Purposeful and Meaningful: The Unwavering Faith 1

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

I love this hymn “On Christ the solid rock I stand”. Like very many people we sing beautiful hymns but do not take time to understand and absorb the meanings of what we sing. Many old hymns have great power and inspiration.

As part of our series, we shall discus faith as the Holy Spirit leads. Like the four Hebrew men who stood their ground against a powerful ruler, Unwavering faith is saying in presence of a difficult situation “whether or not God comes to save me or not I will never give in to the demands of the enemy”.

Daniel 3:17-18 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

In this account, the young men were not afraid and not willing to compromise their standards. Phew, such great faith in God. When your faith has not come to “do or die” point, then you haven’t really started. Challenges surely must come. The fact is the closer you walk with God the more temptation you face. Does this mean you check out the next exit? Never. It simply means you stand and fight until you are victorious.

Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

The bible says you earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

2Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Faith says “God I completely entrust my life in your hands: it’s not mine but yours for keeps”. Faith goes steps further than believe. What then is faith?

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

This is the best explanation of faith. It is calling those things which we have hoped for as though they were. Our faith pulls those things which have desired into manifestation.

Romans 4:16-18 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

Abraham hoped even against hope that God’s promise in his life will be fulfilled. Everything around you may be disapproving but God’s words in your heart builds up your faith.

Faith moves mountains and changes situations.

Matthew 9:22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

The woman with the issue of blood for 12 whole years got healed. Her faith made her see Jesus’ cloths not just as garments but as a point of contact to her healing. This is faith believing that God can change that situation in your life no matter how hard, how long or how devastating it may be.

But faith has got enemies- fear and doubt (unbelief).

Doubt sees only how impossible the solution can be. Doubt tries to reason out a situation. Doubt comes from reasoning, (worldly wisdom).

For an example, the doctor says you have lost a lot of blood and have only a couple of days to live. Faith says I am healed by stripes. Doubt and reason say you have lost blood, how can you be saved if you don’t get infused with the right blood type?

Mark11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Fear magnifies the problem but faith sees solution. Many believers are overcome with fear. Fear negates your faith.

Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Doubt and fear can make you lose your faith. Jesus said,

Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Luke 12:28-29 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

Your faith should only be in God not in your job, your, spouse, your bank accounts etc. It is easier to say hold on to your faith but in very dire situations it could be very difficult.

Romans 4:19-20 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Abraham had unwavering faith, unbelief did not shake him, and despite all the conditions around him he staggered not in his faith in God. Indeed, Abraham was a man of faith. He had an uncommon faith.

Jesus understands our frame he knows all our weaknesses and all the things we struggle with. He knows sometimes we feel our faith has failed. Yet he encourages us not to give up and also strengthen those who are also weak or are losing faith.

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren

Prayer: Dear Lord help my faith. Help me to trust you enough with everything going on right now in my life in Jesus name.