2019 will be a year of purposefully living by and contending for the faith. I sense the Lord daily encouraging His people with words of faith to put into action. We are living in turbulent times and need to sure up (strengthen) our faith with more than just words, but also with action.
I’ve posted previously about the “just will live by faith” and the need to have “confident faith” this year. The Lord is up to something. Today while reading my Facebook newsfeed I saw two post from Monday encouraging the body of Christ in faith. One by Bill Burns – Rise up and establish yourself in faith, and Jane Hansen – Hoyt – The Year of Faith both referencing Hebrews chapter 11.
Just as Jude wrote in Jude 3, beloved I exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. I encourage you to “vigorously defend and contend for the beliefs that we cherish. For God, through the apostles, has once for all entrusted these truths to his holy believers” (Jude 3 TPT).
Saints, we have been entrusted with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And should live in such a manner that our faith shines as light in a dark world.
Jude goes on to day that many false prophets have sneaked in unnoticed and “they have perverted the message of God’s grace into a license to commit immorality and turn against our only absolute Master, our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Jude is not speaking of simply believing in God, but the body of truth we receive from the inspired Word of God. As believers we are called to remain faithful, contend for the faith during times of darkness, and be aware of false teachers promoting a gospel devoid of the truth.
To contend means “to strive or vie in contest or rivalry or against difficulties”. In a climate filled with false doctrines we are urged to hold fast to the truth (2 Tim. 2:14.18).
Be anxious for nothing and deceived by words that only make you feel good temporarily. Truth isn’t a feeling. Truth is what God says it is. Isaiah 65:16 says, God is the “God of truth”. Unlike the spirit of the age, truth isn’t something we can create, discover, or deny. We should not exchange the truth about God and His Word for a lie. Today’s culture has been permeated with untruth’s to accommodate fleshly desires (Romans 1:17-25).
Don’t lose hope in the truth and promises of God’s Word. Contend for God’s Kingdom purposes to prevail. I encourage you to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Blessings,
Dr. Francine
Note: All Scriptures are taken from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
BEYOND CHURCH WALLS 