[Special] Have You Stood on the Rock of Faith?

We have to receive salvation by faith to be able to enter Heaven, and then we can also receive answers to our prayers. What level, then, do you think your faith is at?

Have you stood on the rock of faith? 'Rock' here refers to a foundation rock that is broad, flat, and large. It represents a firm and safe state. If we 'stand on the rock of faith' our faith becomes firm and strong and never sways in any circumstances. It is not difficult for us then to keep the word of God. We can also achieve victory in everything by faith.

To stand on the rock of faith we must cast off the sinful natures from our hearts. There are nine attributes to check that one must not have who does stand on the rock of faith.


The first is a 'Hot-Temper'

'To have a hot temper' means that evil feelings, like anger, arise from the heart. When someone cannot hold such anger in, he may utter in bad language or become violent. But, those who stand on the rock of faith do not have even temporary evil feelings in their hearts.

If we have to force ourselves to suppress hot-temperedness it may become difficult to hold it in or we may make remarks out of ill-feelings. We are then far from the level of 'standing on the rock of faith'. If you think you are standing on the rock of faith yet your anger is revealed in your facial expression, the tone of your words, or your behavior, you are totally mistaken. Sometimes, there are some who get angry and show their hot temper, but say 'I am not angry or annoyed at all, but I just want to teach others what is right', or 'I just get angry out of righteous indignation.' If they make such an excuse, they prove to themselves that they are distant from the level of 'standing on the rock of faith.'


The second is 'Ill-Feelings'

'Ill-feelings' arises from the heart when various things of untruth in the heart arise with feeling or emotion. It is a broader concept than 'hot-temper'. Uncomfortable feelings, resentment and disappointment are typical examples. When someone points you out and reproves you, you might have uncomfortable feelings. When others do not serve you, or they do not treat you the way you want, you might not be satisfied and disappointed. Or, when you do not get recognition from others, you do not receive what you feel you deserve, or you are wrongfully accused, you might have disappointment or resentment.

However, if we stand on the rock of faith, we will have the heart of unworthy slaves to a great extent as described in Luke 17:7-10. Then, ill-feelings like disappointment or uncomfortable feelings will not arise from the heart. But if you mistakenly think and deceive yourself saying 'I have no such feelings', even though you do have them, you won't be able to stand on the rock of faith.


Third are Hatred, Jealousy, and Envy

Even though you do not reveal what you have in the heart, when you continue to hate someone inwardly, it is like committing murder as recorded in 1 John 3:15. It has nothing to do with 'standing on the rock of faith.'

Jealousy and hatred are categorized as evident deeds of the flesh as written in Galatians Chapter 5. You should cast away such evil. When you see someone is praised, if his wrongdoings come across your mind first, you have jealousy in your heart. It is the heart of the truth to rejoice with the truth.

You should rejoice when others surpass you, are loved by others, and get recognition or praise. You must not mistakenly think you have stood on the rock of faith if you do have such hatred, jealousy, and envy.


Fourth is 'the Lying and Deceiving Heart'

If you deceive others or make up a lie for your own benefit, you haven't stood on the rock of faith at all. Some overstate their performance to flaunt themselves before others. Or, they try to minimize or conceal their fault. This is because they have lying and deceiving hearts.

If you deceive your supervisor, church, or shepherd, it means you are not aware of God's eyes. Even if the problem is solved through telling a lie for the moment, it will lead you to fall in trials and tests. Moreover, you might be able to make big lies. In order to stand on the rock of faith, you must not deceive others about even a small thing, or tell a lie to hide something.


Fifth is 'Passing Judgment'

People pass judgment or condemnation according to their own thoughts and knowledge or in accordance with what is good and right in their own sight. However, God is the only one who searches the heart and knows everything. Therefore, we have to know that passing judgment or condemnation comes from arrogance as stated in James 4:11-12. Passing judgment usually leads to slandering, measuring, and speaking ill of others. It ends up passing condemnation. In particular, you must not criticize others in the name of discernment. Those who pass judgment by looking at the outward appearance or by listening to false rumors still have a long way to go in their progress toward standing on the rock of faith.


Sixth is the 'Changing Heart'

The most distinct feature of the fleshly things is that they change. Those who belong to the spirit keep what they decide to do without a change of heart. If you easily break promises with others, and you even break promises with God frequently, you should realize that changing attributes remain in you a lot. Those who stand on the rock of faith do not forsake faith in the Lord even in the threat and fear of death before them. They do not change. In other words, you can die a martyr for the Lord with such faith.


Seventh is 'Adultery'

This refers to just looking at a person of opposite sex with lust in the heart or committing adultery in the thoughts. God strictly warns against sins related to adultery such as sensuality, immorality, and impurity. To stand on the rock of faith, the first thing you have to get rid of is the adulterous mind. In Matthew 5:27-28 the Lord said that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery. Thus, you must not only stay away from adulterous acts, but also pull out the deep roots of adultery committed even in your thoughts or heart.


Number eighth is the aspects of 'Greed, Covetousness, and Selfish-Motives'

People often reveal greed or covetousness for various things such as wealth, fame, authority, and power. Selfish-motives are the heart that pursues one's own desires and seeks one's own benefit. Selfish motives usually arise due to money. If we stay with the love for money because of greed and covetousness, we will naturally distance ourselves from God and fall in the worldly pleasure over time, becoming increasingly inclined toward lustfulness (Matthew 19:24).

Selfish motives cause all kinds of corruption related to money. Those who have selfish motives seek their own benefit and the benefits of those who are close to them. Therefore, you must get rid of greed, covetousness, and selfish motives from your heart.


The Last and Ninth is 'Betrayal'

The heart of betrayal is related to the changing heart, but is associated more with craftiness. When a few evil attributes come together such as the heart of pursuing one's own benefit, arrogance, and so on, people betray others. In more serious cases, there are some who have received great grace from someone, but forsake the grace and betray him. It is a more serious evil than changing heart. To stand on the rock of faith, you have to root out the heart of betrayal completely from the heart.

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