Therefore do not cast away your confidence which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: "For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [Hebrews 10:35-11:1]

Cast not away thy confidence which has great reward.

The final message shared by Dr Innes yesterday was just the encouragement that we need after being illuminated by God the past two weeks.

"Now on the mountaintop we have gleaned so many things, we've been drawn closer to His heart, a place where trials bring. We have seen victory over sin, and witnessed answered prayers. We have known Christ be our own strength, found His Word a jewel rare. Keep your heart...."

After two weeks of illumination and "mountain-top" experience, we are back to the valley lows as we trod on individually. Lols. The pressures of life and persecution seemingly increases as the idea of compromising in our convictions looms overhead. The writer of Hebrews encouraged those who were too illuminated by the Pentacostal experience and are back to face the "cross" of being a Christian, "Cast not away thy confidence which has great reward" Faithfulness of God in every aspect of our lives even though the going gets tougher. Thats faith! :D

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for [God's promises], the conviction of things that are unseen.

Our faith is as big as our God. Or rather, our faith in God is as much as how much we know, view Him. I've learnt that our God is an awesome God, therefore our faith ought to be so much bigger.

Lols. Okay those are points I was pondering over that Dr Innes shared. But more personally, how I apply these nuggets of truths in my life. God never fails to do what He promised in His Word- the only condition is in His time. That means I ought to "wait [expectantly] on the Lord", especially when I am abiding in His will, because He is true to His word. so yes, now to continue to "Walk by faith, and not by sight" as those approved by God in Hebrews 11 walked.

I feel that my life has to/will change radically if I continue obeying the Lord. Because I'm sure much of my life has been greatly influenced by many of the world's philosophy. Hmm, things like "how I ought to be in control of my own future", "be in control of your own life". I so often worry what my life would be like if I didnt DO something about it. But when God's word comes into light, it ought to become: "Commit thy ways unto the Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring them to pass" or "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you". The world's influence is subtle but its there.

Okay, what about the notion of being "anti-social" or a "loner" when you simply have convictions not to participate in activities that do not honor the HOLINESS of God. So often I've been bought into the idea that its okay to just be "open" about this stuff. As much as there is no reason for me to push my convictions upon any other christians, it is imperative that Christians KNOW what is God's mandate for separation.

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of god with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them I will be their God and they shall be My people. " Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters. Says the Lord Almighty. Therefore having these promises, beloved let us cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. [2 Cor 6-7:1]

Love not the world nor the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him. For all that is in the world: the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life is not of the Father but of the world. Therefore the world is passing away and the lust of it, but He who does the will of God abideth forever. [1 John 2:15-17]

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth [1 John 1:6]

I do not understand how clear must God's Word be for men to see that there is nothing unliteral about these mandates. As much as I am convinced I am to love every one of my friends who have not come to know the Lord as Savior as much as Christ loved me, and to faithfully witness God's love to them, I think there is absolutely no excuse for a christian to participate in worldly activities that reflect not the Holiness of our God.

Romans 12:2 says, "do not be comformed to the pattern of this world". Hmm. My life has to change because much of my old life has been conformed the the influences of the world.

Also, I recognized that I have been bought into the world's philosophy on relationships and all. But then I realised that it promotes only selfishness, pride and lust. An having such an attitude about relationships with people only strains them, it never builds up. God says love one another as I have loved you. How did God love us? He loved us with an unselfish agape love that requires nothing in return. It is said in the Bible, "Love edifieths" Loving the way God love builds up I guess. I've learn that every relationshp you have, be it a family member, church memeber or a friend is an opportunity for a christian to show how God loves by loving unselfishly. The REAL deal about Love is not found in the romantic love preached by the world, the REAL deal about Love came from the Author of Love. Demostrated by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Expressed in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. The more I read abt it, the more THIS seems to make sense to me. Yielding my life to His Word would means no longer viewing relationships the way the world does anymore, but learning to model Christ's love towards every human being around me.

Lord, change me.