Contending in Faith:Contending in Faith:

Psalm 119(around page 429 in visitor Bible)

Sources of Trials/SufferingSources of Trials/Suffering

1.1. Enemy fireEnemy fire2.2. Our own stupidityOur own stupidity3.3. Friendly fire (fallen world)Friendly fire (fallen world)4.4. Disobeying our Commanding Disobeying our Commanding

OfficerOfficer

Isaiah 54:17Isaiah 54:17

…no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from Me,” declares the LORD.

Journal: November 1Journal: November 1““I don’t know if I’m just supposed to wait…or I don’t know if I’m just supposed to wait…or contend or what…Holy Spirit, please speakcontend or what…Holy Spirit, please speak..””

Jude 3 Jude 3 ““I felt the necessity to write to you appealing I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you that you contend earnestly contend earnestly for the faith which for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”was once for all handed down to the saints.”

Judges 8:1 Judges 8:1 ““And they And they contendedcontended with him with him vigorouslyvigorously.”.”

Proverbs 4:20-22Proverbs 4:20-22

2020 My son, pay attention to what I say; My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my listen closely to my wordswords. . 2121 Do not let them out of your sight, Do not let them out of your sight, keep them keep them within your heartwithin your heart; ; 2222 for they are for they are lifelife to those who find them to those who find them and and healthhealth to a man’s whole body. to a man’s whole body.

Psalm 107:20Psalm 107:20

He sent forth his He sent forth his wordword and healed them; and healed them; He rescued them from the grave. He rescued them from the grave.

1.1. Feed Your Faith!Feed Your Faith!

2. Eliminate Obstacles to Faith2. Eliminate Obstacles to Faith

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

For God has not given us a For God has not given us a spirit of fearspirit of fear, but , but of power and of love and of a sound mind.of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Corinthians 4:132 Corinthians 4:13

It is written: “I believed; therefore I have It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spoken.” With that same spirit of faithspirit of faith we we also believe and therefore speak…also believe and therefore speak…

Unbelief = self-protection from disappointmentUnbelief = self-protection from disappointment(fear based on an inaccurate perception of God)(fear based on an inaccurate perception of God)

3. Understand How Faith Works3. Understand How Faith Works

Romans 10:9-10Romans 10:9-10

That if you That if you confessconfess with your mouth, “Jesus with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and is Lord,” and believebelieve in your heart that God in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your For it is with your heartheart that you believe and that you believe and are justified, and it is with your are justified, and it is with your mouthmouth that that you confess and are saved. you confess and are saved.

Romans 10:17 (NKJV)Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

So then faith comes by So then faith comes by hearinghearing, and hearing , and hearing by the by the wordword of God. of God.

2 Corinthians 4:132 Corinthians 4:13

It is written: “I believed; therefore I have It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spoken.” With that same spirit of faith spirit of faith we we also also believebelieve and therefore and therefore speakspeak,,

Isaiah 54:17Isaiah 54:17

……no weapon forged against you will prevail, no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will and you will refute every tongue refute every tongue that accuses that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from the LORD, and this is their vindication from Me,” declares the LORD. Me,” declares the LORD.

Matthew 4:3-4Matthew 4:3-4

The tempter came to him and said, “If you The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” become bread.” Jesus answeredJesus answered, “It is , “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” mouth of God.’”

Mark 11:22-24Mark 11:22-24

““Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone you the truth, if anyone sayssays to this to this mountainmountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’

Mark 11:22-24Mark 11:22-24

““Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does and does notnot doubt in his heart doubt in his heart but but believesbelieves that what he says will happen, it will be done that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. received it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:22-24Mark 11:22-24

And when you stand praying, if you hold And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, anything against anyone, forgiveforgive him, so that him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” sins.”

4. Humble Yourself and Speak!4. Humble Yourself and Speak!

1 Corinthians 1:27-291 Corinthians 1:27-29

““But God chose the But God chose the foolishfoolish things of the things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. are, so that no one may boast before him.

James 4:6James 4:6

““But he gives us But he gives us more gracemore grace. That is why . That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”gives grace to the humble.’”

John 6:63John 6:63

The The wordswords I have spoken to you are I have spoken to you are spiritspirit and and they are they are lifelife. .

1 Thessalonians 2:131 Thessalonians 2:13

And we also thank God continually because, And we also thank God continually because, when you received the when you received the wordword of God, which of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of word of GodGod, which is , which is at work at work in you who in you who believebelieve..

Jeremiah 1:12Jeremiah 1:12

The LORD said to me, “You have seen The LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am correctly, for I am watchingwatching to see that my to see that my wordword is is fulfilledfulfilled.” .”

Isaiah 55:10-11Isaiah 55:10-11

““As the rain and the snow come down from As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, and bread for the eater,

so is my so is my wordword that goes that goes out from My mouthout from My mouth: It : It will will not return to Me emptynot return to Me empty, but will , but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”purpose for which I sent it.”

5. Don’t Give Up!5. Don’t Give Up!

Hebrews 11:6Hebrews 11:6

““And without And without faithfaith it is impossible to please it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists and that He believe that he exists and that He rewardsrewards those who those who earnestly seekearnestly seek Him.” Him.”