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Sunday Life Mirror
Theme:HOLDING FAST THE PROFESSION OF OUR FAITH& HOPE
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TEXT:
Heb 10:23,2Thes 3:3, 1 Cor. 10:13.Heb 4:14, 7:6:12, Titus 1:2,1Thes 1:3, Rm 4:18, 5:2, Col. 1:5 Cor1:23, 1Pet1:3
Memory Verse:
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful that promised. Heb 10:23(KJV)
INTRODUCTION:
As born again Christians we professed or confessed our faith and hope on different occasions and at different times.
1. At the time we turned to God in repentance, prayed the sinner¡¯s prayer and received Christ as Lord and savior, either in the private or in the public depending on where and when we were convicted by the Holy spirit read (Rm.10:9-10, Acts 8:37, Rm. 4:24-25)
2. At baptism when we declared publicly that we have died with Christ, buried with him and resurrected with him through faith by the glory of the Father to begin to walk in newness of life.( Rm. 6:4,Col 2:12)
3. In Evangelism also we profess or confess our faith and hope as we go about sharing our testimony and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Matt 10:32-33,LK 12:8)
4. When any one is solemnly set apart to the Ministry he or she makes the same confession before many witnesses (1Tim 6:12.)
How ever professing or confessing our faith and hope in Christ does
not end on any or all of the above occasions because soon after we discover that the whole thing has really exposed us to something to contend for (Jude vs. 3), a battle or wrestling (Eph 6:10-13) against unseen forces, powers and realities of life by which Satan aims at discouraging our faith and making us lose the hope we have in the unfailing and eternal promises of God in Christ. The word of God therefore clearly enjoins us in Heb 10:23 to hold fast or cling to the faith we professed and the hope we have without wavering. Why because God is faithful who has promised to work out all those challenges of faith together for the good of those who love him and are the called according to his purpose (Rm. 8:28). Besides, one of the best ways of stimulating our selves or others to the faithful performance of the gospel duty, is the remembrance of the vows we had made; and one of
the most effectual methods of reclaiming a backslider, is to bring to his remembrance that solemn hour when he publicly gave himself to God in the presence of the Church or when he was solemnly set apart to the ministry.
Study:
OUR FAITH IS OFTEN CHALLENGED THROUGH;
- 1. Persecution. (2Tim 3:12, 2Tim 2:12,Php 1:29,2Tim 1:12)
a) Tribulations and trials : (Jn. 16:33, Rm. 8:35-39,2Thes 1:4,Jas 1:3,1Pet 1:7)
- 2. Sufferings: (1Pet 3:14,1 Pet 3:17,1Ret 4:16,19, Rev2:10)
- 3. Temptation: (1Cor 10:13)
- 4. Affliction: (1Tim 4:10, Heb 11:25,2Cor 1:6, 1Thes 3:3)
- 5. Hardship: (2Tim 2:3)
- 6. Deferred hope: (Prov. 13:12,Rm 8:24-25, Job 14:7-8, Ps 78:7,Eccl 9:4,La 3:27, Rm. 5:5,Rm 12:12,1Cor 15:19,Ps 31:24,Ps 33:18)
- 7. Spiritual warfare: Eph 6:10-12, Eph 6:13,2Cor 10:4
GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD & PROMISES; His promises to us in the following areas and more are forever sure and settled in heaven.
- 1. His ever abiding presence ¨C(Gen 28:18, Deut 31:6,8, Josh 1:5 1Chron. 28:20,Heb 13:5, Matt. 28:20b)
- 2. Power over all the powers of the enemy: (LK 10:19, Mrk. 16:17-18, Acts 5:15-16)
- 3. Power for effective witnessing (Acts 1:8,LK 24:48-49,Acts 2:31,Acts 4:30-31, Acts 2:2)
- 4. Protection and Security; (Ps 91, 1Sa 54:15-17, 41:11-13,1Sa 43:2,1Sa 59:19b, Deut 28:7, Ps 125:1-3, 121:4 1Jn 4:4).
- 5. Victory and triumph over all challenges, situations and circumstances (Rm.8:37, 1Cor 15:57,2Cor 2:14, 1Jn 4:4, 1Jn5:45, Rev. 12:11,Col1:27)
KNOWING THAT THE ABOVE PROMISES ARE THERE FOR US, WHAT THEN ARE WE EXPECTED TO DO?
2Thes.2:15, 1Cor. 16:13, Heb.3:6, 2Thes 3:6, Eph. 6:10.
CONCLUSION:
It is one thing to start a thing and another to finish it successfully. ¡°Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof¡¡± says Eccl. 7:8. Starting sometimes might be a little easier but if you are able to withstand the pressures, struggles and oppositions in between, with the strength that God supplies you will surely celebrate the victory in the end. But it requires patience, ¡°For you have need of patience, that after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. (Heb.10:36). The Christian race is a personal race with faith, courage, and hope and there is no such vocabulary like ¡®QUITTER¡¯ in the dictionary of winners. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me
in my throne, even as I also overcame, and set down with my Father in His throne. (Rev. 3:21) (KJV). So be strong and hold fast that which you have that no man takes away your crown, for The Lord is coming soon. May God help us in Jesus¡¯ name, Amen?
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