Keep the Faith

Keep the Faith

Reflections by Rev. Harry Stackhouse

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the convictions of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 NAS

Faith is the reality that the invisible eventually will be made visible.  The visible manifestation may not take place while we live, but we must believe that it will eventually be seen, as it applies to our faith in Christ Jesus.  Faith says, “Lord we trust you in all things and I will not take on things that I should trust you for.”

It is necessary to teach others the importance of living their converted lives in the attitude of faith.  Faith is necessary to grow in the things of God.  We cannot even please God without faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, “…without faith it is impossible to please Him…”

Intimacy with Christ increases faith in Him.  When we are intimate with Christ we are more intoned with His nature, His wisdom and His ways. It was Moses’ intimacy with God that caused Him to trust the Lord in crossing the Red Sea.  Exodus 33:11 give an example of Moses’ closeness to God.  It said that the Lord spoke to, “… Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.” Many times during Moses’ leadership of the Israelite people his faith was challenged. In those times he would call upon the Lord and expect God to respond.

The world is in a global pandemic COVID-19 now and that includes the church. Many pastors are losing hope because they are losing sheep. My humble word to you is stay faithful to God’s specific calling upon your life. It is in the calling that the promise is fulfilled. Moses had to lead the Israelites across the Red Sea before they could enter the promised land. The Red Sea was only a place of faith building for the Israelites. Even though they had seen God work miracles they were merely receivers not participants. In crossing the Red Sea, they had to activate their faith or forget the promise.

Covid-19 is your test.  Don’t lose faith in God. Lose fear through faith.