FAITH, CONFIDENCE, AND ASSURANCE

by Tony Alamo

When distress comes upon people, the worst thing they can do is to leave the LORD.1

The word “distress,” according to Webster’s Dictionary, means “misery, suffering, or pain; an affliction; or a state of danger or trouble.” Also, “despair” means “to lose hope; loss of hope, a person, or thing causing despair.”

Many people, when they are distressed about something, become filled with despair and lose hope in their future. If you’ve read the Bible, you know there is a person whom GOD calls the devil,2 Satan,3 the wicked one,4 and he is as real as GOD is real. The worst thing anyone can do when they’re distressed or have lost all hope is to reject or not read the WORD of GOD.5 Distress and despair are caused by a lack of faith or confidence in the WORD of GOD, which is CHRIST.6 Faith in CHRIST is confidence in CHRIST, the WORD of GOD.

“Hope,” according to dictionaries, is “a feeling that what is wanted will happen; desire accompanied by the expectation of receiving what you’re hoping and praying for.” Hebrews 11:1 states, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for [things prayed for that are expected to happen], the evidence of things not seen [in the world, which are seen in the Bible (KJV)].”

Despondency comes from the devil because he wants you to lose your faith in GOD, your hope in GOD, your confidence in GOD, and your feelings of charity, which is the love to do GOD’S will.7 Satan wants you to be depressed so he’ll create things in your life to depress you. Again, the word “despondent” means a lack of hope, which again is a lack of faith, of confidence, of the assurance that GOD will do what HE says HE will do. This can only happen if you are not studying the WORD of GOD. Romans 10:17 states, “So then faith [confidence, assurance in the LORD] cometh by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of GOD.” When there is no faith, confidence, or assurance in GOD’S WORD, Satan is able to bring depression. “Depress” means “to press down; to sadden or discourage; to weaken or make less active; to lower in value, price, etc.”

If you are less active as a Christian, Satan has stopped you in your tracks. If you have stopped praying, stopped attending services, lost your zeal to lead souls to CHRIST, and no longer associate with Christian brothers or sisters, you may begin to listen to secular music, watch secular television, and do all the things lost people do. However, when the Psalmist David was in distress, he reacted the positive way—with faith, confidence, and assurance in GOD’S WORD (1 Samuel 30:6). This is the right way, the Godly way.

“And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The GOD of my rock; in HIM will I trust: HE is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my SAVIOUR; THOU SAVEST ME FROM VIOLENCE. I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised [When you’re attacked by the enemy, don’t be quiet. Call on GOD!]: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; The sorrows of Hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; IN MY DISTRESS I CALLED upon the LORD, and cried to my GOD: and HE did hear my voice out of HIS temple, and my cry did enter into HIS ears.

“Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of Heaven moved and shook, because HE was wroth. There went up a smoke out of HIS nostrils, and fire out of HIS mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. HE bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under HIS feet. And HE rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and HE was seen upon the wings of the wind [just as HIS angels are seen by hundreds of thousands today in what are commonly known today as flying saucers or UFOs, surveying the earth, and destroying it in different areas, as GOD tells them to do8]. And HE made darkness pavilions round about HIM, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. Through the brightness before HIM were coals of fire kindled. The LORD thundered from Heaven, and the MOST HIGH uttered HIS voice. And HE sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of HIS nostrils.

“HE sent from above, HE took me; HE drew me out of many waters; HE delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. [“Calamity” means “a great misfortune, a disaster.”] HE brought me forth also into a large place: HE delivered me, because HE delighted in me. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath HE recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my GOD. For all HIS judgments were before me: and as for HIS statutes, I did not depart from them. I was also upright before HIM, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in HIS eye sight.

“With the merciful THOU wilt show THYSELF merciful, and with the upright man THOU wilt show THYSELF upright. With the pure THOU wilt show THYSELF pure; and with the froward THOU wilt show THYSELF unsavoury. And the afflicted people THOU wilt save: but THINE eyes are upon the haughty, that THOU mayest bring them down. For THOU art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness. For by THEE I have run through a troop: by my GOD have I leaped over a wall.

“As for GOD, HIS way is perfect; the WORD of the LORD is tried: HE is a buckler to all them that trust in HIM. For who is GOD, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our GOD? GOD is my strength and power: and HE maketh my way perfect. HE maketh my feet like hinds’ feet [the hind feet of a deer]: and setteth me upon my high places. HE teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. THOU hast also given me the shield of THY salvation: and THY gentleness hath made me great. THOU hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.

