Battle-Hardened Faith

Last Call Ministries

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. –[Mark 9:42]

Many misunderstand the meaning of the word offend here. Jesus was speaking about having faith robbed by the deception of someone else and the dismal end that awaits the deceiver. Jesus says some people are better off dead. They are not going to believe the gospel message and they will try to drag you down with them. Get away from them.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. –[Mark 9:43-48]

Next Jesus points out that there are many things in life that try to rob your faith. You have an enemy, the devil himself and he is going to battle you and try to rob you of the blessing. He will use people including your loved ones, circumstances and events in order to sway and erode your faith. Demons are real folks, remember Jesus cast many out of people and as they were cast out they cried out for fear. They know where true power exists.

This is why Jesus warns us if our hand, foot or eye offends us cut it off or pluck it out. It is better to enter life maimed, halt or blind rather than miss out on heaven. Of course the Lord doesn’t want you to go chopping body parts off rather he was illustrating a point. If what you reach for or where you walk and what you see or how you see hampers your faith, draw back your hand, walk some place else or turn your head. Jesus is saying resist the lie. Battle the enemy with your faith.

Whether you know it or not, you are in a warfare. The devil attacks with troubles in life. This why Job says, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days [old] and full of trouble." –[Job 14:1] Could be financial, could be physical it could be your concern for the salvation of a loved one. It could even be the state of affairs of the world with its suffering as if the Lord were to blame. The devil hates mankind because he is made in the image of God. You may have lost many things in life but just as Job shut the devils mouth when his wife said why don’t you curse God and die, but Job responded, "Woman, Shut Up! Naked I came into this world and naked I’ll go out, blessed be the name of the Lord." Job had lost everything. He lost his business, his children, his house, everything, but because Job had battle-hardened faith he told the devil where to go and how to do it and in the end God blessed Job and gave him back twice as much as the devil had stolen from him.

All of us have troubles in life. The very fact you have troubles or battles is because you are valuable to Jesus. You are a threat to the devils crumbling kingdom. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."–[1Peter 5:8-9]

Jesus says, " These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation [trouble]: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." –[John 16:33] He is not talking about living worldly; he is talking about living in this world with enduring faithfulness. Jesus says be of good cheer because he’s going to deal with your troubles and you are going to see the victory in this life.

You who are born again into the family of God can have peace. Stop looking at the storms and troubles of life and look to the one who says peace be still. Stop worrying about it. Jesus will take care of it.

There are lessons to be learned by enduring troubles. The devil meant it for evil but God turned it into good. You can count on Jesus.

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." –[Psalms 23:5]

How many of you know that God wants to bless you to overflowing? That means Spiritually, Physically and Financially. Thou anointest my head with oil [Holy Ghost]; my cup runneth over!

You shall be seasoned with fire meaning you will go through battles and endure troubles in this life and what you in fact endure you are to endure with the salt of faith. Do you understand that fire tempers or hardens in the sense of strengthening? Iron becomes steel after enduring the fire. You become battle hardened when you fight the war and Jesus will deliver you. That’s why Jesus said I have overcome the world, be of good cheer man! What he is saying is hold fast your faith, HAVE SALT in YOURSELVES. Troubles do come and big trouble is fast approaching this earth, but hold fast Jesus will deliver you, that’s a guarantee. God is true to his promise and all the promises of God are yours in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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