What do you do when your faith gets weak? How do you pump your faith?
There are several reasons why this may happen – unanswered prayer, persecution, problems, trials…
The Apostle Paul wrote his protege Timothy an encouragement. He mentions that many have forsaken the faith and have even deserted him as he is now in chains for the gospel.
He exhorts Timothy to ‘be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.’ (2 Timothy 2:1)
This will be evident in 3 ways.
Dedication of a soldier
Paul reminds Timothy to endure hardship. (2 Timothy 2:3)
The reason for this exhortation? There will come a time that as we follow Christ, hardships will come our way.
Giving up is not an option. His grace is more than sufficient.
Discipline of an athlete
An athlete competes according to the rules (2 Timothy 2:6).
Otherwise, he will be disqualified and all the months and years of preparation will all be for naught.
Part of the disciplines we’ve been called to imbibe is the discipline of reading His word.
Pastor Bernhard Wewege writes a good blog about this – Taking the 21 day challenge.
Diligence of a farmer
The farmer painstakingly plants and patiently waits.
Paul declares a promise in Galatians 6:9…
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
How do you pump your faith?
Well, after giving the 3 pictures of a Christian to Timothy, he proclaims a simple statement…
Remember Jesus, raised from the dead. (2 Timothy 2:8)
Absolutely simple but definitely not simplistic. The statement is pregnant with truth.
The reason why we can is because He did.
When He said, “It is finished”, it meant everything that’s required for our faith to last has been accomplished by Him at the cross.
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that will sustain you.
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6, NLT)
