― Linda Evans Shepherd,
His Word
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11: 1,6
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31
From my heart to yours
A while back, I was doing a study of Luke and when I got to chapter 22, there were profound lessons I drew; and a major one to strengthen my spiritual walk from a conversation Jesus has with Peter before His arrest. This is the same Simon who was given a new name Peter which means rock. Simon means weakness. At this time before he betrays Jesus, Jesus calls him two times, Simon, Simon- weakness, weakness and what does Jesus say, Satan our adversary has desired to sift Simon like wheat but the Lord Jesus prayed that he’d be strengthen and that his faith fails not so that after that, Simon will be His ambassador and be used to strengthen others.
Literally speaking, the process of wheat sifting is not easy, you first have to cut down the wheat, tie it down and crush and shake it off. Such a painful sifting process that the enemy has desired to work on not only to Peter but to all believers. The biggest encouragement though was that Jesus has already prayed that we be strengthen when we go through this fire so that we can testify and strengthen others with the testimony of our victory in the name of the Lord. In winning such kind of battles, faith becomes a critical component of our armor.
In letter to Ephesians, Paul admonishes the believers to put on the full armor of God and that shield of faith is to be used to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one that flies by day. Ephesians 6:10-18, Psalms 91:5-8. The past few months have been a time of refinery for me and sifting but in all this I have continued to see the strong arm of the Lord contending with my contenders, Psalms 35. Faith then helps us to see and behold that which is not as if it is because we know whom we have believeth and are persuaded that His Word is true and is spirit and life to us who believe.
Faith does not see, it just believes before seeing the tangible. It believes in God and takes Him at His Word.
It is such faith that conquers battles, withstands adversity, it’s not ordinary, transforms people, its irresistible, it resists Satan, it’s not staggering, unwavering, it’s a faith that thrives through rough seasons, it’s a winning faith that travels with confidence and trust on the Lord through a route it has never treaded before. It’s an Elijah kind of faith that commands the heaven and calls fire from heaven. It is that faith that pleases God. It is the apostolic faith that quenches the fiery darts of evil. God wants such faith in His Solders!
Journal
Has your faith ever been tried through fire?
What lessons did you draw during that season and how has it built your faith in the Lord?
Faith believes God when the physical eyes can’t see. Faiths comes by hearing the Word of God, are you taking time to study, practice and teach the Word of God like Ezra devoted himself so that your faith is unshaken?
Let’s Pray
Father, this week we ask for one thing, help us build our faith in You and the power in Your Word. Release Your grace of faith that cannot fizzle out in the midst of adversity Lord upon Your Daughters; That we will have unquenchable fire of the Lord in our lives to quench the arrows of enemy and resist him in Jesus Name. And if there be any unbelief in us, Lord help our unbelief. Amen.
Daughter of the Covenant
#33
