Stand Firm In The Faith

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devil, distractions, faith, Father, Firm, help, Jesus, power, stand

Our faith is most precious because without it we cannot please God.  It is therefore of the utmost importance that we guard it with our entire being. There can be no breaks when it comes to guarding our faith.  We must be alert and on our guard at all times. 

The devil is constantly trying to get us to move out of faith because he knows that we cannot possess the land without faith.  The children of Israel didn’t possess the promise land when they could have because they had no faith.  Likewise, we cannot possess all that Christ died for us to have if we have no faith.  I Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”  Make no mistake it’s the devil who is walking about seeking whom he may devour not people or things.  He will use whoever and whatever lends itself to him to come after your faith.  Guarding your faith may mean that you will have to separate yourself from people, places and things in order to stay stedfast and firm in your faith. David separated himself from his army and encourage himself in the Lord after the enemy had invaded Ziklag and captured their women and children. I Samuel 30:6, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters; but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”  David had to remove himself from all the negative talk and space in order to hear from God.   Peter said “be sober, be vigilant.” About what you ask?  About knowing who we are, what we have, and what we can do in Christ.  For a person who knows who they are; what they have and what they can do in Christ cannot be devoured.

Faith is both offensive and defensive.  We use it to gain and to defend.  I Peter 5:9, says “whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”  Notice it says, “whom resist stedfast in the faith”.  While we are using faith to lay hold on the things of God, we are also using faith to resist the things of the devil.  Our faith rejects and resists the things of the devil and accepts and receives the things of God.  This is why the devil comes after our faith so hard.  He knows that if we stand firm in faith we will accomplish our goals, realize our dreams and fulfil our destinies.  We need only remember that our Father God has never failed or gone back on His word.  He has proven over and over again His faithfulness.  As we read and reflect on God’s faithfulness it strengthens our faith and empowers us to stand firm on His word.  You are not alone.  All who will to possess the things of God are faced with the same distractions and many are standing firm and possessing all.

Turn Away From All That Distracts

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2018, Accomplish, desire, distract, distractions, problems

“Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bring it to maturity and perfection].  He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

If you’re going to accomplish anything in 2018 you’re going to have to turn away from all distractions.

Satan uses all manner of things to distract us from doing the will of God.  He uses our families, our finances, our bodies, our phones, our computers, our communities, our government, and so much more.  Here’s why, he knows that when we’re distracted by the problems in our environment we’re not focused on doing what God has called us to do.  You can’t do both.  You can’t focus on what God has called you to do and focus on the problem.  Paul compares it to a man called to war.  He says in II Timothy 2:4 “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier”.   We’ve been chosen to be soldiers in the army of God and we’re fighting the good fight of faith.  Jesus is the Leader and the Source of our faith and the only way for us to finish strong is for us to keep our eyes on Him.

Keeping our eyes on Jesus is easy when we realize that He is the answer to all of life’s problems. There is no problem that we can encounter that Jesus hasn’t already solved for us at Calvary.  He is our answer and our solution.  He is bigger than any problem we could ever face.  We need only to see Him as He is, bigger than any problem we could ever face.  You’re not going to be distracted by the problems in your environment when you’re looking at the solution.

Not only that, He alone can fill the thirst of our souls.  We don’t have to be distracted by our phones or social media because none of these things can satisfy like Jesus can. Take the women at the well in St John chapter 4.  She was longing for love and attention that’s why she had had five husbands. Even the man she was living with couldn’t satisfy her longing for love.  It was only when she met Jesus that her thirst was satisfied. You’re not going to be distracted by your thirst when you’re drinking what satisfies.

Whatever the enemy is using to cause you to look away from Jesus turn away from all that distracts and fix your eyes on Jesus the Author and Finisher, the Leader and Source of your faith.  He has set the example for us.  He didn’t get distracted by anything the enemy was using in His environment He finished His course because He kept his eyes on the prize, the joy of completing the will of His Father.  Let’s start the year strong and finish the year strong by turning away from all that would distract and keeping our eyes on Jesus.