As Christians, we are called to live by faith—faith in God’s promises. All of us know this truth. Oftentimes, however, we are unsure of what it means to live by faith and what it looks like in practical, everyday life. First, we must establish what faith is.
Hebrews 11:1,6 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Faith is a wholehearted trust in what God has said, even when we have not yet seen it come to fruition. The foundation for this faith is anchored in a right understanding of the true character of God, which is testified of in His Word. It is the Word that gives substance to faith, because we know that God is absolutely reliable and will honour His Word. He doesn’t change His mind or lie to us once He has spoken to us or promised something in the Bible. He and His Word are one, and He will make good what He has promised to us; we can, therefore, be convinced and immovable. This is evident in God’s plan of redemption. He fulfilled His promise to Abraham to send forth the Messiah through the Abrahamic covenant. It was an unconditional covenant where God swore by Himself to bring it to pass. The same is true for all His other promises. Nobody can add to or annul them once God has promised. God’s promises are always “Yes” and “Amen”! (2 Corinthians 1:20).
We began our faith walk by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, who has wholly redeemed us by His blood from the wrath of God, but we need to continue to live by faith as a part of the body of Christ and His bride while waiting for His second coming, which will come like a thief in the night without notice and warning. We will only inherit God’s promises through faith and patience, because without faith it is impossible to please Him. Because we know Christ will return, and He will judge the world, we are to live our daily lives as though Jesus will return anytime, honouring God with the time we have, being strengthened by faith and assurance of God’s promise.
Many people lose heart when they do not see any changes after praying or succumb to the pressures of tribulation and afflictions. They have given up living by faith in God. However, we need to pray in all circumstances while waiting for Jesus’ return, be persistent in prayer, and never quit. Praise God that we have victory in Jesus Christ because He has disarmed principalities through His work of redemption. We can enforce His victory through prayer and the authority given to the church.
Sermon Series: Do Not Lose Heart, But Always Pray Until Something Happens
凭信心而活
作为基督徒，我们被呼召凭信心——对上帝之应许的信心–而活。我们所有人都知道这个真理。然而，我们常常不确定凭信心生活意味着什么，以及在实际的日常生活中它是什么样子的。首先，我们必须确定什么是信心。
希伯来书11:1,6 信就是所望之事的实底，是未见之事的确据。人非有信，就不能得 神的喜悦；因为到 神面前来的人，必须信有 神，且信他赏赐那寻求他的人。
信心就是全心全意相信神所说的话，即使我们还没有看到它结出果实。这种信仰的基础建立在对上帝真实品格的正确理解之上，这品格已经在圣经中得到证实。圣经给信心以实底，因为我们知道上帝是绝对可靠的，祂言出必行。一旦祂对我们说过了什么或在圣经中承诺过什么，祂就不会改变主意，也不会欺哄我们。祂与祂的话语是一体的，祂将兑现祂对我们的承诺；我们因此心悦诚服，信心坚定。这在神的救赎计划中是显而易见的。祂履行了对亚伯拉罕的承诺，通过亚伯拉罕的盟约差遣弥赛亚。这是一个无条件的盟约，上帝指着自己发誓要使它实现。其余祂所有的承诺也是如此。上帝一旦作出应许，就没有人能增加或废除它们。神的应许总是“是的”和“阿门”！（哥林多后书1：20）。
我们以接受耶稣基督作为我们的主和救主开启了信心之旅，祂以祂的宝血救赎我们完全脱离了上帝的烈怒，不过我们需要继续凭信心而活，作为基督肢体的各部、作为祂的新娘，等待祂的再来，到时祂将会像夜里的窃贼一样突然降临，不事先通知，也没有警告。我们唯有凭借信心和耐心承受神的应许，因为没有信心就不能讨祂的喜悦。因为我们知道基督会回来，祂将审判世界，我们要把每一天都过得仿佛耶稣随时都会回来一样，以我们所拥有的时间尊崇神，靠着信心以及神应许的保障而坚强。
许多人因为在祈祷后没有看到任何变化，或者屈服于苦难和痛苦的压力而就此灰心。他们已经放弃了凭着对上帝的信心而活。然而，在等待耶稣再来的当儿，无论环境如何，我们都要祷告，恒切祷告，永不放弃。赞美神，我们在耶稣基督里得胜，因为祂通过祂的救赎工作，解除了一切执政掌权者的武装。我们可以通过祷告和教会被赋予的权柄来巩固神的胜利。
讲章系列：不要灰心，总要祷告，直到发生改变
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