From Saving Faith to Courageous Faith! — John P. Kelly Ministries

Faith is the most dominant concept of the entire New Testament! The word Faith appears about 23O times from Matthew to Revelation.

The early church (ekklesia) Apostles taught that Faith was the foundational essential for all believers in Christ. Scripture shows us they not only taught about Saving Faith – but how that Faith must develop in our lives to become Courageous Faith!

The Knowledge of Faith is intellectually learning what the word Faith means, but our Understanding of Faith comes with our revelation experience of Saving Faith - plus the many trials and tests that require Faith in God to get us through!

When we experience the reality of being Born-Again and persevere through the trials and tests, we transcend the intellect of simply knowing what the word means – we understand it with an unshakable conviction.

The Apostle Paul wrote, ”For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). He is saying faith is the foundational conviction regarding the promises and principles of God.

Our knowledge and understanding of Faith is essential for developing Courageous Faith.

This understanding is vital because it is the foundation of Courageous Faith.

Courageous Faith means holding on - no matter what - to the strong foundational convictions of our belief that Jesus will help us go through anything we face.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).

Substance in Greek is hopostasis meaning: foundational, the substructure, the base. That which has actual existence. It means the steadfastness of mind, firmness, courage, and resolution!

Evidence in Greek is elegchos meaning: the conviction, a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested.

Courageous Faith means we can stand and hold firmly to our convictions – no matter what we will face because we have experience, we have proof that we can rely on our faithful God to help us - no matter how hard it gets.

“For I am persuaded (epithet-convicted) that neither death, nor life,nor angels, nor principalities (arche-authorities) nor powers( -forces)nor things present,nor things to come, nor height, nor death,nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!”

Much of the early church-ekklesia applied Courageous Faith as they suffered even unto death. They believed that without “faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb.11:6).

But with Faith – courageous Faith - they could and would overcome - “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4)!

Let this word sink deep in our hearts and minds to help prepare us for the day - or days - of our testing. For as we overcome – we will surely stand in the presence of the Lord and hear, “ Well done good and faithful servant!”

Standing in Courageous Faith with Him and you,