Sermon Title: Nurturing True Faith
“From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier 4 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord.” (Genesis 13:3-4)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
After his disastrous detour into Egypt, Abram was a wreak.
He wandered “from place to place until” – lost, dejected, and perhaps, depressed - until the Lord led him back to “where he had first built an altar”.
In his state of wretchedness, Abram “called on the Name of the Lord” who remained faithful to restore him – in spite of his sin - onto the pathway of nurturing true faith in Him.
Blessed indeed, are those who know that our loving and faithful God guides us “along the right paths for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3)
Even though Abram “called on the Name of the Lord” here in Genesis 13:4, it does not mean that he would not doubt, fail, nor sin against Him later.
The key to the believer’s life of faith is wholly established on God’s faithfulness – as evidenced by Abram’s return on the divine pathway of faith in the living God.
Faith is described as a journey, a pathway, or a process; and yet, you either have faith in God or you don’t.
You are either on the pathway of faith in Christ; or you are not.
There is only one pathway to God – and that is only through utter faith in Christ. (Ref: John 14:6)
Which is why “little faith” earns sharp rebukes from the Lord; and counts as no faith at all – for it is a pathway unto itself; one that falls short of His glory (Ref: Romans 3:23) and does not lead to God.
True faith in God must be nurtured - with great effort and strain.
In a fallen world, imbued with a fallen nature, if you are not nurturing faith, you are reflexively nurturing pride, fear and doubt.
Faith in God is the very antithesis of a life of sin, fraught with pride, fear and doubt.
To nurture true faith in God is to make every effort to deny and fight every fragment of pride, fear and doubt from affecting your utter dependence and trust in Him.
Our Lord knows what you are going through; and He is carrying you through the streams and storms of life even if you cannot sense His Presence.
God’s Providence, Protection and Power is upon each of His children; and it remains our holy task to open our hearts fully and solely to Him in our fight of faith over pride, fear and doubt.
The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy precisely,
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12)
Indeed, faith is the good fight that you must fight – by taking hold of our faith in God’s Salvation and gift of eternal life through Christ; overcoming the sins of pride, fear and doubt that causes us to break faith with Him.
In everything, recognise God’s Providence – fight pride with faith
Our Lord Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:28-32,
““And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you--you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
Be very clear.
The root of anxiety is pride.
We worry because we have our own purpose to fulfill; agendas that is not God’s.
We are prideful – to think that God cannot entirely know what we need, nor can He understand our struggles or supply our every need.
Repent from the sin of pride; repel pride – have faith in God’s Providence.
In everything, recognise God’s Protection – fight fear with faith
“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat.
But Jesus was sleeping.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”
Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this?
Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:23-27)
With Christ in the vessel, we can smile – or perhaps, even sleep - in the storm.
Be assured.
We will never drown when He is around.
We will never be overwhelmed by the challenges in life when He is around.
Remember that to have little faith is to have none at all.
Know the Will of God.
Our Lord Jesus did.
Have faith in the Will of God.
Fight any fear you have with faith in the living God.
Live faithfully, and fearlessly, in His Victory! (Ref: 1 Corinthians 15:57)
In everything, recognise God’s Power – fight doubt with faith
“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.
“It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.
“You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.
And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country.
People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.” (Matthew 14:25-36)
Once again, the disciples – whose boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it” (Matthew 14:24) - found themselves in the face of a watery death.
This time, things were fundamentally different.
The Lord Jesus was not with them as He had previously been .
Once again, the disciples thought that they were going to die.
This is clearly evidenced in their fearful cries that a ghost was on hand to bring them into the afterlife.
When the Lord Jesus immediately revealed Himself and quelled their fears, Peter asked to join him – for he knew that chances were far better being with the Lord, than remaining on the battered boat.
The Lord commanded Peter to come to Him.
In this command to Peter, the Lord teaches us that to come to Him, meant that our eyes (body), heart (desire), mind (focus) and soul (being) must resolutely, solely and utterly remain on Him.
The moment Peter’s eyes strayed from the Lord, he doubted and began to drown.
Never take consolation for the “little faith” you have.
Never think to yourself, “at least, I have a “little faith”.”
Like Peter, we would drown if we only have “little faith”.
To have faith in Christ requires that we keep our eyes – along with our heart, mind, and soul - solely and utterly upon Him.
Upon his cries for help, our Lord Jesus immediately “reached out His hand and caught him” and reunited Peter with rest of the disciples on that boat.