“I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them. And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet. For THOU hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast THOU subdued under me. THOU hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but HE answered them not. Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth: I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad. THOU also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, THOU hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me. Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.

“The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the GOD of the rock of my salvation. It is GOD that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: THOU also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: THOU hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks unto THEE, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto THY name. HE is the tower of salvation for HIS king: and showeth mercy to HIS anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore” (2 Samuel chapter 22).

The Apostle Paul, in the letter to the church at Colosse, states, “Paul, an apostle of JESUS CHRIST by the will of GOD, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in CHRIST which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from GOD our FATHER and the LORD JESUS CHRIST. We give thanks to GOD and the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in CHRIST JESUS, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the HOPE [faith, confidence, and assurance] which is laid up for you in Heaven, whereof ye heard before in the WORD of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the power of GOD in truth: As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of CHRIST; Who also declared unto us your love in the SPIRIT.

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of HIS will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the LORD unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of GOD; Strengthened with all might, according to HIS glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the FATHER, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of HIS dear SON: In whom we have redemption through HIS blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible GOD, the firstborn of every creature: For by HIM were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by HIM, and for HIM: And HE is before all things, and by HIM all things consist. And HE is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things HE might have the preeminence. For it pleased the FATHER that in HIM should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of HIS cross, by HIM to reconcile all things unto HIMSELF; by HIM, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in Heaven.

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath HE reconciled In the body of HIS flesh through death [if you have faith, confidence, and assurance in the fact of that statement], to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in HIS sight: If ye continue in the faith [with faith, confidence, and assurance in the WORD of GOD, which again is CHRIST] grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope [faith, confidence, and assurance] of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under Heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of CHRIST in my flesh for HIS body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation [my period of time] of GOD which is given to me for you, to fulfil the WORD of GOD; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to HIS saints: To whom GOD would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST in you, the hope [faith, confidence, and assurance] of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in CHRIST JESUS: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to HIS working, which worketh in me mightily” (Colossians chapter 1).

The gospel will work mightily in you as well if you hold fast your faith, confidence, and assurance in all the WORD of GOD. CHRIST will also work mightily in you if you have faith, confidence, and assurance that every WORD of GOD is how we are to live (Matthew 4:4).9

There is no other way that you will be able to enter Heaven, so be saved now by saying this prayer:

Prayer

My LORD and my GOD, have mercy upon my soul, a sinner. 1 I believe that JESUS CHRIST is the SON of the living GOD. 2 I believe that HE died on the cross and shed HIS precious blood for the forgiveness of all my former sins. 3 I believe that GOD raised JESUS from the dead by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT 4 and that HE sits on the right hand of GOD at this moment, hearing my confession of sin and this prayer. 5 I open up the door of my heart, and I invite YOU into my heart, LORD JESUS. 6 Wash all of my filthy sins away in the precious blood that YOU shed in my place on the cross at Calvary. 7 YOU will not turn me away, LORD JESUS; YOU will forgive my sins and save my soul. I know because YOUR WORD, the Bible, says so. 8 YOUR WORD says that YOU will turn no one away, and that includes me. 9 Therefore, I know that YOU have heard me, and I know that YOU have answered me, and I know that I am saved. 10 And I thank YOU, LORD JESUS, for saving my soul, and I will show my thankfulness by doing as YOU command and sin no more.11

After salvation, JESUS said to be baptized, fully submerged in water, in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY SPIRIT.12 Then study the King James Version Bible, and, for your benefit and the benefit of others, do what it says.13

CHRIST and GOD the FATHER now live in you through the HOLY SPIRIT. There is a way you can receive a fuller portion of the divine nature of GOD in you. The more the divine nature of GOD lives in you, the more you will be able to stand against the temptations that have so easily moved so many millions of Christians away from salvation. Pray for the baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT.14 For instructions on how to receive the baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT and to receive more of GOD’S holy nature, ask for our literature or call. For without holiness, no man shall see GOD (Hebrews 12:14).

The LORD wants you to tell others of your salvation (Mark 16:15). You can become a distributor of Pastor Tony Alamo’s Gospel literature. We’ll send you literature free of charge. Call or email us for more information. Share this message with someone else.

If you want the world saved, as JESUS commands, then don’t rob GOD of HIS tithes and offerings. GOD said, “Will a man rob GOD? Yet ye have robbed ME. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed THEE? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed ME, even this whole nation [and this whole world]. Bring ye all the tithes [a ‘tithe’ is 10% of your gross income] into the storehouse, that there may be meat [Spiritual food] in MINE house [souls saved], and prove ME now herewith, saith the LORD of HOSTS, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of HOSTS. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of HOSTS” (Malachi 3:8-12).


