 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
About Us
A Spiritual Biography
of Katie Stewart (1950-2004)
Or, Things I Have Learned Because of Katie Stewart
"They marvelled; and they took knowledge
of [her], that [she] had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).
by Tom Stewart
|
A Summary of What We Believe: |
Preface back to
top
The greatest tribute that can be made to mortal man is not man's greatness, but "What hath God wrought!"
(Numbers 23:23) through them. "He
that glorieth, let him glory in the LORD" (1Corinthians
1:31). My beloved wife of thirty years, Katie Stewart, recently passed
into the presence of the LORD without any warning, illness, or accident, when a blood
vessel burst in her head. "We are confident,
I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the
LORD" (2Corinthians 5:8). Everything
that you read at WhatSaithTheScripture.com (WStS) prior to early June 2004 was placed
online by Katie Stewart-- edited, promoted, and quite often written by her. [She
finished posting online that day "How I Know God Answers Prayer" ---New Window by Rosalind Goforth, only hours before
the blood vessel burst in her head.] "And
I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die
in the LORD from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their
labours; and their works do follow them" (Revelation
14:13). Katie was born in Kansas as the Baby Boom began, and grew
up in California, where we met, married, and have raised our family. "Where two or three are gathered together in My name,
there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). Leaving Roman Catholicism, she was born of the Spirit at the time of our
engagement; and, where I was by the skin of my teeth barely able to precede her,
having only just been resurrected out of a dead Protestantism. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3). She was acquainted with adversity, for
she had contracted polio early as a child; and, God would use that adversity as the
future occasion for her sanctification. "Forasmuch
then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the
same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin" (1Peter 4:1). As a working girl, she was a telephone
operator for several years; and, as a wife and mother, she departed this Earth, leaving
in the hands of God myself and three grown and Godly children. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving
favour rather than silver and gold" (Proverbs 22:1). Though the value of Katie's life will be measured by the Almighty at the
Bema Seat Judgment, the impact of her life may be felt by all through the impress
of the Truth by which she lived. "Now
when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned
and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had
been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).
Things I Have Learned Because of Katie Stewart
Purpose of Katie Stewart: We Must Live and Die by the Truth
back to top
How but the power of God can we explain the miracle of the New Birth? "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest
the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so
is every one that is born of the Spirit" (John
3:8). Before I was engaged to Katie, I already had a profession of
Christ in a denominational church, but nothing about me betrayed that I lived for
anything but myself and my own purposes. "Cursed
be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth
from the LORD" (Jeremiah 17:5).
Katie was fully persuaded about what she was taught. She was catechized in the teachings
and traditions of a faithful, lifelong Roman Catholicism. We had caught the eye of
one another, while both of us volunteered time at a community service bookstore.
We had plenty of time to talk, when things were not busy. We talked and agreed upon
current events and politics; but, you could tell that we were becoming serious when
the topic turned to religion. "15 I know thy works,
that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16). I had a nominal upbringing
in Lukewarm Christianity-- taking the Christian stand on the certainty of a Genesis
1:1 Creation, the necessity of a John 3:16 Salvation, and the benefit of clean living--
but otherwise, quoting the Bible was (positively) for professional clergy or (negatively)
for fanatics. "But sanctify the LORD God
in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you
a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear"
(1Peter 3:15). I had enough Protestant prejudice to be suspicious
of Roman Catholicism, but I was open to listen to her Catholic arguments, if that
meant that I would not lose Katie. In the Providence of God, I happened to
ask the pastor of my Bible Church (which I had only recently started attending with
my parents) what he knew about Roman Catholicism. He loaned me a booklet outlining
the errors of Romanism based upon Scripture. When I got home, I quickly read it!
For the first time in my professedly Christian life, I made a decision based solely
upon "What Saith the Scripture?" (Romans 4:3). I determined that I could never marry
into the Catholic Church, though marriage had never technically entered into my conversation
with Katie. I gave her the booklet; and, when she got home, she quickly read it!
She was sure that I was wrong; but, just to prove it to me, she compared it with
her family's Douay Bible and its official Catholic annotations. In the booklet, it
said that Mary was not always a virgin-- in opposition to the Perpetual Virginity
position of Rome-- citing the fact that Joseph consummated his marriage to Mary after
the birth of Jesus. "And knew her not
till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called His name JESUS" (Matthew 1:25). Further, Jesus had brothers and sisters,
indicating that Joseph and Mary were truly husband and wife. "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of
James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not His sisters here with us? And
they were offended at Him" (Mark 6:3).
Katie told me the next day that the Catholic Church had lied to her and that she
now believed the Bible, not the Pope, priests, or nuns. "Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines
the commandments of men" (Mark 7:7).
As we sat alone talking in the bookstore, still without any outright mention of marriage,
I asked her when we should get married. We didn't set a date right there,
but she agreed, we were to be married. "Can
two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos
3:3). From the very beginning, it was plain to both Katie and myself
that the Truth of the Word of God must be the foundation of everything by which we
live, and, if the LORD tarries, by which we die. "Man
shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth
of God" (Matthew 4:4). Willingness
to obey Christ is to be a Christian, and those who do not live by the Word of God
are either lost or backslidden. "3 And hereby we do
know that we know Him, if we keep His Commandments. 4 He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His Commandments,
is a liar, and the Truth is not in him" (1John
2:3-4). [Many years later, I composed "An Earnest Appeal to Roman Catholics: Or, Roman Catholicism Examined in
Light of the Scriptures" ---New Window. "We would have healed Babylon,
but she is not healed: forsake her" (Jeremiah 51:9). On the subject of Rome, James A. Wylie published "The History of Protestantism" ---New Window (1878) to remind
us that there is still a difference, and that we need to be ever vigilant
of "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER
OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Revelation
17:5).]
