Page 15 - The Standard Volume 2

The Bible says that Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness because of his faith (James 2:23). Hebrews 11:19 tells us, “Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to raise him from the dead.” Some of us would have doubted God after we were given those instructions, but Abraham knew that God was faithful even during the time of testing. He had Faith that in the end, God would do what He promised no matter what it looked like during the journey.
Perhaps the journey up the mountain was quiet. But I wouldn’t be surprised if the father and son had a beautiful time together because Abraham truly trusted God. Why have anxiety, fear, depression, or worry when you are on a journey to a place God told you to go with a promise God gave you? Abraham understood this and we, as children of the faithful, should too.
We need to shun superficial Christianity to find the substance God wants to see from His people. We pray for something harder than we’ve ever prayed. We call a prayer vigil, we fast, and quote every Scripture in the Bible that comes to mind. If the prayer is answered, praise the Lord! He worked a miracle! However, if it doesn’t happen or it’s delayed, if it’s not the way we expected or hoped—then what? Some walk away from God saying, “I trusted you and you failed me.” You are only halfway up the mountain looking like you are about to lose everything. Is it time to collapse and give up? Some feel hopeless and lose heart saying, “What’s the use? I believed you and you didn’t come through. How can I go on?” Although the trials of life will make us weary at times, it is a dangerous place to remain. It is not the life that Jesus Christ gave you. You certainly won’t see what you are waiting for if you give up!
We know that Jesus has given us the Victory! The devil has no power and in the end we win! When it looks like everything is going backwards, this is the time to trust God and stand in Faith with even more fervor!
Salvation and knowing the Word of God are your substance for whatever battle you are fighting. You must keep going, fighting the good fight of Faith, never allowing the enemy to tempt you to give up.
Faith is not declaring something, then digging your heels into the ground until it manifests. No, my friend, Faith is substance —steady, unwavering, trusting, abounding, joyful substance. Faith is believing that through pain, heartache, sickness, looking like you’re losing it all, battling cycles that never seem to end, that God is faithful to perform every Word He has spoken in His timing and His way.
Romans 5:5 tells us,
“Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (ESV)
May we allow the Holy Spirit to be at work in us so that no matter where we are in our journey, we have substantive Faith —knowing that He who began a good work in us, will be faithful to complete it until the day Christ Jesus returns (Philippians 1:6). S
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS Eagles
they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
January 2020 | THE STANDARD 15