Bible Doctrine Transforms
Discipline, trials, and suffering… all are testing from the Lord designed to transform us. These are signs—evidence that God is in our lives conforming us to the image of His dear Son. If you want to get closer to Jesus, endure, persevere, be patient, be thankful for the good and the bad (“in all things give thanks”), be relaxed and in control through both because God is doing His work to conform you. All things work together for good (Romans 8:28).
No opposition can shake strong faith.
Point of doctrine: your steadfastness must be based on immovable facts so that your faith remains immovable (1 Peter 1:7).
Strong faith is anchored to and in the principles and facts of Bible doctrine. The Word of God is absolute. It is factual. God has written and preserved His Word, guaranteed. Start trusting the God who died for you, for it is an historical fact. Trust the God who designed, created, and maintains the universe. Believe what He speaks from and by His Word, written to you (Hebrews 11:6).
If you want to please God, believe Him, trust in His Word—the Scriptures are “the facts of His truth.” Faith comes from hearing (learning) Bible doctrine (Romans 10:19). If our faith is not based on the knowledge of doctrine, it is no more than speculation (Hebrews 11:1). How we feel (emotion) has nothing to do with the truth of Bible doctrine nor of faith—faith is not emotional, it is based on absolute truth which is the cross, resurrection, ascension, and session of Christ for us and in us (Romans 8:29; Philippians 1:6; 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:24).
God-dependence begins when self-dependence ends (John 3:30; 1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 4:16).
The more we trust in the Lord the more we are drawn to Him. The closer we get to Him the more removed we are from this world and the stronger we become in Him.
God is not in a hurry, neither should you be. Slow down, be patient. God is perfect, He is in charge, He is on the throne and He died for you, so relax. Be content in both the good and bad things in life because you are confident that God will perform the good works in you until He calls you home.
It takes time to know God, to know yourself, and to overcome all of your sin issues. You become more aware of your sin problem and His cross-work as you constantly inhale Bible doctrine (Philippians 3:10) and exhale it into the details of life through application.
As you become stronger in the Word of Truth, you become stronger against temptation and sin. Just stay consistent in the Word and in the teaching of the Word at your church. If you do not get solid, Biblical instruction from the Word of God, find another church.
Press on (Philippians 3:14).