We Can ONLY Live By Our PRECIOUS Faith In These Fearful Times
Dream: We can only live by our Precious Faith in these fearful times.
It is very enabling and ennobling to read and meditate on what the apostle Peter called Faith: PRECIOUS!
He addressed his second epistle “To those who have obtained like precious Faith with us by The Righteousness of our GOD and Savior JESUS CHRIST” (2 Peter 1:1).
( A quick note here. Those who deny or doubt that JESUS CHRIST is GOD, the above Scripture clearly says JESUS is GOD. Other Scriptures likewise do: Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; Romans 9:5; 1 John 3:2, and so on. )
Oxford Dictionary defines precious as “of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly.”
Very few are Who and What are described as “precious” in The Word of GOD: THE LORD JESUS CHRIST Himself (1 Peter 2:7), His BLOOD (1 Peter 1:19), His Gift of Faith to us (2 Peter 1:1), His Oil upon our head (Psalm 133:2).
Now, look at this. Peter, THE LORD’s No.1 apostle (Matthew 10:2), Peter who saw THE LORD transfigured – shining with GREAT Light, Peter whose shadow healed the sick…. This Peter tells you and me — we who believe that we “have obtained like PRECIOUS Faith with [them]“!
An alternative translation in the central margin of my Bible says, “Faith of the same value“.
We have the same Faith and of the same value as Peter, John, Paul, other apostles and other believers in the book of Acts had.
“GOD has dealt to each one a measure of Faith.” Romans 12:3.
This is all because, the ONLY thing by which a believer can live on this planet is Faith.
Faith is more important than the very air we breathe!
I tell you why.
We who believe and obey JESUS CHRIST, if the breath in our nostrils ceases, we simply move over into The Breath of GLORY in Heaven – which will never cease! Hallelu-YAH! GLORY TO GOD!
THANK YOU JESUS! THANK YOU JESUS!
Incidentally, Faith can even stop our breath from ceasing.
Defibrillation may fail, but Faith never fails to work. A defibrillator may be unavailable, but Faith is abundantly available from The Originator and Perfecter of our Faith — JESUS CHRIST! Oh, HALLELU-YAH!
A few years ago, there was I, all alone in the mission field. One day, during a spare time, I was working in my little farm. Everything was fine.
But then, suddenly, I was struck by the spirit of death. Feeling like a withering vegetable from the shop, I managed to walk the few meters back to the mission house.
From my forehead, I could see my spirit beginning to leave my body. I slumped into a chair, limp and dying. Dying very quickly.
With all Faith in THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, I was battling in prayer. My lips were hardly moving but my spirit was PRAYING with violence! (Matthew 11:12).
Life was restored to my body, albeit I felt very weak and immobile initially.
By Faith, I was delivered from the cords of death! Oh, THANK You JESUS!!
In that moment, when my breath was ceasing, being snuffed out by death, my Faith kicked in and stopped the cessation.
“The just shall live by Faith” proved literal for me.
Faith is indispensably ALL-PRECIOUS!
We live by Faith. We please GOD by Faith (Hebrews 11:6).
We can only do anything, get anything in GOD, from GOD by Faith.
In fact and in Truth, “whatever is not from Faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23).
Faith is what secures Eternal Life for us, receiving the end of our Faith — The Salvation of our souls.
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your Faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at The Revelation of JESUS CHRIST, Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of Glory, receiving the end of your Faith—The Salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:6-9.
Have Faith in GOD!
The Originator and Perfecter of our Faith (Hebrews 12:2) — JESUS THE SON OF GOD, said: “Have Faith in GOD.“ (Mark 11:22).
Faith in GOD is much more PRECIOUS than any amount of wealth a man may have. Faith in GOD can get you both money and what money cannot buy: Eternal Life, Divine Health, Divine Protection, The Power of GOD.
One may even have money, but cannot get what one needs to buy — as will be happening in the days ahead.
It won’t be long, because of shortages, we would have to order food and other things from Heaven — as happened in the wilderness when THE LORD JESUS CHRIST fed the over five thousand.
We must build up our faith to get all our need supplied by The Power of CHRIST, “as His Divine Power has given to us all things that pertain to life and GODliness.” (2 Peter 1:3).
The just shall live by Faith.
A dream about faith
On 22 September 2021, a Sabbath day, I had been praying from dawn well into the day.
