STAND BY FAITH

“Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for BY FAITH YOU STAND” – 2 Corinthians 1:24

God’s Perfect Will for every Believer is to STAND by FAITH: “Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for BY FAITH YOU STAND” (2Cor.1:24). Faith is never fickle. Paul was assuring the Corinthians that his change of travel plans was not a vacillation due to fickleness (v.17). He was not being driven by circumstances. He then defended his intentionality as directed by God: “But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (vv.18-20). Paul’s purpose was not to be their ministry police but a fellow worker with the Corinthian Believers. His goal was to see them grow. Faith is a personal responsibility. Each believer must STAND BY FAITH!

That Paul’s travel plans changed and he seemed to be unreliable was not a sound alibi for the faith of some immature Corinthian Christians to wobble! They needed to grow in their relationship with God and learn to Stand by Faith. Paul’s concern with the “state” of their Faith was why he bothered to defend his integrity and reputation – what people thought about him! He had learnt to live before God and be primarily concerned with God’s own Thoughts, yet he was determined that no one should lose their confidence in the Word of Life through misinterpreting his life’s affairs. For us also, no matter the circumstances, we must Stand by Faith!

Paul used his own life as an example of standing by faith. If it were not for his Faith in God, he never would have survived in the ministry. He reminds us that when we follow the Lord, we surrender our personal agenda. We are not doing what we want to do, but being led by Christ. Many times, what God is calling us to, may not make sense at the moment from a human standpoint; but we Stand by Faith! We cannot understand God’s leading through mere human resources. Our ministry to the Lord can only be understood through our Faith in Christ! Of course, there is nothing inherently wrong about making daily decisions in life based on human reasoning, instinct, education or experience. However, these assets only enable us to live the human life, not eternal life.

If we’re going to live the spiritual life in Christ, it must be by a different motivation – the Power of Faith! Apart from Faith we cannot stand in Christ or live as Believers. It is possible to live a religious life, but not a Believer’s Life; because it’s impossible to please God without Faith (Heb.11:6). Standing by Faith pulls us away from the ways of the world or of the senses. We enter into a realm that is not compatible with this world. Christianity fails when we try to run it by human expectations or by the dictates of the senses. Faith does not make natural sense! Following Christ does not make sense from the human perspective.

Inparticular, it is by Faith that we stand to manifest fullness of Joy, notwithstanding contrary circumstances. Paul wrote: “But are fellow workers for your JOY; for by faith you stand” (v.24b). In other words: “We are not the boss of your faith but we are working with you to ensure you’re joyful, as you STAND by FAITH”! Nothing in the human nature can bring Peace and Joy into our hearts apart from Faith in Christ Jesus. This also infers that while others can be supportive, Standing by Faith is a personal responsibility! No one stands for another. We each Stand by Faith as we grow in our relationship with the Lord – our Faith’s Pioneer and Perfecter!