YOUR FAITH MUST NOT FAIL

Faith is a firm belief and a deep conviction in the reality of something that is often unseen. It derives from a personal encounter with God. Faith is based on the promises of God. These promises are personal. In our faith, we must be persuaded about God. Our faith will go through challenging situations, crisis, and different encounters. Faith does not deny facts and situations. It does not deny the circumstances but it chooses to believe God. That is the challenge of faith! You have to make a choice to believe God.

How do we hold fast to our faith?

LOOK AT THE EXAMPLES OF MEN OF FAITH
The men of old held fast to their faith. ‘Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy’ (James 5:10-11 BSB). Everyone who has faith must look at the end. Set your mind on Jesus. Remember Abraham, Job, Joshua, Caleb… See yourself escaping the situations, see yourself coming out strong. Cast your mind on the examples of the people who have succeeded. Derive strength from their testimonies.

CONTINUALLY EXHORT ONE ANOTHER .
Don’t stand aloof, interact with other believers. Share the Word of God, exhort, edify, encourage and strengthen one another. Hebrews 3:13 says, ‘But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin’ (KJV). Call other people. Reach out to others. Encourage someone whose faith is flagging. Hebrews 10:25 says, ‘Not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching’ (CSB). Exhorting means to lift up, to build up through the scriptures. Encouragement is the oxygen of the soul. Encourage your pastors and leaders because their faith also wanes.

ENGAGE IN EARNEST PRAYER
Our faith does not weaken when we engage in earnest prayer. Prayer replenishes and renews a depleted faith. Paul was afflicted and thrice he called on God and God told him that his grace is sufficient for him. Where did he get grace? From the throne of mercy. Your problems should not cause you to magnify the situation, they should make you seek God earnestly in prayers. Faith can expire but it is renewed in the place of prayer. In prayer, we receive power, we come into the presence of God, our promises are renewed and we can picture the end. In prayers, God told me, we will escape this season, and some of us will be rewarded in this season.

ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD
We must encourage ourselves in the Lord. You can’t really be great till you preach to yourself and encourage yourself. Greatness is determined by what you say to yourself. Don’t depreciate yourself, don’t bring yourself down. If you look for people to encourage you, you might not find. David encouraged himself in the Lord. ‘And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God’ (1 Samuel 30:6 AKJV) The Holy Spirit is a strengthener. He encourages us. We are strengthened with might by the Spirit. Find strength in the Lord.

Draw strength from the Lord. Disappointment is the greatest weapon of Satan. Encourage yourself in the Lord. In John 14:1, Jesus says, ‘Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.’ When your faith is waning, be encouraged in the Lord. Be of good cheer, help is on the way.

#gregerhabor