First Timothy 6:12 says, “Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Fighting the good fight of faith is not always an easy fight. Why? It takes courage and boldness to fight the good fight of faith.
All through the Bible those in faith were few. When the Hebrews sent twelve spies into the Promised Land, the majority returned with a negative report that had no faith in it. These ten spies said, “We can’t enter into that land. It’s full of giants. We are like grasshoppers to them. If we go in we will die.”
But two of the twelve, a clear minority, said, “Yes, we can make it. If we go into the Promised Land we can occupy it, in spite of the giants. God said He would fight our battles for us and we believe Him.”
Unfortunately, Moses and the people believed and acted on the anti-faith report of the majority and they decided to not enter into the Promised Land. Instead they wandered in the desert for forty years. Then, they went into the Promised Land.
But, you know what? The giants were still there. Even after delaying for four decades, the battle still had to be fought. But God was with them, because this time they had faith. When you have faith, God is with you and you always win.
When you believe what God says and you believe it enough to act on His Word in spite of how things look around you, that’s faith and faith pleases God. And, God is always on the side of those with faith.
In God’s Word and all through history, God has looked for men and women with faith.
Hebrews 11:5 tells about a man who did not die. His name was Enoch. The Bible says he was taken away and did not see death. Then the Bible tells why he did not see death and was taken into heaven. It says, “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him; For (because), before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”
Then the next verse goes on to say that it is faith that pleases God and more precisely “without faith it is impossible to please Him.”
I want to draw your attention to this: Enoch had a good testimony. He gave a good report. He spoke the Word of God and whatever God said, he believed it and not only did he believe God’s Words, he acted on them. How do we know this? We know this because the Bible says he had faith and that is what faith is.
Faith is “Believing God will do what He says He will do. And believing it so completely that you place everything you say and everything you do in line with His Word.”
So, I guess it all boils down to this. Do we please God by having faith, or do we go with the majority who speak doubt and unbelief? Going with the doubters does not please God and could leave you wandering in the desert. Being in faith pleases God and the miracles that can happen in your life are unlimited.
Who do we please, God or man? The choice is ours.
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Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.