There are seven vital Principles that Fortify Faith: Decisiveness, Diligence, Determination, Dedication, Discipline, Dependence and Discernment.
Bible Reference (Colossians 2:6-7, James 1: 8, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Proverbs 4:23, 1 Corinthians 2:2, Romans 12:1, 1 Timothy 4:7, John 15:5, 1 Corinthians 2:15)
1. The Principle of Decisiveness
“But test everything; hold fast what is good.”(1 Thessalonians 5:21) “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. “(James 1: 8)
Decisiveness is one of the most sought-after qualities in a business environment. Firm, wise decisions can make the difference between success and failure, prosperity or austerity. Decisiveness is defined as the ability to make right decisions at the right time, confidently and devoting all our energy to a course of action which we know is right. “Decisiveness is choosing to do what is right based on accurate truth, wise counsel, and clearly defined goals”. The Bible does provide us with some solid biblical principles upon which we can make sound decision. The Berean Christians were said to be more "fair-minded" than their Thessalonians contemporaries because they "searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). There’s an important principle for all of us in Acts 17:11:God wants us to listen thoughtfully and critically to Bible teaching, taking care to evaluate the teaching based on personal examination of Scripture.Note that the people who were more fair-minded and who received the word with all readiness and who then searched the Scriptures daily.
God doesn’t just want you to wonder about Him. He wants you to know and understand Him. God wants to be part of our decision process and His counsel is vital. To leave Him out by ignoring prayer and the truths of Scripture denies us the privilege of God's perspective, which He is always willing to share. When we genuinely make a decision to follow God, He will truly be on our side to help us in time of need.
Decisiveness is the ability to finalize difficult decisions based on the will and ways of God. Hebrews 4:16 says “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Decisiveness is a key element of any successful endeavor. Our greatest decision in life is to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, then become like Him, the infallible standard of good character. Bible says “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12)
Decisiveness is focusing on our destination, rather than focusing on distractions. Consider how people in the Bible manifested the quality of decisiveness and called on others to decide. At the end of Moses’ life, he challenged Israel: “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants” (Deuteronomy 30:19). They needed to choose, they needed to decide on these life matters. We also see that toward the end of Joshua’s life, he said to Israel, “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Joshua didn’t hesitate to state firmly his resolve to serve the Lord God of Israel and he called on them to do the same. When Daniel was carried to Babylon as a slave, he was faced with a choice of whether to fit in to the King’s requirements or whether to choose God’s righteous standard. The record says that “Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine which he drank” He predetermined that he would obey God, whatever the cost. Make right decision and do right because it is the right thing to do.
2. The Principle of Diligence:
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
According to the Dictionary, diligence is “careful attention, unremitting application, and persistent endeavor.” A diligent person is described as “assiduous, industrious, conscientious, thorough; not idle, not negligent, not lazy.” The Bible has a lot to say about diligence. Why Does God Prize It? God values diligence in His people, as evidenced by the numerous references to diligence in the book of Proverbs. Here are a few examples: “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.” (12:24) “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty”. (14:2) “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” (13:4) see also Proverbs 31 -- Colossians 4:12-13. Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (that is, whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability). Jesus tells us, “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing”—and not caught in idleness (Matthew 24:46). So Jesus expects responsibility and conscientiousness from us. He emphasizes this in Luke 16:12: “And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?”
God prizes diligence highly. Proverbs 12:27: “Diligence is man’s precious possession.” Proverbs 21:5 amplifies: “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty.”In fact, God demands diligence! “You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 6:17). In Deuteronomy 28:1 we read, “If you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.” Christ, an example. Mark 1:35 “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Hebrews 11:6 shows God takes diligence seriously “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” prizing these things above all else. Diligence allows us to operate with our best for His highest with excitement and passion in order to complete our work and call from the Lord. It is practical obedience in action, which is the loving of our call and the pursuing of our work so we are doing our best for His glory. Diligence also helps facilitate us to develop a good attitude as well as confidence, patience, forgiveness, values, loyalty, integrity, and be in a place to build and develop a positive and attractive disposition to those with whom we work (Proverbs 10:4; Ecclesiastes 10: 10; Luke 16:10-12; Romans 12:11;Colossians 3:23).
3. The Principle of Determination
“For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)
David Livingstone said, “I’d rather be in the heart of Africa in the will of God than on the throne of England out of His will.” If being in the will of God means that you’re working in some lonely, distant, difficult- mission field, you are still in the best place you could possibly be. As a Bishop, I often hear the questions: “How do I determine the will of God?” When you are searching for God’s will, you need to open the Bible even more than you normally would. Ask God to help you find specific guidance for your life in His Word. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). When you want to know God’s will, you need to pray He will guide you. But you also need to harmonize your requests with His will.