Zealousness of Katie Stewart: The Zeal of the LORD Gives
Us the Intensity to Take Action back to
top
I was an Air Force brat, while Katie was a California girl; and, what I lacked in
my restrained and less expressive manner, Katie made up for with a zealousness that
pleased the LORD and motivated me to be more like her. "It
is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing"
(Galatians 4:18). Katie was not so much of an extrovert, just
more tenacious than I. For example, she quickly determined that all of her Catholic
relatives would have the True Gospel presented to them. Their traditions assured
them of salvation through the sacraments of their Church, while Scripture assures
us of salvation only through Christ. "Jesus
saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father,
but by Me" (John 14:6). I still
remember the rejection and silence that she received from her best childhood friend
and from her favorite cousin. Katie took it bravely. "Endure
hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2Timothy
2:3). When I now reflect over the photographs of these two lost Catholics;
still, I pray that they will meet Katie in Heaven. "Men
ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18:1). Have you ever seen a dog refuse to let go of a bone? "The violent take it by force" (Matthew
11:12). Katie had that tenacity and zeal to the end, patterned after
the LORD Jesus, of Whom it is said, "The
zeal of Thine house hath eaten Me up" (John 2:17). Katie insisted that our pastor would include a presentation of the Simple
Plan of Salvation at our wedding ceremony, where many lost friends and Catholic relatives
were present. [We have placed many Gospel invitations online, which you may find
useful, e.g. "Without
Jesus, My Wage is Death" ---New Window by Katie Stewart, "How to Become a Christian" ---New
Window, "Do You Really Want to Be a Christian?" ---New Window.] Though I am not aware that anyone
was saved from that presentation, the LORD was honored by the offering of forgiveness,
salvation, and amnesty to rebels who would lay down their weapons of sin. "And I, if I be lifted up from the Earth, will draw
all men unto Me" (John 12:32). Often,
we forget that our zeal and resolve for engaging in the Spiritual War for the hearts
of humankind is as necessary as the totality of all the means we use to promote the
Gospel. "The zeal of the LORD of Hosts
will perform this" (Isaiah 9:7).
The story of Jehu in the Old Testament exemplifies this concept of zealousness, i.e.,
"And [Jehu] said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD" (2Kings 10:16). Elisha directed "one of the children of the prophets"
(2Kings 9:1) to anoint Jehu as the king of Israel with the
commission that he should smite the present royal line of the kingdom of Israel so
that the "whole house of Ahab should perish" (9:8) and thus crush Baal worship out of Israel.
Accepting the commission, Jehu zealously proceeded to Jezreel in a chariot, where
the watchman observed him and remarked that his "driving
is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously" (9:20). Both King Ahaziah of Judah and King Jehoram
of Israel (son of the late Ahab) met Jehu in the vineyard of Naboth (who was murdered
by Ahab), where Jehu "drew a bow with
his full strength, and smote Jehoram" (9:24). He then directed the killing of Ahaziah (9:27),
Ahab's wife Jezebel (9:33), the seventy sons of Ahab (10:6), and Ahab's forty-two brothers (10:14). Though the
Gospel has no present or future need for us to shed such blood, zeal prompted
Jehu to finish his commission by the massacre of all the priests of Baal, which is
best appreciated by reading the Scriptural account. "18 And Jehu gathered all the people
together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him
much. 19 Now therefore
call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let
none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting,
he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy
the worshippers of Baal. 20 And
Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. 21 And Jehu sent through all Israel:
and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came
not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one
end to another. 22 And
he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers
of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments. 23 And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the
house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there
be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only. 24 And when they went in to offer
sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If
any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go,
his life shall be for the life of him. 25 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the
burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay
them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the
guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. 26 And they brought forth the images
out of the house of Baal, and burned them. 27 And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the
house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day. 28
Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel" (2Kings 10:18-28).
Understanding of Katie Stewart: Wisdom is Justified
of Her Children back to top
I don't know how many times I've heard Katie say, "Wisdom
is justified of her children" (Matthew 11:19). God's Wisdom is vindicated by the offspring or fruit that it produces,
"for the tree is known by his fruit" (Matthew 12:33). We have three children-- a girl
and two boys-- which was undoubtedly the reason why Katie liked that Scriptural expression.
Our daughter Ruth-- the oldest, a True Spiritual Ally, and a graphic designer-- gave
me a letter that Katie had written to her on what we thought would be "Our Last Christmas, the Christmas of 1997" ---New Window, because we were hoping for the Rapture
to take place on the Pentecost of May 31st 1998. Though we were mistaken about the
date of the Rapture, you can get an idea of how Katie related to her family. Katie
began her Christian walk without any close relations supporting her newfound faith
in Christ, but one by one, all of her immediate family-- both of her parents and
three brothers-- also came out of Catholicism with a clear profession of faith in
Christ. "30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to
be saved? 31 And they
said, Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:30-31). It was especially difficult to persuade
her mother, who could trace through her family tree a Catholicism that found its
way from France to Canada to the plains of Midwestern America by the middle 1800s.
Perhaps the famous former Catholic priest, Charles Chiniquy (1809-1899), may have directed their settlement from Canada to America in Rome's attempt
to tilt the religious balance of the country toward the Papacy. [See Charles Chiniquy's
testimony, "Fifty
Years in the Church of Rome" ---New Window, for a first person account of nineteenth century Catholicism in America,
when Chiniquy was a client of his now famous attorney, Abraham Lincoln, before he
served as the sixteenth President of the United States.] Her father traces his roots
back to Shamrock, Ireland, and then to the United States after the Irish Potato Famine
(1846-1849). Just as Katie's roots are Catholic, my predecessors
fled Europe for Colonial America prior to 1776 to escape Catholic persecution. "What hath God wrought!"
