The Position and Commission of Faith:
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1 Timothy 6:11 But as for you, O man of God, flee from
all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and
true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being
Christ-like), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart. 12
Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you
were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith]
before many witnesses. 13 In the presence of God, Who preserves alive all
living things, and of Christ Jesus, Who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate
made the good confession, I [solemnly] charge you.
2 Timothy 4:6 For I am already about to be sacrificed
[my life is about to be poured out as a drink offering]; the time of my
[spirit's] release [from the body] is at hand and I will soon go free. 7 I
have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the
race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith. 8 [As to what remains] henceforth
there is laid up for me the [victor's] crown of righteousness [for being right
with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to
me and recompense me on that [great] day--and not to me only, but also to all
those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing (His return).
The Father is looking for a generation that believes
in Him and walks habitually with Him:
Luke 18:7 And will not [our just] God defend and
protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night?
Will He defer them and delay help on their behalf? 8 I tell you, He will defend
and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes,
will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth? 9 He also told this
parable to some people who trusted in themselves and were confident that they
were righteous [that they were upright and in right standing with God] and
scorned and made nothing of all the rest of men:
- Luke
17:26 And [just] as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the time
of the Son of Man. 27 [People] ate, they drank, they married, they were
given in marriage, right up to the day when Noah went into the ark, and
the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 So also [it was the same] as it
was in the days of
His revealing will be through a People who fully walk
with Him, and who reflect Him through their lives!
The KEY: Walking habitually with God: Genesis 17:1; Genesis 24:20; Galatians 5:16
Romans 5:2 Through Him also we have [our] access
(entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in
which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of
experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.
Acts 14:21 When they had preached the good news
(Gospel) to that town and made disciples of many of the people, they went back
to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, 22 Establishing and strengthening the souls
and the hearts of the disciples, urging and warning and encouraging them to
stand firm in the faith, and [telling them] that it is through many hardships
and tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had
appointed and ordained elders for them in each church with prayer and fasting,
they committed them to the Lord in Whom they had come to believe [being full of
joyful trust that He is the Christ, the Messiah].
Persistent in faith Robust
faith
Firm in faith Sincere
faith
Full of faith
Strong in faith
Empowered by faith
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be alert and on your guard;
stand firm in your faith ( your conviction respecting man's relationship to God
and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part
of it). Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength! 14 Let everything you
do be done in love (true love to God and man as inspired by God's love for us).
2 Corinthians 1:23 But I call upon God as my soul's
witness: it was to avoid hurting you that I refrained from coming to Corinth-- 24
Not that we have dominion [over you] and lord it over your faith, but
[rather that we work with you as] fellow laborers [to promote] your joy, for in
[your] faith (in your strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the
Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God) you
stand firm.
Philippians 1:26 So that in me you may have abundant
cause for exultation and glorying in Christ Jesus, through my coming to you
again. 27 Only be sure as citizens so to conduct yourselves [that] your manner
of life [will be] worthy of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, so that
whether I [do] come and see you or am absent, I may hear this of you: that
you are standing firm in united spirit and purpose, striving side by side and
contending with a single mind for the faith of the glad tidings (the Gospel).
28 And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your
opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a
clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a
sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.
Faith is firmly established in our whole being:
Spirit - Soul - Body
(The leaning of our whole
personality and being upon Him!)
Psalms 24:6
Colossians 2: 4 I say this in order that no one may
mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and
beguiling speech. 5 For though I am away from you in body, yet I am with you
in spirit, delighted at the sight of your [standing shoulder to shoulder in
such] orderly array and the firmness and the solid front and steadfastness of
your faith in Christ [that leaning of the entire human personality on Him in
absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. 6 As you
have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your
lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him.
The Process of Faith: The Qualifying Process to become a
Generation of Faith)
Romans 15:1 WE WHO are strong [in our convictions
and of robust faith] ought to bear with the failings and the frailties and
the tender scruples of the weak; [we ought to help carry the doubts and qualms
of others] and not to please ourselves.
1 Peter 5:8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of
mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the
devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to
seize upon and devour. 9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his
onset--rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that
the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole
body of Christians) throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a
little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who
has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself
complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely,
and strengthen, and settle you.
The Spirit of Faith is also Fire... the same Inner Fire that empowers you from
within, to be His Reflection on earth!
2 Timothy 1:4 And when, as I recall your tears, I
yearn to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am calling up
memories of your sincere and unqualified faith (the leaning of your entire
personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power,
wisdom, and goodness), [a faith] that first lived permanently in [the heart of]
your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am [fully] persuaded,
[dwells] in you also. 6 That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the
embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the
inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with
those of the elders at your ordination].
2 Corinthians 4:12 Thus death is actively at work in
us, but [it is in order that our] life [may be actively at work] in you. 13 Yet
we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, I have believed, and
therefore have I spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak, 14 Assured
that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and bring
us [along] with you into His presence.
- Psalms
116:10 I believed (trusted in, relied on,
and clung to my God), and therefore have I spoken [even when I said], I am
greatly afflicted.
Romans 4:19 He did not weaken in faith when he
considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead
because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the
barrenness of Sarah's [deadened] womb. 20 No unbelief or distrust made him
waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong
and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, 21 Fully
satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do
what He had promised.
-Susan O'Marra
05-25-14
