The Just shall live by Faith.
Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”
And just how do you live by faith? It is not I hope so, or I believe, I believe; but it is, I know…. Faith grounds you in God, and you know,….even if you do not know how you know.
Faith is an active, vibrant, force within….for it is always growing stronger….or it is becoming silent…..not gone, but still:
“….Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Ephesians 5:14)
Faith is a gift from God. When the Holy Spirit comes within our spirit, and we are born again,….we are given faith…..and we can know.
Faith is the eyesight of our spiritual lives.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Faith says,….I am….born again, my sins are forgiven.
I am…a child of a King….the Almighty God.
I am…the object of God’s love and light.
I am…standing on a Rock that can not move.
I am…a reciever of His promises.
Faith is the substance within us, that makes real the things of God, especially salvation. So as I have faith….I am to acquire virtue.
2 Peter 1:5 “And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;”
Virtue is an old English word, and it means the ability as a virtuous soldier. One you could count on to do the job.
This ability is all of the Holy Spirit, within. When we are walking in faith….seeing God and His Word….being obedient,
…then the Holy Spirit is a force within us for good…..our good, for He “pushes” here or there, to say this or be quiet…..
….and the good of others, as we are lights to the world….
…then we gain knowledge. Knowledge, by experience, of what God will do for me, His child. (How much we will need that knowledge in the days ahead!)
The just shall live by faith.
Now whether we are talking about past sins, or present sins….if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.
But we must believe that we are forgiven….no, we must know that we are!
How much distress and discouragement comes from not knowing….what God plainly tells us to know…..
…..and we are definitely to know Him….in all the areas of our life.
2 Peter 1:3 “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness; through the knowledge of Him that hath called us unto glory and virtue.”
God does not say, “Here is your life’s work”….then go off and leave us to figure it out ourselves.
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Ordained means that He has made full provision for us.
He does not leave us to struggle along…..
No,…He gives us faith…that substance that points to God in every aspect of our lives.
He gives us a Way,…..that is the path every Christians treads from being babes to full grown sons of God. (Different circumstances for each….same Way.)
He gives us a Word….His unchanging Word, that we may count on it.
He gives us His Holy Spirit….to guide, empower by grace, and teach us in the things of God.
Romans 8:28-29 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His Purpose.
For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
All that are called, are called…..and conformed to the Image of His Son.
Now to be conformed to His Image, is to remain yourself,…..but you acquire the personality and character of the Lord Jesus.
How?
John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.”
Everyday, in my life, Christ is lifted up or I am lifted up.
Is Christ being lifted up in my attitudes?
Is Christ being lifted up in my words?
Is Christ being lifted up in my thoughts?
Are we living our lives in faith? Faith always sees God.
It is not a Sunday faith, which praises, but does not obey the rest of the week.
It is a faith which commands me to “Look to Jesus to live”,…..everyday.
I am saved,
I am a child of the King,
I am on the Rock,
I am living by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.
I am receiving the promises He has given me.
This is to live by faith…..are we?
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 