1 Corinthians 16:13 Be alert. Be firm in the Christian faith. Be courageous and strong. 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Psalm 145:13 “…The Lord is faithful in all his words, and holy in all his works.” Faith is not passive—it is something you hold, fight for, protect, and grow. God’s faithfulness empowers you to remain steadfast, even in trials. The Bible repeatedly calls believers to stay steadfast, stand firm, and refuse to let go of their faith, especially during trials. Hold fast without wavering: God is faithful, so believers are urged to cling tightly to their confession of faith (Hebrews 10:23). Fight to keep your faith strong: Faith requires intentional effort—Scripture describes it as a “good fight” and warns that abandoning faith leads to spiritual shipwreck (1 Timothy 6:12; 1:18–19). Stay grounded and unmoved: Believers must remain rooted in the gospel and not drift away from hope (Colossians 1:23). Trials strengthen faith: Hard seasons test and refine faith, producing endurance and spiritual maturity (James 1:2–3; 1 Peter 1:7). Walk by faith, not by sight: Faith means trusting God even when circumstances are unclear or difficult (2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1).
ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
God promises to stay involved in the life-long process of spiritual growth. Philippians 1:6, NKJV. “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Jesus is the source of spiritual growth. Colossians 2:6-7, TLB. “And now just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust Him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with Him. Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all He has done.” We should be growing more like Jesus daily. 2 Peter 1:5-8, NIV. “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We cannot grow without staying connected to Jesus. John 15:4-5, NKJV. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
The road to Heaven is extremely small and most people will not find it even many people who call themselves Christians. Many people say they love Christ, but their actions show that they truly hate Him. Just because you go to church doesn’t mean you’re going to go to Heaven. Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Isaiah 35:8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. Luke13:23-25 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them. Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? James 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. There will be no excuses in Heaven none whatsoever. If you love the Lord you will commit to Him. You only have one chance. It’s either Paradise or torment. God is good and a good judge must punish the criminal. Whoever wants to keep their life will lose it. Stop being part of the world, deny yourself, and take up the cross daily.
Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; Luke 11:28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Trust in God brings blessing. Psalm 112:1“Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.” Reverence and obedience bring blessing.
OUR GOD TEACHES US HOW TO LIVE OUR LIFE IN A WAY THAT WILL CAUSE HIM TO WANT TO BLESS US. IT’S OUR CHOICE, MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.
Who are God’s children? Spiritual birth makes someone a child of God. John 1:12-13, NIV. “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” Children of God Are Led by the Spirit. Romans 8:14 — “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Christians are adopted into God’s family. Romans 8:16, NIV. “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Galatians 4:4-5, RSV. “But when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Children of God Are Called to Live Differently. Philippians 2:15 — “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God… among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” Children of God Are Heirs With Christ. Romans 8:17 — “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…” Galatians 4:7 — “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Children of God are: Born again through faith, Led by the Spirit, Adopted into God’s family. Loved with a unique, fatherly love, Called to shine in the world, Heirs with Christ.
ARE YOU A CHILD OF GOD? HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD?
Deuteronomy 31:6 — “Be strong and of a good courage… for the Lord thy God… will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” God has promised to be with you; what is there to fear? Hebrews 13:5, 6, NKJV. “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” Although God will never forsake us, He respects our free will if we choose to leave Him. 2 Chronicles 24:18-20, NKJV. “Therefore they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the LORD; and they testified against them, but they would not listen. Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, ‘Thus says God: “Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you.” ’ ” 2 Chronicles 15:2 — “…if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.”
The Bible is very clear on this topic. Here are the key verses that teach a pastor (elder, shepherd, minister) should be financially supported by the church. 1 Timothy 5:17–18 “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine… The labourer is worthy of his reward.” What it teaches: “Double honour” includes financial support, not just respect. Paul quotes Jesus to show that spiritual labor deserves material provision. 1 Corinthians 9:13–14 “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” What it teaches: This is the strongest verse. Paul says Jesus Himself commanded that ministers should receive their living from ministry. Galatians 6:6 “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.” What it teaches: “Communicate” means share materially — food, resources, finances — with the one who teaches. Luke 10:7 “The labourer is worthy of his hire.” What it teaches: Jesus said this when sending out ministers. Their work deserves support. 1 Corinthians 9:7–11 Paul uses everyday examples: – Soldiers don’t serve at their own expense – Farmers eat from their vineyard – Shepherds drink the milk of the flock What it teaches: It is normal and right for spiritual workers to receive material support. Numbers 18:21–24 The Levites (Old Testament ministers) lived off the tithes of the people. What it teaches: God established a pattern of supporting those who serve in ministry. So what’s the biblical conclusion? The Bible teaches consistently that: Pastors should be financially supported by the church. Paul only refused support at times to avoid misunderstanding — not because pastors shouldn’t be paid.
