Your Faith

Background

Paul was writing to an infant church. They were enduring hardship and he wanted to check on them. So for us, today is a checkup on our faith.

Your Faith Must Be Established and Encouraged

Verse 2 – Paul had great concern, so he sent Timothy, whom he considered a brother, his best. And he is coming to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith.

The question today is: Are you established in your faith?

“You can’t encourage someone in something that hasn’t been established.” – Pastor Billy Johnson

Verse 3 – They also needed encouragement to not be shaken in what they were going through. There are some things that, if given the opportunity, can cause your faith to be shaken. This is the very point that encouragement is needed. And sometimes, someone is not around to encourage you, so you have to do like David and encourage yourself.

Verse 3b – For you yourselves know that we were appointed for this
We were built to deal with what we are going through, by God’s help.  Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Your Faith Gives You the Power to Stand

Verse 7 – I was concerned about your faith, but now I’m comforted by your faith because you are still standing.

Verse 8 – Your perseverance causes others to persevere. Your stance helps others to stand.

“Faith that’s not tested cannot be trusted.” – Pastor Billy Johnson

Your faith gives you the power to stand. Sometimes when you walk by faith, you can encourage others. When people see you dealing with difficulties and not caving in—you were built to stand. Your real genuine relationship with God can give you the ability to stand—no matter what’s going on. It’s a knowing on the inside. You can’t explain it but you know you are going to be alright. When the test and trials come, your faith is going to give you the power to stand.

“The higher it is, the deeper it is.  The higher you want to go in Christ, the deeper you need to be rooted.” – Pastor Billy Johnson

Your Faith Must Be Matured

Verse 10 – To supply what is lacking in your faith (or fill the gaps in your faith).

There are things in our faith that must be filled in. Your faith must continually grow. Have you grown any in faith? You are going to face a real test and you need a real faith. The enemy knows that when you get in small groups or come into the house of the Lord that your faith has the ability to grow.

Digital experiences cannot take the place of face-to-face. There’s something about human interaction–that’s where the exchange happens. There’s something called discernment. If your faith is going to mature—it’s has to be face-to-face. We have faith, but we must move to a place of maturity.