UPHOLDING GOD'S STANDARD

“Then He also said to the multitudes, whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, a shower is coming, and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, 'There will be hot weather', and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time”? Luke 12:54

Meteorologists and even we can take a look at the sky and tell when it’s going to rain, and automatically, this can alter one’s plans. Jesus was amazed that we can read the physical times and are able to tell what’s going to happen, but spiritually, we cannot discern the times.

“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart”. Luke 18:1-8.

If we will not faint in these times, we must pray. Praying is expedient.  Prayer does not have a substitute. Praying is an act of your faith in God. Jesus also said, if we don’t want to fall into temptation, we must pray. No one can outgrow been tempted, but you can outgrow falling into temptation. The higher you go, the more you will be tempted. In order not to fall into temptation, you must watch and pray. Praying should be our lifestyle.  Your response will always be different concerning things you are praying about. If you keep making excuses for why you do not pray, you will remain in that state.

The judge in this passage complained that the widowed woman will wear him out if he didn’t quickly grant her request even though he did not fear God nor regard man.  The enemy’s plan is to wear us out, to bring us to the point where we doubt God’s word. Now, if the woman did not give up on an unjust judge, we have no excuse to give up on a JUST GOD. MEN OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY.

"I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" 

This was Jesus’ question-will He find faith when He returns? Will He find men who are totally sold out to Him, who have not redefined His word, principles and standards? We are not forsaken people, we are not helpless. If there are people that will pray, God will answer. For Jesus to ask such a question shows that before He comes, faith will be scarce. Put in another way, He is simply asking if He will still find men in the faith. Every one of us ought to live by faith because whatever is not of faith is sin. Faith is simply obedience to God’s word. Speaking by faith is not telling a lie but you are simply saying what God’s word says. Faith is rising up to take responsibility and God honours it. Faith is not living in self-denial. Anybody walking by faith is a responsible person. God will not do what you ought to do. Jesus is looking out for faith. We have to understand that in the coming days, our faith will be attacked. When you are not praying, when you do not see God as your all in all, your faith will shift.

“…the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you…And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass… For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake…And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another…And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will wax cold…” Matthew 24:3-22.

We see in verse 3, the disciples asked a threefold question;

1.       Tell us, when will these things be?

2.       And what will be the sign of Your coming,

3.       and of the end of the age?

The you in that passage is not referring to an individual alone but to the body of Christ. You cannot relax in these times because all is well with you. Whatever affects your brother, affects you. Thus, because of these happenings, the love of many shall begin to wax cold. We are in the times where the events taking place can turn one into a self-centred person, the times can make you think differently, and unconsciously, other things will start taking the place of God. The unfolding events can begin to turn one into a wicked person, these times can harden one’s heart, and we can also start questioning our faith in God. Faith is a ONE WAY TICKET.

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth…” 1 Timothy 4:1-11.

The doctrines of demons will not teach you about demons but will simply distort your views and shift your attention from Christ. This plays out when you have alternatives to prayer, taking your attention away from the truth etc. These times try to distort God’s standard for marriage and food. There are all kinds of doctrines creeping in now that gives room for divorce and all sorts concerning marriage. When it comes to food, moderation is key. The gospel of dieting and healthy eating is spreading fast. It appears we seem to have more dieticians on the pulpit these days. It is so easy to think that you are in good health because you are eating certain types of food. You are not alive because you are eating healthy. It is God that sustains you. If you are not careful, your faith will shift from God to things.

Men and women ought to give themselves to some form of bodily exercise, and exercises are deliberately done. It has some profit especially as one is getting older, however, if you are not careful, as you are doing these exercises religiously, your faith will shift from God to these exercises. If men will give themselves to God as they do to these physical activities, their lives will be so much better and the benefits are in the now and hereafter. It is the God factor that makes the difference in the life of any man. YOUR CONFIDENCE MUST NEVER SHIFT FROM GOD. Any time, it seems as if your confidence is shifting from God to something else, pause and repent and begin to acknowledge God first as your SOURCE. The principles we religiously follow with regards to our diet and exercises, we must bring to bear on our spiritual life. What is your daily routine concerning reading, studying your bible, praying, worship etc?

“…Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints…” Jude 1:1-20. 

Jude was enjoining believers to contend for the faith: to fight to keep the faith. He would not have told them so if the standard of faith had not dropped. As believers, we have to fight to uphold the standard. 

The fact that something is generally accepted does not make it right. The present happenings have come to compete with the kingdom culture. This is the real fight, to keep the faith. The standard of the kingdom has not changed.

“Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set”. Prov. 22: 28

There is no modern Christianity or modern Jesus. The principles of God’s word remain the same. Holiness cannot be redefined; faith does not have a new definition. Make up your mind to fight to uphold the Faith. Stick to God’s standards. The fact that it doesn’t seem popular does not mean it is not true. Things may change, but we must remain guided by the principles of God’s word. “Thus says the LORD: Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16.

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit”. Jude 1:20

You can’t pray in the Holy Ghost amiss. When you consistently pray in the Holy Ghost, you will be strengthened and stay alert and awake. You will receive prayer points from the Spirit.

You don’t compromise what is sustaining your life. When you win the internal fight, the external fight is a walkover.

There’s a fight, there’s a war and the real fight is the fight to keep the faith, it is a fight not to lower the standard of Faith.

 God is able to keep us as we stay with Him.