Hold on to your Faith: By James Lantz

       When the letter was originally written to the Hebrew church there was much persecution which was causing some to return to Judaism and the keeping of the law, turning away from following Christ. When we place our allegiance in God Almighty and accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ we now trust in him for our every need to be met. The devil will work through circumstances and people who don’t know the word of God to endeavor to persuade us to stop believing what God said. The Hebrew christians suffered the same kind of things you and I are faced with and probably much greater. Their family and friends laugh at them! They don’t get invited to the gatherings and they cut them out of their inheritance. Some are persecuted to the extent that they lose their homes and even their lives.  Heb. 10:32 & 33  But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; partly, whilst ye were made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, while ye became companions of them that were so used.  All who live godly lives will suffer persecution!  Acts 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation ( pressure, anguish, trouble) enter into the kingdom of God.  You may not have these scriptures underlined in your Bible but they are there and they are true. No one is exempt from pressure being applied on them for the purpose of them letting go of their faith. Now don’t be discouraged, God has given us supernatural weapons and wisdom to overcome every temptation and affliction brought against us. Satan sent one of his messengers to endeavor to stop the Apostle Paul from proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God, which he received by revelation. Everywhere he went the devil stirred up people and even storms to try to stop the whole world from hearing this good news. As Paul sought God for deliverance from what the devil was doing to him, God told him to use the authority he had already given him in Christ Jesus. (see 2 Cor. 12 and the book of Acts)  I want to mention that no where in the New Testament are we ever told to pray and ask God to get the devil off of us. No, we are told to cast out devils in Jesus name, we are to resist the devil, we are told to not give the devil any place. God’s will is that we don’t give the devil any place in our lives and when we do that, it will get like heaven right here on this earth. After being told that God’s grace was all he needed, Paul believed God for his protection and deliverance. Later in life Paul testifies that God delivered him from all the devils persecution and affliction.  2 Tim. 3:11  Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.  This same provision of deliverance and victory from every evil work of the enemy is available to every one of God’s children. God wants every one of his children experiencing blessings. God is not a respecter of persons, he sent his Son, Jesus, to purchase redemption for everyone who will accept Him. That same grace that was extended to the Apostle Paul will become ours when we believe. Remember, Paul was that Saul, who persecuted the believers and Jesus appeared to him to stop working against him but to work for him. Talking about grace, no sin is to big that God will not cleanse, except the sin of unbelief (the refusal to believe that Jesus is your Lord). Everything God has offered to us is a gift that we do not deserve. We deserve to go to hell, we deserve to be separated from the most High God, we deserve to be broke and sick. You may not like hearing this but it is absolutely the truth. Living in America we have certain rights and in Christ Jesus we have certain rights and benefits. The rights and benefits we have as God’s child were given to us, we did not earn them, thus we do not deserve them.  Rom. 4:16 Amp.  Therefore inheriting the promise is the outcome of faith and depends (entirely) on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants; not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is (thus) the father of us all.  What this is telling us is that none of God’s promises will show up in our life until after we believe.  Heb. 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  The believing part is not neccesarily the only part in doing the will of God but you cannot do the will of God without believing.  Rom. 5:17  For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. This abundance of grace and gift of righteousness is received by faith.  Eph. 2:8&9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.  This is why the Holy Ghost is urging us not to let go of our faith, because if we let go of our faith we will never receive what God has promised.  Heb. 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence (faith), which hath great recompence of reward.  This word confidence is another way of saying faith. The greek word translated confidence means outspokenness or utterance. The spirit of faith is to believe and then to speak. Jesus said, if you have faith you will say to this mountain, Be removed and cast into the sea. Three words that carry the meaning of faith, confidence, conviction, and commitment. Confidence in what God has said, convinced what God said is true, committed to doing what God said is faith. Our part in receiving the good things God has for us is to keep looking at what God promised and stay excited, stay joyful. Remember that it is not our strength that will cause God’s grace to manifest in our lives, but our receiving from him.  James 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations ( testing or trials).  The reason that we can count it all joy is because we know that these trials will cause us to become constant so that we will become perfect and entire wanting nothing.     2 Cor. 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Vrs.10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.  God is so good, by putting his blessings (grace) on a faith basis even the lowest and the least can receive from him!  Psalms 113:7&8  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.  If you have fainted, repent, and believe again!