Faith for the Future

January 12, 2018

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

1. FEAR NOT, ONLY BELIEVE. God has called us to this life of faith. We build endurance as we learn to walk by faith and not by how we feel. Our emotions can change from morning to night or in a split second — that’s why we don’t rely on them. Instead, we get our eyes fixed on God, who has covered everything from the cradle to the grave and from eternity to eternity.

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint.Romans 5:3-5a

2. RENEW CONFIDENCE IN HOPE. God never disappoints. Those of us who aspire to fulfill God’s plan sometimes get discouraged when we aren’t where we thought we were going to be at certain times in our lives. But even in challenging times, endurance and hope are produced! So we stop looking at our circumstances and look to God. He is the one who can and will open a door.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.1 John 5:4

3. LEARN TO OVERCOME. The power of faith is dynamic. It’s action-oriented (James 2:14-17). Jesus saw the faith of the men who dug a hole in the roof and lowered their paralyzed friend to be healed. (Luke 5:20). That’s why we put practicality to our concepts and live out faith in action. Even in temptations, tests, and trials we can look at things in a redemptive way, with confidence and firm persuasion that God is working it out for our good and that endurance, perseverance, character, and hope are being produced.

Press on!
Pastor Jeff

PRAY THIS PRAYER:
Jesus, You are the strength of my life. Jesus, I really need You. I absolutely rely on You. I cast my cares and worries on You. I receive the miraculous in my life. I receive healing in my body, help in my family, blessing on my finances, and wisdom on my time expenditures and prioritizations. May this be a year of strengthening, fulfillment, achievement, prosperity, and abundance in Jesus’ Name, amen!

dy·nam·ic, noun
A force that stimulates change or progress within a system or process. Origin: Early 19th century (as a term in physics) from French dynamique, from Greek dunamikos, from dunamis – “power.”

Copyright © 2018 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. “Dynamic.” Oxford Dictionaries. Web. 9 Jan 2018 .