Join Pastor Joby Martin, a dedicated leader passionate about deepening relationships with God, alongside fellow pastors Jonathan Vinke and Ryan Britt. They delve into the essence of true faith, highlighting the difference between mere belief and authentic trust in Jesus. The conversation addresses spiritual warfare, the battle against intrusive thoughts, and the importance of community in nurturing faith. They share relatable anecdotes on temptation and emphasize how navigating anxiety can strengthen our spiritual journey.
Biblical faith is fundamentally rooted in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, distinguishing it from cultural beliefs based solely on sincerity.
Faith is a dynamic force that can grow stronger through actions and experiences, acting as a protective shield against temptation during spiritual lows.
Collective faith within a community offers encouragement and accountability, helping individuals resist spiritual attacks and confront life's challenges together.
Deep dives
Understanding Biblical Faith
Biblical faith is differentiated from cultural faith by its foundation in trust in Jesus rather than merely belief in concepts or ideas. Cultural understanding often suggests that sincerity in belief is sufficient, but true faith is directed toward a person and relies on Jesus' claims and actions. This distinction is significant, as the essence of faith lies not in belief alone but in the object of that belief—Jesus Christ. The biblical definition emphasizes that faith must be rooted in a personal relationship, allowing it to carry the power of the gospel.
The Nature and Role of Faith
Faith involves believing in what God has declared, regardless of visible circumstances, and trusting His Word over personal feelings. It acts like currency in the spiritual realm but is not a matter of simply having more; rather, faith is a gift that can grow stronger through various actions and experiences. The idea that faith scales from little to great is supported by biblical examples, where Jesus commends some for their great faith and challenges others for their lack. This highlights that while faith begins as a gift, it also requires active participation and fostering through trust and reliance on God's promises.
Faith in Action Against Temptation
The distinction between faith and risk is made with an emphasis on that faith is not blind or foolish but is rooted in assurance and conviction of God's promises. The concept of faith as an active shield is emphasized, as the shield of faith extinguishes temptation’s flaming darts—unyielding thoughts and desires planted by the enemy. The podcast also addresses the way Christians are vulnerable to these attacks, particularly during spiritual and emotional lows, where temptation may feel overwhelming. Being aware of how faith informs actions against temptation allows believers to resist and work towards holiness.
Experiencing Spiritual Warfare
The nature of spiritual warfare is discussed in terms of the enemy’s tactics, particularly surrounding temptation, fear, and isolation. The key theme here is that the enemy often attempts to isolate individuals, convincing them they struggle alone and creating a sense of helplessness. Through collective faith and support within a community, people can find encouragement and accountability against the spiritual attacks. The importance of linking shields—standing firm with others in faith—is presented as a vital resource in spiritual battles, reminding believers of the shared experience of temptation.
Finding Strength in Faith
A major point made is that believers can find strength in their faith by turning to God’s Word, community, and prayer during challenging times. It is noted that faith acts as a means of escape during temptations, where trusting in God's promises enables individuals to recognize and choose freedom over bondage. The idea of being proactive in faith is stressed; instead of waiting for circumstances to change, believers are encouraged to reach out to others and actively engage in their spiritual journey. Ultimately, maintaining a perspective steeped in faith equips believers to confront life's challenges and live victoriously.
The question isn’t if you have faith. The question is, who is your faith in? In this episode of Deepen, Pastor Jonathan Vinke, Pastor Ryan Britt and Charles Martin, dig deeper into what it looks like to protect yourself from the enemy’s attack with the shield of faith.
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Have you ever wanted to dig deeper into a message and develop a deeper relationship with God? Together with special guests, Pastor Joby Martin takes a deep dive into the sermon each week. Our prayer is these conversations help to discover and deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Church of Eleven22® is a movement for all people to discover and deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ. Eleven22 is led by Pastor Joby Martin and based in Jacksonville, Florida, with multiple campuses throughout Jacksonville and the surrounding areas.
To find out more about how God is moving at Eleven22, go to coe22.com
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