3. THROUGH JESUS WE CAN HAVE VICTORY IN OUR FIGHTS OF FAITH. Heb.4v14-16.

Jesus has been more severely tried and tempted than any of us, His victories assure us of our victory in trial.

1Tim.6v12. "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called, and did confess a good confession before many witnesses."

Rom.5v3-5. "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; v4, and perseverance, character; and character, hope. v5. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Heb.6v12. "Be not slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."


a. Tests and trials of our faith are allowed and ordained by God, and are more precious than gold. 1Pet.1v4-7.

God allows all Christians to experience trials of faith in order to improve our characters, deepen our faith, and give us qualifications for ministry. These trials of life, and conflicts with the powers of darkness, can be particularly expected when we are seeking a deeper walk with God and a more effective ministry for God. We cannot avoid having battles of faith, and the pressures on our faith and the gloomy doubts that rise, are often not our own fault. They can be caused by the pressures of life that we cannot avoid, such as financial and health problems, difficulties in our home and work circumstances, bereavement, and the opposition and unbelief of the world. 1Tim.6v12. Pressure and problems can be exacerbated through false teaching and unscriptural tradition, and the lack of a Spirit-anointed fellowship, for this leaves us without the essential spiritual support that we need, when we are attacked by the insinuations and lies of the powers of darkness. However, God understands and sympathises with us in all these pressures and difficulties, and our Saviour's intercession and ministry are totally dedicated to us. He is the Author of our faith, and He will perfect and finish it; so let us cling to Him and seek Him with all our hearts. Heb.12v2. Rom.8v26-39. We can surely believe that the God who gave His Son for us, will with Him also freely give us all things. Rom.8v32. Mt.11v27. 19v26. 21v22. 1Cor.3v21,22. Rev.21v5,7. But beware of roots of bitterness. Heb.12v12-15.

b. The strengthening grace of our Lord to us in our "faith distress."

Paul states that our faith should grow, "from faith to faith." Rom.1v17. However, our faith can at times be severely tested, as Abraham found out, when, "with no grounds for hope, Abraham sustained by hope, put faith in God." Abraham at 99 and Sarah at 90, both laughed in unbelief at the long delayed promise of God, when old age made the promise of a child seem ridiculous. They later embraced and received the promise of God through the gracious faith-building acts of God. A personal visit of the Lord caused them, Rom.4v20., to be "strengthened in faith," "enedunamothe tei pistei," the aorist passive of "endunamoo", to empower, to strengthen, the passive means "to be strengthened, to be empowered," God strengthened and empowered Abraham's faith to receive His promise.. Gen.15v4-6. 18v11-14.

God allows our faith to be tested, because faith grows through overcoming the trials that test it. We should also take great comfort from the fact that God not only takes great pleasure in our faith, He also delights to encourage and sustain it. Jesus was never hard on people with genuine doubts and problems; He treated Nathanael, Nicodemus, doubting Thomas, and multitudes more, with great grace and love; Jesus always met a sincere seeker's need. Jn.1v46-51. 3v1-21. 20v24-29. Mk.9v17-29.

The risen Christ restored the shattered faith of His apostles, and though He chided them for their ignorance of the prophetic Scriptures, and their consequent unbelief, He was very gracious to them, and encouraged them with a benediction of peace. Jesus also restored their faith by "showing Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs;" He "appeared to them repeatedly over a period of 40 days talking with them about the affairs of the kingdom of God." Acts.1v3. Lk.24v25-29,44,45. Jn.20v1-31. 1Cor.15v3-8. We too can experience the strengthening grace of our Lord in our times of trial and "faith distress," and gain extremely valuable qualifications for an anointed ministry in love to those in similar trials.

c. The difference between "genuine doubts," and "an evil heart of unbelief."

