Stay In The Fight — How To Fight The Fight Of Faith To The End!

The Bible compares our lives to a fight, a race, and keeping of faith. This journey can be both exciting and challenging, but my counsel is to stay in the fight, stay in the race, and keep the faith.

2020 has been a different year altogether; for some, there have been ups, and for others, there have been downs. Some of us may have had to relocate to smaller rooms, others may have to cut our standards of living.

Some have fought sicknesses and faced their fears. Just thinking about the anxieties, surprises, pain, rejection in some senses, the loneliness, those who have lost jobs and loved ones, and great opportunities; thinking about the businesses that have suffered, or have had to downsize, or laypeople they love off; I understand the mixed feelings. This 2020 has been a great but eventful year.

All I can say is, stay in the fight! Stay in the race! Keep the fight.

There is a man in the Bible named Paul, he accounts that there were times he was so pressed and persecuted that he was dispersed of life; yet he fought on and kept the faith. He said;

[2 Timothy 4:7 KJV]”I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”

He did not allow the momentary afflictions to force him out of the race. He continued and fought hard as a gallant soldier to finish his course. I counsel you to do the same. Look at what he told Timothy;

[1 Timothy 6:12‭-‬19 KJV]“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

“I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of Lords;”

“Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”

“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

He taught Timothy, a young bishop to do 4 cardinal things;

1. Fight the good fight of faith
2. Lay hold on eternal life
3. Keep the commandment without spot and unrebukable
4. Charge them that are rich in this world not to be high minded nor trust inuncertain riches but to trust in God.

I want you to keep this truth in mind. As of this writing, basic school results have been released, and it has gone well for some but not so well for others. The year has been good for some but not so good for others. Some have gotten admissions to the colleges of their choice and others are yet to receive theirs. Some have their fees, others are still trusting God.

I have one counsel for you;

1. Stay in the fight! Don’t give up if it has not been so great a year. Trust God.
2. Stay in the fight! Don’t trust in riches and the promotions if it has been a great year. Trust in God.

Whatever you do; I counsel you to stay in the fight, run the race, keep the faith! This is because soon, very soon, Jesus Christ shall deliver us from all of this.

Our salvation and redemption are much closer than we think. Jesus Christ is coming again! Dont miss out! Get ready and keep watching and praying and pressing and doing good and serving; our labour in the Lord will not be in vain.

Don’t let the world and the popular, the glam and glitz, steal your heart. Don’t lose your convictions and faith. Never let anything make you turn away from the light.

Jesus Christ is coming again and I have no doubt that all of us can do better than we have done. You can aspire to work on yourself, to become a better you, but it will take grace – the grace of God.

Everyone of us children, youth, adults, men, women; everyone can improve and become better.

Neither lose heart nor become complacent. Let each of us resolve and trust God to make better choices and keep the faith. Don’t allow what you see around you change when is written in the word and on the tables of your heart. Let your eyes and gaze be on the Lord.

He is working around the clock to bring each of us to an expected end.

1. Sometimes you feel like giving up because the pressure is too much. You are going through so much; but listen! God is on your side.
2. Elijah felt like giving up, because he had fought the Lord’s battle; but the harder he fought, the more Jezebel turned on him. He was disappointed that God was not acting the way he thought. Please God’s plans for you are higher.
3. Some feel like giving up because their hopes have been deferred. This is not the time to give up. Wait for all the days of your appointed time, until your change comes. There is a time appointed for the vision. In the end it will speak and not lie.
4. Many more give up because they see the prosperity of others. Please, don’t fret because of the prosperity of others. God has a plan for each of us. Let us rejoice with those who are rejoicing and mourn with those that mourn.

Every one of us will come to an expected end if we stay on the fight, run the race, and keep the faith.

God bless you! I love you!

Originally published at highcity.org

5 Benefits of Walking by Faith

What are the benefits of walking by faith, snd not by sight?

The Bible teaches that after the early apostle had preached the gospel to the city and taught many; they returned to them again and confirmed the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith.

They encouraged them not to be discouraged by the tribulations that might come upon them. They exhorted that tribulations will come but they must continue in the faith because it is part of the journey.

[Acts 14:21‭-‬22 KJV] “And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

It is much easier to both endure and enjoy a situation if you know why you’re experiencing it. When you know why you must do something, it is easier to do it.

I want to share only five simple benefits of walking by faith and not by sight.

1. Walking by faith will help you to obtain an excellent report or testimony. It will set you above ordinary men. You will live a higher life. (See Hebrews 11:3)

2. Walking by faith will help you to gain an understanding of hidden and complex mysteries like the creation story. (See Hebrews 11:3)

3. Walking by faith will inspire and help you to make the right decisions, choices, and actions. Look at Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses; each of them and many more were able to make the right choices, take the right decisions, and do the right things. (See Hebrews 11: 4-6; 24-26)

4. Walking by faith connects and helps you to receive the strength to do the impossible. Sarah received strength to conceive and deliver at 90 years. (See Hebrews 11:11)

5. Walking by faith will help you to hold on till death, and die embracing the promise even when it is far. (See Hebrews 11: 13-16)

Walking by faith will help you to live an extraordinary life. I have no doubt that we need to walk by faith and not by sight. We will achieve more if we walk by faith and stay positive.