There are two kinds of knowledge of Christ — speculative and practical. The former remains in the head, the latter in the heart. The former is obtained by exercise of our own faculties; the latter only by the Holy Spirit. The latter is intended in our text. This knowledge leads us to receive Jesus as our Divine Saviour; which prompts us to rely on Christ in reference to every one of His offices. Intellectual knowledge, however, is not to be neglected, because we cannot be affected by truths of which we are ignorant. But through Jesus Christ we are to understand the eternal Son of God. By this word "know," we are not to understand a bare historical knowledge. It implies an experimental knowledge of His crucifixion so as to feel the power of it. Without this knowledge, our performances, as well as persons, will not be acceptable in the sight of God.
The teaching of Paul is remarkable for comprehensiveness. Moreover, he impresses on all Christians to go on unto perfection, and not rest content with the elements of truth. Therefore, to "know Jesus Christ and Him crucified" is not to him the minimum, but the maximum of knowledge — the culmination of all doctrines, the starting-point of all duties. Paul knew not Jesus in His earthly life; he saw Him only in His glory; yet the deepest impression left on the heart of Paul was the sweet name "Jesus"; the indelible image burnt into his soul was "Jesus Christ crucified." Paul, more than any other, knew the fellowship of Christ's sufferings. His own weakness made him take hold of the inexhaustible power of God, as the crucifixion leads to resurrection-life and victory. As when he is weak then is he strong, so the Cross of Christ is the power of God.
The goal of Christ-like character is a life-long pursuit, but the Holy Spirit is always present to empower us for the goal. Determination is the ability to make difficult decisions and accomplish goals based on the truths of God's Word, regardless of the resistance that may be encountered. It is the ability to set ourselves toward Godly pursuits, and not allow ourselves to be distracted or discouraged (Psalms 33:15; 119:29-30; Galatians 5:19-21; 2 Timothy 4:7, 8; Hebrews 12:12-13). Jesus tells us, “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing”—and not caught in idleness (Matthew 24:46). So Jesus expects responsibility and conscientiousness from us. He emphasizes this in Luke 16:12: “And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” And, says Jesus, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10).How do we exhibit Determination in daily life? Here are positive examples from Scripture (Book of Nehemiah; Daniel 1:8-16; Luke 15:4; Acts 20:16; 11:29; 15:2) 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 says "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown"
4.The Principle of Dedication
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1)
Sacrifice means giving up everything to God. This sacrifice will become visible in the sacrifice of the body, when in all common actions we have a supreme and distinct reference to His will, and do, or refuse to do, because of the fear and love of the Lord. This offering makes a man live more nobly and more truly than anything else. Not mutilation but consecration is the true sacrifice. Thus to consecrate one's self is the way to secure a higher and a nobler life. This sacrifice is "your reasonable service." It is a dedication, not of mere impulse, fancy, affection, but of our intellect; a sacrifice in which our minds go along with our hearts. The service, which the God of reason and of truth requires of us, first and foremost — is the true sacrifice, when I think as in His sight, and will, and love, and act as in obedience to Him.
Jesus said “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.( Matthew 19:29) Bible describes that God is consistent in His attributes, in His values, in His character, in His Nature and in His word: "...I am the Lord: I change not" (Malachi 3:6). What God wants from us has not changed from the beginning. An Old Testament verse, Micah 6:8, summarizes what God wants: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, ESV).
"To do justly" and "to love mercy"... these are instructions on how to relate to God and one another. Jesus gave us more information about this in Matthew 22:37-39: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself”. There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30–32; cf). What God wants is really quite simple: He wants us. All our service for God must flow from those two commands. We simply cannot love God deeply without seeking and knowing Him decisively and believing Him diligently, obeying and trusting Him with determination and loving and serving Him with dedication. To love and "walk humbly" with God is to believe God, to know God, and to do the will of God with a absolute commitment. It means living as if you are in the presence of God, because you understand that you are in the presence of God. It means living the way God would have you live. (Romans 12:1-3)
5.The Principle of Disciplined
“………, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7b)
For Christians, spiritual disciplines have been an effective means of connecting to God--allowing him to transform souls and lives. Much like our earthly fathers, God teaches us that discipline is necessary in life. When a child or even an adult goes through life without discipline, they are missing out on the character building necessary to make them a godly person. However, even though we're aware of this, Christians can have a hard time disciplining themselves. Self discipline is not an easy task, no matter how faithful a Christian is. There are temptations throughout life that will constantly plague you - but if you use the Bible to help you become disciplined, these temptations won't matter as much to you. Imagine a life where you can strongly stand up to any temptation. That is completely possible through Jesus Christ.
God has given us a spirit of discipline" (2 Tim.1:7)”The fruit of the Spirit is self-control" (Gal.5:22, 23).. No-one can become genuinely holy, whatever experience he may have had, unless he is disciplined in all areas of daily living. Much of the restlessness and the instability in the lives of many can be traced to the basic fault of an indiscipline way of life. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, discipline and self-control are very closely related. It is to subordinate our fleshly desires to the will of God. It is to control your body, so that you make it do what it ought to do, rather than what it wants to do. So, to sum up, discipline is training yourself to do the right thing when you don’t feel like it. The first reason cultivating self-discipline is important is because God commands it. 1 Timothy 4:7 says “discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” In the Greek, this is an imperative. God doesn’t give us options – the sovereign of all creation has given His children a command – discipline yourself.
