ITS ABOUT YOUR FAITH

It's all over the news! I'm sure you've heard! The greatest problem in America, issue of this election is the economy! Well that is not true! It is not about the economy, IT'S ABOUT YOUR FAITH!

Peter said, "that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ..." (1 Peter 1:7).

From the very beginning of the church we have been persecuted for our faith. The enemy has tortured and killed many of the believers in an attempt to cause others to stop believing. Some were crucified upside down, others were fed to lions, some were even burned at the stake. And yet the church held firm to the "faith which was once and for all handed down to the saints" (Jude 3). Yes they had to "contend for the faith," and it is not different from today.

The enemy did not want the Twin Towers or New York City. The enemy did not care about the 3000 plus people in those towers. The enemy wanted to terrorize the rest of America in to giving up. Terrorism is the very strategy of the enemy. He will attack your house, your finances, your health, all in an attempt to get you to stop trusting in God.

He wants you to stop believing in Jesus Christ. He wants you to give up! It is not about the economy it is all about our FAITH! Peter probably understood this better than any of the other disciples. The Lord spoke to him and said, "I have prayed for you that your faith would not fail" (Luke 22:32). And the Lord is praying for us right now! We cannot stop believing God now.

Our faith is not based on the stock market or who is in office. Our faith is in Jesus Christ and His love for us. Our faith is not based on our religious piety or performance. No, our faith is based on His relationship with us. A relationship that He initiated and that He maintains. It is not about our doctrinal stand but rather about our intimacy with Him.

Paul encouraged Timothy, "For this reason I suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know in WHOM I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day" (1 Tim. 1:12). Paul explained his ability to suffer because I knew in WHOM he believed. Many people are trying to survive on the basis of what they believe rather than on WHOM they believe.

Peter says, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake in Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy" (1 Peter 4:12-13). The enemy has always tried to cause us to give up by attacking us, but we must not stop having faith in God! In fact this is the time to "stir up our Faith." In fact we must guard our faith.

Our faith is not in the economy, but in the God that raises the dead! Our faith is not in any government but in God's Kingdom. Even Jesus warned us of how Satan would come to steal the word that was sown in our hearts. He even told us that many would hear the word with joy, but because they had "no root in themselves" they would not be able to endure (Mark 4).

We must build our faith! St. Jude, who encouraged the believers to "contend for the faith" gives us some great insight into how to stay strong in the Faith.

Jude 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

You certainly don't hear a lot of conversation today about the Holy Spirit. The fact is that the Holy Spirit was sent to us to fill our lives with the very knowledge and presence of Jesus. Jesus is the very basis of our faith. If we are to be strong in Faith we must rely on the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ to us in the midst of the world in which we live.

I want to strongly encourage you to make your self available to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Paul reminds us, "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26).

We are living in a world that is trying to steal our faith! We must lean not to our own understanding but in all our ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct our paths (Pr. 3:6).

I want to encourage you to tune in to my web cast of last Sundays message I truly believe it will help you to rescue, recover and restore your Faith.

Unconditionally

Pastor Quintin

EXTREME MENTAL MAKEOVERS

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious -- the best not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." Phil. 4:6-8.

What we fill our minds with is very important. The world around us wants to fill our minds with uncertainty and fear. We cannot allow that to happen. Each of us our responsible for what goes into our minds. I want to encourage each of you to focus on what God has spoken to us. As we fill our hearts and minds with His Words we can be sure that God will give us His Peace.

In a world where there is chaos and confusion we can walk in His Peace and manifest His Presence to others around us.