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Crews: Faith is ‘God’s way’ for victory by his people

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MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP)–Unshakable faith in God will tear
down the walls that keep God’s victory from becoming a reality in people’s lives, said seminary leader William Crews.

“It’s not your talent nor your giftedness that God uses to do what he wants in your life,” said Crews, president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, during the Feb. 5 opening chapel of the spring semester. “It’s by faith. That’s God’s way.”

Pointing to the Old Testament story of the Israelites
bringing down the walls of Jericho, Crews urged students at the Mill Valley, Calif., seminary to have faith that allows God to tear down the walls “that keep us from experiencing” what God desires.

“Sometimes walls are built by people who want to keep you from what God wants to do in your life,” he said. “Most often, though, they are built on the inside of our lives — destructive attitudes, bad relationships or habits that won’t go away. These walls are obstacles to God’s victory in your life.”

True and tested faith, he said, helps people realize they are truly dependent on him to tear down those walls.

“If you ever get a taste of what he can do in your life, you will never again be satisfied with what you can accomplish alone,” Crews predicted. “Our motto is ‘seeing is believing,’ but God’s motto is ‘believing is seeing.'”

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As with the Israelites marching around the walls of the city of Jericho again and again, some things God asks of
Christian leaders don’t make sense at the time, Crews said.

“It doesn’t mean God puts a high mark on stupidity, but he does want us to trust him and believe him,” Crews said. “God
works in the hearts of his people to develop the kind of faith that trusts him. The greatest work God wants to do he wants to do in you and in me.”

None of the historical books on warfare, Crews quipped, include plans like God’s plan.

“Unlike the Israelites who finally shouted in anticipation of the victory, most of our shouting comes after the fact,” Crews noted. “What God said he will do, he will do and we need to celebrate in anticipation of that.”

Too often, Crews said, people try to take action without waiting on God.
“The kind of faith God asks us to have always works,” Crews said. “Let God develop in you a heart that trusts in him and
believes in him. God honors faith.”
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