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2 Corinthians 13:5-9
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.
Hebrews 10:19-25
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful
Hebrews 10:19-25
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Keep Moving
Atrophy is the leading cause of the weakening and eventual death of faith.
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. James 1:2,3
Keep Moving
Faith can no more be taken for granted than can ones marriage. Atrophy occurs without effort.
Unless a ship stays under power, it loses the ability to stay on course.
Keep Moving
A body in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by some outside force.
It takes much less effort to stay active than to become active.
Keep Fighting
Lengthy wars are lost at home rather than on the battlefield. (Never lost a battle, but lost the war)
Even dedicated soldiers must deal with battle fatigue.
Keep Fighting
Furthermore, having no mission is even worse than lengthy deployments. The kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world ( Satan ) are in an ongoing state of war.
Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, 1 Tim. 6:12
Ephesians 6:10-12
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
James 4:4
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
1 John 2:15
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Keep Fighting
Keep In Formation
Keep In Formation
Though military terminology is not commonly used, God has organized His troops to function as an interactive, interdependent entity.
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 1 Cor. 12:12
Galatians 6:2
Bear one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Hebrews 3:13
but exhort one another daily, while it is called Today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
As with an army, each small unit determines the strength of the whole entity.
Strong members make for a strong congregation.
Keep In Formation
Regular consumption of the words of God are essential to keep one in the faith. so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. Phil. 2:15,16
God is the ultimate support system. The problem is that Christians tend to lose touch with God!
Conclusion
The keys to success in the faith are similar to those of any other effective force.
Christians must stay active. We must keep fighting the good fight of faith. The Christian must fight in formation. We must stay well supplied. Christians must keep in touch with God.
2 Timothy 4:7,8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.