The Fight of Faith

There’s a battle taking place right now. Not only an earthly battle, but rather, a spiritual battle. That fight has been taking place since mankind’s fall in the garden of Eden. Mankind fell victim to Satan’s influence and abandoned faith in God. Christ came to restore mankind’s faith in God. For those looking for His soon return, He asks a question: “When the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” Luke 18:8, NLT. What did Christ know that is revealed in His question? Although the war had been won, the fight for faith in God still remained. As such, we must learn how to fight the fight of faith. That’s what I’d like to talk about in this post.

Are you in a battle right now? Have you been tempted to give up on your faith in God? To walk away from the faith? You’re not the only one. Even Christ’s own apostles were tempted to walk away from their faith in Christ. Jesus looked them straight in the eye and said, “Will ye also go away?” John 6:67. The Apostle Peter staring back at Christ asked and answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68, NKJV. Given what he witnessed with Christ, the Apostle Peter knew he had no choice but to follow Christ; he knew Jesus Christ was THE answer to this life; he believed in Christ. He passed the test of faith; he didn’t walk away, even if, for a time, he denied Christ.

Yes, every person of faith is tempted with that same temptation: Will you also go away? Like Peter, when our faith is tried, we must be able to stand up and say, Lord, who else can I go to? You’re the Christ, mankind’s Messiah, God’s only begotten Son. When we declare what the Apostle Peter declared, at that moment, we, too, have passed the test of faith…and believed. Though we are tried by fire, we won’t walk away from the faith, for we believe and are sure that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. We, like the Apostle Paul, have fought the good fight of faith…and won.

That faith, the faith tried and tested in the fire, can withstand any attack of the enemy. Satan cannot defeat a man or woman of faith. He’s tried. From the prophet Daniel to the Apostle Peter to the Apostle Paul, their faith in God was tested and tried. When the Apostle Peter’s faith was tested and tried, Jesus said to him, “I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail.” Luke 22:32, Berean Standard Bible. Why did Jesus pray that specific prayer for him? Because Jesus knew that faith is what gives us the victory over the enemy. As the Apostle John said in 1 John 5:4, NKJV, “this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.”

Nothing can defeat the man or woman of faith. Faith in God always wins. Always. Jesus illustrated that point when He said, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28, NLT. King Solomon, at the end of his life, after making many mistakes and walking away from faith in God for a time, comes to understand this truth: “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13. At the end of the day, when all is said and done, faith in God is ALL that matters. That’s it!

"Faith in God always prevails. Always!"

As such, like the Apostle Paul, I want to encourage you to "In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one”. Ephesians 6:16, ESV. Yes, as the Apostle Jude said, “you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit”. Jude 1:20, NLT. Winning that fight of faith can only be won in the place of unceasing prayer. The praying man or woman, the person of faith who knows how to pray effectually and fervently, is the one who always wins over evil, over people, and over the Devil. Always! No exceptions! Faith in God always prevails. Always!

Today, I want to encourage you to have faith in God. No matter what it may look like, no matter what you may face, God’s grace is more than enough to cause you to triumph. Your faith will not faith. Jesus has and is praying for you. I am praying for you. A host of men and women of faith are praying for you. You are not alone! Though it may be dark, His light will pierce through your darkness and bring you life. You can believe. And “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23, NKJV. As such, “Be not afraid, only believe.” Mark 5:36.

Only believe! That’s it! That’s all God is asking from you today. “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” John 6:29, Berean Standard Bible. That’s what God wants from you. That’s THE thing God is after from all mankind. Nothing more. Only believe! You can! It’s easy. God is faithful. You can trust Him. He will not abandon you! He will not leave you! He will not forsake you! Ever!

God will never lie to you; He is truth itself; He cannot lie. Never! People may lie. People may disappoint. Not God, for He cannot lie; He is truth. As Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6, NLT. One way. One truth. One life. One faith. One God. One Spirit. One Church. One name. One. That’s it! And yes, you can believe.

How?, You might ask. Just start. It’s not complicated. It’s simple. Trust God here. Trust God there. Trust God everywhere. Trust God! Not yourself! Not what you can do. No! Trust Him! Believe Him! And watch what He does for you — the man or woman who believes. Wow! I’m excited for you and your future. You’ve just started your journey of faith. Nothing is impossible to you, dear person of faith.

Let us pray!