God never despises a genuine seeker who is harassed by doubts and fears. There is a great difference between a "genuine doubter" with "faith distress," and a person who has a spirit of scepticism and "an evil heart of unbelief," who does not want to believe, because of the demands that faith will make upon them. Heb.3v12-19. This is why Jesus severely censured the people who were still full of unbelief, and wilfully unrepentant, after seeing multitudes of signs and wonders from God. Mt.11v20-24. 12v31-45. The honest doubter may want to believe, but they may have real problems and difficulties that keep them from a clear faith. Genuine doubts can give us real distress, anguish and perplexity, for the very reason that faith and authentic experience are so earnestly desired. This longing "faith distress" will certainly lead to a positive and conclusive faith, and an abundant and satisfying experience of God. Every seeking heart in God's gallery of faith has known what it has meant to pray through from genuine doubts to a certainty of faith, and from barrenness to a blessed and fruitful experience. Even godly Enoch had a period of crisis before he started walking with God. Gen.5v21-24. Heb.11v5,6. Jude.v14,15.

4. GOD'S EVER PRESENT PROTECTING LOVE AND SUSTAINING GRACE IN OUR TRIALS OF FAITH.

a. Peter assures us of God's complete and continuous protection. 1Pet.1v4-7.

God has always given special protection to His children; believers in Jesus, "are always kept, protected and guarded by the power of God through faith." The word for, "are always kept" is "phrouroumenous," the present passive participle of "phroureo," a military term, Acts.9v24. 2Cor.v32., meaning, "to guard or garrison," from "phrouros," "a sentinel." Vincent says, "The present participle indicates something in progress, a continuous process of protection." Peter assures us that the heirs of God's heavenly kingdom are guarded as securely as our heavenly inheritance.

When Peter tells us in 1Pet.1v4., that our heavenly inheritance is "reserved" for us, he uses "teteremenen," the perfect passive participle of "tereo;" which signifies, "taking care of and keeping by guarding." Jesus uses the same word, "tereo," in Jn.17v11., when He prays and asks the Father to guard His disciples. He asks the Father, "keep in Thy Name those whom Thou hast given me;" "keep" is "tereson," the aorist active imperative of "tereo." Again, in Jn.17v12., our Lord said, "I kept them in Thy Name;" "I kept," is "eteroun," the imperfect active of "tereo;" "I constantly kept and guarded them." Also in v12, "Those whom thou gavest me I guarded;" "guarded" is "ephulaza," the aorist active of "phulasso;" Christ was their "phulax," their sentinel and guard, and He is still our sentinel and guard; He ever lives to protect us, and intercede for us. Heb.7v25.

In 1Pet.1v5., Peter assures us that Christians are protected and enveloped, "en dunamei theou," "IN the power of God." See Phil.4v7., where "phrouresei," "shall garrison," the future active indicative of "phroureo," is used for the peace of God guarding our hearts. The peace of God can guard our hearts in every situation, because the power of God envelops, guards, and preserves us.

The protecting and transforming friendship of Jesus is a continuous and blessed reality.

Jesus said that no thieves or robbers, could attack our heavenly inheritance; and He assures us that the heirs of the heavenly kingdom are as securely guarded by God their Father as their heavenly inheritance. Mt.6v19-21. Col.1v5. God cares more for the heirs of the kingdom of Heaven, than He does for the fabric of that kingdom. Heaven and earth may pass away, but His love for us will never pass away. As God's beloved children we are assured of our heavenly Father's care and protection.

b. John assures us that Satan cannot grasp a born-again child of God.

In 1John.5v18., John writes, "We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the Wicked One does not touch him." "Does not touch him," "ouch haptetai autou," is the present middle indicative of "hapto," which means to lay hold of or to grasp rather than a momentary touch, which is "thiggano." John assures us that the Wicked One cannot lay hold of, or grasp a child of God. John only uses "hapto," here in 1Jn.5v18., and in Jn.20v17., where Jesus asks Mary to "cease holding and clinging to me;" "me mou haptou" is the present middle imperative of "hapto." Mary was filled with joy at finding our Lord risen and alive, and did not want Him to go away Jesus told Mary that she could not keep clinging to Him, because He had to ascend to the Father. There was no prohibition against Mary touching or holding the Lord, for in Mt.28v9. the women took hold of our Lord's feet ("ekratesan") and worshipped Him. Jesus was so moved by the grief of the women, that His love for them compelled Him to come and comfort them before He ascended to the Father. We can say with absolute certainty, that the Wicked One cannot grasp or possess a Christian.

