Purpose: Faith is an experience. The more we use it the better we get. Faith builds upon faith and in that exercise we will rise to new heights and grow to perfection.
Faith Rising, in the series God’s Works, expresses the individuals who step out in faith and begin to speak for they are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It can represent the bride of Christ, also.
Paul speaks in Romans 1 that he is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. The Lord gives faith and we choose to accept it. Faith builds more faith.
The faint figure of a man rising up from his bent position symbolizes the actions of believers who rise up in faith to serve the Lord. Galatians 3:11 “…righteous will live by faith.” James 2: 23 states that by faith, Abraham received the promise of his seed Christ through faith, and his faith counted as righteousness.
Peter mentions in 1 Peter 2:2 “… crave pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,”. Spiritual growth results as we study God’s Word and go through trials. Our faith increases and allows a deeper relationship with the Lord. It allows our hearts to open and be filled with God’s love and forgiveness. It helps you and I place others’ needs before our own so we cease to be self-centered individuals.
Jude warns in verse 3 “…to contend for the faith…” even through persecution. Love all, for our victory through Christ Jesus is our faith. He is our confidence, our Advocate, and thereby we push forward in faith trusting the Lord to perfect us. Therefore, we grow by faith into maturity with Christ even though we stumble and fall in our walk with the Lord.
Faint shadow figures, on the right bottom side of the painting, stand waiting. They are so few. Leaders must rise up in faith and take action to show God’s love with its forgiveness and mercy by building each other without judgment. Why do you think children see this section of the painting more frequently than adults?
Our faith relates to grace, judgment, and sin; we are forgiven and justified; we accepted God’s forgiveness by faith. James 3: 2 reminds us “We all stumble in many different ways.”, but we opted to accept and receive God’s grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. How do you identify with this statement? Luke 11: 29-32 speaks about the story of Jonah and the Ninevites. Jonah did not want to forgive them nor did he want God to forgive them. He did not want them to receive God’s grace; yet, they did. They believed by faith and repented of their sin. We, too, must pray, repent and trust the Lord, rising up through faith to follow and serve Him. Just as the Lord spoke to Israel in Isaiah 44: 21-22, we are His servants and creation; He does not forget us. God sweeps away our sins when we return to Him because He redeemed us by grace through the blood of Christ on the cross. This loving one another and acting through that love reveals and shows our faith, for genuine confession involves a commitment and actions of forgiveness and mercy.
It is by faith, we believe. Galatians 5:5,6b expresses,
“For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.” and “…what matters is [this] faith working through love.”
Galatians 5:22-25 continues,
We rise up to permit and allow the “…fruit of the Spirit…” “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control… to define us for the good of all…” and …” belong to the household of faith.”
Faith and works go together because faith gets perfected through the works. Luke 7: 6-10 mentions the centurion whose faith was such that he believed Jesus only need to say the word for his servant to be healed, that Jesus did not even need to be physically present. Let us seek this faith.
Faith rising up in us combines the love and compassion of God growing within as we acknowledge Him as the Sovereign Lord. Then we take on more and more of the likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ. We need to embrace and endure our trials, even though we may stumble and fall at times, for trials increase our faith and relationship with the Lord. Did the work remind you of a difficult trial?
Let us hear the Word, receive it, and allow faith to be stretched through the Helper, the Holy Spirit. No matter what task the Lord asks us to do or what course to take, He stands by us through our faith as we hold to His promise ─ He will see us through it. As in 1 Corinthians 2:5 (KJV), our “faith should…stand”… in the power of God.”
Therefore, in humble commitment to the Spirit of Truth, let us be purified from unrighteousness. For as Paul spoke in Romans 1 to those of his day, we also have been called out by faith receiving grace through Jesus Christ to be a disciple and witnesses. You and I need not be disheartened when we stumble or fall because Jesus helps us get back up by faith through His strength to pursue the course. Let us rise up and reach out exercising our faith and obey His command to give the news of salvation and make disciples.
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