Stay in Faith

Hebrews 4:9; 11:1

As we live in the Sabbath-rest that God has provided of us, it is important that we understand fully this rest.  Don’t allow tradition to speak to you in this.  Allow the revelation of God to come forth in you and the Spirit of the Lord speaks. Those who have ears, hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.   This is not simply about dying and living eternally in heaven with the Lord.  This is about living here and now in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; that place in Him where we are secure, sustained, provided for and where His peace that passes all understanding keeps our hearts and our minds. Stay in faith, which translates into saying in faithfulness.  Don’t allow the enemy to lure you into the arena of sight.   You must stay in the arena of faith.  The arena of faith is where battles are won.  In the arena of sight, which is the natural arena, the enemy dilutes your faith; waters it down.  Remain in the arena of faith, battles are won in the arena of faith (Joshua & Jericho; Joshua 6:1ff) 
 
We can’t walk and live by what it looks like,  We must walk and live by what God has said.  You see, the Word is spirit and life (John 6:63).  When we live in the arena of faith, we find ourselves, our faith, on trial.  James 1:2-4  says we should rejoice when in this arena.  Why?  Be cause our faith's trial date has come.  Our faith is being put on trial.  When that day comes, go all the way through it.  Let your faith be go through the trial.  Faith loves to be put on trial, to be found guilty, being full of belief and when it is, we experience the victory and the vindication.   Faith will always throw you into the arena of embarrassment but God loves it and God shows up.  Look at the Hebrew Boys thrown into the fiery furnace.. The Lord showed up!  Daniel thrown into the lions den…The Lord showed up!  Stay in faith.  The Lord will show up on your behalf.  
 
There is mustard seed faith, great faith and there is extraordinary faith.  Which level of faith are you on? (Excerpts from Bishop Carl Smith)