In 1John.5v18., John states that truly regenerated Christians do not live a life of sin, or keep on being dominated by continual sin. See 1Jn.3v6,9. John is not speaking of an act of sin, which would be indicated by the aorist tense; but the continuous life of sin which is indicated by the present tense, for ,"sinneth not," is "ouch hamartanei," the linear present active indicative of "hamartano," "to sin." We have victory over sin through the new birth, and the law of the spirit of life in Christ, this frees us from the law of sin and death. Rom.8v1-3.

{In the phrase, "he that was begotten of God," "ho gennetheis ek tou theou," "he that was begotten," is "gennetheis," the aorist passive participle of "gennao," which only occurs in the second part of 1Jn.5v18.. Some think it is equivalent to the, "he that is begotten of God," "ho gegennemenos ek tou theou," the perfect passive participle of "gennao," which is used in the first part of this verse and 1Jn.3v9., and refers to a Christian who is begotten of God. The perfect tense speaks not only of the act of birth, but also of its continuous present efficacy, from the point of birth up to the present.}

The Majority Text reading, "keeps himself," "terei heauton," means that it is referring to Christians. Others feel that the reading of the Critical Texts, of "terei auton," "keeps him;" makes, "He that was begotten of God," refer to Christ. The New English Bible reads, "It is the Son of God who keeps him safe." There is no problem here, both thoughts are true; we are to keep ourselves in the love of God and our Lord's devoted and continuous intercession for us, is a glorious and wonderful fact. Jude.v21. Jam.1v27. Heb.4v12-16. 7v25. Ps.121v3,4.

N.B. God's children are the apple of His eye.

In Zech.2v8., the prophet says, "He that touches you, touches the apple of His eye;" and Deut.32v9,10. tells us, "The Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is His inheritance;---He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye." What was true of God's Old Covenant saints, it is certainly true of God's New Covenant saints. Evil spirits believe in God and tremble, none of them would think of trying to hit God in the eye, and when they attack God's dear children they are in real danger. Many demons are in the abyss because they have tried to harm God's dear children.

c. We have a covenant relationship, legal protection, and authority in Jesus.

God has confirmed by an oath His covenant relationship with us, to give us an anchor for our souls. Heb.6v12-20.

We have authority and dominion over Satan and evil through faith in the name of Jesus.

Every knee must bow to the name of Jesus and recognise its authority; Phil.2v9-11. Rom.14v11,12., both from Is.45v23.

Jesus said in Luke.10v19., "Behold, I give unto you the authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over ALL the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you." The seventy were not mature Christians, for in v21 our Lord calls them, "neepios," "none-speaking babes, "or" little children." The revelation of this power and authority had been hidden from the wise and prudent and given to babes, because it was good in the eyes of our heavenly Father. They were given complete authority over ALL the power of the enemy, and the powers of darkness were terrified at their coming. The 70 disciples returned with joyful surprise that demons were subject to them in the name of Jesus. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and are safe." Prov.18v10.

N.B. Our Lord definitely states, "nothing shall by any means hurt you." Lk.10v19.

Our Lord Jesus used a very strong triple negative when He said, "Nothing you, in no way shall hurt," "ouden humas ou me adikese." It is made up of, "nothing," "ouden;" "in no way," "ou me;" and "shall not hurt," "adikese," the aorist active subjunctive of "adikeo." "Adikeo," is made up of the negative prefix "a," and "dikos," which means, "to act unjustly, to do wrong, to injure, to harm." It is difficult to adequately convey the strength of our Lord's strong triple negative in English, unless we express it as, "Nothing, in no way, shall not hurt you,"

{The Majority Text has "adikese," the aorist active subjunctive of "adikeo," other texts read, "adikesei," the future active indicative of "adikeo." Both readings are theologically correct; the aorist tense assures us, that at the point of conflict with evil angels, God will protect us from them; the future tense informs us that God will protect us from harm in any future conflict with the powers of darkness.}

In Mt.10v1., we see that God gave authority, "exousia;" and power, "dunamis;" to the apostles, even though Jesus describes them as "little children" in Mt.11v25,26.. These Christian babes had authority over all the power of the Devil in Jesu's Name. The source of this authority is the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, as John tells us in 1Jn.4v4., "He that is in us, is greater than he that is in the world." We are proof against Satan's attacks through the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

5. There is a great variety of Christian experience, and ministries of faith.

a. The difference between personal faith in God and a faith to minister to others.

