THE REWARD OF FAITH

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."     James 1.12

The race to find a sunny place in this world is cruel and unfair.
The same is true with regards to our eternal salvation.
Because of the constant sacrifices, few reach the finish line.
The crown of life is not for everyone. If it were, there would be no point for its existence.
It is only for winners. It is for those who withstand the ups and downs of life in order to remain faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ.

TRIBULATIONS

"...strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”    Acts 14.22

Without tribulations, there is no perseverance.
Without perseverance, there are no experiences.
Without experiences, there is no hope.
A mature faith is only possible after you have lived through tribulations.
Also, the greater the tribulations, the closer you are to the Author of faith.

THE AUTHORITY OF FAITH

"Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction."     2 Corinthians 13.10

While doubts give evil the authority to spread terror and destruction, supernatural faith has the authority of God to save those who believe. 
The servants of evil spread doubt and death.
The servants of God sow faith and life.

THE INVITATION

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."     Matthew 11.28

The Lord Jesus would not have made such an invitation if he was not interested in meeting the needs of the afflicted.

However, you must understand that He will not take any initiatives unless His invitation is accepted.

Those who are interested must seek Him, take a step in His direction and put all their existent faith in Him.

That's it.

SUPERNATURAL FAITH

"Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”    Mark 9.23

Even unbelievers know that all things are possible to him who believes.
But only a few know that there is an exception to this rule: eternal salvation.
It is impossible for someone to be saved because of their merits. Otherwise, the Son of God would not have come down to earth.

BAD MARRIAGE

"For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!"   Psalm 117.2

Is it possible for Someone who is perfectly faithful to put up with infidelity?
Is it possible to marry faithful and unfaithful?
Is it possible for the faithful Eternal God to keep an alliance with someone who is unfaithful?
Tithes do not represent a monetary value or material possessions. They represent the character of a true servant of God.

RETURN TO ME

"...return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. But you ask, ‘How are we to return?"        Malachi 3.7

In order to have the Lord return to you, you must return to Him. How do you return to Him?
Through prayer? Attending church services? Reading the Bible? 
This can be compared to a relationship of two people who are dating.
A phone call, a date or an email is enough to satisfy either person in the relationship.    
They have no serious commitment or obligation to one another.
Tithes and offerings are the beginning of a committed relationship with God because they represent fidelity and love.  

THE PRICE OF OBEDIENCE

"...though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him..."    Hebrews 5.8-9

Learning obedience has a high price.
If the Son of God, who was an obedient servant, had to pay the price by suffering, then imagine what we must suffer as well.
Denying the will of the flesh to obey the voice of the Holy Spirit hurts. But this is the price of obtaining eternal salvation of the soul.

SACRIFICE OF FAITH

"...unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it produces much grain."    John 12.24

We are a grain of wheat. Unless we die to our will and the world, we will remain fruitless and alone.
But if we die, we will produce many fruits for the Glory of God.
Supernatural faith sacrifices in favor of the Lord Jesus.

FAITH TO CONTINUE

"You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?"   Galatians 5.7

Christians in Galatia had been set free from the shackles of Jewish doctrines. They were doing well in the faith.
But because they listened to their "brethren", they became shackled again.
This is the biggest risk faced by those who are new in the faith.
Instead of continuing in the same faith that set them free, some Christians allow themselves to be influenced by the "brethren" whose lives are a complete failure.

FORGIVENESS

"But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."   Matthew 6.15

The law of forgiveness is inflexible. There is no way around it.
Either you forgive and are forgiven, or you do not forgive and will not be forgiven.
It is up to each person to decide whether to forgive or not and it's their obligation as well.
Those who do not forgive are condemning themselves.

RULE OF FAITH

"...but one thing I do, FORGETTING those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead..."
    Philippians 3.13


Women are in a constant war with their hearts. It always reminds them of their sad past, trying to divert their attention.
But, we know that life and it's accomplishments depend on faith. However, faith has one basic rule: it requires you to put your past behind you forever.

WHAT IS IT WORTH?

"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"    Matthew 16.26

If you try to gain the world, your soul can only take delight in this until you are about 70, or maybe even 80, if you still have the strength. However, most of these years will be of tiresome work and grief, because everything passes quickly.
But what happens when your physical body dies?
What will happen to your soul?
The wise man does not invest his faith in a life with limits.
On the contrary, he gains by investing his wisdom, vision and faith into his eternal life.  

SALVATION

"Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck."    Psalm 69.1

If your in a situation that is suffocating your soul, to the point where you are thinking about committing suicide, then know that this is the best opportunity for you to experience the POWER of the Lord Jesus.
Go to a private place RIGHT now and pray the verse above.
Wait for a couple of seconds, wait for the answer...
In the midst of despair, there isn't much you can say other than to cry out: Save me, O God!

