Outrageous faith.....

"I will sooner stand to the stake without fear, and embrace it joyfully, than to say or confirm anything against Yahweh's truth." ~Fox Book of Martyrs

Beloved reader, I am so pleased to be writing to you again. There is so much to discuss, but I want to talk about one of the most important things: FAITH.

The picture above is a close resemblance of the arenas that were at one time drenched in the blood of the faithful and steadfast. The ones who would not give up their faith to save themselves or others. They would rather suffer whatever punishment given than deny Yeshua or walk away from faith. Oh, to know the depths of that type of outrageous faith.

"If I had a thousand lives, I would gladly give them all for the faith." ~ Fox Book of Martyrs

Lately, I have struggled with having faith in the healing side of things. When I have prayed, why don't I see it? Have you been there? Praying and praying about something and still no solution? I have seen the mighty hand of Yahweh, and oh, does it change everything!

In these moments of low faith, He does His greatest work. He only asks for faith the size of a mustard seed. We don't have to have a mountain of it.

Have you seen Him move before in your life? As we sit here, let's recount all that He has done. The miracles in the Bible and in your own life. There is power in recalling all the wonders of His mighty hand. When we claim out loud "I have seen you do the impossible and have seen you do things only you can do. Even though right now this mountain stands here, it will move! Because the mountains bow down to you! I will see you move again, no matter what I see right now!"

Oh heart, why didn't you ever think he is not listening to you? Why did you lose faith? Why did you not believe that His word does will not return void? He always accomplishes what He sets out for. Nothing can stop His word and works. ARISE OH HEART! Remember His works, remember what He has promised. Why are you downcast, dear heart? Why are you in trouble and downcast? Has He not been faithful? Has He not been in the deepest valleys with you? Has He not walked by your side in the darkest nights? Has He not shown the beauty of His glory? Have you not tasted and seen that He is good? Remember the truth, dear heart, faith is not based on what you can see, it's what you hope and believe in. Believe past what you see, and watch HIM MOVE.

What is outrageous faith? The absolute dedication that nothing will make you reconsider your decision of following Yeshua. A kind of consecration that drives one person to stand against an entire society that goes against The Word of Yahweh. We need this kind of outrageous faith, an unwavering faith that stands no matter the opposition. We can do this in every area of life. From the workplace, friend circles, schools, and in our own hearts. The greatest opposition many times is ourselves. We have our own plans, thoughts, opinions, and fears.

The enemy doesn't need arenas anymore; he uses our minds as the arenas. He is a lion that prowls around looking for anyone whom he can devour. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. To steal the peace of Yahweh, to kill the joy of Yahweh, and to destroy the righteousness of Yahweh. All the things that build Yahweh's Kingdom.

Can he? Can he really do all this? Does he really have the ability? This is the question that puzzles the world. "If Yahweh is so powerful and good, why do bad things happen to good people?" "Why do we suffer? Why do we lose good people? Why does Yahweh not protect all the hurting people? Why, why, why, why?"

Do we not have such a good Elohim that we get to ask Him hard questions and they are not hard for Him? These whys just prove that He is on His throne and has all that we need. The hardships show that the enemy hates that we are close enough to the throne to taste and see that Yahweh is good. The hard things in life are gifts of the faithful. That is a difficult concept, but it is the truth. The suffering is a gift because Yeshua suffered for us. Without pain, we wouldn't cry out to the name of Yahweh. Suffering draws us closer to the realms of heaven.

"And after you have suffered a little while, the Elohim of ALL GRACE, who has called you to His eternal glory in Messiah, will Himself RESTORE, CONFIRM, STRENGTHEN, and ESTABLISH you!" 1 Peter 5:10

Beloved reader, if you are reading this and you are waiting for Him to move in an area of your life. If you have been praying and praying about this, yet the fruit is not yet seen. Remember, it takes time for a tree to sprout fruit, and when it does, it fills the air with its fragrance and feeds all around it with the fruit of its waiting and growth. I promise you, oh faithful heart, you will be RESTORED! CONFIRMED! STRENGTHENED! And ESTABLISHED!!!! Though you suffer now, your fruit of suffering is coming. Let the tears of suffering water the ground of your harvest!!!

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The last thing I want to share is my favorite testimony from a martyr. She has always inspired me that outrageous faith is possible and I hope to have courage like her!

It was A.D. 203. A 22-year-old young noblewoman, who was also a mother to a nursing infant, was thrown into a Roman arena. Her name was Perpetua. Alongside many others, one of whom was a pregnant mother named Felicity. The stage was set and filled with a bloodthirsty audience that didn't only want some good sport; they wanted to see Christians suffer and be torn apart for challenging Roman society. They were condemned to being gored to death by a rabid heifer. The cow ran at Perpetua first and threw her in the air. She realized her hair was down, which at that time was a sign of mourning. The account says...

Next, looking for a pin, Perpetua likewise pinned up her disheveled hair; for it was meet that a martyr should suffer with her hair disheveled, lest she should seem to grieve in her glory.

This is outrageous faith, that a Roman-born noblewoman would sacrifice not only the comforts and security of her life, but her own son. She wouldn't deny her faith just to stay alive for him physically but die spiritually. She didn't die in sorrow for all she lost but decided that she would pass on from this world with the dignity of The Kingdom of Heaven. No longer a noblewoman of the world but a noblewoman of Heaven! With all the glory that is bestowed on one that leaves the world behind and embraces His Kingdom! So may we pin back our hair, set our eyes straight, and rise up with the faith that has withstood fire, suffering, lack, starvation, beatings, fangs of lions, horns of bulls, insults, and much more. May we have this outrageous faith in our generation!

With much love

Elysa