The Centurion and the Syrophenician woman. Mt.8v10-12. & 15v21-28. Both of these people had a great personal faith in Christ, indeed, Jesus Himself said that their faith was "great." Both had a desperation of faith because of a deep concern for one they loved. Both had great faith and great love, but they were not able to meet the needs of their loved ones, it took Christ's faith and the gifts of the Spirit that were manifested through Him to meet their need.

However, it is one thing to believe that God will meet your needs, or other's needs, but quite another thing to have the spiritual ability or faith to take or receive from God, the power to meet those needs. It takes even more faith, and a Divine call, to believe that God will give you the regular exercise of His power and love to meet other's needs.

b. There is the great possibility and opportunity of a real growth in faith, we can go "from faith to faith."

Rom.1v17. "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (KJV)

2Cor.5v17,18. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. v18. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation."

2Pet.2v18. "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."

In Heb.11., we have a catalogue of the three kinds of godly faith; saving faith, the fruit of faith, and the gift of faith, Heb.11. speaks of faith in general, and shows us the three kinds of faith that please God, all are capable of growth. Heb.11v6.

c. Faith grows by communion with Jesus and the Father.

2Cor.3v18. "But we ALL, with open face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." "Transformed," is "metamorphoumetha," the present passive of "metamorphoo," to transform, to transfigure, in Mt.17v2. and Mk.9v2., it is translated "transfigured." In Rom.12v2., "Be ye transformed," is "metamorphousthe," the present passive imperative of "metamorphoo." Faith comes by communion with God, not just by confession of truth.

Heb.12v2. "Looking away to ("eis") Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." "Looking away to," is "aphorontes eis," the present active participle of the verb "aphorao," to look away, it only occurs here and Phil.2v23. in the New Testament. "Eis," suggests we look not just "to," but "into" all the inner beauty, perfections and glory of Jesus. After being encouraged by the faith of "the cloud of witnesses," we must fix our eyes on Jesus, for he was the one who inspired their faith. Heb.11v26. Jesus is, "the Author" of faith, "ton archegon," from "arche" and "ago," "the one leading off," here Jesus is described as the Pioneer who blazes the way of faith; and as a Leader or Prince in Acts.5v31., and as the Source and Author of life in Acts.3v15., any or all of these meanings can be applied to "archegon." Jesus is the Author and Pioneer of faith and salvation, our Elder Brother and Friend. Rom.8v29. All His life Jesus endured the most severe and unrelenting trials of faith in His conflicts with Satan and evil people, and His countless thousands of victories of faith out of pure love for us are quite beyond praise.

"Perfecter," is "teleioten," Jesus perfects our faith and brings it to the goal. This word is found nowhere else, Paul seems to have coined it from "teleioo." In Heb12v3., "Consider," is "analogisasthe," the aorist middle imperative of "analogizomai," which means to reckon up, to count up, to compare, to weigh, it can include the idea of contemplation, it only occurs here in the New Testament.. We are to consider the victorious faith and triumphant endurance of Jesus over all the vicious slander, aggressive speaking against ("antilogian") and other opposition that came against Him. "Endured," is "hupomemenekota," the perfect active participle of "hupomeno," the same verb that is used in verse 2 to speak of our Lord's victorious endurance of the cross.

A similar thought is expressed in Heb.3v1., where we are told to "consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession." "Consider," is "katanoesate," the aorist active imperative of the verb "katanoeo," from "kata," and " nous," and so means to put the mind down on a thing, to fix the mind on as in Mt.7v3. and Lk.12v24.. We are to fix our minds on Jesus and thoughtfully and attentively consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. The epistle to the Hebrews was written to drive home to us, that considering, contemplating, and feeding on Jesus is the answer to all our problems, and the cure for doubt, fear, unbelief, weariness ("kamno"), feebleness ("ekluo"), and fainting in the Christian life.