(Numbers 23:23). How can children teach their parents? When
the "Wisdom that is from above" (James 3:17) is imparted first to the child, then
the child has the responsibility to bring it to the parent. And, if the parent refuses
to listen, then the fault belongs to the parent. "Yet
if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked
way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul" (Ezekiel 3:19). Children should respect their parents,
because the Scripture teaches us, "Children,
obey your parents in the LORD: for this is right" (Ephesians
6:1). However, since age does not produce wisdom, it is quite possible
for it to be said, "I understand more
than the ancients, because I keep Thy Precepts" (Psalm
119:100). Whenever we have been given the understanding of wise action,
we must be careful not to become full of ourselves, because "knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth" (1Corinthians 8:1). Wisdom ought to humble us. "Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, LORD
of Heaven and Earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent,
and hast revealed them unto babes" (Matthew 11:25). What is the Source of Wisdom and Understanding? Jesus is the Wisdom of
God. "But unto them which are called,
both Jews and Greeks, Christ the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God" (1Corinthians 1:24). Wisdom is the best application
of the means to the end, and only the Spirit of God can teach us Wisdom, as we seek
it from His Word and ask for it in prayer. "If
any of you lack Wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and
upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James
1:5). Wisdom will always be found, if it is actually
sought for. "3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy
voice for understanding; 4 If
thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the
fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD giveth Wisdom: out of His mouth [i.e., the Word of God] cometh knowledge
and understanding" (Proverbs 2:3-6).
Stability of Katie Stewart: The House of the Righteous
Shall Stand back to top
Our Heavenly Father is a protective parent and nest builder. "How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children
of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings"
(Psalm 36:7). Not only does He value hearth and home for His
children, but He prepares them for us in His Heavenly Mansions. "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
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:2-3). Katie was also a nest builder. "She
looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness" (Proverbs 31:27). Katie was not just interested in
having a comfortable house, but she wanted a home "wherein
dwelleth righteousness" (2Peter 3:13).
We liked to quote to one another and to our children the assurance that the "house of the righteous shall stand" (Proverbs 12:7). We took that to mean as much as
we could, e.g., safety for ourselves from wicked men, from accidents, from the weather,
from structural failure of the house, etc., for "safety
is of the LORD" (Proverbs 21:31).
What motivated Katie motivated me, and still does. "Two
are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour" (Ecclesiastes 4:9). Before we had our first child,
we agreed that "children are an heritage
of the LORD" (Psalm 127:3) and that we would never turn
God's heritage over to the Public Schools, for in our minds, this best honored the
precept: "Learn not the way of the heathen" (Jeremiah 10:2). [I recently found in my files a
paper entitled "What is the Difference Between Christian Education and Public School Education?
(1982)" ---New Window, that I composed toward the beginning
of our homeschooling.] Both Katie and I were products of Public Schools from South
Florida to New Jersey to the Midwest to Southern California-- and I had even spent
time as an Air Force dependent at a school in Tripoli, Libya. We determined that
we would teach our children at home, which we later found to be called homeschooling.
"Provoke not your children to wrath: but
bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD"
(Ephesians 6:4). I had the opportunity to work at my employment
in automotive maintenance from noon to eight o'clock, so I would be free during the
first half of the day for our homeschool. We did this for sixteen years until the
youngest of our three had finished his education. "Train
up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). You can read a series of three articles,
"They
That Wait Upon The LORD: Part 1: Noah" ---New Window, "They That Wait Upon The LORD: Part 2: Abraham"
---New Window, and "They That Wait Upon
The LORD: Part 3: Joseph" ---New
Window, all written by David Stewart, our youngest child
and a woodworker, to see what God can teach you through this extremely thoughtful
and fearlessly Godly young man. During this time, we were introduced to such things
as the Apple II computer, paving the way for what would later become WhatSaithTheScripture.com.
"Though thy beginning was small, yet thy
latter end should greatly increase" (Job 8:7). What became of the children? One became a graphic designer, another a
computer programmer, and another a woodworker. "Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do
also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father" (John 14:12). You can probably guess that our middle
child Jonathan-- our oldest son-- is the computer programmer, who directed Katie
in putting WhatSaithTheScripture.com online. He is quiet, dependable, and like a
rock. True, not all Christian parents will have the opportunity to do exactly as
Katie and I, but every Christian parent has the obligation to do whatever they can
to train up their children in the way that they should go, so the LORD may bring
upon them the blessing promised to Abraham, i.e., "thou
shalt be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2).
"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" (Genesis 18:19).
It is easy to see why even the ungodly desire to homeschool their children today;
but, they cannot be guaranteed True Success without the stability of Jesus Christ,
for time and money without Christ will only buy a private school education. "24 Therefore
whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a
wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds
blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these
sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built
his house upon the sand: 27 And
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;
and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matthew
7:24-27).
Sanctification of Katie Stewart: Holiness Unto the
LORD back to top
Katie loved the LORD and hated sin. "Ye
that love the LORD, hate evil" (Psalm 97:10). Once when speaking to a backslidden Christian, the individual gave her
an inadvertent compliment. The backslider indicated by frustrated hand motions and
words that Katie was either hot or cold, but never in between. How true! "Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay" (James 5:12). Call Katie anything but lukewarm! "I would thou wert cold or hot"
(Revelation 3:15). [See our article, "How to Deal With Backsliders" ---New Window, for a Scriptural perspective on this
much neglected subject.] Yes, Katie had times when she needed to repent and return
to the LORD, but that was exceptional. Katie knew me so well that she was my best
and dearest human critic. I've told her as much. "Faithful
are the wounds of a friend" (Proverbs 27:6). How like our Highest and Dearest Divine Critic! "For whom the LORD loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every
son whom He receiveth" (Hebrews 12:6).
My children know me, too; so, I still can get from them the Godly Criticism that
I know better than ignore. "Iron sharpeneth
iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend"
(Proverbs 27:17). Just as the motto of Semper Fidelis ("always
faithful") is found on the Marine emblem, "HOLINESS
UNTO THE LORD" (Zechariah 14:20)
will be emblazoned on even the bells of the horses during the upcoming Millennial
Reign of Jesus Christ upon the Earth. Katie believed that the sentiment of "HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD"
(Zechariah 14:20) is a necessary description of the Christian's
present walk upon this Earth. "Follow
peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD" (Hebrews 12:14). This Practical Holiness must be
evidenced in the child of God, or how can he ever lay claim to the name Christian?
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth
sure, having this seal, The LORD knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that
nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2Timothy
2:19). Katie practiced what she preached, a Zero Toleration of Sin.
