Faith in Jesus, our cornerstone, is very fundamental to our Christian faith,
see Faith in Faith, Hope, and Agape Love.
Jesus told Apostle Peter that he would deny Jesus three times the same night
before the rooster crowed twice (Mark 14:30, Mat 26:34, Luk 22:34, John 13:38). Jesus had said to him: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." (Luk 22:31–32).
Jesus chose to pray for Peter's faith, that it wouldn't fail. Peter would go through hard times and needed to keep his faith strong during that time. He would deny Jesus, not just once but three times. It could have destroyed his faith.
The condition of our faith is critical.
Satan wants to tear us away from God's promises, from trusting in the Lord with all our heart and not leaning on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
Satan wants to tear us away from a close relationship with Jesus.
Apostle Paul was afraid that the new believers in Thessaloniki had lost their faith in Jesus (1 Thess 3:5–7), see Paul's Second Missionary Journey. Standing firm in the Lord is a good expression of a faith in good shape (1 Thess 3:8, 2 Cor 1:24b).
The Lord said through Isaiah to Ahaz: "If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all." (Isaiah 7:3–9b), see Ahaz of Judah.
"One can truly believe God, yet be occasionally troubled by doubts.
Unbelief isn't weakness of faith; it sets itself in opposition to faith." (David Guzik).
- Shut down the voices of doubt and disbelief that come from the world
(Proverbs 4:23, 16:9, 24:1–2). - Dig into God's word (Rom 10:17). This isn't about reading the Bible casually but diving deep into the word, studying the word.
- Cry out to God (Mark 9:24). Tell God in prayer about your doubts.
Our faith can be compromised and eroded by disappointment and discouragement that causes us to doubt God's goodness, his love for us, his work in our lives. We need to put on the whole armor of God, so that we can withstand in the evil day, and having done everything, stand firm (Eph 6:12–18, 1 Pet 5:8–11).
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting way, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Cor 4:16–18).
A secret not to lose heart (not to lose faith), is given in those verses.
We need to use the following tools to strengthen our faith:
- Word of God:
God's word builds our faith and makes us spiritual healthier and stronger
(Rom 10:17, Deu (5 Mos) 11:18, 20). We should read or listen to the word, but also do what it says (James 1:22–24), see
The Parable about the Wise and Foolish Builders. - Prayer:
We can use prayer to ask God for things. We can also use it to know God better, to build our faith. It's using prayer to develop a deeper relationship
with God through Jesus Christ. "Come near to God and he will come near to you." (James 4:8a). "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." (Jer 29:13). The more we know God, the more we trust him. Sometimes we need to wait patiently for his help to solve a problem when a challenge of faith occurs, instead of trying to solve it ourselves in our own strength (Isaiah 40:30–31). It teaches us to persevere and wait on God. See also The Lord's Prayer and
Ask, and it will be given to you in The Sermon on the Mount. - Fellowship:
Our discipleship to Christ isn't meant to be private or solitary. We should have community with one another in the Body of Christ. The church (that is, the Christians and not a building) is meant to be together so that we can build up each other's faith to a healthy level (Rom 1:11, Col 2:2,
Acts 14:21–22a, 15:32, 41, 16:5, 18:23, 1 Thess 3:2, 7, 5:11, Heb 3:13).
We come together to strengthen and encourage each other. - When we come to Christ, we are born into a family. It may be dysfunctional at times, but it's God's family (1 Cor 12:12–13).
- We need each other in the body of Christ to become all that God created us to be (1 Cor 12:14–27).
- We are told in the word not to forsake regular gatherings of God's people (Heb 10:25).
- Obedience:
Disobedience weakens our faith. Our life in Christ is a battle. There are people who haven't held fast to the faith of Christ and a good conscience and therefore suffered shipwreck in their faith (1 Tim 1:18–19). To not hold to a good conscience is to do what is wrong knowingly and follow the flesh. It's called sinning. (As Christians, we also have the word of God and the Holy Spirit to guide us.) The problem with violating conscience is that it becomes easier to do it next time. Satisfying the flesh by sinning intentionally and willfully, doing what is wrong knowingly, results in the ability to exercise faith being immediately compromised and weakened. The ability to come to the Lord is then weakened because of sin. It's impossible to live in unrepentant sin and at the same time draw down from God's Heaven what you need in this life. The solution to this condition is to reach out to God in faith and repent (1 John 1:9, Heb 10:22). "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Heb 11:6). God will then pick up and begin to build and strengthen that person.
