Holding On To My Faith Part 2 Series

Holding on To My Faith – Part 2

Romans 4:20-22

I hate to be the bearer of important news, but I think I should inform you and remind you—you will have to go through some things.

You might be saved/sanctified/spirit-filled/speak in tongues/fire-baptized/anointed and appointed—but you are still going to have to go through something.

• Because no person will go through this life untried/untested.

In John 16:33 Jesus declared “In the world you will have tribulation (setbacks/failures/disappointments); but be of good cheer—I have already overcome the world.”

Because my brother/sisters, some things in life take time.

Everybody shout: TIME

• Some prayers take time

• Restoring relationships take time

• Growing spiritually takes time

• Constructing a marriage takes time

• Raising a child takes time

• Shattering a stronghold and breaking free from an addiction that has you bound takes time

• Finishing school takes time

Healing is not always instantaneous—sometimes it takes time!!!

But let me bring it a little closer to home —

• Getting rid of that mean, spiteful, unforgiving attitude takes time.

• Growing accustomed to change takes time.

• denying yourself takes time.

But Here is the good news— if you are a child of God, God will give you just what you need in order to go through the tough and rough spots without you falling apart.

God will give you the ability to go through your difficult moments without you flipping out — God will give you the ability:

- To confront your critics

- To live through the ridicule

- To survive the negativity

- To battle with backstabbers

- And even side step the silly folk….

God gives us the ability to go THROUGH some things without losing our mind in the things we’re going THROUGH. As a matter of fact, in order for you to get TO IT, you’re going to have to go THROUGH IT! That’s why David could say “I can walk Through the valley of the shadow of death, and fear no evil” Why, because God is with me!

And so God empowers us to STAY up before He SHOWS up so that we don’t MESS up what He is SETTING up — and it all begins when we hold on to our faith!!!

I’m trying to talk to somebody here today who came to worship feeling that if God doesn’t step in and work things out — you are going to lose it because you feel like you can’t go on any further — you’ve had it up to here, you’re at the end of your rope/beyond the point of no return. You don’t know which way is up or which way to go.

But I stopped by to send your soul a text message and say – Don’t give up! Keep holding on to your faith! God is active in your situation—because whatever you’re going through right now, no matter how bad it is — it still didn’t take you out!!! (Somebody should have shouted right there)

TELL SOMEBODY: IT DIDN’T TAKE ME OUT!!!

- I had to deal with demons and handle some haters—but I didn’t fall apart/give up/didn’t let go/didn’t lose it—but I kept my joy/my peace/my sanity/my FAITH — all because God kept me and sustained me in the midst of it all.

Is there anybody in here who can declare ‘Preacher—I’ve been through a lot — but God kept me!

Is there anybody in here who can say “I’ve been through a lot, and I’m still going through right now, BUT GOD IS KEEPING ME!

My brothers and sisters, we have to get to the point in our growth with God where we don’t always need external validation; you don’t need other people to confirm you before you act on God’s promises.

• You see, your faith, empowers you to embrace what God has promised for you — and nothing more.

You cannot be perfected — until you have faith in God. And so The question is not “can God do it”; but can you believe it?

Last week we read where Abraham believed in hope when hope was against him (vs 18). And so, we have to learn how to wait when we don’t want to; how to keep smiling even when you’re crying on the inside; how to keep going when you feel like quitting.

We need to learn:

- How to keep JOY when you’re surrounded by JUNK.

- How to sing when you’re sad.

- How to endure when nothing changes.

- How to have hope when all hope is gone.

The truth is, some of us give up far too soon….

But I believe I’ve got a few saints in the building who have declared down in your heart of hearts that giving up is not an option for you. Mediocrity is not good enough for you, and so even if nobody else is going to trust God, you’ve determined that you will hold on to your faith, no matter what.