FAITH is SO imperative to our relationship with THE LORD, as it diminishes the deceptive holds of the world, which incline us to think, act, and react irrationally as life happens! FAITH is as a foothold, a shield, an MIGHTY empowerment to those who hold fast TO HIM!!!
In this world there is trouble, there are tests, trials, tribulations, uncertainties, disasters, and all sorts of matters which CAN shake a person from their FAITH, IF their FAITH is not strong enough! Take courage at all times, and BELIEVE in THE WORD, in THE LORD; LET FAITH BE the rope to which we cling, always! We CAN'T take FAITH for granted, because it WILL be tried, and if it has NOT been worked, built, and strengthened, it CAN be tried to the point of no effectiveness!!!
We are being prepared for what is to come; and so, we are to MASTER certain characteristics/behaviours, most prominently such as LOVE, HUMILITY, and FAITH! FAITH guards us in all times, but especially in chaotic times, when the evil one WILL slip in on the slightest weakness, as FAITH is challenged by conditions, and circumstances! Don't we yet know that such are tests of our FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS? Don't we yet realize that such things are common to the world, but, we are NOT of the world, and therefore, CAN and WILL be attended to all the more with FAITH, with FAITHFULNESS??!
People panic quite easily, and in doing so, leave their FAITH behind the panic! This should never happen, as FAITH PROVIDES even in the most frightening conditions/circumstances of our days, of this world! Panic is an opening for the deceiver to lead us away from solid, HOLY footing, and grounds...
Many tell me we have NO responsibility to our being saved, and yet, FAITH requires development to the nines! It HAS to be honed to as near perfection as we are able to, because the enemy is quite creative, and more than intent, as he works deliberately, and diligently, to beguile unstable souls, he has a seeming endless source of tricks up his sleeve, so to speak, and he will quit at nothing to take from *GOD* what is *GOD'S*!!!
We are TAUGHT by THE WORD, HOW to resist the enemy, and FAITH IS crucial in doing so! Don't we know that when we are shaken, he steps right in to work against us, in ANY way feasible???
Spiritual strength and courage are needed for our spiritual warfare and suffering. Those who would prove themselves to have true grace, must aim at all grace; and put on the whole armour of God, which he prepares and bestows. The Christian armour is made to be worn; and there is no putting off our armour till we have done our warfare, and finished our course.
The combat is not against human enemies, nor against our own corrupt nature only; we have to do with an enemy who has a thousand ways of beguiling unstable souls. The devils assault us in the things that belong to our souls, and labour to deface the heavenly image in our hearts. We must resolve by God's grace, not to yield to Satan. Resist him, and he will flee. If we give way, he will get ground. If we distrust either our cause, or our Leader, or our armour, we give him advantage.
The different parts of the armour of heavy-armed soldiers, who had to sustain the fiercest assaults of the enemy, are here described. There is none for the back; nothing to defend those who turn back in the Christian warfare. Truth, or sincerity, is the girdle. This girds on all the other pieces of our armour, and is first mentioned. There can be no religion without sincerity. The righteousness of Christ, imputed to us, is a breastplate against the arrows of Divine wrath. The righteousness of Christ implanted in us, fortifies the heart against the attacks of Satan. Resolution must be as greaves, or armour to our legs; and to stand their ground or to march forward in rugged paths, the feet must be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Motives to obedience, amidst trials, must be drawn from a clear knowledge of the gospel.
Faith is all in all in an hour of temptation. Faith, as relying on unseen objects, receiving Christ and the benefits of redemption, and so deriving grace from him, is like a shield, a defence every way. The devil is the wicked one. Violent temptations, by which the soul is set on fire of hell, are darts Satan shoots at us. Also, hard thoughts of God, and as to ourselves. Faith applying the word of God and the grace of Christ, quenches the darts of temptation. Salvation must be our helmet. A good hope of salvation, a Scriptural expectation of victory, will purify the soul, and keep it from being defiled by Satan.
To the Christian armed for defense in battle, the apostle recommends only one weapon of attack; but it is enough, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It subdues and mortifies evil desires and blasphemous thoughts as they rise within; and answers unbelief and error as they assault from without. A single text, well understood, and rightly applied, at once destroys a temptation or an objection, and subdues the most formidable adversary.
Prayer must fasten all the other parts of our Christian armour. There are other duties of religion, and of our stations in the world, but we must keep up times of prayer. Though set and solemn prayer may not be seasonable when other duties are to be done, yet short pious prayers darted out, always are so.
We must use holy thoughts in our ordinary course. A vain heart will be vain in prayer. We must pray with all kinds of prayer, public, private, and secret; social and solitary; solemn and sudden: with all the parts of prayer; confession of sin, petition for mercy, and thanksgiving for favours received. And we must do it by the grace of God the Holy Spirit, in dependence on, and according to, his teaching. We must preserve in particular requests, notwithstanding discouragements. We must pray, not for ourselves only, but for all saints.
Our enemies are mighty, and we are without strength, but our Redeemer is almighty, and in the power of his mighty we may overcome. Wherefore we must stir up ourselves. Have not we, when God has called, often neglected to answer? Let us think upon these things, and continue our prayers with patience.
Perhaps we need to remember that THE LORD IS our SAVIOUR every second, of every minute, of every day, of every week, of every month, of every year of our time, NOT only come HIS DAY! Perhaps we need to REALLY brand this into our beings, that our FAITH is on auto-pilot at ALL times, in ALL conditions, in ALL circumstances!!!
REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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