LAW OF THE HEART

"...but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."    Matthew 6.33

Those who have an emotional faith want to solve their personal problems first. It is the law of faith of the heart. 
The kingdom of God and His Justice come second. 
This is the reason why there are so many slaves, but very few children of Abraham; many believers, but very few born of the Holy Spirit. 

CRY OUT

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."   Psalm 121:1-2

Only those who have a commitment with God the Son can cry out to God the Father with certainty that they will be heard.
This conviction is revealed by God the Holy Spirit to His children. 

THE WAIT

"I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined to me and heard my cry."     Psalm 40.1

Those who wait anxiously become despaired.
Those who wait confidently are patient and their soul is at peace because they know this type of faith pleases the Lord.

LESSON OF FAITH

"Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me."   Psalm 50.15

God allows His children to face difficult situations. Not to test them, but so that they can learn to rely on Him. These lessons force them to exercise their faith. 
However, during their learning process, in a time of anguish and pain, He will be there ready to deliver them.
But they must call upon Him. 

REVELATION

"Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"   Isaiah 53.1

The arm of the Lord is His strength, His salvation, His eternity. This belief involves obedience to His Word. If the person does not practice His Word, this means they do not believe. And if there is no belief, then there has been no revelation.
Revelations are restricted to those who have a humble spirit.
I thank You, Father, Lord of heave and earth because You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes... Luke 10.21

THE PROMISE

"No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you."Joshua 1.5

For those who have an alliance with the Lord, this promise is all they need.
It is all they need to face any problem, any enemy or even all of hell. The Lord guarantees victory.
As if that weren't enough, He still promises to be as He was with Moses.
And yet, if that weren't enough, He then puts His honor on the line by promising never to leave him or forsake him at any moment.

FRUITS OF AN ALLIANCE

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."     John 15.5

The branches are the servants who bear fruits.
They bear fruits because they are connected to the Trunk (Jesus).
When the Spirit is in their sap, there are fruits. When the Spirit is not in their sap, there are no fruits.
Fruits do not mean works, they mean character.
The character of BEING A BRANCH; the character of BEING A SERVANT.

MEDITATION

"...you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success."     Joshua 1.8

Meditation in the Word of God is the secret to prosperity and success. That is the advice God has for His children.
The Bible seems foolish to those who are lost, but it is the power of God for His chosen.
You shouldn't only read the Bible, but meditate in all it's messages.

MERCY

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness, according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions."     Psalm 51.1

David's sin was extremely serious. However, every sin is deserving of forgiveness, as long as there is sincere repentance. 
David obtained repentance and forgiveness because of his sincere confession.
Today, the same mercy is available to all those who seek it. 

A SECRET ABOUT FAITH

"Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you, do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go."     Joshua 1.7

The faith of the heart is always aware of the circumstances. It does not take one step without considering the heart's feelings. 
Contrary to feelings, we have faith with reason, which does not waste time with what the eyes see. It does not look to right or to the left, nor does it look back. 
Instead, it looks ahead, firm in the Promises of the Author and Finisher of Faith.

JOY DURING TIMES OF TRIAL

"... count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."     James 1.2-4

Joy during good times is normal.
Joy during times of trial seems contradictory. Doesn't it?
Tests of faith only happen in the lives of those who live by faith.
They live by faith because they are of God. This does not give them a reason to be improperly joyful, but to be filled with a great joy.
This is the joy of being a child of God.

PATIENCE

"And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise."      Hebrews 6.15

Patience works together with time.
Those who have it, amen.
Those who do not have it, whether they like it or not, must wait for the right time.
Abraham was patient. This is why he took hold of the promises of God.

FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?"       2 Corinthians 6.14

One of the secretes to keeping the faith is staying away from those who are not of the faith. Why share feelings and thoughts with people that are opposed to the thoughts of God? Why open up your heart and speak about your dreams and projects of faith with the children of Belial?

RESISTANCE

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."      James 4.7

What good is it to surrender your life to God and forget about the devil, thinking that he will do the same?
Those who are born of the Spirit not only resist the devil, but they also advance against him to see free those that are trapped in his claws.

NEW LIFE

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."John 12.24

The price of having a new life in the Lord Jesus is death. The death of sin.
Those who want to be born of water and the Holy Spirit must die to sin.
Is it possible to live in sin and in the presence of God at the same time?
Either you give up your sinful life to live a new life or you will remain alone.

LAW OF FAITH

"Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully."Psalm 24.3-4

Only a definite and applied faith can enable mankind to come before God's presence.
The Law of faith transforms the unrighteous sinner into a righteous saint before the Almighty Lord.
Otherwise, there is no salvation for their soul.