Even though the wind died down, clearly on the Lord’s command, the boat remained seaworthy only because Christ was now on board.
With Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm – for in His time, His Peace in us will become the Peace that surrounds us.
The moment they landed, “People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.” (Matthew 14:36)
Not only did they not doubt the Power of Christ, the sick simply believed that to be healed, they need only touch the edge of His cloak – which is, in every regard, “the train of His robe.” (Isaiah 6:1)
Never doubt.
The Lord Jesus is truly – the Son of God!
Jude 17-23 instructs us precisely on how to deal with doubt (and doubters); and how we must persevere in our Christian faith:
“But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.
They said to you,
“In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”
These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
In this passage, Jude shares four things to help us deal with doubt.
- Remember, memorise and internalise the Word of God (Ref: Jude 17);
- Doubt our own doubts, doubt the world – especially the scoffers of this world; but never doubt God (Ref: Jude 18-19);
Doubt is insidious; and scoffers are absolutely carnal minded, complete devoid of the Holy Spirit – who seek to divide the church with their own perverse doubts.
God has given us His Word; internalise His Truth.
God has also bestowed upon us the ability to discern good and evil.
Use this God-given ability wisely – doubt the paradigms and teachings of this dark world.
Remember.
In everything, trust God; but doubt everything about what the world has to offer and stands for. (Ref: Romans 12:2)
Never trust your doubt; trust God alone!
- Work out your salvation by concurrently working the doubts and sins out of your life (Jude 20-21);
To build yourself “up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit” and to “keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life” is to allow the Holy Spirit to help you work out your salvation in Christ while working all the doubts and sins out of your life – as you wait for the Lord’s return.
This is the divine Christian task which requires our greatest effort as we journey on the pathway of utter faith in Christ.
Understand that doubts will still happen.
And yet, when you are nurturing true faith, victoriously overcoming doubts by simply trusting God become the birth pangs, or the passages, of a deeper resolve to keep our faith in Christ.
- Have mercy on those who doubt - including yourself (Jude 22-23).
It is through our previous bouts with doubts that our resolve to have faith in Christ is strengthened.
In fact, we are still struggling with doubts today.
And yet, the Lord remains compassionate, patient and merciful toward us in our doubts – past, present and future.
Which is why we must have compassion, patience and mercy to those who continue to doubt the Lord.
However, in our compassion and mercy, we must remain alert to the Spirit’s guidance to teach, correct, and rebuke - to “snatch” and “save” some from the fire of the “second death” (Ref: Revelation 21:8); and for those who continue to doubt, we are to remain compassionate towards them, and act with urgency as the Spirit leads and empowers us - whilst vehemently hating sin; and taking every divine opportunity to call them unto a life of repentance, out of reverence for God.
The pathway of true faith is a corporate journey.
By the blood of Jesus, we pray and worship in fellowship; and it is through this sacred fellowship that our faith is nurtured together; and even consecrated (set apart) and sanctified (made holy) together.
Hebrews 10:19-25 speaks precisely to our corporate call to persevere in corporate faith, consecration and sanctification.
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
1 John 1:7 even teaches us that “if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
To walk the light of the Lord corporately as His Church positions us to be purified from all sin by the blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour!
Faith is necessary for Salvation, living the Surrendered life, and Service unto the Living God; and this is our fight of the good fight of faith.
An eternal life with Christ begins with faith – faith in His Providence, Protection and Power to save.
This simple faith in Christ overcomes pride, fear and doubt; and becomes stronger after every battle to destroy us.
The substance of Christian faith that gives us victory over all sin is the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 9:14 reveals clearly to us:
“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”
The blood of Jesus Christ has the power to “cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”
That is the substance of the Gospel!
Have faith in Christ; have faith that His blood shed for us on the Cross has fully atoned for our sins, freeing us from the wages of sin, which is death; and cleansed even our consciences from the bondages of sin.
But what activates our faith in Christ? What sets us on the pathway of true faith?
Thanksgiving; our necessary response to Hebrew 9:14.
Thanksgiving to God activates our faith in Him
In fact, our Lord exemplifies this to us.
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying,
“Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:26-28 – Bold emphasis mine)
There is no one greater than Jesus, and there is nothing stronger than the power of His Blood; that through His Blood, we are saved, ransomed and restored for eternal life in His Coming Kingdom!