"5 And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins;
and in Him is no sin. 6 Whosoever
abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive
you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the
devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God
was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit
sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are
manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not
of God, neither he that loveth not his brother" (1John
3:5-10). Many who feel the impossibility of a Practical Holiness are
limited by the fact that they define sin as something that is inseparable from man;
and therefore, man can only be Theoretically Holy until he gets to Heaven. But, that
is not what the Scripture says. We are to be holy now, as can be seen from
Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians, until the coming of the LORD. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and
I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming
of our LORD Jesus Christ" (1Thessalonians 5:23). If we can settle upon the Scriptural concept that sin is only an
act of the will in selfish opposition to God, i.e., "sin
is the [willful] transgression
of the Law" (1John 3:4), and not
a mysterious, metaphysical substance that is somehow passed with the genetics from
Adam to us, then we can see that our Entire Sanctification is merely our giving 100%
of our finite, just as God gives 100% of His infinite. "Be
ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). A more complete understanding of
this matter of Sanctification and Holiness equips us better to succeed in our Spiritual
Warfare, so that even Satan would flee from us. "Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). "Whom
resist stedfast in the Faith" (1Peter 5:9). "Lest Satan should get an advantage
of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices" (2Corinthians
2:11). [My article "Must We Then Sin? Or, A Response to the Doctrine of Sin Nature or the Doctrine
of Original Sin: Or, A Clarification of What is Sin, Why We Sin, and How Not to Sin" ---New Window attempts to make
plain the Scriptures on what too often has been the confusing topic of Sanctification.
Another article, "He Will Subdue Our Iniquities: Or, How God Makes Normal Christians to Walk
Without Sinning: Or, How Anyone Can Be Ready to Meet God at Any Time" ---New Window, is another attempt
to promote holiness. Also, "Is It Possible to Guarantee Our Obedience?"
---New Window is an editorial
that answers the question in the affirmative.]
Faith of Katie Stewart: According to Your Faith Be It Unto
You back to top
Both Katie and I liked to say that Faith is the Medium, while Love is the Motivation
for how and why we should act. "For in
Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but Faith
which worketh by Love" (Galatians 5:6).
You would have liked to hear Katie say, "According
to your Faith be it unto you" (Matthew 9:29), because you would have heartily agreed. This is the Kingpin of Our Christian
Walk, for "we walk by Faith, not by sight" (2Corinthians 5:7). What are we supposed to do? Believe.
"And Jesus answering saith unto them,
Have Faith in God" (Mark 11:22).
We are certainly not the Author of Faith, but most assuredly, we must be the Exerciser
of Faith, for God cannot and will not do our believing for us! "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are
possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23). If anyone says that they believe, but they will not obey or do
not obey what they know to be the commands of God, then they are a liar. "3 And
hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4 He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not
His commandments, is a liar, and the Truth is not in him"
(1John 2:3-4). And, "all
liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which
is the Second Death" (Revelation 21:8). The Life of Faith
is not a life of fear of falling or of punishment, "because
fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love" (1John 4:18). Katie was responsible for putting a
number of books online. Among them is Andrew Murray's "Divine Healing" ---New Window. In it he used the expression, "According
to your Faith be it unto you" (Matthew 9:29), with great effect. We like to see the Grace of God because it is help
that emanates from God, not man; however, we can only receive the help of God to
the degree that we receive it by Faith. "8 For by Grace are ye saved through
Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9
Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Be careful not to give inappropriate
credit to God by crediting all of Faith to Him-- which would be supererogation--
for even Jesus reminded us that there were things that were not within His power
to give. "And He saith unto them, Ye shall
drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with:
but to sit on My right hand, and on My left, is not Mine to give, but it shall be
given to them for whom it is prepared of My Father" (Matthew
20:23). On the other hand, it is quite proper to say that Christ gives
Himself as the Object for our Faith and that He sets up the circumstances that encourage
our Faith; but at some point, we must willfully choose to believe.
"And the LORD said, If ye had Faith as
a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up
by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you" (Luke 17:6). Even when we do exercise the Faith that
we are required to exercise, we are only doing what we were supposed to do-- our
duty, which is the "Obedience of Faith" (Romans 16:26). "So
likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say,
We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do" (Luke 17:10). Faith is like a Spiritual Muscle, it
must be exercised to grow. "We are bound
to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your Faith groweth
exceedingly, and the Charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth" (2Thessalonians 1:3). God is more than willing to
assist us in a program of weight training to encourage us to "grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of our LORD and Saviour
Jesus Christ" (2Peter 3:18). Remember,
to grow in Grace means you must grow in Faith. But, from whence cometh Faith? "So then Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
Word of God" (Romans 10:17). Obviously,
what we cannot understand from the Scriptures, we cannot heed, obey, apply, claim,
or act upon; so, understanding what we have heard, read, memorized, or studied, is
essential to growing our Faith. "His delight
is in the Law of the LORD; and in His Law doth he meditate day and night" (Psalm 1:2). Meditation is like a cow chewing its
cud, and meditation on God's Word will give God the opportunity to give us the understanding
necessary for our Faith to rest upon. "1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise
being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of
it. 2 For unto us was
the Gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the Word preached did not profit them,
not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said,
As I have sworn in My wrath, if they shall enter into My rest: although the works
were finished from the foundation of the world" (Hebrews
4:1-3).
Encouragement of Katie Stewart: The Race is Not to
the Swift back to top
Katie contracted polio (poliomyelitis, or infantile paralysis) only a few years before
Dr. Jonas Salk tested the Salk polio vaccine (1953-1954) that
would end the scourge of the three strains of virus of polio, which was responsible
for crippling 38,000 victims a year between 1950 and 1955. Even a past President
of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was crippled with the disease in 1921.
Katie's body was completely ravaged by the condition, according to her mother; but,
Katie recovered, with the only noticeable result that she would walk with a limp
for the rest of her life. But, "I will
save her that halteth" (Zephaniah 3:19).
Though she had seen doctors and surgeons aplenty during her early life, her moderate
limp was only an inconvenience that we worked around for all those that loved Katie.
I recall that she mentioned to me, before we were engaged, that she had polio as
a child. She did not want me to be walking into something that I would later regret.
It made no difference in our discussions. I'm still amazed at all of the things Katie
did with us without any of the obvious symptoms of pain and fatigue that accompany
the post-polio syndrome. "2 He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for His name's sake" (Psalm 23:2-3).
