BE PERSISTENT! CONTENDING FAITH! A good way to overcome the spirit of unbelief is by understanding what real faith is? Faith takes diligence. God is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Faith keeps on asking, keeps on seeking, and keeps on knocking until the door is opened. “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” (Heb. 11:6). An excellent example of someone with ENDURING faith is the “persistent widow” in (Luke 18:1-8.) What does persistent mean? It means: refusing to give up or let go; persevering obstinately; insistently repetitive or continuous; existing or remaining in the same state for an indefinitely long time; enduring. She persisted with the unjust judge to get justice against her adversary. Finally this judge gave her justice and he said it was because she pestered him so much! Using this widow as an example, the Lord said to His disciples, “…And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Jesus asked a pointed question. “…will He really find faith on the earth?” A different Bible translation says, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth?” (AB). As for me personally, I’m going to persevere in faith the way it’s described in Hebrews 11, including the part that says, “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise” (v. 39). We must purpose within our hearts to be persistent, knowing that many died not receiving their promise. And we need to have peace that it’s alright to ask God for the same thing more than once and never give up. Some leaders have preached a Extreme “faith” message that implies if a Christian asks God for the same thing more than once then they’re wavering or doubting in unbelief. Some even warn that (if this is the case) then they’ll be disqualified from receiving what they have been praying for. As a result, some believers will ask God once; pray very specifically for what they want, believe God, and wait for Him to do it. And it should be no surprise that God will honor their prayers! We also need to understand that there is no condemnation or lack of faith if we talk to God about the same thing more than once like the persistent widow parable in (Luke 18) Truth faith prays until the manifest breakthrough. The prayer of Faith is the prayer that Elijah prayed who prayed 7 times until the cloud the size of a mans hand manifested (I king 18) It’s also interesting that in Mark 11:24 it says, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” It does not say whatever you ask for, praying once. We need to pray until something happens according to what God has said. Keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking, and have persistence like the widow; believing we shall receive. Todd Bentley
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 20:59:44 +0000
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