someone that something is wrong does not helphim to overcome it. I learned this lesson the hardway.In the town of my second congregation lived a manwho was an alcoholic. For about two years many ofus had prayed that this man would come to church sothat he could hear the sermon which I had preparedon the abuses of alcohol. Finally one Sunday morningwhen I least expected him, he came and sat in the lastpew. As I walked to the pulpit having just noticed hispresence, I thought, "Well, goodness, here he is thismorning." I put aside that morning's sermon and I16