Faith is rewarded

by preparingthebrideofchrist

Step 6:

Faith is rewarded

I absolutely love the book of Hebrews, but especially chapter 11 which is known as the great FAITH chapter of the bible. This chapter speaks about people in the old testament, who through faith overcame, saw victory in battle and also obtained promises from God. At this point may I kindly suggest that you read the whole chapter of Hebrews 11, because it contains such an encouraging message for us of how God rewards faith. Here are just some examples:

Hebrews chapter 11 says that through FAITH, they:

  • Subdued Kingdoms (overcame their enemies)
  • Worked righteousness (they were justified because they acted on their faith. Example: Abraham offered his only begotten son Isaac upon the alter – James 2:21-24)
  • Obtained promises (from God)
  • Stopped the mouth of lions (stopped the voices from the enemy)
  • Quenched the violence of fire (their faith was tested, and they came out of the test with pure refined tested faith as their reward)
  • Escaped the edge of the sword (God gave them victory over their enemies)
  • Out of weaknesses were made strong (God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness)
  • Became valiant in battle (possessing or showing courage & determination)
  • Turned to flight the armies of the aliens (“One man of you shall chase a thousand” / put the enemy to flight – “resist the devil and he will flee from you”)
  • The walls of Jericho (represents a demonic stronghold) fell down after they were encircled for 7 days (strongholds were pulled down)
  • Women received their dead raised to life again (raised from death to life)

Scripture also tells us that the reward for living by faith until the end of our race, is the salvation of our souls. I believe this means that we keep walking by faith (even though our faith will be tested), we keep believing and obeying the Lord and we endure to the end.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved (distressed) by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:6-9 NKJV

By faith we overcome

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5:4-5 NKJV

I believe this Scripture helps us understand that once we are born again, we live by faith, believing in Jesus as the Son of God (meaning: obeying Him as Lord), and knowing that His Holy Spirit lives in us, enabling us to see victory in our lives. The reason for this is because we know that Jesus has already won the war and attained the victory for us. He has already triumphed over all the power of the enemy and He shares His amazing victory with us. By having His Holy Spirit living within us, we are able to overcome the enemy because we are not trying to overcome in our own strength, but instead we overcome because we now fight Satan in God’s perfect strength. That’s the difference, that’s why there is victory, but this victory starts with our faith.

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 4:4 NKJV

Praise God for His amazing gift to us – His Holy Spirit. This Scripture helps us understand that we overcome the enemy because the Holy Spirit who indwells us is significantly greater than the enemy we face. Thank You Jesus.

The last point I would like to make mention, is that Jesus says we only need faith the size of a mustard seed to move mountains or uproot trees.

So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief (little faith); for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Matthew 17:20 NKJV

And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

So the Lord said, “if you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Luke 17:5-6 NKJV

We may think it would take great faith to overcome the enemy, move mountains or obtain promises we see written in the bible, but God says in His Word that we only need faith the size of a mustard seed. Have you ever considered how small a mustard seed is? Kindly refer to the picture above, and you will see that it is actually very small. My prayer is that this will strongly encourage us to move forward in faith to either move that mountain or uproot that tree, knowing that God will be faithful to His Word. Thank You Jesus.