Let us be borne along by God to maturity. Be diligent, but rely on God to carry you forward, and not on self effort.. Heb.6v12..

Heb.6v1. "Therefore leaving the elementary doctrine of Christ, let us be borne on ("pherometha") to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God." The translations, "let us go on," and "let us press on," give the idea that the effort is all ours, but it is better translated "let us be borne, or carried on," for "pherometha," is the present subjunctive passive of "phero," to bear, to carry; the passive means, to be carried or borne along; so this should be translated, "let us be borne or carried on."

"Phero," is used in Acts.27v15,17., to describe the ship in which Paul was travelling being "driven" and being "borne along" before the mighty wind in the storm In Acts.2v2., "phero" is used in the present participle, passive voice, to describe the "rushing" sound of a mighty wind, literally, "a violent wind borne along." The Pythagorean Schools used "pherometha" in the sense of being borne on to a higher stage of instruction, but this goes much further than instruction.

We are being urged to put up our sails, and allow ourselves to be borne along in the gale of the Spirit to maturity, to an experience of Jesus as our great High Priest. Heb.5v10-14. "Unto perfection," is "epi ten teleioteta," from "teleios," mature, adults, as in Heb.5v14.; it only occurs twice in the New Testament, here in Heb.6v1., and Col.3v14.. The writer appeals to us to leave Christian babyhood, and go on to the be mature adult Christians, who are able to masticate solid spiritual food.

Conclusion. "Faith which is energised, expressed and works ("energeo") through love," Gal.5v6.

We are saved by faith in Jesus, but love in action is the "more excellent way" to establish faith. 1Cor.12v31.

1Tim.1v19,20. "Keeping fast hold on faith and a good conscience; which some having rejected and thrust from them have made shipwreck concerning the faith: v20. of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered unto Satan, that they might learn not to blaspheme."

Col.3v12-17. "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; v13. bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. v14. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. v15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. v16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. v17.And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (NKJ)

1John.4v7-21. "Beloved, ("agapetoi," "Divinely loved ones." Weust. John uses this tender word three times in this chapter, v1,7,11.), let us habitually love one another, for love comes out of God, and everyone who habitually loves, out of God has been born, and knows God in an experimental way. v8. Whoever does not habitually love in this manner, has not come to know God, because God is love. v9. In this the love of God was clearly manifested to us, in that God sent His Only Begotten Unique Son into the world on a mission, so that we might live through him. v10. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

v11. Beloved, (Divinely loved ones, Weust), since God so loved us, we are under a moral obligation to be constantly loving one another. v12. No man has had the capacity to behold God, but if we habitually love one another, God lives in us and His love exists and is brought to its fullness in us. v13. We know experientially that we abide, live and remain in Him, and He in us, because he has given ("dedoken," perfect active indicative) us of his Spirit as an abiding gift. v14. And we have steadfastly beheld and contemplated, and are bearing witness that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. v15. Anyone who confesses ("homologeo," the aorist active subjunctive) that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. v16. And we have known by experience and believe and rely on the love God cherishes for us. God is love. Whoever dwells and lives in love, dwells and lives in God, and God dwells and lives in him.

v17. In this (abiding communion with God) love is brought to completion among us, so that we will have boldness and confidence on the day of judgement, because as He is, so are we in this world. v18. There is no fear in love. But full-grown perfect love throws fear out and drives it away. For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, so the one who still fears has not reached the full maturity and perfection of love. v19. We love Him, because he first loved us. v20. If anyone says, "I love God," and yet hates his brother all the time, he is a liar. For the one who does not keep on loving his brother, whom he has seen, cannot, ("ou dunatai agapain" "is not able to go on loving") love God, whom he has not seen. v21. And this commandment we have from Him; that he who loves God, must love his brother also."

It we desire a true and living faith, we must have a faith which is energised through "agape" love, for as we walk on this "more excellent way," we will experience a deep knowledge and abundant experience of God and His gifts. "God is love. Whoever dwells and lives in love, dwells and lives in God, and God dwells and lives in him." Gal.5v6. 1Cor.12v31. 1John.4v16.


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