This is the first of a two volumes series on overcoming, triumphant faith. This is a condensed handbook for the edifications of the champions of faith. The second volume will delve on the various dynamic principles in developing strong faith.
Contrary to the secular view, this world is not a playground but a battleground. Our life is either a series of testimonies gained from battles won, or a list of regrets from our past defeats.
Apostle Paul cautioned us that in the last days perilous times would come (2 Timothy 3:1). We are not here to party and engage in careless living. We are not meant for carnal merry-makings. We have a mandate to develop a militant attitude in holy violence to stop every advances of the devil (Ephesians 6:12).
In heaven, there is no need for the armor of faith. We need it here on earth for (spiritual) warfare. The heavenly mandate calls for an effective service on our part in the kingdom. This requires us to adopt the attitude of a good soldier: ever vigilant, ever watchful over the hidden works of darkness (1 Peter 5:8; 2 Timothy 2:4).
There are just too many “rocking chairs” Christians. They are always busy but never achieving; always in motion, but never seem to go anywhere. They are a bunch of lukewarm, dull-minded, and lethargic believers who literally rock themselves to sleep under the spirit of slumber and deception.
The devil is going to double up his efforts to defeat the Church. It is high time to get aggressive: we must be fully armed with dominion faith, and be anointed by the Spirit of might to overcome and overthrow every hordes of darkness.
The world is becoming a pressure-cooker. It will become a heated furnace in these end-times (Malachi 3:2-3). As society escalates in sophistication and as the world evolves into a highly stressful place, faith becomes our only immunity and shield against every distresses, pressures and persecutions of life (Daniel 3:27). The devil will intensify the heat of pressures, and faith is the answer to dissolve these woes. Faith is a mighty spiritual force that unleashes the mighty power of God. The force of faith always uproots the spirit of fear – the primary cause of unbelief that contaminates and opposes faith.
Faith has no equal. It is the enormously superior power that will turn roaring lions (the devil) into timid cats. Faith is our offensive stance. Faith equips us to become courageous and offensive warriors. By faith, we can write the last chapter of the history of Christendom with exploits of victories.
Faith is not faith if it does not win. We can never win with defensive strategies in spiritual warfare. We are to be
lion-like in aggression, energised by the Spirit of kratos: the Spirit of power and might. We must not let the devil gain any ground, not even an inch, over our lives. By faith, we shall bring down the glory, the power of eternity to destroy all foes (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
The faith stand is our testimony of victory. This faith stand is not a passive acceptance of defeat but a renewed winning attitude in every battles of life. The faith stand of the militant Christian should encompass every aspects of life: in thinking, speaking, praying, giving and evangelising militantly.
One of the mighty champions of faith, the late Dr. Lester Sumrall, had the habit of using forceful, strong words. He took the word “can’t” out of his vocabulary. His favorite faith motto is Philippians 4:13. This should be our true covenantal identity in Christ: We are the head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13); we are God’s winners, not losers. When the Spirit of might become our mentor and teacher, we will learn to speak with power, with vigor, and we will roar like conquering lions (Romans 8:37).
The word “violent” was mentioned 57 times in the Bible in 56 different verses (Matthew 11:12 is the only verse in the scripture where this word “violent” occurs twice). Faith is a force of militant aggression. Martin Luther was a conqueror, a winner who took the kingdom by violence. He was a gallant fighter. The Lutheran Church today still bears his name. Forceful men, empowered by the anointing of God, shall make history again in this coming chaotic period of the last days. Weaklings and cowards overwhelmed by fear of men have no place in this reformative era. This is the seasons of the bold and aggressive!
|
