Tough Faith and Steadfast Love

Some messages come easy. You have such a powerful inspiration from the Holy Spirit that they just seemed to flow from the Almighty through you. And then sometimes there are those messages that seem to struggle perhaps God is having to work them through you, before you bring it to others. This is one of those.

In these tough and turbulent times, a so so, wishy washy, insecure faith will not work. We need a faith that faces the most difficult circumstances and yet knows Beyond shadow of a doubt that it is on track and true.

There are times when tough is bad. And times when tough is good. (Steak vs a shovel)… There are times when stubborn is bad. And times when stubborn is good. (Bad habits [unreasonable] vs. Good ones [determined])… / The Christ model will always give clarity…

Tough LOVE and Steadfast FAITH

1>>> Unshakable…..

Hang on Friday’s coming cat hanging on a limb vs solid balance

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

2>>> Sound…..

Never has shakey and insecure been so popular as now. Our Faith on the other hand is steady and true. The more you check it out, the more true it becomes.

2 Timothy 1:7 – For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind –

3>>> Secure…..
Rom.8 Verses 38 to 39
[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Our Faith is not subject to the latest whim or notion. It was made to stand tests and endure storms. The Love of God can hold you surely and securely.

4>>> Solid…..
Matthew 7:25
“And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”

By solid, I do not mean inflexible. But the kind of solid that is lasting. It is like a tree with deep roots. It is there to stay!

5>>> Confident…..
Not arrogant but healthily sure. Deeply assured . The Love of God has replaced our insecurity with “deep knowing” and Assurance!

2 TIMOTHY 1:12
for which cause I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed. For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that Day.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

6>>> Free…..

Freedom is no kin to the wild will of rebellion. Freedom in Christ is full of justice and truth. ” The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”

John 8:36
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

7>>> Joyous and happy….. (Optimistic)….

20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, (A)exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes (B)and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

The Philippian Jailer Saved

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 (C)Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately (D)all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, (E)“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 So they said, (F)“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Ephesians 5:19
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

8>>> Rigid Flexibility…..

“”There’s a tree out in the backyard
That never has been broken by the wind
And the reason its still standing
It was strong enough to bend…””
-Tanya Tucker

1st Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Colossians 3:17
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Phillipians 4:11-13
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

9>>> Optimistic…..

I have -0- control over the external forecast but complete control over the one within.
I forecast more “SON.”

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

10>>> Victorious

Ties into the upcoming holiday. When is the last time you made a gratitude list?
Perhaps your gift to Jesus this Thanksgiving is to make a new one! 🙂

Warfare Praise. ……Thanksgiving may be harder to initiate in difficult seasons but when we do, we can discover that the deepest fruits of this healthy practice, are found when it’s harder to do.

1 John 5:4
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

True Faith is TOUGH enough to stand the severest storms and Godly Love is STEADFAST enough to face the most destructive storms. Thank God who gives us the victory to be TOUGH and STEADFAST in the trials now and The Endurance to make it to the Reward forevermore!