Faith, what is it worth to us? Faith is a powerful thing, it can give us calm boldness in the face of adversity and any of lifes challenges. It can bring words to our lips in confidence, where weaker men would cower. It is a builder of hope, even when everything seems lost. It is the willingness to keep pushing forward, when others fall away. Many who have gone before us gave it all for their faith, even the disciples, those who walked with Christ. There faith was worth more than any earthly pleasure or comfort...Andrew was crucified, Bartholomew was flayed and crucified upside down, James (Son of Alphaeus) was stoned and then had his head bashed in with a club, James (Son of Zebedee) was beheaded, John (brother of James) and son of Zebedee was banished to an island and died, Matthew / Levi was chopped up with an axe, Simon Peter was crucified upside down, Philip was crucified upside down and then stoned to death, Simon the Zealot and Thaddaeus (Judas son of James) were crucified, Thomas was killed when soldiers pierced him with 4 spears, Stephen was stoned to death, Mark was literally pulled apart by the people of Alexandria, Paul was beheaded, Luke was hanged, and Simon was crucified...but they kept their faith even to the end, they never gave up living and teaching the gospel, even unto their deaths! So, how strong is our faith? How precious is it to us? What would we be willing to lose for it? Reputation, Money, Comfort, Finances, Family, Friends, Shyness, Work, Political Correctness, Life...Is our faith stronger than these? _____ Faith must have adequate evidence, else it is mere superstition. ---A.A. Hodge You will have no test of faith that will not fit you to be a blessing if you are obedient to the Lord. I never had a trial but when I got out of the deep river I found some poor pilgrim on the bank that I was able to help by that very experience. ---A.B. Simpson Faith endures as seeing Him who is invisible; endures the disappointments, the hardships, and the heart-aches of life, by recognizing that all comes from the hand of Him who is too wise to err and too loving to be unkind. ---A.W. Pink I believe that a great number of people are going to die and go to hell because theyre counting on their religiosity in the church instead of their relationship with Jesus to get them to heaven. They give lip service to repentance and faith, but theyve never been born again. ---Adrian Rogers Salvation is free, but at some point we have to trust in Jesus and step out of the boat ---J.W. Miller _____ Hebrews 10:38-39 ESV, But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Mark 4:38-41 ESV, But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Acts 14:22 ESV, Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 02:24:15 +0000