English Alamo Literature

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footnotes:

1. 2 Sam. 22:7, 1 Chron. 28:9, 2 Chron. 15:1-4, 28:22-23, Psa. 18:6, 37:39-40, 118:5-17, 120:1-2, Luke 18:1-8, 21:34-35, Rom. 8:35-39 return

2. Matt. 4:1-11, 13:38-39, 25:41, John 8:44, Acts 10:38, Eph. 4:27, 6:11, 1 Tim. 3:6-7, 2 Tim. 2:26, Heb. 2:14, James 4:7, 1 Pet. 5:8, 1 John 3:8-10, Jude 9, Rev. 2:10, 12:9, 12, 20:2-3, 10 return

3. 1 Chron. 21:1, Job 1:6-12, 2:1-7, Zech. 3:1-2, Matt. 4:10, 12:26, Mark 1:13, 8:33, Luke 10:18, John 13:27, Rom. 16:20, 1 Cor. 5:5, 7:5, 2 Cor. 2:11, 11:14, 2 Thes. 2:9, Rev. 2:13, 24, 12:9, 20:2-3, 7 return

4. Matt. 13:19, 38, 1 John 2:13-14, 3:12, 5:18 return

5. Psa. 119:105, Jer. 17:13, Hos. 4:6, John 3:36, Acts 20:32, Rom. 5:1-5, 10:17, 15:4, 2 Tim. 3:14-17, James 1:21-25, Rev. 3:6-10 return

6. John 1:1-3, 10-14, 1 John 1:1-3, Rev. 19:11-16 return

7. John 14:21-24, 15:10-13, 1 Cor. 13:1-8, 1 Tim. 1:5, 1 Pet. 4:8-11, 1 John 5:2-4, 2 John 6 return

8. Gen. 19:1-25, Num. 22:9-35, 2 Kings 19:35, 1 Chron. ch. 21, 2 Chron. 32:19-22, Psa. 78:49, Matt. 13:41-42, 47-50, Acts 12:21-23, 2 Thes. 1:7-9, Jude 14-15, Rev. ch. 8, 9:1-5, 13-15, 14:8-11, 15-20, 15:1, ch. 16, 18:1-2, 21, 19:17-21, 20:1-3, 21:9 return

9. Deut. 8:3, Josh. 1:8, John 8:31-32, Eph. 6:11-17, Col. 3:16, 2 Thes. 2:15-17, 2 Tim. 2:15, 3:14-17, Heb. 10:19-24, James 1:21-25, 1 Pet. 2:2, 2 Pet. 1:19-21 return


Prayer footnotes:

1. Psa. 51:5, Rom. 3:10-12, 23 return

2. Matt. 26:63-64, 27:54, Luke 1:30-33, John 9:35-37, Rom. 1:3-4 return

3. Acts 4:12, 20:28, Rom. 3:25, I John 1:7, Rev. 5:9 return

4. Psa. 16:9-10, Matt. 28:5-7, Mark 16:9, 12, 14, John 2:19, 21, 10:17-18, 11:25, Acts 2:24, 3:15, Rom. 8:11, I Cor. 15:3-7 return

5. Luke 22:69, Acts 2:25-36, Heb. 10:12-13 return

6. I Cor. 3:16, Rev. 3:20 return

7. Eph. 2:13-22, Heb. 9:22, 13:12, 20-21, I John 1:7, Rev. 1:5, 7:14 return

8. Matt. 26:28, Acts 2:21, 4:12, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14 return

9. Matt. 21:22, John 6:35, 37-40, Rom. 10:13 return

10. Heb. 11:6 return

11. John 5:14, 8:11, Rom. 6:4, I Cor. 15:10, Rev. 7:14, 22:14 return

12. Matt. 28:18-20, John 3:5, Acts 2:38, 19:3-5 return

13. Deut. 4:29, 13:4, 26:16, Josh. 1:8, 22:5, 2 Tim. 2:15, 3:14-17, James 1:22-25, Rev. 3:18 return

14. Isa. 28:11-12, Joel 2:28-29, Luke 3:16, 11:9-13, John 1:29-34, 7:37-39, 14:15-29, 15:26, 16:7-14, Acts 1:1-8, 2:1-18, 32-39, 5:29-32, 19:1-7, Rom. 5:3-5, 15:13 return