will start today's article on the note on which it ended: it's spiritual mediocrity to make excuse for our lack of faith even in times of crisis. For David said, "when my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher than I"! It is during the storms of life and crisis of life that we must seek higher ground in Christ! Or is our faith meant to be strong during the good times only? Is faith only made for good times? Up when the times are good and down when things are challenging?
In the face of life's challenges, our faith is our principal weapon of defense and victory
Eph 6:16 tells us this,
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked"
So faith is principally needed when the devil is on the onslaught. Woe betides the man whose faith is down and out when the enemy is out for a kill. Hence Jesus told Peter the enemy is out for you, to get you, but I have only one prayer for you, that your faith will be strong! Why? A strong faith puts the enemy at bay!
Who needs faith when things are working?
Who needs faith for good times?
My faith is high when things are good? High? Nothing is high. You don't need faith in such times.
Faith is never tested when times are good
In good times you build up your faith for bad times, for it's during the trials and challenges of life that our faith is tested! For it is in the day of adversity that your strength is tested. That is what the book of Proverbs records,
"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small" (Proverbs 24:10)
In the days of adversity, our strength is tested! What will build up before the days of adversity is what determines our survival and victory during the days of adversity! The days of adversity reveals our true worth and character. And talking about the strength we know where the source of strength comes from, the Bible says in Proverbs 24:5 that a "wise man is STRONG, yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength". Further down in Daniel 11:32 the Bible says the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits!
Strength has it's a source in the knowledge of God, this knowledge is what builds faith in us to withstand the adversities of life. How much of this faith or spiritual strength that will manifest is determined by how much of God's word has taken root in our hearts and in our lives
In Matthew 13 we have the parable of the shower that went to sow the word and the Bible tells us something powerful in verses 20-21,
"But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended'
The word that bears fruits is the one that has roots! How many words do we receive in our churches today with loud shouting and " preach preacher" rants that aren't producing a result in the church today? How we have sung about walking in power and miracles and yet question if God is alive when challenges come? The words were received with joy but they have no roots, received on the surface but without depths! So when persecution came to test the strength and depth of the word we were found wanting.
There was no persecution until the revelation was sown, exams always come after lectures have been received. Persecution is what reveals the strength and depth of revelation! The revelation that has no root will bear no fruit! The faith we have built up or failed to build up is always reveal during trying times and challenges!
Read full post here WHEN YOU ARE AFRAID OF YOUR FATHER'S HOUSE(13) - FAITH FOR GOOD TIMES?(2)
In the face of life's challenges, our faith is our principal weapon of defense and victory
Eph 6:16 tells us this,
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked"
So faith is principally needed when the devil is on the onslaught. Woe betides the man whose faith is down and out when the enemy is out for a kill. Hence Jesus told Peter the enemy is out for you, to get you, but I have only one prayer for you, that your faith will be strong! Why? A strong faith puts the enemy at bay!
Who needs faith when things are working?
Who needs faith for good times?
My faith is high when things are good? High? Nothing is high. You don't need faith in such times.
Faith is never tested when times are good
In good times you build up your faith for bad times, for it's during the trials and challenges of life that our faith is tested! For it is in the day of adversity that your strength is tested. That is what the book of Proverbs records,
"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small" (Proverbs 24:10)
In the days of adversity, our strength is tested! What will build up before the days of adversity is what determines our survival and victory during the days of adversity! The days of adversity reveals our true worth and character. And talking about the strength we know where the source of strength comes from, the Bible says in Proverbs 24:5 that a "wise man is STRONG, yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength". Further down in Daniel 11:32 the Bible says the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits!
Strength has it's a source in the knowledge of God, this knowledge is what builds faith in us to withstand the adversities of life. How much of this faith or spiritual strength that will manifest is determined by how much of God's word has taken root in our hearts and in our lives
In Matthew 13 we have the parable of the shower that went to sow the word and the Bible tells us something powerful in verses 20-21,
"But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended'
The word that bears fruits is the one that has roots! How many words do we receive in our churches today with loud shouting and " preach preacher" rants that aren't producing a result in the church today? How we have sung about walking in power and miracles and yet question if God is alive when challenges come? The words were received with joy but they have no roots, received on the surface but without depths! So when persecution came to test the strength and depth of the word we were found wanting.
There was no persecution until the revelation was sown, exams always come after lectures have been received. Persecution is what reveals the strength and depth of revelation! The revelation that has no root will bear no fruit! The faith we have built up or failed to build up is always reveal during trying times and challenges!
Read full post here WHEN YOU ARE AFRAID OF YOUR FATHER'S HOUSE(13) - FAITH FOR GOOD TIMES?(2)