With the layout of our small house and the children growing old enough to be more
helpful, she was unwittingly employing the energy saving techniques advised
by health care professionals to deal with the long-term effects of wear and tear
for polio survivors. "The LORD preserveth
the simple" (Psalm 116:6). Katie
never had the slightest trace of bitterness about polio, because she lived in gratitude
to the LORD. "Looking diligently lest
any man fail of the Grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble
you, and thereby many be defiled" (Hebrews 12:15). I always figured that her polio slowed her down enough for me to catch
her. She often reminded us that in all of our circumstances, the "race is not to the swift"
(Ecclesiastes 9:11). None of us are given perfect circumstances,
when we come into this world, because God is not trying to make our stay in this
world more comfortable, but more profitable for the Kingdom of God. "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" (Romans 8:28). We would-- humanly speaking-- like
to take away the possibility of any and all difficulties, "for
no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it" (Ephesians 5:29). But, we know that a greater good
is served for God and His Kingdom, if we are in the best possible situation-- especially
a difficult circumstance-- for our character to become more like the LORD Jesus Christ,
i.e., "to be conformed to the image of
His Son" (Romans 8:29), and for
the good that we might be able to accomplish for our neighbour, i.e., "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth" (1Corinthians 10:24), but "specially [for the good] of those that believe" (1Timothy 4:10). Manwardly speaking, God has already
devised circumstances for our Salvation, Sanctification, and Perfection, i.e., "that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished
unto all good works" (2Timothy 3:17).
If we do not submit ourselves to be fashioned by God, then we are reprobate by our
own stubborn refusal-- fit only "as natural
brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed" (2Peter
2:12). "They profess that
they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and
unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16). Acknowledging that we are neither swift nor the sharpest tool in the shed,
then we have the beginning of a chance of petitioning the One Who Doeth All Things
Well (Mark 7:37) to enable us to perform our works through
us or for us. "LORD, Thou wilt ordain
peace for us: for Thou also hast wrought all our works in us"
(Isaiah 26:12). "I
will cry unto God Most High; unto God that performeth all things for me" (Psalm 57:2).
Health of Katie Stewart: The LORD is the Health of My Countenance
back to top
Why did God allow Katie to contract polio? To perfect Katie. First, He had to save
her, and that is where slowing her down to come across me came into the picture.
"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 whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate
to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many
brethren. 30 Moreover
whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified:
and whom He justified, them He also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us,
who can be against us?" (Romans 8:28-31).
Second, the ensuing physical difficulties of life after polio gave ample opportunity
for the LORD to sanctify Katie. "Forasmuch
then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the
same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin" (1Peter 4:1). Katie discovered that the LORD is the
"health of [her]
countenance" (Psalm
43:5). Does that mean that we will all receive miraculous Divine Healing
because we are Christian? No, not necessarily. Divine Healing is merely a tool that
the LORD uses for the more important goal of perfecting our Moral Character, which
continues to be perfected throughout all Eternity. "But
the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the
perfect day" (Proverbs 4:18). After
all, finite can never become Infinite, and the Saints in Glory and all the Holy Angels
will "grow in Grace, and in the knowledge
of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2Peter 3:18) forever, and still not begin to scratch but the surface of the Almighty!
Good health is what the Saints on Earth should expect from their LORD, because whatever
comparative level of health we possess, we can honestly say that He "is the health of my countenance, and my God" (Psalm 43:5). In this life, we will always have these
physically depraved bodies of flesh that give the LORD more than enough opportunity
to humble us, as we find the necessity to trust Him to deliver us, despite our best
attempts to use the means of good exercise, proper nutrition, and medical intervention.
"Always bearing about in the body the
dying of the LORD Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our
body" (2Corinthians 4:10). Through
our sufferings, we illustrate to the world the sufferings of Christ, the power of
His Resurrection, and the efficacy of His Grace to sustain us. "And He said unto me, My Grace is sufficient for thee: for My
strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in
my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me"
(2Corinthians 12:9). Does this mean that we are to resolve
to live with whatever physical limitations we have? Not necessarily. "For bodily exercise profiteth
[a] little: but Godliness is profitable unto
all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come" (1Timothy 4:8). We may properly use physical means
to deal with our limitations, but we must be warned that those means may disappoint
us, e.g., "a woman having an issue of
blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could
be healed of any" (Luke 8:43). We
may also pray for the removal of our physical difficulty or limitation, as Paul did,
only to find that the LORD was trying to use that occasion to teach a more important
Spiritual Lesson for the perfecting of our Moral Character. "7 And
lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations,
there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me,
lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the LORD thrice, that it might depart from
me. 9 And He said unto
me, My Grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ
may rest upon me" (2Corinthians 12:7-9).
With that said, Katie claimed promises for the overcoming of her physical limitations--
and they did not conquer her, as long as she would "resist
stedfast in the Faith" (1Peter 5:9),
which she did. "I have broken the bands
of your yoke, and made you go upright" (Leviticus
26:13). Build up an arsenal of Scripture promises to fortify your
petition to the LORD that you must be healed, because He desires your Faith to grow.
"Let us hold fast the profession of our
faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;"
(Hebrews 10:23). [See Katie's compilation of what amounts to
be her own book of Bible Promises ---New Window, in particular, "Bodily Health in the LORD" ---New Window and "Healing in the LORD" ---New
Window, on the subject of health.] But, if you are more
concerned about your physical condition than your Spiritual Growth, then you are
seeking healing from a wrong motive. "5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt
minds, and destitute of the Truth, supposing that gain is Godliness: from such withdraw
thyself. 6 But Godliness
with contentment is great gain" (1Timothy 6:5-6). I found this poem that Katie composed years ago to encourage herself in
the LORD.
The Countenance of My Health
My teeth are healed.
They are white and strong.
My incision is firm
As I sing my song.
I am healed and whole
from my head to my feet.
My family has health
and plenty to eat.
"The LORD is my portion!"
saith my soul.
He took my infirmities
and made me whole.
"Faith is substance!"