Stay blessed, I love you!

Originally published at highcity.org

It is Time to Walk by Faith

I want to exhort you to walk by faith and not by sight. We will, therefore, be looking at three themes — what does it mean to walk by faith? Why should you walk by faith? And how do you walk by faith?

[2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV] “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”

Honestly, I do not want to make an already complex subject complicated. I will remain as simple as is possible.

What does it mean to walk by faith and not by sight?

Psalm 37 is the best description and definition of walking by faith and not by sight. I will be glad if you can find time to read the whole psalm and meditate on it. This psalm is the definition of what it means to walk by faith and not by sight.

[Psalms 37:1‭-‬7 KJV] “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”

“Trust in the Lord , and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord ; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

“Commit thy way unto the Lord ; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”

“Rest in the Lord , and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”

To walk by faith and not by sight is to;

1. Decide not to fret yourself because of evildoers; whether they prosper or fail. Sometimes, when we see the prosperity of evil-doers, we become envious but it is not faith to do so.
2. Trust in the Lord and to delight yourself in Him.
3. Commit your ways to Him, to rest in Him, to wait patiently, and not to fret yourself because of those who prosper by an evil device.

To walk by faith and not by sight is to receive the word of God and walk in it; to be guided by the word.

Why should you walk by faith?

It is important to walk by faith and not by sight because of the following reasons;

1. All that glitters is not gold:

Many of the things that glitter have no real value. Many of the things that the world is running after does not satisfy. Sex does not satisfy, money and wealth do not satisfy, possessions do not satisfy. The only thing that truly satisfies is godliness with contentment. To serve God and to accept whatever your lot in Him is.

2. The wicked shall not inherit the earth, they shall soon be cut off like grass:

And there will be no hope for them, but when we fall asleep we shall rise again to a life of peace.

3. Those who trust in the Lord and rest in Him shall dwell in the land:

They shall be fed and satisfied, and honoured with glory and shine. To walk by faith and not by sight is the safest thing to do. It is the wisest thing to do.

Don’t be fooled by the fake smiles of the wicked. If the world is truly happy, they would not need photoshop to look nice. Real happy people don’t need makeup to look nice.

How do you walk by faith?

The life of people like Daniel (See Daniel 9:1-5), Simeon (See Luke 2:21-35), and Anna (See Luke 2:36-38) teach us how to walk by faith and wait for the manifestations of the god word of the Lord.

In Jeremiah 29, we learn that God sent His word through Jeremiah to the people of Israel. He spoke the word just like how we now speak it every day. The word was not pleasant but that was the word of God to the nation.

The continuity and peace of the nation depended on four key things. Because the Lord warned them that if they rebelled, they will be destroyed by the sword.

On how to walk by faith, I will be touching on the five key things but let’s read the following text first;

[Jeremiah 29:1-14 KJV] “Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;”

[2] :(After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;) [3] By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,”

[4] “Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; [5] Build ye houses, and dwell in them ; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; [6] Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.”

[7] “And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. [8] For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.”

[9] “For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord. [10] For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.”

[11] “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. [12] Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.”

[13] “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. [14] And I will be found of you, saith the Lord : and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord ; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.”

So, what secret helped Daniel to wait for 70 years for the restoration; how could Simeon and Anna respectively wait for the consolation and redemption of Israel?

1. Confirm the word:

Whenever you hear a word of prophecy, confirm it. Be sure that it is the Lord speaking. Israel almost made a mistake because some belly full stomach direction prophets gave them false prophecy. God is not obligated to keep things He has not said.

2. Believe the word:

Receive the word with gladness, even if it is not pleasant. The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men. Mary walked by faith because she received the word with gladness.

3. Meditate on the word:

Meditate to understand the word. When the Lord told His disciples to be wary of the leaven of the Pharisees, they nearly erred because they did not understand the word. Strive to understand whatever you have believed.

4. War a good warfare by the prophecy:

Arise and fight in prayer, fasting, singing, listening and watching and soaking in the word, and strategise on how to discharge the Lord’s commands. This is how you war a good warfare.

[1 Timothy 1:18‭-‬20 KJV] “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;”

“Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.”

5. Wait for the word:

No matter how long it takes wait for it. The Bible teaches in Hebrews 11:39, that our fathers though obtained a good report did not receive the promise. How then were they able to walk by faith and not by sight? They waited. They continued steadfastly. They did not allow the contradictions to discourage them. They fought gallantly until they won.

I do not doubt that you can walk by faith and not by sight. You will go far and be fed. The Lord will exalt you above many others, simply because you trusted and rested in Him.

I love you!

Originally published at highcity.org