There is nothing more, nor nothing else we should be thankful about, other than the Body and Blood of Jesus that makes us fully assured that we are holy and righteous; worthy to draw near to God in faith.
In every circumstance, give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ; and experience true faith in Him activated and your victory assured!
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, by Your Spirit’s Power, set me on the pathway of true faith in You through my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Grant me divine strength and resolve to deny and fight every fragment of pride, fear and doubt from affecting my utter dependence and trust in You.
I believe that Your Providence, Protection and Power is upon each of Your children; and it remains our holy task to open our hearts fully and solely to Him in our fight of faith over pride, fear and doubt.
Thank You, Lord – that You have granted us victory over the bondages and wages of sin through Christ!
Help me daily take hold of my faith in Your Salvation and gift of eternal life through Christ- that I would daily live victorious over pride, fear and doubt by fully recognising Your Providence, Protection and Power.
Forgive me for ever breaking faith with You, Lord; I repent from every moment when I sin by allowing pride, fear and doubt to come into my life.
Thank You for faithfully reaching out to save me from my every act of unfaithfulness.
Teach me through Your Holy Spirit to daily live in humility before You, fearlessly for You and faithfully to You.
May my eyes (body), heart (desire), mind (focus) and soul (being) resolutely, solely and utterly remain on Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour – for You are my Peace, O Lord – my ever present Help through every circumstance of life!
Thank You Lord, that the pathway of true faith is a corporate journey – that by the blood of Jesus, our faith is nurtured together, and even consecrated and sanctified when we pray and worship in fellowship.
Thank You for the Blood of Christ applied to my heart – that cleanses “our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14)
And thank You, Lord, for Your divine revelation that thanksgiving activates our faith in You.
Indeed, there is no one greater than Jesus; and there is nothing stronger than the power of His Blood to save, ransom and restore us unto eternal life in Your Coming Kingdom.
Thank You for the Blood of Christ applied!
Thank You for Your Love, O God; Your Salvation through Christ; and Your Holy Spirit’s Power in my life that I am saved, to live a surrendered life of Christian Service - for Your Glory sake!
For my life and for every circumstance, I give thanks to You, Lord.
Thank You for my faith in You!
May my faith in You be activated in a mighty way; as I live daily assured of Your Victory in my life.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
“From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier 4 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord.” (Genesis 13:3-4)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
After his disastrous detour into Egypt, Abram was a wreak.
He wandered “from place to place until” – lost, dejected, and perhaps, depressed - until the Lord led him back to “where he had first built an altar”.
In his state of wretchedness, Abram “called on the Name of the Lord” who remained faithful to restore him – in spite of his sin - onto the pathway of nurturing true faith in Him.
Blessed indeed, are those who know that our loving and faithful God guides us “along the right paths for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3)
Even though Abram “called on the Name of the Lord” here in Genesis 13:4, it does not mean that he would not doubt, fail, nor sin against Him later.
The key to the believer’s life of faith is wholly established on God’s faithfulness – as evidenced by Abram’s return on the divine pathway of faith in the living God.
Faith is described as a journey, a pathway, or a process; and yet, you either have faith in God or you don’t.
You are either on the pathway of faith in Christ; or you are not.
There is only one pathway to God – and that is only through utter faith in Christ. (Ref: John 14:6)
Which is why “little faith” earns sharp rebukes from the Lord; and counts as no faith at all – for it is a pathway unto itself; one that falls short of His glory (Ref: Romans 3:23) and does not lead to God.
True faith in God must be nurtured - with great effort and strain.
In a fallen world, imbued with a fallen nature, if you are not nurturing faith, you are reflexively nurturing pride, fear and doubt.
Faith in God is the very antithesis of a life of sin, fraught with pride, fear and doubt.
To nurture true faith in God is to make every effort to deny and fight every fragment of pride, fear and doubt from affecting your utter dependence and trust in Him.
Our Lord knows what you are going through; and He is carrying you through the streams and storms of life even if you cannot sense His Presence.
God’s Providence, Protection and Power is upon each of His children; and it remains our holy task to open our hearts fully and solely to Him in our fight of faith over pride, fear and doubt.
The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy precisely,
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12)
Indeed, faith is the good fight that you must fight – by taking hold of our faith in God’s Salvation and gift of eternal life through Christ; overcoming the sins of pride, fear and doubt that causes us to break faith with Him.
In everything, recognise God’s Providence – fight pride with faith
Our Lord Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:28-32,
““And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you--you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
Be very clear.