I shout this call.
For I am made perfect
in the presence of you all.
"Uphold me according unto Thy Word, that
I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope" (Psalm
119:116). "They overcame
him [Satan] by the blood
of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony" (Revelation
12:11).
Usefulness of Katie Stewart: Serve the LORD back to top
Over the years, Katie and I have had varying degrees of success with reaching others
for Christ. We have believed-- and, I still do-- that delivering ourselves and our
own children to the LORD, i.e., "I and
the children Whom the LORD hath given me" (Isaiah
8:18), is a responsibility that is worthy of our entire life's labour,
and that those we additionally reach, constitute an unexpected bounty in these Laodicean
times. "When the Son of Man cometh, shall
He find Faith on the Earth?" (Luke 18:8).
["An Inscription In A Presentation Bible For A New Christian Brother" ---New Window (1991) illustrates the kind of encouragement Katie
and I have desired to promote during the past years.] It is quite easy to get Professions
of Faith for Christ, but it is rare to find the True Willingness that defines only
a True Saint. "46
And why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not
the things which I say? 47 Whosoever
cometh to Me, and heareth My sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he
is like: 48 He is like
a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and
when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake
it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a
foundation built an house upon the Earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently,
and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great"
(Luke 6:46-49). [For a better understanding of being useful
in Christian work, Charles G. Finney's "Revival Lectures" ---New Window dispenses valuable advice on how to bring men to Christ.] It has been projected
by United States statisticians, David Barrett and Todd Johnson, in "World Christian
Trends: AD 30 - AD 2200" (2001) that of the 6.28 billion
people in the world, 33% claim to be Christian (2.1 billion) and 20% profess Islam
(1.3 billion); however, Islam's annual growth rate is 2.1%, while Christianity's
growth is 1.3%-- compared to the world's population growth rate of 1.2%. In the United
States, 76.5% (159 million) of the population claim to be Christian, while a little
more than 0.5% (conservatively, at least 1 million) consider themselves followers
of Islam. Half of America's adults feel themselves alienated from organized religion
according to a USA Today/ Gallup Poll (2002). In 2001, the
American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) identified 52% of Americans as Protestant
and 24.5% as Catholic; however, due to the large influx of immigration from Catholic
countries, the "number of Protestants soon will slip below 50% of the nation's
population" according to the National Opinion Research Center's "General
Social Survey" (2004). Despite the recent re-election
(2004) of President George W. Bush with the help of an estimated
26 million Evangelical American Christians, the diminishing of traditional, Protestant
Christianity represents a challenge to reaffirm True Christian Foundations and to
point the estimated "millions of twentysomething Americans," who used to
be "active in churches during their teens" that have put Christianity on
the backburner-- according to the Barna Research Group (BRG) of Sept. 24, 2003--
back to a True Faith "which worketh by
love" (Galatians 5:6), instead of
the Lukewarm, Antinomian Religion that they not so surprisingly abandoned. [First,
read my editorial, "Antinomianism-- The Popular Heresy" ---New Window, to see why these "twentysomethings"
have departed, then read Ian Paisley's series of five articles, "Seven Reasons Why I Believe ---New Window... The Bible is the Word of God ---New
Window... The Virgin Birth of Christ ---New
Window... The Full Divinity of Christ ---New
Window... The Atoning Blood of Christ ---New
Window... The Bodily Resurrection of Christ ---New Window" from his book, "Christian
Foundations," to reconfirm the Truth of what you have rightly been taught.]
May God raise up people like Katie Stewart in Christianity, who will demonstrate
their usefulness to the LORD by a life of service to the LORD and His people. "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose
you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that
were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye
dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD"
(Joshua 24:15). Our children will not leave the "Faith which was once delivered unto the Saints" (Jude 3), if it is modeled by Christian Parents,
who truly serve the LORD. "And
He said unto them, How is it that ye sought Me? wist ye not that I must be about
My Father's business?" (Luke 2:49).
As always, Jesus is the Divine Pattern for all that is good that we ought to be,
e.g., the Servant of the LORD. "For even
the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life
a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).
Divine Guidance of Katie Stewart: Thy Will Be Done
back to top
Katie had a mind of her own, but that did not mean that she would go in any given
direction without asking, "What shall
I do, LORD?" (Acts 22:10). Remember,
the LORD impressed Katie from the beginning of her New Life in Christ outside of
Roman Catholicism about the necessity of having His Word, i.e., "What Saith the Scripture?" (Romans
4:3)-- and consequently His Will-- on everything. Much of the time,
many seek Divine Guidance merely to find how God will show them to do what they
want to do, rather than doing whatever the LORD wants done. Whatever the
LORD shows us is most helpful in building our Moral Character is invariably the Will
of God for us. "15
But the LORD said unto
[Ananias], Go thy way: for
[Saul of Tarsus] is a chosen vessel unto Me,
to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great
things he must suffer for My name's sake" (Acts
9:15-16). An example of Divine Guidance was the LORD showing Katie
and I that He wanted us to establish WhatSaithTheScripture.com. We were already familiar
with computers. Our oldest son had already established his ability to program a computer
for himself, but we were not sure that the World Wide Web (WWW) was anything more
than a trap for the Antichrist to ensnare the world-- which he will ultimately do
using all technologies, especially the Internet. "And
that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the Beast,
or the number of his name" (Revelation 13:17). But, the Apostle Paul could have argued that the roads built by the Roman
Empire were being used to ensnare mankind by the Roman emperor-- their version of
the Antichrist at that time-- therefore, Christians should avoid those roads. But,
"What Saith the Scripture?" (Romans 4:3). Paul wrote by inspiration, "All things are your's"
(1Corinthians 3:21). Since the Roman built roads were not intrinsically,
morally evil, then Paul had as much right to use them as the Romans. "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not
expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not" (1Corinthians 10:23). Unless specifically forbidden
by Scripture, we have the right to lawfully use all things, i.e., "they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion
of this world passeth away" (1Corinthians 7:31). So, we concluded that we could carefully and prayerfully put online WhatSaithTheScripture.com
using Scriptural promises to prosper and protect us. "Surely
He shall deliver thee from the snare [i.e., the WWW] of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence" (Psalm 91:3). "Ye
that love the LORD, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His Saints; He delivereth
them out of the hand of the wicked" (Psalm 97:10). Further, concerning Divine Guidance, I offer the following from an article
