Contending for the Faith

Greetings sisters, 

I hope you are all doing well and are joyous to be humble servants of the Most High God. 

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

Jude 1:3

The New Testament is filled with the accounts and reports of very busy saints. They are living holy, proclaiming the gospel, fighting sin and false doctrine creeping in; fighting the battle before them as good soldiers contending for the true faith. 

Yet in what is called Christian today we see masses of people living for themselves with a little bit of religion and Jesus on the side. 

If you know and study the truth, you realise just how much has been lost and how far the state of those who claim to be believers in Christ have fallen. But how greater must God's view of all this sin and compromise be? 

A faithful sister shared to encourage me these favourite verses she has which strengthen her in her labours in the gospel. So I added them to pictures of God's creation in honour of her (and her husband) and all the labouring saints worldwide. 

I hope they bless and encourage you! 

As women we can do something to contend for the faith too. No we won't be leading, teaching, or usurping authority over men, but we do have a part in proclaiming the glorious gospel of Christ. Of course our first action must be to be sure we are in obedience and truth ourselves. And we can encourage and teach other women (as Titus 2 says) and blogs are a good place for that since we are scattered. 

And yes we are all different. One godly woman may feel entirely comfortable in speaking in front of thousands, millions, or even billions. But other women like me have trouble speaking in front of even one. Yet we all have to reach the place that God has of order and a meek and quiet spirit while being faithful to labour in spreading the gospel, which we are blessed to have the full revelation of, to a dying world. 

"Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 

But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 

To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen."

Romans 16:25-27

Well for quiet and shy people like myself we can start small somewhere. We have those immediately around us, family, and then with technology I am sure everyone has email addresses where you can send the gospel. Hiding the Word in your heart and studying to be ready to answer is essential as well. Of course every woman must start with a transformed life through the gospel herself...otherwise it is useless and would be a case of the blind leading the blind and both will fall into the ditch (Matthew 15:14). 

As keepers at home we have duties in the world and so maybe someone will ask a direct question about you (particularly if they see you dressed and covered biblically)...then if you have a gospel card that would be a great chance for that. And then as you grow I am sure you will see more and more opportunities if you are faithful to seek them. I can only speak for myself. And I am growing in this myself still and though I have a way to grow I shall press on because I have the precious seed of the Word of God and great hope in Christ as one alive from the dead. And I don't want to selfishly keep it for myself. 

Many times Paul makes mention of specific faithful hardworking believers by name. Some of these were women being helpers with him. 

"Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord."
Romans 16:12

"And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life."
Philippians 4:3

God knows our labours well. It must be the true faith we are contending for and not the added and false ways of man. 

"I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 

And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted."

Revelation 2:2-3

It's so false this "Jesus loves you" gospel that is getting preached around the globe to sinners. It's so unbiblical and a deceptive lie. The sinners need to repent! 

We see what the early believers did with the Word when persecuted. 

"As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word."

Acts 8:3-4

So, what is the gospel we share? In short, it is this. 

Faith and trust in Jesus Christ and His death for our sins.

Repent from all of your sins and false ways. 

Be born again by the Spirit and become a new creation. 

Obey God and produce fruit of holiness.

Endure faithful every day until the end. 

See more detail on this glorious gospel here. 

I pray for all the godly women labouring in the gospel...whether that be with their husbands, or other godly men, or alone. There are some out there, few and far between but shining the light of the life saving gospel where ever they are. I pray for all the saints that they may be strong and courageous for Christ unto death. 

Love in Christ,

...from a servant of God