Are you there? Am I there? When one looks up the word, “faith” in the Strong’s concordance (I have the 1985 -edition)there are only 2 references in the O.Testament, Deut. 32:20 & Hab. 2:4, all the rest are found in great abundance in the New Testament.
“Be Alert and on your Guard: stand Firm in your Faith. Act like men and be Courageous; grow in Strength!” I Cor. 16:13
“Be Strong and let your heart take Courage, all you who wait and hope for and expect the Lord!” Ps. 31:24; “. . . for by Faith you stand” 2:Cor. 1:24
“Above all, taking the shield of Faith which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Eph. 6:16 “. . .I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the STEADFASTNESS of your FAITH in Christ.” Col. 2:5; “I have FOUGHT the good FIGHT, I have finished the race, I have kept the FAITH.” 2Tim. 4:7. With hundreds of references to FAITH, FAITHFUL, FAITHFULNESS, et al., we should be convinced that our FAITH is a valuable spiritual commodity, worthy of protecting and using. Paul wrote that he KEPT the FAITH. When one reads the things He suffered in regards to his faith in the Lord Jesus/the gospel, one sees that he didn’t play around with his Christianity (like so many do these days).
Paul wrote to Timothy, encouraging him to “wage the good warfare”. (1Tim 1:18). The next line in his epistle was “. . .some, having REJECTED, concerning the FAITH have suffered shipwreck.” (eg. Hymenaeus and Alexander) 1Tim. 1:19, 20.
Shipwreck! Dreadful!
The Amplified Bible states: “Keeping fast hold on Faith and a good (clear) conscience. By rejecting and thrusting from them (their conscience) some individuals have made shipwreck their faith.” So, by not holding Firm one’s faith, one can lose out, his/her faith, Shakable and Breakable! ! !
This is not all, Paul ends his epistle with, “by professing it (false knowledge) some have STRAYED, concerning the faith.” 1Tim. 6:21
There is More—In Paul’s second epistle to Timothy, he writes: “Now as Jannes & Jambres resisted Moses, so do these who resist the truth (read verses 1-7): men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith 2Tim. 3:8.
DISAPPROVED? Yep! Resisting God or His true anointed and appointed ministers can put us in the class of the “disapproved”. We reject the faith, we get rejected!
The NKJV uses the words, “corrupt minds”whereas the Amplified Bible et al. Use the word “reprobate”, ie. Those who resist/reject/oppose the truth (revealed)”. . .have depraved and distorted minds, and are reprobate and counterfeit and to be rejected as far as the faith is concerned” 2Tim. 3:8, Amp. Bible. (See Exodus 7:11 et al.) Paul goes on to write, “they will not get very far, for their rash folly will become evident to everyone. . .” verse 9, 2Tim. 3 in the Amplified Bible.
Paul doesn’t stop there, he goes on to write, “Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution”. Verse 12; ARE WE READY?
THE ONLY WAY—The only way to ward off the
enemies of God’s purpose and plan for our lives is to remain strong, steadfast, and sound in the faith. This takes dominion and discipline.
In Titus, chapter one, Paul writes that an overseer must “hold fast” (firm) to the sure and trustworthy word of God” Verse 9 and rebuke those who do not (verse 13). The rebuke, if heeded, will cause the wayward to stand “sound in the faith and free from error”. Verse 13.
Trust me, there will be some in need of rebuking but upon receiving it, will turn hostile towards you. You can expect lawsuits, and plenty of persecution if you dare try to help some out of the MESS they have fallen into. But, as James 1:3 states “Be assured and understand that the trial of proving of your (our) faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.”
Peter writes along the same line “So that the genuineness of your (our) faith may be tested, which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. . .” 1Peter 1:7 Amplified Bible.
Peter goes on to write: “. . .Be VIGILANT and CAUTIOUS at all times, for that enemy of yours (ours) the devil, roams around. . .”seeking someone to seize upon and devour. WITHSTAND him; be FIRM in FAITH, rooted, established, strong, immovable and determined.”. . .1Peter 5:9 BE FIRM! ROOTED! ESTABLISHED! STRONG! IMMOVABLE! DETERMINED!
Jude writes: “. . .I found it necessary and was impelled to write you and urgently appeal to and exhort you to CONTEND for the faith. . .” Jude 3. Jude calls faith—MOST HOLY FAITH (Vs. 20) Sadly too many do not view faith this way. They see it as oppressive and judgmental.
We read John’s letter in Revelation which he penned, “Here (comes in a call for the steadfastness of the saints—the patience, the endurance. . .who (habitually) keep God’s commandments and (their) faith in Jesus.” Revelation 14:12 Amplified Bible
SO. . . The Holy Bible has plenty to say about “faith” and the believers. (note: in the Companion Bible it points out that the use of the word, “wiles” eg. Eph. 6:11,NKJV (in Greek, “methodeia”) “shows that the method or scheme (secular word—machinations) is
of the devil/satan himself, and not merely error.” (note from the Companion Bible)
WAR ZONE—WORLD!
No place to run, no place to hide! Even here in good old U.S.A. the intensity of Satan’s attack/machinations are terrorizing these days. The Church U.S.A. Has long ago backslid, hence people’s faith has become shakable and breakable!
The politically correct/woke revolution has herded the lambs and sheep into silence (with exceptions of course). Today’s church has become a glorified whorehouse full of practicing perverts, pimps, whores, whoremongers, pill-popping, pot smoking, alcohol drinking liars and cheats. . .the Blind leading the Blind! Ho Hum! Unless the people called, “Christian” put “Christ” back into their lives, America will continue to go downward. We need a nuclear—powered revolution. Away with this phony church stuff that does nothing to stop the flow of evil that is suffocating us. ACTIVATE YOUR FAITH FOR THE FIGHT!
By: General Jim Green