Keep the Faith
We have been warned to hang on to our faith, our confidence. Because the
Bible tells us to hang on, means that our faith is going to be tested.
The Bible says in I Peter 5:8-9 “be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary
the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom
resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished
in your brethren that are in the world”; the devil can only devour those that let
go of their faith, the word of God.
Lets look at Jairus, in Mark 5:22-23 he made a declaration of faith saying
“and, behold, there comes one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by
name; and when he saw Him, Jesus, he fell at His feet. And besought Him
greatly, saying, my little daughter lies at the point of death; I pray You come
and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live”.
Jesus went with him, and while going the woman with the issue of blood
touched Jesus and after being made known, she told all her story. After this a
messager came with a bad report in verses 35-36 it says “while He, Jesus yet
spoke, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said,
your daughter is dead, why trouble you the Master any further? As soon as
Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue,
be not afraid, only believe”.
After hearing the message saying that his daughter was dead, he kept the
faith, he didn’t fall apart after hearing the message, but he kept quiet and didn’
t act upon that message, but stayed focused on Jesus and the end result was
that Jesus went to his house and raised his daughter from the dead.
The apostle Paul tells Timothy how he had kept the faith, in II Timothy 4:1-7 “I
charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge
the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. Preach the word,
be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the
truth, and shall be turned to fables. But watch you in all things, endure
afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry. For I
am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have
fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”. Paul
went through a lot.
Ephesians 6:10-18 shows us who we are fighting; it says “finally, my brethren,
be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor
of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places. Wherefore take to you the whole armor of God, that you may be
able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the preparation of the
gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be
able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereto with
all perseverance and supplication for all saints”. The word of God is our best
defense.
Remember that Hebrews 11:1 says “now faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.
In the book of Hebrews we read in Hebrews 3:6 “but Christ as a son over His
own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the
rejoicing of the hope firm to the end”. In Hebrews 4:14 it says “seeing then
that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the
Son of God, let us hold fast our profession”. And then in Hebrews 10:19-23
“having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of
Jesus. By a new and living way, which He has consecrated for us, through the
veil, that is to say, His flesh. And having an high priest over the house of
God. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our
hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure
water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is
faithful that promised”.
Remember that James says “if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that
gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not, and it shall be given him. But let
him ask in faith, nothing wavering; for he that wavers is like a wave of the sea
driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think, that he shall
receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his
ways” (James 1:5-8). The devil will bring people before you to ask you
questions, trying to get you to doubt God.
The apostle Peter notes the how to in II Peter 1:4-10 “whereby are given to us
exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers
of the diving nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue
knowledge. And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and
to patience godliness. And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly
kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you
that you shall neither be barren, nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ. But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off,
and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather,
brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if you do
these things, you shall never fall”.
Jesus in His warnings to the churches says in Revelation 3:10-13 “because
you have kept the word of My patience, I also will keep you from the hour of
temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the
earth. Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which you have, that no man take
your crown. Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God,
and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of My God,
and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes
down out of heaven from My God and I will write upon him My new name. He
that has an ear; let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: April 26, 2011
We have been warned to hang on to our faith, our confidence. Because the
Bible tells us to hang on, means that our faith is going to be tested.
The Bible says in I Peter 5:8-9 “be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary
the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom
resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished
in your brethren that are in the world”; the devil can only devour those that let
go of their faith, the word of God.
Lets look at Jairus, in Mark 5:22-23 he made a declaration of faith saying
“and, behold, there comes one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by
name; and when he saw Him, Jesus, he fell at His feet. And besought Him
greatly, saying, my little daughter lies at the point of death; I pray You come
and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live”.
Jesus went with him, and while going the woman with the issue of blood
touched Jesus and after being made known, she told all her story. After this a
messager came with a bad report in verses 35-36 it says “while He, Jesus yet
spoke, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said,
your daughter is dead, why trouble you the Master any further? As soon as
Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue,
be not afraid, only believe”.
After hearing the message saying that his daughter was dead, he kept the
faith, he didn’t fall apart after hearing the message, but he kept quiet and didn’
t act upon that message, but stayed focused on Jesus and the end result was
that Jesus went to his house and raised his daughter from the dead.
The apostle Paul tells Timothy how he had kept the faith, in II Timothy 4:1-7 “I
charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge
the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. Preach the word,
be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the
truth, and shall be turned to fables. But watch you in all things, endure
afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry. For I
am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have
fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”. Paul
went through a lot.
Ephesians 6:10-18 shows us who we are fighting; it says “finally, my brethren,
be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor
of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places. Wherefore take to you the whole armor of God, that you may be
able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the preparation of the
gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be
able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereto with
all perseverance and supplication for all saints”. The word of God is our best
defense.
Remember that Hebrews 11:1 says “now faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.
In the book of Hebrews we read in Hebrews 3:6 “but Christ as a son over His
own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the
rejoicing of the hope firm to the end”. In Hebrews 4:14 it says “seeing then
that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the
Son of God, let us hold fast our profession”. And then in Hebrews 10:19-23
“having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of
Jesus. By a new and living way, which He has consecrated for us, through the
veil, that is to say, His flesh. And having an high priest over the house of
God. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our
hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure
water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is
faithful that promised”.
Remember that James says “if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that
gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not, and it shall be given him. But let
him ask in faith, nothing wavering; for he that wavers is like a wave of the sea
driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think, that he shall
receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his
ways” (James 1:5-8). The devil will bring people before you to ask you
questions, trying to get you to doubt God.
The apostle Peter notes the how to in II Peter 1:4-10 “whereby are given to us
exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers
of the diving nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue
knowledge. And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and
to patience godliness. And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly
kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you
that you shall neither be barren, nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ. But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off,
and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather,
brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if you do
these things, you shall never fall”.
Jesus in His warnings to the churches says in Revelation 3:10-13 “because
you have kept the word of My patience, I also will keep you from the hour of
temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the
earth. Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which you have, that no man take
your crown. Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God,
and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of My God,
and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes
down out of heaven from My God and I will write upon him My new name. He
that has an ear; let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: April 26, 2011