The second reason is given to us right in the text, “discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” Godliness is another word for “holiness” or “Christ likeness.” This text is teaching us that discipline is the path to holiness. No man can sanctify Himself apart from the working of God, but God will not sanctify anyone without their active cooperation. Godly character is not the result of good intentions, wishful thinking, some mystical “mantra” or even sheer head knowledge. It’s developed through the self-disciplined application of God’s Word at a very basic level, enabled and empowered by God’s Spirit.” Godly people are disciplined people. See the biographies of giants of church history like Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Bunyan, Owen, Whitefield, Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, Spurgeon, George Muller. In every case, you will find that these were disciplined men. They never could have accomplished all that they did without being disciplined.
6. The Principle of Dependence
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.( John 15:5)
Dependency upon God is fundamental to the spiritual life. In reality, dependency upon God is the only possible outcome of becoming one with Christ, and of going on with God into spiritual maturity. It is God’s will for us to be dependent, and for Him to supply our need. This is the true relationship. But in order for it to happen, we have to realize our need. Jesus said “Apart from Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) Here's how dependent Jesus was on God: "The Son can do nothing by Himself: He can only do what He sees His father doing." (John 5:19) Jesus came not only to die for our sins but also to show the world what God is really like in person. One of the things He told people in this context, as an example of living as a man before God, was that He never did, and never could do, anything from His own initiative. In other words He followed the Father in doing what He wanted Him to do, even when it came to finally dying on the cross. He lived a life that was entirely dependent on the Father, in terms of direction and strength. Is it not this way that He wants us also to live, in a moment by moment dependence on God?
DEPENDENCE ON GOD starts with self surrender. Self Surrender is the act of giving up or yielding oneself or the possession of something to the power of another.
A life of dependence is close to God. Jer.30:21 – “…Who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?”
A life of dependence is obedient to God. John 14:15 – “If you love me you will obey what I command.” 1 Jn.3:18 – “…Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.”
A life of dependence is a life of meaning and impact. John 15:4-5 – “Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
It is easy to think that we humble ourselves before God, but our humility toward others is the only sufficient proof that our humility before God is real.” God's grace is sufficient for anything we will ever need. If we want to see God's grace in our lives, we have to learn to rely on Him in our areas of weakness. That's what He wants. The more weaknesses God gives us, the more He wants us to depend on Him. The more we depend on Him, the more we will see His grace in our lives and know Him as our truest and best friend. To live this way in these times is no accident: it is something that must be chosen with a child like dependability. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.(Proverbs 3:5-6)
7. The Principle of Discernment
But he that is spiritual judges all things... (1 Cor 2:15)
What does it mean to have spiritual discernment? When Solomon became king he didn’t ask for wealth or power but for wisdom and with the wisdom God gave him he had great discernment. First Kings 3:8-12 reads: “And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.” The principle here is that God is the one who gives biblical discernment and we can have discernment through the working of the Holy Spirit for the Spirit of God gives us wisdom that is from God. Hosea 14:9 says “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.”
Discernment is defined as “the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure; an act of perceiving something; a power to see what is not evident to the average mind.” The definition also stresses accuracy, as in “the ability to see the truth.” Spiritual discernment is the ability to tell the difference between truth and error. It is basic to having wisdom. In its simplest definition, discernment is nothing more than the ability to decide between truth and error, right and wrong. Discernment is the process of making careful distinctions in our thinking about truth. In other words, the ability to think with discernment is synonymous with an ability to think biblically. As Christians, it is our responsibility to identify what is right and what is wrong. The Bible refers to this as “discernment.” First Thessalonians 5:21-22 teaches that "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." The apostle John issues a similar warning when he says, "Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).
According to the New Testament, discernment is not optional for the believer-it is required. A.W. Tozer said “Among the gifts of the Spirit scarcely one is of greater practical usefulness than the gift of discernment. This gift should be highly valued and frankly sought as being almost indispensable in these critical times. This gift will enable us to distinguish the chaff from the wheat and to divide the manifestations of the flesh from the operations of the Spirit." The Bible says that Jesus Christ is “wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30) Therefore, wisdom, or spiritual discernment, is something that comes from knowing Jesus Christ. Bible says “The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him--the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord--and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears.” (Isa 11:2-3) It is wonderful things to possess knowledge or have an education, and it is not wrong to use reason and logic to solve problems. However, spiritual discernment cannot be attained that way. It must be given by the revelation of Jesus Christ to the believer, and then developed by way of training in righteousness.
Hebrews 5:13-14 say “for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. (James 1:5)We don't have to be geniuses or scholars. Psalms tells us that with the Bible, even the simple become wise (Psalm 19:7) If we base our thinking on the Bible, we can never be very wrong on any subject.
God bless
