Under this title we are talking about two important facets of faith in God; your faith in God. Faith in God that itself must be made strong by a tempering process of heat (tribulations, hardships) described by James 1:2-3 and 1 Peter 1:3-9, which is to understand that our faith must be exercised, tested, and strengthened.

But then how and when are we to apply our faith—that is to say when, where, and how do we “mix”-our-faith into your and my everyday lives to give us the supernatural ability to stand in the face of the myriad of things that come up in our lives. There is the believer’s needed strong faith and there is also that strong faith mixed into the events of our lives that make us strong in spite of the situations.

When we mix our faith in God into the events of our lives there will be different outcomes than if we do not—by making snap decisions apart from applied faith, or we take haphazard or random actions that we have not mixed faith into how we then deal with the circumstances we face; in that outcome, faith has not given us the heavenly intended benefit the “profit” as Paul calls it.

† Hebrews 3:16 For some [of those in the Wilderness journey from Egypt to the Promised Land], when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

I have mentioned over the years that you should look at what you do when something rises up and confronts you in this way: You either react or you respond. Think of the differences between these two ways in terms of the time that you take to make a good and wise decision about what to do—or not. I submit to you that the difference between a reaction and a response is at least 5 minutes. Is it exactly 5 minutes, or less time, or more time? That’s not the point but it is this: A reaction is like your knee jerking automatically when the doctor taps it with his little rubber hammer—there is no thought and no calculation, your body just reacts in an instant. Whereas, a response is when you do not automatically take a knee-jerk action but you have the discipline to take enough time to consider and calculate what to do in each situation—and then you respond.

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I’ve told you the story of the two drivers and how they handled a situation. A man was driving at a good speed along a country road and approached a curve. From the other direction, a woman comes around the corner at him, and mostly in his lane, and as she does she screams at him, “Pig!” as she swerves past him. He immediately lays on his horn while shouting at her, “You cow!”…as he swings around the curve and sees a very-large-pig in the roadway ahead of him. Did the man react by calling her a pig or did he remain calm, defensive and pause to fully understand what was going on and with self-control respond to the situation? Let me give you three examples of reactions and three as responses from God’s Word.

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† Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

† John 18:7 Then asked he them again [a second time], Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. 8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: 9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. 10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

† 1 Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? . . . 6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

† Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

† Acts 28:1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

† Revelation 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. . . 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

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In Part One I Said This

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“Faith must be mixed daily into the thoughts, plans, words, and actions of our individual lives in order to live up to and satisfy God’s expectations, as well as to receive the many provisions He has made for us as His children. [I remarked that] we would look at real-life examples of how faith is to be an ever-present companion in our day-by-day thoughts and plans, thoughts and words, and our thoughts before taking any life-affecting action especially. (Please notice that I used the word “thoughts” in each case.) We either live each day independent from the way God intends for us to—or we live our lives regulated by (guided by, inspired by) an active faith in God. The issues of life as a follower of Jesus are to be “tempered together with faith”—mixed with faith because faith can change the outcomes (at least in our heart and mind) as it makes us resilient in our circumstances. Do you want to come through the especially hard things sane, standing balanced, and spiritually victorious? Our faith in God and His Word provide that; if you question that then you need to carefully read Hebrews 11 more than once (by it our biblical heroes received a good report in Heaven).

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Consider this question: What do your thoughts throughout your day reveal about your faith; what do your plans, your words and what you have decided to do in this situation or that say about your faith in God or what our bibles say? If in an honest and broad look at what you think, say, and do does not expose the fact that you are living according to Hebrews11:1, you have needed changes to make in your mind and heart. I remind you:

† Hebrews 11:1 Now faith (constant conviction of the Gospel’s power, one’s full reliance on God) is the substance (what you stand on, foundation, essence, assurance, legal precedent) of things hoped for (you expect, are trusting for [forgiveness, cleansing, Heaven?]), the evidence (proof) of things not seen. [The believer’s faith is at the heart of God’s plan of salvation’s divine legal system: conviction, legal precedent, evidence presented as proof]. . . 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

† Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed (does not disgrace [embarrass] me) of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power (miraculous work) of God unto salvation (rescue plan for) to every one that believeth (has faith in it to); to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

We are to temper our circumstances with our faith in God and His Word—what does that mean? Quickly stated, the meaning of something that has been tempered is this:

Tempered: A thing is changed by the addition of or mixture with other good qualities. A thing made durable or flexible or resilient especially by heat treatment (steel or glass). A thing brought to the desired strength by heating and cooling.

For you to get a good hold on what I am hoping to convey to you today, you should understand rudimentary fact of a human but spiritual life: I cannot think of any other way that it works (that aspect of applying faith to life’s situations) than to point-out to you that when something arises that requires you say something and or take action, whatever you do it always begins in your thoughts (what you immediately think), which then check-in with your emotions (how you feel about this thing) and then, based on what you think and what you feel, your will takes over and you say or do something. But—was your faith in God consulted?

Here are some examples of things you are confronted about in life, big or small, [things] that you typically will quickly react to—or if disciplined enough for the proverbial 5-minute or longer pause, you will later respond to with spiritual dignity:

• Someone makes a remark or accusation or mocks you or a loved one
• A need arises that is at least kind of important
• An emergency comes up (medical, financial, family member in trouble)
• Someone asks for your help
• You see many needs of others all around you (do anything, for whom?)
• Something really serious happens to you or in your household (lose your job, a legal issue, relationship trouble, health crisis, death)
• And more to the greater point: In the near future—the Bible, talking about Jesus, going to an unapproved church meeting, having no water, food or shelter, threats of arrest, imprisonment and even death, all become serious problems

Will you react like your knee jerks or will you take time to think on the situation with a mind of faith-in-God? For these things and many more, as Christians we must be already practiced in tempering the situations we face with our faith in God and what His Word says. We must apply the spiritual aspect of our faith in God to the usually natural needs and circumstances of our lives. Faith enables us to be patient, to endure, and wait on the Lord for our good.

Faith tempered with our situations always creates the best outcome because we include God in them—even if the physical result doesn’t go our way, our knees don’t buckle, and we stand in peace before God, and He is pleased with us—we have a good report.

† Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

† 1 Corinthians 10:12 ...let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

† Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Many are the remarks today like this: “Well, I’ll just trust the Lord and He’ll take care of me.” That’s typical of someone with stale faith; ones that have never had to trust God for much of anything and have even become lukewarm in their relationship with the Lord. If a Christian has is not well-practiced in asking, believing, and waiting on God in the good times, how will that person (you?) be able to do the things involving serious faith later. I do not doubt that many that think that of themselves as being able to trust God then will try to for a short time but eventually panic and then make some very bad choices.

Do you need to work these issues by faith alone? No!

If you need someone to stand with you by faith—ask one or two that you have confidence in to pray with you, believe for help with you, and will keep issues confidential, if it is required. However, please do not ask others to pray and believe for God’s help for you if you will not be prayerful and faith-filled yourself.

You’ve heard the saying, “He fell on his sword” (1 Sam 31)—for the true followers of Jesus Christ, we are to fall on our faith.

† Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

† Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.