If we are having trouble keeping our confession of
faith, we need to take hold of mercy. Obtaining mercy
will enable us to be faithful to God. Paul illustrated this
in 1 Corinthians 7:25. In dealing with family affairs in
the Church, he said, “Now concerning virgins I have
no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment,
as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.”

It was the revelation of mercy that caused Paul to be
faithful to God. It was as if he said, “I’ve never received
a commandment of God in this, but I am faithful enough
to God and He is faithful enough to me that I know how
He thinks about it, and I will just go ahead and tell you.”
Paul knew that obtaining the mercy of God would keep
men from fainting and preserve their faith.

The Apostle Peter acknowledged the scriptural truth
of what Paul said and continued the same thought when
he wrote 2 Corinthians 4:1: “Therefore seeing we have this
ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have
renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking
in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully;
but by manifestation of the truth….”

Have you ever fainted in the middle of your confession
of faith and said, “Dear God, I just can’t hold on to this any
longer. I don’t think I can continue to stand up. I have been
confessing this thing for weeks and weeks. How long am
I going to have to do it?” If you have come to that place,
remember Ephesians 6:13 says, “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. Stand
therefore….” If you are ready to stand forever, you won’t be
there very long.

Gloria Copeland

John 14:12
KJV—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.

Amp—I assure you, most solemnly I tell you,
if any one steadfastly believes in Me, he
will himself be able to do the things that I
do; and he will do even greater things than
these, because I go to the Father.

Moffatt—Truly, truly I tell you, he who believes
in me will do the very deeds I do, and
still greater deeds than these. For I am going
to the Father.

NEB—In truth, in very truth I tell you, he
who has faith in me will do what I am doing;
and he will do greater things still because I
am going to the Father.

Mark 6:7, 12-13

KJV—And (Jesus) called unto him the twelve,
and began to send them forth by two and
two; and gave them power over unclean
spirits…And they went out, and preached
that men should repent. And they cast out
many devils, and anointed with oil many
that were sick, and healed them.

Amp—And He called to Him the twelve
[apostles]; and began to send them out [as
His ambassadors] two by two, and gave
them authority and power over the unclean
spirits…So they went out and preached
that men should repent [that is that they
should change their minds for the better,
and heartily amend their ways with abhorrence
for their past sins]. And they drove
out many unclean spirits, and anointed with
oil many who were sick, and cured them.

NEB—On one of his teaching journeys
round the villages he summoned the Twelve
and sent them out in pairs on a mission. He
gave them authority over unclean
spirits…So they sent out and called publicly
for repentance. They drove out many devils, and
many sick people they anointed with oil and cured.

Mark 16:14-18

KJV—(After Jesus’ resurrection) he appeared
unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and up
braided them with their unbelief and hardness
of heart, because they believed not
them which had seen him after he was risen.
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall
be saved; but he that believeth not shall
be damned. And these signs shall follow
them that believe; In my name shall they
cast out devils; they shall speak with new
tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if
they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt
them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and
they shall recover.

Amp—Afterward He appeared to the
eleven [apostles, themselves] as they reclined
at table; and He reproved and reproached
them for their unbelief (their lack of faith)
and their hardness of heart, because they
had refused to believe those who had seen
Him and looked at Him attentively
after He was risen (from death).
And He said to them, Go into all the world
and preach and publish openly the good
news (the Gospel) to every creature (of the
whole human race). He who believes—[that
is, who adheres to and trusts in and relies
on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets
forth—and is baptized will be saved [from
the penalty of eternal death]; but he who
does not believe—who does not adhere to
and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him
Whom it sets forth—will be condemned.
And these attesting signs will accompany those
who believe: in My name they will drive out
demons; they will speak in new languages;
They will pick up serpents, and [even] if they
drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them;
they will lay their hands on the sick, and
they will get well.

Luke 9:1-2, 6

KJV—Then (Jesus) called his twelve disciples
together, and gave them power and authority
over all devils, and to cure diseases. And
he sent them to preach the kingdom of God,
and to heal the sick…And they departed, and
went through the towns, preaching the gospel,
and healing every where.

Amp—Then Jesus called together the twelve
apostles, and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases, And
He sent them out to announce and preach
the kingdom of God and to bring healing…
And departing they went about from village
to village, preaching the Gospel and restoring
the afflicted to health everywhere.

Moffatt—Calling the twelve apostles together,
he gave them power and authority
over all daemons as well as to heal diseases,
sending them out to preach the Reign of
God and to cure the sick…So they went
from village to village, preaching the gospel
and healing everywhere.

Gloria Copeland