And in the afternoon, while undertaking a lot of Spiritual studying, I became VERY sleepy, but resisted taking a nap because I had so much to cover and didn’t want to “waste the time”.
I tried as much as possible to stay awake, but felt as though I was under some sleep influence.
When I could no longer resist it, there and then I put a pillow at the back of the chair and dosed off.
And then I had a very instructive dream! ( Thus, as He did to Adam, THE LORD was putting me to sleep so I could have the dream. This has been happening to me quite a lot in the last few years. )
So, in the dream, an American brother (a white male probably in his early thirties, very committed and industrious) was handing out what looked like takeaway food to a needy group of people. It seemed that he had been helping them in this manner for a long time.
In a parallel arrangement, I had also been doing much charitable giving, it appeared, serving the same people. And THE LORD JESUS was meekly sitting nearby (probably on a small rock) wearing a very dark crimson robe (almost brown) which covered the ground around His Feet in the sitting position.
The brother, while handing the food out, was telling the group to ‘manage it’ as there was no guarantee they (the organisation he was representing) would continue doing this.
By discernment, I understood that he was talking about difficult times ahead, with acute shortages — thus likely incapacitating their charity provision for the people.
I was walking away from him and the people to get some more items from a shipping container nearby when I overheard him.
Displeased with his lack of faith and negative speaking, I turned to him and told him firmly to not talk like that.
Referring to THE LORD (Who all along had been watching all that we were doing), I said to the brother: “I’ve been with Him for about forty years now. But it’s only for the last seven years that I’ve been walking with Him as we SHOULD.”
I was implying living by Faith, fully pleasing THE LORD – seeking and doing only His Will.
Interpretation
As inherently obvious, the dream is instructing us to live by Faith, always seek THE LORD for His Help, and not be anxious about anything.
THE LORD is aware of everything going on, and will supply all our need if we ask Him – no matter what is happening in the world.
We must prepare our hearts NOW to always trust in THE LORD for His Provision and Protection in every situation. For things will get very turbulent indeed.
Whatever the storm, we must be assured that JESUS is on board the boat, and He’s got us covered.
It is therefore indispensably important and URGENT to get “building yourselves up on your most Holy Faith” (Jude 1:20) — fully trusting in THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, solidly founded on Him The Foundation, immovably established on Him THE ROCK.
With this, no matter the rain, the flood, and the wind that will soon overwhelm the world, we will still be standing, safe and secure, just as our LORD has said:
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27.
Let’s learn to rest in THE LORD now and always.
We must be resolute, repeatedly confessing like Paul: “I trust in THE LORD JESUS” “I trust in THE LORD” (Philippians 2:19, 24).
“The people who know their GOD shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” Daniel 11:32.
As I have shared previously, Faith is easy when you focus on JESUS.
David said to THE LORD, “When I am afraid, I will trust in You,” (Psalm 56:3). This must be our resolve too.
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly FATHER feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if GOD so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly FATHER knows that you need all these things. But seek first The Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:25-34.
“For this cause everyone who is Godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him. You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My Eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in THE LORD, Mercy shall surround him. Be glad in THE LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” Psalm 32:6-11.
“Seek THE LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6.
“GOD is our Refuge and Strength, A very present Help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams shall make glad The City of GOD, The Holy Place of The Tabernacle of THE MOST HIGH. GOD is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; GOD shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His Voice, the earth melted. THE LORD OF HOSTS is with us; The GOD of Jacob is our Refuge. Selah Come, behold The Works of THE LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I AM GOD; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! THE LORD OF HOSTS is with us; The GOD of Jacob is our Refuge. Selah” Psalm 46:1-11.
“The LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:22.
“Farewell” Acts 15:29.
~ Jacob Awagah
As John was, Jacob is the disciple whom JESUS loves, (John 13:23;19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20). And like Paul, Jacob is “the prisoner of CHRIST JESUS” (Ephesians 3:1) for His Purpose forever: to obey Him always.
“And having been perfected, He became The Author of Eternal Salvation to all who obey Him,” Hebrews 5:9.
Thank you brother for reminding us again who our Lord is , “Omnipotent” and how he can and is still doing the impossible.
This morning The Lord told me to read this message again , bless you for being obedient and posting this for all of us as we are all heading towards difficult times but we are serving a great God author of our faith.
as you rightly say “the just shall live by faith and each day the lord is teaching me to lean on him and trust him for everything even the impossible .
Good word!
Thank you brother Jacob !
Such an encouraging word for today and the days ahead!