Enduring Faith
“The preoccupations with the tangible things of this shaking world frequently lead us into idolatrous distractions that easily sabotage enduring faith””
Let’s take a deeper look into the required great faith that Yahshua (Jesus) was referring to when He said, “the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). The definition of faith is clearly written in the Word, “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” “We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (Hebrews 12:1, 2 Corinthians 4:18). In the midst of these perilous times, the Holy Spirit is urging us to be occupied with the unseen eternal things instead of preoccupied with what is visible, temporary, and ultimately futile. “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. The world is passing away and also its lusts [and cravings]; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever” (1 John 2:16-17) . 1:32 April 17 The preoccupations with the tangible things of this shaking world frequently lead us into idolatrous distractions that easily sabotage enduring faith.
“The “gospel of the kingdom” of heaven is the message of the good news that there is eternal life in our Savior’s glorious kingdom that awaits the faith filled righteous redeemed””
All that is of the Spirit is not seen. Yahshua (Jesus) said, “Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed” because they “walk by faith, not by sight” (John 20;29, 2 Corinthians 5:7). “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (see John 4:24). “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek [and obey] Him” (Hebrews 11:6). The “gospel of the kingdom” of heaven is the message of the good news that there is eternal life in our Savior’s glorious kingdom that awaits the faith filled righteous redeemed (Matthew 24:14). This holy remnant lives by, and in, the Spirit’s power and grace with wholehearted obedience to their beloved Savior who poured out His sacrificial blood to cleanse them of sin, fill them with His indwelling Spirit, and lead them to obedience to His Word and holiness in His sight. They are consumed with a passionate love and desire to bring their God and Savior praise, honor, and glory through their words and deeds. “The called and chosen and faithful” do not live for this world because they are “born again” “new creations”, spiritual beings (Revelation 17:14, John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17). They are continually exchanging the worthless things of this world for the precious eternal King and His Kingdom PUT IN (see Jeremiah 15:19).1:03 As it is proclaimed, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who [wholeheartedly] love [and obey] Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
“True saving faith can only be attained and maintained by those who are putting to death the desires of the flesh and the world because Yahshua (Jesus) is their heart’s desire and all their hope and faith is in their beloved King and His coming kingdom””
Those who are double minded have a half hearted faith that “denies the power of the Holy Spirit,” to overcome the flesh, the world, and Satan (2 Timothy 3:5). They have not followed our Savior’s basic requirement as He proclaimed, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). True saving faith can only be attained and maintained by those who are vigilantly putting to death the desires of the flesh and the world, because Yahshua (Jesus) is their heart’s desire and all their hope and faith is in their beloved King and His coming kingdom. Messiah is truly their “exceedingly great reward” and their “first and foremost love” of their lives (Genesis 15:1, Revelation 2:4). As Apostle Paul explained, the redeemed righteous remnant follow his example to be “crucified to the world and the world to them” (Galatians 6:14). Our sacrificial Savior poured out His life to save us from our inherited sinful flesh nature, which is an enemy to the Holy Spirit and the crucifixion stake. It is written, “Many live as enemies of the cross of Messiah [Christ] … their mind is set on earthly things” (Philippians 3:18-19). Those who are alive in the Spirit, “put to death the deeds of the flesh and make no provision for its lustful unceasing desires” (See Romans 8:13-14). The redeemed righteous remnant have their hope, joy, and treasures in the heavenly kingdom above and not below in this passing world. Those with a professing shallow faith, who still live in the flesh and the world, will not be able to endure the various trials and sufferings that are already here and will increase in the days ahead. Messiah is giving warning that believing faith must be tried and tested, until it becomes enduring faith through great rejections, trials, hardships, “persecutions, and suffering that are guaranteed to come”, for the true followers of Yahshua (Jesus) on the “narrow path that leads to eternal life” (see 2 Timothy 3:12, Matthew 7:14).
Our beloved Redeemer asks, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find [enduring] faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) Yahveh God Almighty will judge His people according to the validity of their faith. We read that “we are saved by faith” but we also read “I will show you my faith by my works” (Ephesians 2:8, James 2:18). James is saying, true faith produces the fruits of the Spirit and the works of the Spirit that lasts eternally. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit” (Galatians 6:7-8). The indwelling Holy Spirit gives us the grace to walk by faith and “endure to the end”. As it is written, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:36-38).