The root of anxiety is pride.
We worry because we have our own purpose to fulfill; agendas that is not God’s.
We are prideful – to think that God cannot entirely know what we need, nor can He understand our struggles or supply our every need.
Repent from the sin of pride; repel pride – have faith in God’s Providence.
In everything, recognise God’s Protection – fight fear with faith
“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat.
But Jesus was sleeping.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”
Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this?
Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:23-27)
With Christ in the vessel, we can smile – or perhaps, even sleep - in the storm.
Be assured.
We will never drown when He is around.
We will never be overwhelmed by the challenges in life when He is around.
Remember that to have little faith is to have none at all.
Know the Will of God.
Our Lord Jesus did.
Have faith in the Will of God.
Fight any fear you have with faith in the living God.
Live faithfully, and fearlessly, in His Victory! (Ref: 1 Corinthians 15:57)
In everything, recognise God’s Power – fight doubt with faith
“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.
“It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.
“You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.
And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country.
People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.” (Matthew 14:25-36)
Once again, the disciples – whose boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it” (Matthew 14:24) - found themselves in the face of a watery death.
This time, things were fundamentally different.
The Lord Jesus was not with them as He had previously been .
Once again, the disciples thought that they were going to die.
This is clearly evidenced in their fearful cries that a ghost was on hand to bring them into the afterlife.
When the Lord Jesus immediately revealed Himself and quelled their fears, Peter asked to join him – for he knew that chances were far better being with the Lord, than remaining on the battered boat.
The Lord commanded Peter to come to Him.
In this command to Peter, the Lord teaches us that to come to Him, meant that our eyes (body), heart (desire), mind (focus) and soul (being) must resolutely, solely and utterly remain on Him.
The moment Peter’s eyes strayed from the Lord, he doubted and began to drown.
Never take consolation for the “little faith” you have.
Never think to yourself, “at least, I have a “little faith”.”
Like Peter, we would drown if we only have “little faith”.
To have faith in Christ requires that we keep our eyes – along with our heart, mind, and soul - solely and utterly upon Him.
Upon his cries for help, our Lord Jesus immediately “reached out His hand and caught him” and reunited Peter with rest of the disciples on that boat.
Even though the wind died down, clearly on the Lord’s command, the boat remained seaworthy only because Christ was now on board.
With Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm – for in His time, His Peace in us will become the Peace that surrounds us.
The moment they landed, “People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.” (Matthew 14:36)
Not only did they not doubt the Power of Christ, the sick simply believed that to be healed, they need only touch the edge of His cloak – which is, in every regard, “the train of His robe.” (Isaiah 6:1)
Never doubt.
The Lord Jesus is truly – the Son of God!
Jude 17-23 instructs us precisely on how to deal with doubt (and doubters); and how we must persevere in our Christian faith:
“But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.
They said to you,
“In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”
These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
In this passage, Jude shares four things to help us deal with doubt.
- Remember, memorise and internalise the Word of God (Ref: Jude 17);
- Doubt our own doubts, doubt the world – especially the scoffers of this world; but never doubt God (Ref: Jude 18-19);
Doubt is insidious; and scoffers are absolutely carnal minded, complete devoid of the Holy Spirit – who seek to divide the church with their own perverse doubts.
God has given us His Word; internalise His Truth.
God has also bestowed upon us the ability to discern good and evil.
Use this God-given ability wisely – doubt the paradigms and teachings of this dark world.
Remember.
In everything, trust God; but doubt everything about what the world has to offer and stands for. (Ref: Romans 12:2)
Never trust your doubt; trust God alone!
- Work out your salvation by concurrently working the doubts and sins out of your life (Jude 20-21);
To build yourself “up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit” and to “keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life” is to allow the Holy Spirit to help you work out your salvation in Christ while working all the doubts and sins out of your life – as you wait for the Lord’s return.
This is the divine Christian task which requires our greatest effort as we journey on the pathway of utter faith in Christ.
Understand that doubts will still happen.
And yet, when you are nurturing true faith, victoriously overcoming doubts by simply trusting God become the birth pangs, or the passages, of a deeper resolve to keep our faith in Christ.
- Have mercy on those who doubt - including yourself (Jude 22-23).
It is through our previous bouts with doubts that our resolve to have faith in Christ is strengthened.
In fact, we are still struggling with doubts today.
