From Pity to Praise

Standing firm through faith is one of those things we know we should do in our heads, but the practical application can be much more difficult. We want to do what right, but we keep finding ourselves wandering into sin like Paul in Romans 7:15,

“For I don’t know what I am doing. For I don’t practice what I desire to do, but what I hate, that I do.”

Spiritual perseverance can be rare commodity.

Thankfully, God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He just expects us to grow and to mature in our relationship with Him. And part of that process involves learning how to stand firm in faith.

It’s easy to wander out of a relationship with God, yet it’s impossible to wander into one. Standing firm in faith means being intentional in our walk with the Lord. It involves making certain practices a regular part of our lives. It requires spiritual discipline, and a renewed mindset that puts our focus squarely on God and His plans for our lives.

There are some powerful tools we must have in our toolbox to help us stand firm in faith. These tools include:

• Spending time with God

This is cultivated through intentional, daily habits like prayer. Bible study, and meditation on God’s Word. These serve as tools to deepen the relationship.

A good acronym to remember is the S.O.A.P method

• S – Scripture
• O – Observation
• A – Application
• P – Prayer

Prayer and Bible study help us stay connected to God. Sharing our hearts with Him and hearing what He says in His word.

• Resist temptation

When we learn to stand firm in faith, we will undoubtably face challenges. We will be tempted to fight battles we cannot fight alone, that’s why we need God.

As much as we may want to, we should avoid the urge to take on more than we can handle. Just as a recovering alcoholic shouldn’t go to the bar with his buddies thinking he can not have a drink. We need to evaluate every situation and make the best decision according to God’s will. We cannot put ourselves in bad situations and expect God to protect us. Matthew 4:7 says “You shall not test the Lord your God.”

When we give into those urges we can easily fall into the very sin we want to avoid. That’s the time to slow down and evaluate the situation. Ask God to help and act with the wisdom that He can provide. His word promises that He will help us in every temptation.

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall. No temptation had taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” -1 Corinthians 10:12-13

• Expect persecution

Throughout the book of 1st Peter, he spoke of the principles of standing firm in faith included expecting persecution and suffering. Explaining that they were a part of following Jesus and standing firm in faith. Expecting hard things and knowing we need to lean into those storms for God’s glory (1 Peter 1:3-9, 3:13-22, 4:12-19).

I think this is something most churches don’t teach. That we need to embrace the struggle, know I g that it will help us stand firm in this life to experience God’s affirmation in the next.

For myself, I would rather know everything going on in any situation, so that I know what to expect at any given time. And I am definitely not one who likes people “sugar coating” the truth.

• Build a team

While we learn to stand firm in our faith, it is important to build a team around us that will help us stay grounded. People (at least in my town) say “I don’t need to go to church.” I think that’s one of Satan’s lies he tells people to get people out of the will of God. Church isn’t about “putting up with people” it’s about spiritual protection, accountability, and being part of a unified body rather than being isolated. If there’s a reason going to church isn’t possible, it’s important to get involved with a Bible study or prayer meeting. Being part of a “church flock” keeps us protected from spiritual dangers.

• Use your spiritual gifts

God has given us spiritual gifts to help us to stand firm in faith. If you don’t know what yours are there are plenty of free tests online that can give you insight. Here are a few good ones:

• Churchgrowth.org
• Spiritualgifttest.com

Spiritual gifts allow us to serve others and grow in our own walks with God. As we learn our spiritual gifts for His glory, it will become easier to stand firm.

Through the process of learning to stand firm in faith, keep your eyes on Jesus, because eternity can’t be underestimated.

It’s important to cultivate a relationship with Jesus, because faith means nothing if we don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus.

There’s an old analogy about the relationship between roots and fruits of any tree. Any tree that hopes to produce abundant, delicious fruit must have a strong root system to nourish that tree. If the root system is too shallow or too weak the tree will not bear the fruit.

As the analogy goes, the same is true for people. If we are to bear worthy fruit in our lives we must establish a root system that nourishes us in a way that aligns with our expectations of production.

Roots give strength, stability, and sustenance. If the tree is going to grow high, the roots have to grow deep. Roots need to supply sustenance to feed the tree’s growth and production. But the higher it grows the more exposed it becomes to threats.

Roots need to be strong and stable for when the tree experiences storms and floods that threaten to tear it up and knock it down.

