The importance of Faith simply cannot be overstated. Here’s why: 

  • Abraham, father of all the redeemed, was justified by faith
  • Likewise, we are saved and made righteous by faith
  • Christ dwells in our hearts by faith
  • We cannot effectively pray without faith, forgive without faith or love without faith
  • Our power source, the Holy Spirit is received by faith
  • We cannot please God without faith
  • The ability to live content and joyfully depends on faith
  • We cannot live victoriously over the world without faith. (I Jn 5:4)
  • Jesus said, “Nothing is impossible with God” (see Mark 10:27; Mark 11:22-26)

             “And this is the victory that overcomes the world – even our faith!”

So, take inventory and ask yourself, How’s your faith? Is your faith growing? Are you walking in victory?  

Great missionary and twice nominated for Nobel Peace Prize, E Stanley Jones, points to the START of redemption in the opening words of Jesus: “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” (Matt 5). The word ‘poor’ here is anav, poor by choice. So it could be translated “blessed are the surrendered in spirit.” The first thing Jesus struck at in his opening sermon was self centered self-sufficiency. Shift the basis of your life from self to God by self -surrender.” It’s a KEY to Victory! ADDITIONALLY,  

Prepare for a contest. Warfare. Battle. The enemy doesn’t give up territory without a fight. Pro 4:23 says, “Guard your heart, for out of it are the issues of life.” The NCV translation reads,  “Be careful what you think because your thoughts run your life.” Paul said, “For me to live is Christ” (Gal 2:20). It’s a daily process. He said, “I die daily” (1 Cor 15:31).

Paul’s ‘surrender’ mindset came out of a strong personal CONVICTION that Jesus of Nazareth is alive and resurrected; that He is truly the Christ, the anointed Messiah of God. Victorious living begins here. Next, he set his mind to do the will of God by intentionally following Jesus, living in the Spirit by faith to honor God. (“It’s the set of the sail that decides the goal.”) These decisions put him on a path of spiritual ambition. With each small step of obedience, Paul became the man God desired him to be!

Beginning this series, I said “The fear of the unknown, the fear of failure and honestly the sheer effort required all pose challenges in any new endeavor! Even so, the sense of accomplishment and victory is WORTH the effort! This series was designed to walk us through to victory.” I hope you are enjoying “to the full” this provision from the One who said: “I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly” (JN 10:10). iOi

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