completed before Katie's translation to Glory, "Nothing Happens by Accident" ---New Window:
Focus of Katie Stewart: Christ is All back to top
I asked my daughter what she remembered most about "Mommy" (for that is
still our favorite name for Katie). She told me about a conversation that she had
with Katie, in which Katie told her what she felt was the most important concept
of the Bible, which is, "Christ is all,
and in all" (Colossians 3:11). [You
can read Katie's own words on this from an article that she wrote for WStS, entitled
"Christ
Is All" ---New Window.] In that article,
Katie began: "Whatever problem or question you have in this physical life, Jesus
is The Answer. 'The preparations of the heart
in man, and The Answer of the tongue, is from the LORD' (Proverbs
16:1). And in every negative situation you could possibly find yourself
in, Jesus is your Escape. 'There hath no temptation
taken you but such as is common to man: but God is Faithful, Who will not suffer
you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make
a way to Escape, that ye may be able to bear it' (1Corinthians
10:13)." I agree with my daughter that this represented the core
of Katie's beliefs-- "Christ is All." I said earlier that Katie had polio as a child, which brought her in contact
with the Medical Establishment for the bulk of her early life; so, when she had a
choice about doctors, she normally chose another option. She did not have a choice
with our children, for all of them were born by C-section (cesarean section), so
she talked about having a zipper installed. "A
merry heart doeth good like a medicine" (Proverbs
17:22). She liked the concepts of healthful living, i.e., organically
grown food, vitamin supplements, moderate exercise, and of course, avoiding the obvious
habits of the world, e.g., drinking, smoking, etc. "Let
your moderation be known unto all men. The LORD is at hand"
(Philippians 4:5). Health was not the only thing that made
Christ her all in all, but our often struggles to keep the family fed and clothed,
showed Katie that the LORD is our "Jehovahjireh" (Genesis 22:14), i.e., "God
will provide" (Genesis 22:8). "But my God shall supply all your need according to
His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians
4:19). Our children's Christian Education especially encouraged us
to rely upon Christ as our Teacher. "The
same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher
come from God" (John 3:2). When
dealing with counseling others about life's problems, she relied upon Christ the
Counsellor. "For unto us a Child is born,
unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name
shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). She
loaned and lost a copy of "Precious Bible Promises" ---New
Window to a friend, who was having marital problems. [Later,
we found a used copy on the Internet, and she made it available as a downloadable ebook ---New
Window.] Bible Prophecy has obviously been a topic of discussion
in our home, and we have leaned upon the teaching of the "Spirit
of Christ" (Romans 8:9), Who is
the Spirit of Prophecy. "Worship God:
for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy"
(Revelation 19:10). Katie stressed in her article, "Christ Is All" ---New Window, that you need
only to find your problem, and the LORD Jesus Christ will show Himself through the
Scriptures to be your Answer and your Escape. "Jesus
saith unto him, I am the Way" (John 14:6). My youngest son told me that the Wisdom of God in taking "Mommy"
gave her an escape, which kept Katie from the hardest part of her life, if she should
have begun to show the symptoms of the post-polio syndrome-- which we were not aware
that she had yet experienced. "O the depth
of the riches both of the wisdom and Knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments,
and His ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33).
Separation of Katie Stewart: No Fellowship With the Unfruitful
Works of Darkness back to top
Katie was warm and soft, when it came to comforting her family, but she knew how
to be firm, as both the kids and I can confirm, when it came to standing by Her convictions
from the Word of God. "Let every man be
fully persuaded in his own mind" (Romans 14:5). Splitting the Body of Christ is heresy, when it divides Christians away
from the Truth; and, we should never encourage barriers to Christian Fellowship,
unless absolutely warned or commanded by the Holy Spirit, i.e., "And have no Fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,
but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11). This is one area that has been a key failure of Professed Christians,
when it comes to keeping themselves pure. "Lay
hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure" (1Timothy 5:22). If we are unclear on how to live
a life separated from the Personal Sin "which
doth so easily beset us" (Hebrews 12:1),
then how can we make proper decisions and judgments about our relationship with an
Erring Brother? "He that is spiritual
judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man"
(1Corinthians 2:15). Our having no Fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness does not merely mean that we receive our M. A. in Separation--
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark
them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned;
and avoid them" (Romans 16:17)--
but, we are positively enjoined to restore that Brother. "1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken
in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of
Christ. 3 For if a man
think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself" (Galatians 6:1-3). If we take delight in the necessity
to withdraw ourself from an Erring Professed Christian, even one that stands against
our doctrinal position-- that is not good. "17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth,
and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and He turn
away His wrath from him" (Proverbs 24:17-18). Instead, where we have the opportunity, we ought to use whatever means
are at our disposal to restore the Body of Christ:
Foundation of Katie Stewart: Anchored in the Word
back to top
What was the secret of Katie Stewart? She honestly attempted to live "by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of
God" (Matthew 4:4). Did she always
quote Scripture to everyone in her daily speech? No, but she would have, if she could
have. "He knoweth our frame; He remembereth
that we are dust" (Psalm 103:14).
Eternity will long forget the words of man, but the Word of God "liveth and abideth for ever" (1Peter
1:23). Lukewarm Christianity has lived in fear of the religious cultist
standing on the street corner quoting Scripture; but, why should any True Saint be
more ignorant of the Word of God than they, if you are truly a Christian? "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the Power
of God" (Matthew 22:29). The present
Church of Laodicea does not attempt to conform itself to the Word of God, but seeks
to recruit Scripture to give it a greater sense of ease-- to be at home in this world.
"16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor
hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have
need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor,
and blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:16-17). On the other hand, the mistake of many a stalwart Fundamentalist is often
the same as the Church of Ephesus. "Nevertheless
I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy First Love" (Revelation 2:4). Katie's aggressive promotion of
the Scriptures should be better understood as a zealous devotion to the person of
the LORD Jesus Christ, Whose "name is
called The Word of God" (Revelation 19:13). If it is not right to separate the LORD from His Word, then why should
any Professed Christian object to the eager desire to uplift Christ through His Word?