And yet, the Lord remains compassionate, patient and merciful toward us in our doubts – past, present and future.
Which is why we must have compassion, patience and mercy to those who continue to doubt the Lord.
However, in our compassion and mercy, we must remain alert to the Spirit’s guidance to teach, correct, and rebuke - to “snatch” and “save” some from the fire of the “second death” (Ref: Revelation 21:8); and for those who continue to doubt, we are to remain compassionate towards them, and act with urgency as the Spirit leads and empowers us - whilst vehemently hating sin; and taking every divine opportunity to call them unto a life of repentance, out of reverence for God.
The pathway of true faith is a corporate journey.
By the blood of Jesus, we pray and worship in fellowship; and it is through this sacred fellowship that our faith is nurtured together; and even consecrated (set apart) and sanctified (made holy) together.
Hebrews 10:19-25 speaks precisely to our corporate call to persevere in corporate faith, consecration and sanctification.
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
1 John 1:7 even teaches us that “if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
To walk the light of the Lord corporately as His Church positions us to be purified from all sin by the blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour!
Faith is necessary for Salvation, living the Surrendered life, and Service unto the Living God; and this is our fight of the good fight of faith.
An eternal life with Christ begins with faith – faith in His Providence, Protection and Power to save.
This simple faith in Christ overcomes pride, fear and doubt; and becomes stronger after every battle to destroy us.
The substance of Christian faith that gives us victory over all sin is the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 9:14 reveals clearly to us:
“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”
The blood of Jesus Christ has the power to “cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”
That is the substance of the Gospel!
Have faith in Christ; have faith that His blood shed for us on the Cross has fully atoned for our sins, freeing us from the wages of sin, which is death; and cleansed even our consciences from the bondages of sin.
But what activates our faith in Christ? What sets us on the pathway of true faith?
Thanksgiving; our necessary response to Hebrew 9:14.
Thanksgiving to God activates our faith in Him
In fact, our Lord exemplifies this to us.
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying,
“Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:26-28 – Bold emphasis mine)
There is no one greater than Jesus, and there is nothing stronger than the power of His Blood; that through His Blood, we are saved, ransomed and restored for eternal life in His Coming Kingdom!
There is nothing more, nor nothing else we should be thankful about, other than the Body and Blood of Jesus that makes us fully assured that we are holy and righteous; worthy to draw near to God in faith.
In every circumstance, give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ; and experience true faith in Him activated and your victory assured!
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, by Your Spirit’s Power, set me on the pathway of true faith in You through my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Grant me divine strength and resolve to deny and fight every fragment of pride, fear and doubt from affecting my utter dependence and trust in You.
I believe that Your Providence, Protection and Power is upon each of Your children; and it remains our holy task to open our hearts fully and solely to Him in our fight of faith over pride, fear and doubt.
Thank You, Lord – that You have granted us victory over the bondages and wages of sin through Christ!
Help me daily take hold of my faith in Your Salvation and gift of eternal life through Christ- that I would daily live victorious over pride, fear and doubt by fully recognising Your Providence, Protection and Power.
Forgive me for ever breaking faith with You, Lord; I repent from every moment when I sin by allowing pride, fear and doubt to come into my life.
Thank You for faithfully reaching out to save me from my every act of unfaithfulness.
Teach me through Your Holy Spirit to daily live in humility before You, fearlessly for You and faithfully to You.
May my eyes (body), heart (desire), mind (focus) and soul (being) resolutely, solely and utterly remain on Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour – for You are my Peace, O Lord – my ever present Help through every circumstance of life!
Thank You Lord, that the pathway of true faith is a corporate journey – that by the blood of Jesus, our faith is nurtured together, and even consecrated and sanctified when we pray and worship in fellowship.
Thank You for the Blood of Christ applied to my heart – that cleanses “our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14)
And thank You, Lord, for Your divine revelation that thanksgiving activates our faith in You.
Indeed, there is no one greater than Jesus; and there is nothing stronger than the power of His Blood to save, ransom and restore us unto eternal life in Your Coming Kingdom.
Thank You for the Blood of Christ applied!
Thank You for Your Love, O God; Your Salvation through Christ; and Your Holy Spirit’s Power in my life that I am saved, to live a surrendered life of Christian Service - for Your Glory sake!
For my life and for every circumstance, I give thanks to You, Lord.
Thank You for my faith in You!
May my faith in You be activated in a mighty way; as I live daily assured of Your Victory in my life.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.