By Faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of the things which are visible.
By faith Able offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him", for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
By faith Noah, being divinely warned o things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir o the righteousness which is according to faith.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God.
By faith Sarah herself also, received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude-innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "in Isaac your seed shall be called," concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
By faith, Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
And what more shall I say? For the time would fall me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets; who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to fight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scorgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise. God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the rights hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 11-12:2
Go, by faith. God is your Helper and you don't need to fear.

Don't Stop Fighting

This morning I was reading through 1 Samuel 10, 11 and 12 and God was teaching me this lesson: don't stop fighting the battle.
David had just won a battle against the Syrians; a great victorious battle. David had been fighting justly and God was favorable to Him. David had previously even treated his greatest enemy Saul with love and kindness and favor. David had integrity and was after God's heart. But something happened in chapter 11; something happened in David's heart and he decided not to go out to battle. Was David weary? Did he think that his role in battle was not important? Did he think his army did not need him anymore? Was he doubting his calling?
Whatever turmoil that was in David's heart, he began to think through on his roof. Right there David was met with lust; one of his greatest problems in his life. David had so many wives! He had a lust for women. Satan for sure knew of David's woman weakness and David's flesh was for sure not in opposition for it to be alive in this moment of weariness. Maybe David thought that he needed a woman, a relationship with a beautiful woman, to make his heart less weary. Maybe this woman Bathsheba, would provide happiness. So, he took matters into his own hands and took Bathsheba into his room. David could have diverted his eyes while he was on the roof; he could have not taken Bathsheba into his room. At any one point, David could have said no to the flesh and yes to the Spirit.
I want interject at this point in the story: maybe you find yourself in sin and fill that because you have slipped a little, you must go through will the whole sin. Don't believe that; turn from sin now and don't let matters get worse.
David let matters get worse. He used his cunning deceit and plotting to kill Bathsheba's husband Uriah. Oh, how God's heart was grieved.
A year passed, and in chapter 12 we read of the visitation David received from Nathan the prophet. That day God wanted to deal with David's sin and bring repentance in His heart. After Nathan made the analogy of the rich man and poor man's sheep, David said this in verse 13: "I have sinned against the LORD".
Great mourning and fasting and hardship was in the next week of David's life. His son, in which was conceived through Bathsheba, died. God dealt with this sin and brought about a greater tenderness in David's heart.
Though this was a tragedy, God's grace was abundant. In verse 24, Solomon was born through Bathsheba to David. There was no man wiser in the world than Solomon! Plus, we have two books in the bible written by his hand.
This story is crazy, full of so many details and spiritual applications. I just know that God was telling me this; Don't stop fighting the battle. Keep focused.
I want to encourage you today that though you may be weary, or if you think that because you have sinned a little that you need to go on continuing in that sin, you don't! Don't be deceived!
Paul exhorted Timothy, "But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses" (1 Tim. 6:11 & 12).
Galatians 6:7-9 says, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will for the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
I know you may be weary, I know you may be having a hard time and Satan is accusing you, but know, God is on your side. I know this because I go through such weariness in life and I just want to give up, sleep it off, do something for myself and sit down in the midst of the battle. Don't give up fighting the good fight. I need to not give up! Put on the whole armour of God and the joy of your salvation! You will reap of blessings, do not loose heart. Be encouraged, you whose hands may be hanging low and who may have weak knees. Strengthen yourself in this battle from the Word, through prayer, through fellowship and let's keep fighting! And maybe for you, this may be a sweet warning from the Lord. Wherever God is meeting you in this, may encouragement and joy come to your soul.
"O LORD of hosts, who is mighty like You, O LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You." Psalm 89:8.
Handmaiden of the Lord,
Melissa Rae