"And I, if I be lifted up from the Earth,
will draw all men unto Me" (John 12:32).
The Lively Spirituality of Scripture must again be emphasized. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God" (John 1:1). Disagreement
over the interpretation of Scriptures from ancient times does not excuse us from
the pressing necessity to ask, "What Saith
the Scripture?" (Romans 4:3). The
Organic Unity of the Scriptures, i.e., "Scripture
cannot be broken" (John 10:35),
is such that there can be no True Disagreement of Interpretation, when the Scripture
is clearly seen from the same vantage point. "Knowing
this first, that no Prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation" (2Peter 1:20). Yes, there is a great diversity of
opinion among Professed Christians concerning the interpretation of different passages
of Scripture, but our fidelity to the teaching of the Holy Spirit demands a True
Christian Consistency, that the nineteenth century evangelist Charles G. Finney described
in the Preface of his "Lectures on Systematic Theology" ---New Window (1851):
"But grow in Grace, and in the knowledge
of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2Peter 3:18).
Katie attempted to be as personal with the Scriptures as she knew how. "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not
sin against Thee" (Psalm 119:11).
Even more than her belief in the profitability of Scripture, i.e., "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2Timothy 3:16), she sought the Word as if It proceeded
from Her LORD. "Stablish Thy Word unto
Thy servant, who is devoted to Thy fear" (Psalm
119:38). What "True Riches" (Luke 16:11) can we possess, if it is not
the Incarnate Word Himself? "That
which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,
which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life" (1John 1:1). All the certainty that we have about
the Word flows from the fact that It comes out of the mouth of God. "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" (Isaiah
55:11). All the hearing of the Word will come to nothing, if we are
not exercised "by reason of use." "But strong meat belongeth to
them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised
to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14). A clear thinking Saint understands implicitly the umbilical cord existing
between the LORD and His Word. "17 Deal bountifully with Thy servant,
that I may live, and keep Thy Word. 18 Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy
Law. 19 I am a stranger
in the Earth: hide not Thy Commandments from me. 20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto Thy Judgments
at all times" (Psalm 119:17-20).
Homeschooling was a crucible for Katie, myself, and our children, in that we saw
forged many of the ideas and values that represent the people we became. For example,
I came across some old 5" x 8" cards that Katie had written (in her beautiful
penmanship) 130 memory verses for the children. She called them "Bullets"
because they were considered ammunition in our Spiritual Warfare. "13 Wherefore
take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with Truth, and having
on the Breastplate of Righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace; 16 Above all, taking the Shield of
Faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the Helmet of Salvation,
and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God"
(Ephesians 6:13-17). [Katie's "Bullets for Bible Memory" ---New Window are a valuable resource for those looking for suggestions for Bible Memory.]
Another idea that has been a blessing for Katie and myself has been turning our CDs
of Alexander Scourby's recording of the KJV New Testament into MP3s and broadcasting
them from a computer using iTunes and a mini FM transmitter. Mixing them with Christian
songs and hymns makes them a constant edification whenever any FM radio in the house
picks up the broadcast. Christmas music with Scripture makes the season even more
enjoyable! Also, I re-discovered an old publication on "How to Study the Bible" ---New Window (1896) by R. A. Torrey, that would be quite useful
as advice on Bible Study, if not a valuable resource just for Torrey's long list
of suggestions of topics for Bible Study. "Lead
me in Thy Truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I
wait all the day" (Psalm 25:5).
Prayerfulness of Katie Stewart: All Things by Prayer
back to top
Katie always felt the need to pray. "Be
careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians
4:6). When going through Katie's things, I found several notebooks--
her "Prayer Lifes"-- that Katie filled with her intercessory prayer requests
for others. "Ye have not, because ye ask
not" (James 4:2). She used to clip
stories and pictures out of the newspapers to give her objects for her intercessory
prayer requests, in addition to the ones she already knew. "And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after Me, and I will make
you to become fishers of men" (Mark 1:17). She divided the people in her "Prayer Lifes" into five groups,
each having their own class or grouping of Scriptural Promises:
She was not George Mueller with his orphan houses, but she was always praying for
her Groups. [Katie wrote several articles on Prayer, e.g., "Intercession Promises: Casting The Net: Or, Help in Becoming Fishers of
Men" ---New Window, "What is the Prayer
of Faith?" ---New Window, "All the Promises in Christ
Jesus are Yea" ---New Window.] The last thing I did with Katie on the day of her death was to pray with
her-- as we always did-- before I went to the store. "Whereas
ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour,
that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away"
(James 4:14). We always prayed for safety and success for the
one that had to go out, as well as safekeeping for whoever remained at home. "As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall
his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike"
(1Samuel 30:24). Little did I know that God Only Wise (Romans
16:27) had planned a Homegoing for Katie, even shielding me from the
immediate circumstances of the event-- though our children were providentially home
at that time. "Casting all your care upon
Him; for He careth for you" (1Peter 5:7).
After it happened, I remember telling the children that "Mommy" is in the
hands of God. "Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time" (1Peter 5:6). God's children see the relationship
between the Invisible God (Colossians 1:15) and the end result
of their prayers, because to them it is simply Cause and Effect. "14 And
this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to
His will, He heareth us: 15 And
if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions
that we desired of Him" (1John 5:14-15).
Katie and I prayed for safety and success for the circumstances of our day, and God
gave us much better than we asked by rewarding Katie with Heaven! "20 Now
unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout
all ages, world without end. Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21).
When we first learn to pray, our requests are naturally full of our own needs, i.e.,
"Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11), because that is what we know best;
but, as we begin to grow in the LORD, we notice that others have needs, too. "5 And
He said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight,
and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I
have nothing to set before him? 7 And
he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my
children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and
give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and
give him as many as he needeth. 9 And
I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and
it shall be opened unto you. 10 For
every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh
it shall be opened" (Luke 11:5-10).
The