Growing Our Faith
For the encouragement of the Lord’s scattered people,
Every generation has its constant slate of problems for carnal minds to worry about. For those living in these COVID-defined times, those worries have recently greatly expanded and accelerated. The Lord’s hands have brought the well-being of many nations and the physical health of billions to a tipping point. The related worries of life are now consuming the carnally minded and we must be careful not to follow in these ungodly pursuits. The Lord’s people are not carnal-minded anymore and are being separated by these outward events. If we have turned away and been caught up in these issues, we need to turn back to Him and exercise our God-given faith to live a peaceable life.
1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Our faith is essential for us to endure to the end and complete the journey of salvation. The Lord gives us the proper measure of faith when it is needed. The further we progress in our day of the Lord, the greater the faith required to endure the increasing trials the Lord puts upon us.
1Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Psa 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2Co 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.
2Co 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
If we lack faith at any time, the Lord makes provision for us in due time. Sometimes this is after we fail so the Lord can teach us through His chastening that brings correction and spiritual growth. This is part of the Lord’s ways to teach us by our mistakes and very sins.
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Psa 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.
The sooner we learn to stand on faith and look to the Lord, we will hasten the coming of the Lord to us that is bringing the overcoming that defines salvation.
Isa 45:22 “Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Our salvation journey has us growing (maturing) in the faith as we progress on the Lord’s timeline. With the Lord now teaching us directly by the life He gives us to live, we are being changed and transformed. What we once could not fathom as a trial we now can face and conquer without fear.
Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2Ti 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
All of us have fallen down at times as the Lord matures us and teaches us, even by our mistakes and failures. Yet even our faith has us knowing, this too is the Lord, so we can quickly get right back up and keep walking the walk.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Pro 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Even the converted Apostles failed at times as the Scriptures attest. The stories of old written for our admonition include many examples of the Lord’s methods of growing us from being weak into strong in the faith. Like Gideon, we are mighty faith warriors for the Lord “in the making”, but have not attained full maturity just yet. Count it a blessing that we know the Lord’s plan to save us by the experiences He is bringing upon us. We are being refined in a furnace of affliction.
Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
It is through many tribulations and trials that we shall enter the kingdom of God. These tribulations are trying our faith and are the means by which the Lord grows His faith within us in the appointed times. The more we decrease, Christ in us is increasing.
Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens:it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it.
Stay strong our brothers and sisters. He is coming to gather us and the completion of our day of redemption draws nearer.
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
The Lord is faithful even when men and all flesh are not. We should remember the promises of God and take great comfort knowing the Lord will lose none of those given to Him in this age.
Joh 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Our faith is being increased as a muscle when we exercise it and use it to stay obedient to the Lord. Taking thoughts captive, turning from evil, fasting from our beastly wickedness is how we pull up trees within us [carnal strongholds] and cleanse the promised land.
Luk 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Luk 17:6 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.
A noteworthy current worldwide trial is the COVID-19 pandemic. This has the world’s powers and elites pushing fear and tempts many to put their trust in men rather than God. This pandemic is the Lord’s work as He is even the Lord of all sickness and diseases. Therefore, we shall not fear this virus, nor shall we put our trust in the strength and wisdom of men.
Psa 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Psa 118:9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
Isa 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
With these trials, the Lord is further separating His people as our day of redemption draws nearer. Be confident and be strong in the faith. He that has begun the good work in us is going to complete it right on schedule.