Keep a Positive Mindset Before Jesus Returns (part 3)

The Test of Faith

8.24.2025

Review

This is a time of spiritual warfare before Jesus returns.

The good news is that Jesus has already won the battle for us!

Colossians 1:13 (NKJV)

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

Colossians 1:13-14 (AMP)

[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.

Colossians 1:15-20 (NLT)

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. 18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (AMP)

For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, 5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

Jesus’ return could be sooner than we think!

Here are some things that will keep us strong as the world changes.

1. Live by Faith

Romans 1:16-17 (NKJV)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Habakkuk 2:4 (NKJV)

Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.

Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

1 Timothy 6:12 (NKJV)

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Ephesians 6:16 (NKJV)

Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

1 John 5:4 (NKJV)

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Everything we need for spiritual and natural life has already been provided to us through Jesus.

Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

2 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)

3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

God delights in us living a life of faith in His Word!

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Living by faith is living as though the Word of God is true right now.

Living by faith is living as though you believe that God is present tense fulfilling His Word in your life!

You feel down and blue, but you say that you are free and full of love and joy and peace! That Jesus has set you free and you are free indeed!

You feel sick and tired, but you say that Jesus took your sicknesses when He took your sins and that with His stripes you are healed.

It looks like you are in real need financially, but you praise God that He is meeting all your needs according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus!

The circumstances you are in look dire, but you say: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all!

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NKJV)

While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Take the Bible at face value!

Isaiah 33:6 (NKJV)

Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times,

And the strength of salvation;

The fear of the LORD is His treasure.

Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV)

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please,

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

When I was young, the Lord set me up for the rest of my life with a faith test!

Psalms 105:19 (NKJV)

Until the time that his word came to pass,

the word of the LORD tested him.

Summer of 1980. No job, living on savings, asked for a job, and went looking every week. 21 years old, away from all family and friends.

I just decided to act like God’s Word was true!

The job came. For Susan and for me!

Dr. J. Oswald Sanders Quote:

Faith enables the believing soul to treat the future as present and the invisible as seen.

 

Psalms 119:89 (NKJV)

Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

Set feelings and emotions aside and act and live as though God’s Word is true!

Romans 10:8 (NKJV)

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

The word that is in your heart will come out of your mouth!

If it doesn’t come out of your mouth, is it in your heart?

The Word is in me in the measure that I put it into practice!

James 1:22-25 (NLT)

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)

Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.

There is so much “chatter” right now. So much “noise” from so many places. That is the difference between now and when I came to Jesus in 1976.

Now you MUST make a choice as to what you listen to!

Live from Fullness!

We are spirit, soul, and body! We live from what is inside of us.

Don’t live on empty!

Double up on your Word time!

The darkness outside will fill a spiritual vacuum inside!

John 1:16 (NKJV)

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

2 Corinthians 4:16 (NKJV)

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16 (PHILLIPS)

The outward man does indeed suffer wear and tear, but every day the inward man receives fresh strength.

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)

Keep your heart with all diligence,

For out of it spring the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23 (MSG)

Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.

As I minister, I deplete my spiritual energy and must recoup.

Last Sunday, I had to recharge after preaching, eating out, going to see my mom, and then visiting my son and his wife. I was empty!

You expend spiritual energy just living in a negative world!

You must recharge your spiritual supply.

You cannot stand against the world, the flesh, and the devil if you are spiritually empty!

Exodus 16 and the story of God feeding Israel with manna in the wilderness is an excellent example of our need to fill our spiritual tank every day.

Our spirit needs food just the way our bodies need nourishment.

Exodus 16:14-21 (NLT)

When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground. 15 The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. “What is it?” they asked each other. They had no idea what it was. And Moses told them, “It is the food the LORD has given you to eat. 16 These are the LORD’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.”

17 So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. 18 But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed. 19 Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” 20 But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them. 21 After this the people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need. And as the sun became hot, the flakes they had not picked up melted and disappeared.

Every one of us needs a fresh supply of spiritual manna every single day for our spiritual nourishment. We cannot live on yesterday’s manna!

Job 23:12 (NKJV)

I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;

I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

Acts 20:32 (NKJV)

So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

The Word is like a huge spiritual protein shake!

Or better yet, like a well balanced meal after a workout.

Philippians 4:13 (A. S. Way)

No, I have learned, in whatever condition I am, to be independent of circumstances. I am schooled to bear the depths of poverty, I am schooled to bear abundance. In life as a whole, and all its circumstances, I have mastered the secret of living – How to be the same amidst repletion and starvation, a missed abundance and privation. I am equal to every lot, through the help of him who gives me inward strength.

Action Points:

1. Are you living by the Word of God in your daily life?

2. Are you putting the Word into practice?

3. Do you live from fullness within?

4. Do you take time every single day to feed on God’s Word and build yourself up spiritually?