Our roots play the same role in life. Our growth and production will flow from the source that nourishes us.

One thing I have seen in life is that many people never received good roots growing up, including me. Having a shallow or weak root system growing up, requires us to find another root system as adults if we want to live healthy lives.

The strength and stability of our roots decide whether the adversity and challenges of life will tear us up or knock us down or whether we endure them with resilience and determination.

The true strength of a tree is not visible above ground. What we see is a product of its true strength. The strength of its roots.

The true strength of a person is not visible or audible. What we see and experience is a product of a person’s true strength. The strength of their roots.

There is something that takes a hold of every one’s lives at sometime in life. Some experiences are worse than others -it’s anger.

Anger itself isn’t the problem. It’s the natural emotional response that often signals something feels unfair, threatening, or wrong. Anger in a sense gives one power -it can energize us, sharpen our focus, and push us to act.

But it also takes away power when it goes unchecked. It can hijack our decisions, and cause reactions we wouldn’t choose when we are calm.

It can narrow out thinking, and make everything feel more extreme or personal. It can damage relationships or opportunities that we actually care about.

When we have unmanaged anger it comes as a cost. It gives control to the emotion instead of to us.

Let’s balance it out this way:

• Feel the anger > that’s honest
• Understand it > what triggered it, what’s it pointing to
• Choose your response > that’s where our power stays intact

Some people say anger is sinful, but according to Ephesians 4:26-27, feeling anger is not inherently sinful, it’s the consequences of that anger us that are sinful.

“Be angry, and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, and don’t give place to the devil“ -Ephesians 4:26-27

Anger allows for negative spiritual influence and steals our personal peace.

Persistent anger almost always provides a place for Satan to gain influence in our lives.

When we are angry There is no peace, because of frustration, and negativity opens doors for Satan to steal our peace.

There is also unresolved anger often leads to sin, such as vengeful thoughts or destructive actions, which can hurt relationships, marriages, and sometimes even churches.

So many times we hang on to anger too long, it can often feel like we have a huge weight on us. But rather than feeding our anger, James 1:19-20 urges us, “To be quick to hear and slow to speak.” maintaining control over our emotions to avoid giving any enemy an opening to cause destruction in our lives.

“Anger acts like a “bloodsucker“ or a parasite by draining our energy, joy, and health while feeding on resentment.”

“Now In a large house, there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor, and some for dishonor. If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel on honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work” -2 Timothy 2:20-21

Of all the verses that explain becoming honorable, this verse summarizes it best. Paul tells us that if we desire to serve God, we must cleanse ourselves from everything dishonourable in our lives. It is then that we will be honorable vessels, set apart and holy, ready to be useful for God’s call on our lives. There are no shortcuts for this.

The world and sadly churches today have made many to believe it’s okay, to be half-hearted for God. It’s okay to be happy with the “average.” But, God is so much bigger than average. He wants us to live for Him. And if we become a vessel of honor He can use us for extraordinary purposes.

He sent His Son to die for our sins and reconcile us to God. But I think few realize that when Jesus died He wasn’t just killed, He was slaughtered for us.

We are called to pursue holiness. And that requires being passionate, aggressive, intentional, and eager to honor Him above all else. It requires allowing God to shape us like clay and yielding to His will rather than resisting His molding process. We need to be like pliable clay not silly putty.

There are some things in life I don’t know much about. My husband is a master of machines for example. I can nod when he starts telling me about different kinds of metals and how heat affects each one. I just nod and smile. But I don’t know what he’s talking about.

It can be the same in relationships. I might know a pastor’s name, their church, or more details about their ministry. I could even throw out a few facts to make it seem like I know them. But if I found myself in a room with him and he turned to me and said, “Hi, I’m Steve, what’s your name?” the awkward truth would be exposed.

Jesus says there will be people on Judgement Day who will face something that’s sobering. They will stand before God and hear the words:

“I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who work iniquity” -Matthew 7:23

These stakes are not embarrassment but it means eternity. This is a heaven or hell issue. It’s something most people will learn too late. The life-defining question becomes:

Do I know who Jesus is?

Does Jesus know me?

There’s a danger of self-deception. Of thinking I’m a good person so God will welcome me into heaven.

Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us that “the heart is deceitfully wicked.” We not only face the blinding influence of satan, “the god of this world,” but we also carry within us a capacity for self-deception.

Jesus describes two kinds of people who will be shocked on Judgment Day -not because others deceived them, but because they deceived themselves.

1. The people who say the right things.

In Matthew 7:21, Jesus warns:

“Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

The people who have the correct language. They call Jesus “Lord,” acknowledging His divinity, and even claim Him as their Messiah. They may even quote Acts 2:21, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

But Jesus says it isn’t enough, because they lacked obedience to the Father’s will.

Scripture gives us a clear picture of what God’s will is:

• Believe in Jesus

“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in Him will have everlasting life, and I will raise Him up at the last day” – John 6:40

• Obey His Word:

“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken Him to a wise man, who built His house on a rock” -Matthew 7:24

• Follow His specific leading: God gives us an example of this in Matthew. 12:38-40.

Jesus tells us in John 16:13, that “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.”

2. The people who do the right things

This kind is even more shocking:

“Many will tell me in that day, “Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophecy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works? Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who work iniquity” -Matthew 7:22-23

These people aren’t just talking the talk -they do the right work. Prophecy, Miracles, and casting out demons. Things that look like unmistakable signs of God’s power.

They too are rejected.

Judas was the poster child for empty works.

The Bible gives us a living example of someone who can do God’s work and still not know God -Judas Iscariot.

Judas was personally called by Jesus to be one of the 12 disciples.

He was empowered to preach and cast out demons (Matthew 10:1-8).

He was present for miracles, teachings, and private moments with Jesus.

And yet, Jesus said in Matthew 26:21, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

When Jesus says, “I never knew you,” He doesn’t mean He lacked awareness, it means He never had a relationship with you. He’s omnipresent -He knows every hair on our heads. This means He wants a covenant relationship with us.

In the Hebrew language “knowing’ someonemeans implied intimacy -like a deep bond. A shared life, not just shared facts.

Salvation is not about reciting a prayer or performing mighty works. It’s about entering into a covenant relationship with Jesus through faith and repentance.

Romans 10:9-13 makes it clear:

• Confess Jesus as Lord
• Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead.
• Call on His name and be saved

It’s easy to point fingers at Judas, but the danger is closer to home. A modern-day deceiver could be someone who manipulates facts and emotions to gain personal advantage, such as a fraudulent telemarketer, making a fake online persona, to pretend they have excellent knowledge to sell worthless products. They gain trust through fake intimacy or small favors. Now imagine standing before God, having deceived yourself about your spiritual condition.

It would be like buying a safe to protect your valuables. You opted for a less expensive fire safe option over a more expensive model that looks just as good. Then a house fire reduced it to a puddle of melted metal. Everything inside -family heirlooms, legal documents are gone.

You thought you were secure. But you weren’t.

This is exactly what happens spiritually when we rest our eternal hope on the wrong foundation.

• An emotional response years ago without ongoing faith.
• Their family’s faith, as if salvation came with a “family plan.”
• A lifetime of good works, detached from genuine relationship.

When the fire of God’s judgment comes, only an authentic relationship with Jesus will stand.

We can’t just check off a few things and think we’re good to stand before God on judgement day.

So, how do we know if Jesus truly knows us? Ask yourself:

• Do I love the Lord and His ways?
• Am I convicted when I sin?
• Is there evidence of the Holy Spirits work in me?
• Does my life bear the fruit of obedience?

There aren’t a list to check off to earn salvation, they’re the overflow of knowing Jesus.

The words in Matthew 7:23 are meant to shake us, but not to strip assurance from those who truly belong to Him. There’s grace that saves and transforms when He promises in John 10:29, “No one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

The good news is that salvation is by grace through faith. Our works matter, but only as evidence of the root, not as the root itself. We are secure not because we said the right words or did the right deeds, but because Jesus died and rose again for us.

Today God calls us to action. Today is the day we need to examine ourselves.

If we realize we’ve only known about Jesus but don’t truly know Him we should delay.

After all the ultimate question is not simply whether we know Jesus -it’s whether He knows us.

On judgment day no amount of religious language or impressive works will substitute for a genuine relationship with Jesus. Saying Lord, Lord won’t be enough.

Only those who know Jesus and are known by Him will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Don’t settle for melted metal safes or false assurances. Don’t live under self-deception.