Tag: grew strong

19.i. “He did not weaken in faith”

Romans 4:12 but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had

Romans 4:13  For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

Romans 4:16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification

Faith

Footsteps of Faith

Did not weaken in Faith

Grew strong in his Fatih

Righteousness of Faith

Faith – Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. Confidence, certainty, expectation, unwavering belief in what God has declared and proclaimed throughout His Word begins with surrender of self-reliance, self-confidence, self-worth, or any other form of belief in oneself counted as a means to be right with God and is the beginning of faith.  There is no other way to being the walk of faith.  It must start here. 

Footsteps of faith – Jesus gave the parable of the seeds. “ The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. If there is no steps taken in faith, there is no root.  Things of this world soon dry up the seed and it withers and dies. 

Did not weaken in faith – When faith steps are immediately taken the root of hope and assurance grows deeper.  Faith weathers the storms of life that threaten it.  It is by faith in God we are able to stand in chaos and confusion with the assurance that God is in control.  He is our rock, refuge, mighty fortress.

Grew strong in faith – Steps of faith must be taken to gain strength.  Faith like muscles needs continual exercise to grow stronger.  Faith does not grow on its own.  Faith does not grow when we neglect or become complacent with God’s Word. The root of faith grows when it is continually and abundantly watered with the Word of God.  Do not think for one second that a casual approach to your walk with God will in any way deepen your root of faith.  The heart, mind, and soul must have a deep desire and seek for the purpose of wanting to honor and glorify Jesus Christ every waking moment.  Without this desire and seeking there is barely enough watering to keep faith alive yet alone strengthen it.

Righteousness of Faith – Remember that righteousness is also more than the absence of evil and guilt. It means that God does not only declare us innocent, but righteous. Our sin is carried away as far as the east is from the west. We are washed clean.  Though we were covered crimson red with sin we are now white as snow.  “No sinner, and try he ever so hard, can possibly carry his own sins away and come back cleansed of guilt. No amount of money, no science, no inventive skill, no armies of millions, nor any other earthly power can carry away from the sinner one little sin and its guilt. Once it is committed, every sin and its guilt cling to the sinner as close as does his own shadow, cling to all eternity unless God carries them away.” (Lenski)  Praise God, through Jesus Christ we have been washed clean, redeemed, and will one day live with Him forever in our new glorious and righteous bodies.  

Strength of His might

“Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”

John 11:38  Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.  Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead  four days.”  Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”  So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”  When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”  The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

2 Chronicles 20:20    And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.”

Romans 4:20  No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,  fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.  That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,  who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

2 Corinthians 4:6    For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Some things are hard for us to understand when concerning the power and might of God.  A small child would say God can do anything, but as we grow older and become established in life we seem to lose this child like faith.  God has not changed.  He can do all things.  Our thoughts change, life happens and we sometimes limit what God can do.  There are examples of faith that I love to think about.  In Daniel; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Their faith statement “God can and is able – but even if He doesn’t”  Leaves room for God’s sovereign plan and purpose.  The same was true the night Jesus was betrayed when He said – “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”  Our faith is not a magic wand we shake out actions of God at our command. I don’t know why some faith prayers God answers and others He does not.  Leaving it in His loving hands takes faith.  Leaning not onto our own understanding takes faith.  Trusting the outcome is in His plan and purpose takes faith.  Our Creator has plans and purposes beyond out ability to know and we do well to trust in, rely on, and cling to His promises of love, grace, and mercy.

Let me Hear

“No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,  fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”

Psalms 25:1   To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Psalms 143:8   Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Psalms 31:1  In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!

Romans 10:11  For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

1 Peter 2:6   For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Isaiah 26:3   You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Psalms 34:8  Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Psalms 37:40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Psalms 13:2-4   How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?  Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,  lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

Sometimes this walk of faith seems hard to bear.  Look at what David said: “I lift my soul to You”, “I trust in You”, “In You I take refuge”, and yet David also says: “How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?” This walk with God will encounter trials and issues.  Some of them are brought on by our own doing and other times they are the result of others.    God did not promise us we would not have no trials, troubles, or issues but He did promise: “To never leave us or forsake us”, “He would be ever present in times of trouble”, “He would protect us from evil”, “He would guide us”, “He would give us peace of mind”, “He would bless us”, “He would be our strength”, “He would make known His path for us”…… What kind of faith is it that is never tested and refined?  Hebrews says “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is built on God’s word, His promises, through Jesus Christ.  How much of our faith is built on things of this world or on what others say?  If it is built on anything less than God’s word, His promises, through Jesus Christ it certainly will fail to sustain us in times of trials and troubles of this world and most definitely in eternity.  How do we grow in our faith?  Is it possible to grow without knowing and feeding on God’s word?  Read His word with expectation of Him opening your eyes, ears, and heart to His leading. Commit to humbly serving God more and more each day.