Keeping Faith Through The Tides
Keeping Faith Through The Tides
Luke 18:1-8
A) What is Faith?
1. Faith is our weapon of defense.
Ephesians 6:16
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
2. Faith is the means by which we please God. Heb.11:6
3. Faith is the true religion, the body of Truth handed down to us by the apostles.
We are commanded to earnestly contend for the faith.
Jude 1:3 NIV
“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to Godʼs holy people.”
To contend means to fight, struggle or strive for something. In this last day’s when there is a lot of compromise in the church, we must rise up and contend for the original Christianity, not the watered down one full of compromise.
B) What is Tide?
Tide is the regular upward and downward movement of the level of the ocean that is caused by the pull of the Sun and the Moon on the Earth.
When you stand at the sea side, you see how The Tides rise and fall.
This is similar to the days in which we live.
The times in which we live are very unstable.
Everything is being shaken.
The Bible says that,
Luke 21:26 (KJV)
Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
C) The Great Question of Jesus
In Luke 18:8, The Lord Jesus asked a very important question.
When the son of man returns, will he find faith on the earth?
This is a question we must all consider well.
Anything spoken by Jesus must be taken very seriously.
Why Jesus Asked The Question.
Why did Jesus ask this question? The reason is because of another scripture.
2 Timothy 3:1 (KJV)
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 (KJV)
Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
In the last days, perilous ( dangerous) times shall come. We are living in the last days. The Bible also said that there shall be a falling away. This means there will be massive backsliding. Many will abandon the faith, compromise their stand for Christ and be married to the world. I am here this afternoon to challenge you to keep the faith whatever The Tides may be. No matter the pressure, difficulty, disappointment, attacks of Satan, embarrassment of people, you must keep your faith so that you won’t be a castaway when Christ returns.
What Does it Mean to Keep The Faith?
1. It means to stay true to Jesus no matter the temptations and pressures of life
2. It means to maintain your confidence in the Bible as the inspired word of God; reading it, studying it and meditating on it daily.
3. It means to stay true to the truth and teaching of the Word of God without compromise.
Today, people are questioning truths clearly stated in the Bible. The word of God is clear on many things. Maintaining the faith means you hold the truth of God’s word steadfastly.
4. It means to trust Jesus for your healing, blessing, breakthrough, deliverance, joy, fulfillment etc. even when the promise delays.
The Bible says;
Habakkuk 2:3 (KJV)
For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Don’t compromise because of a delay because delay is not denial. Don’t go and get pregnant out of desperation because someone jilted you. That widow persisted until she got an answer from the judge.
There are 3 Reasons Why You Must Keep The Faith
1. If you don’t keep your faith, you can loose it. I have seen people who were once on fire for the Lord backslide and return to serve Satan. If you are careless and don’t keep your faith, the same thing can happen to you. Satan is out to steal your faith and confidence in the Lord. Heb.10:35
2. If you don’t keep the faith, you won’t make it to heaven.
Jesus said;
Matthew 10:22 (KJV)
And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
3. If you don’t keep the faith, you will lose your reward.
2 John 1:8 (KJV)
Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward
Colossians 3:24 (KJV)
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
How To Keep The Faith.
Galatians 5:6 (KJV)
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
The Bible says that there is an engine that makes faith to work and that engine is love. Without Love, faith is helpless and grounded. If we must keep Faith through the Tides, then Love is the engine that we need. Without a strong Love for Jesus, you don’t stand a chance of keeping faith. Why is the faith of many failing today? The reason is because the Love of many people is waxing cold.
The Lord Jesus himself said this;
Matthew 24:12 (KJV)
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
When Love wax cold, the faith will melt like water. There is only person who keeps our Love hot, passionate and alive. He is the Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:5 (KJV)
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Therefore, Ask the Holy Spirit to revive your love for Jesus.
