PORTERVILLE POST | The "RIGHT" Word © ~ with Brother Scott

| “COMPROMISE KILLS FAITH”

The Right Word^© - Mar 29, 2026
with Brother Scott : scott@portervillepost.com

When your time and mine on the earth is over, we must be found true to the commands of God’s Word for the best outcome when we stand before Jesus.
Listen :

The areas that are highest on my list, which is why I speak to them regularly, are personal holiness (being clean of sin before God) and a genuine faith and trust in Him and His written Word.
These two things especially are among the highest works of righteousness through Christ in my life and all His true followers. We’ve been talking about both issues over these last many weeks and this new set of discussions continues along the same lines.

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† Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; [do notice He connects prayer to faith in verse 8] 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

You and I do not want to be found faithless through these next short years—because they will be tough and conclude with the return of Jesus Christ, Who is God and our Judge.

I heard a statement by a Christian apologist that caught my attention: “The Reformation was aborted by compromise.”

What that means is that the essential truth(s) of what the 16th century Reformation was about were at least significantly stunted by allowing compromise so that many talking reform could still “live and let live”.
And what were the three essential truths that birthed the Reformation but suffered serious compromise? These were the chief declarations that needed to be made—and today again:

The Three Essential TRUTHS That Birthed the Reformation

Sola Scriptura : The Bible is the sole authority in matters of faith and practice.
Priesthood of All Believers : All believers are part of a “priesthood” and have direct access to God without needing a mediating clergy.
Justification by Faith : Salvation is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus Christ, rather than earned through good works or indulgences.

Now we just spent two weeks looking at the relationship between God’s truth and the faith to be “saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost” (as many were fond of saying in the early and mid-20th century but are nevertheless acts involving genuine faith).
We must have the unadulterated Scriptures available to us and each of us individually availing ourselves to the holy Book because it is the very Word of God and truth.
But our newly born-again beginner’s faith must be used as we approach the Scriptures in order to not question the Bible’s truth and validity on the one hand, while being devoted by faith to practice what we read one the other.
The outcome of being a hearer but not a doer of the Word is that there is very little positive progress toward the needed sanctification of each believer (becoming “holy as He is holy”). Without the aid and practice of living-out the Word in our lives, a believer has a poor chance of growing strong in his or her faith in God.

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† 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence (longing for that which is forbidden), even as the Gentiles which know not God. . .
† 1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Now just as someone might have said “eyeball-to-eyeball” to you that Jesus died on the cross to save you while sharing the Gospel message, I can say to you today that in the same manner and for His purposes, God had the Bible prepared over a thousand years through about 40 authors for you! It may be merely looked upon as a passing reference source for church meetings, or as optional or just recommended reading for those that become followers of Jesus, but it is not-those-things!

GOD Prepared THE BOOK For You to Read as One of His Children

God prepared the book for you to read as one of His children. If you were to receive an unexpected greeting card or a letter from one of your loving parents, you would not toss it in a drawer without opening the envelope and reading what he or she had to say—you would open it and should with interest carefully consider mom or dad’s words, even when they might be advice or corrective counsel that you’d rather not hear.
Your Bible is such a letter written to you—not to the world and not even for the mostly uncommitted masses that assemble in today’s liberal and entertainment-driven churches but it is for you, His beloved son or daughter. Should we not then read and greatly esteem it?

MANY Claiming To Be Christians DO NOT READ Their BIBLES

Many claiming to be Christians do not read their Bibles and it is largely because they would rather do other things instead: Watch TV, play games, sleep a little longer, be with their friends, or other things that are more enjoyable than reading the Bible. And so, not reading the Word is perhaps at the tippy-top of the list of at least five ways a believer commits compromise, which often leads to the death of many a believer’s faith in God.

Compromise : To lower the standards, settling for something less, not acting to the full expectation, meeting only halfway, giving up part of something needed, making exceptions to the whole of what is really needed.

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† Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law [of Moses] are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. . .) [Can it be any less a serious issue involving the very Word of God?]
† Romans 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise. . . 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. . . 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
† James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

If you and I do not personally feed on a regular diet of what the Bible has recorded for our benefit then we have compromised our standing before God at the most basic level. But there are also other things that lead to the demise of one’s needed faith in God; these additional four must be guarded against and that can only be by your devotion to what you read in God’s letter to you, if you will.
Compromising your faith in God, which can lead to the death of faith, are these: ~ Earthly fears ~ doubting God ~ prideful independence ~ and habitual sin. ~
Each of these will change your spiritual compass heading away from the needed daily goal of living by faith in God. I say again, compromise kills faith and these four are hostile toward our needed faith in and trust of God and His written Word.
As to earthly fears that dilute our faith in God (we know that earthly fears and faith in God are opposites), we can see that evidenced in these places:

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† Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith (puny confidence), wherefore didst thou doubt (waver)? [Doubt leads us into fear and fear torpedoes our faith in what God has spoken.]
† Luke 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. . . 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
† John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
† Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. . . († 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.
† Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

In the ruling factors in people’s lives that are the steps to killing one’s faith in God, it must be clearly understood that not reading God’s Word is to deny faith’s needed growth in our mind, heart and our ability to trust God for more than just to forgive us our sins.
How can one possibly not give-in to earthly fears if he or she does not come to know the history and power of God and about His promises and provisions? Without knowledge of these things building in a believer’s mind and heart, he or she is completely vulnerable and subject to the fears of this earthly life.

Fear : (Wikipedia) [On the light side:] A feeling of disquiet or apprehension. [More serious fear:] An unpleasant subjective emotional state arising in response to perceived dangers or threats reactions [“False evidence appearing real”] and which, when experienced, is typically associated with physiological and psychological changes. These changes frequently lead to behavioral such as fight-or-flight responses [“Forget everything and run”] or, in extreme cases, immobilization (freeze response). Unlike most animals, humans can experience fear in response to a present or anticipated stimulus and to imagined events [your nervous system does not know any difference between imagined or real dangers and will react].

And what does the Bible have to say that is to allay our fears and turn our thoughts to God for help and comfort?

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† Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
† Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
† 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
† 1 John 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Today, more and more of our countrymen are becoming afraid about tomorrow and their futures. Many are losing their jobs and there are fewer jobs to have. The cost of living is accelerating and not gradually but in significant jumps higher. And about people’s money, many now have to choose between food or utilities or rent or medical care and needed prescriptions.
And let’s not forget the headlines that show physical danger is creeping closer to home (recent U.S. military bases on lockdown, multiple shooting sprees, ultra-severe weather trouble, terror cell discussions). We need the comfort of God and the strong-faith and at-peace examples of others of the faith:

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† 2 Corinthians 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. 5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings (controversies), within were fears (alarms, frights). 6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus. . .

Let Me Close This Part One With This :

You have heard me say many times that with a faith in God that is strong, when a significant threat of any kind arises, it is not uncommon (it is even normal) to instantly have fear rise up (“Oh, no, what am I going to do?). That happens even for me(!) but as a man with a maturing faith in God, it is a fear that only lasts as long as it takes to remind myself that this didn’t catch God off-guard, He has His hand firmly on my life, and therefore I have nothing to fear. This putting down of such fear usually takes just seconds but not more than a minute or two.
Someone once said that you either allow earthly fears to effect you or you are not subject to them because you fear God only—by your reverence and worship of Him you know that “all things work together for good”, even when they look very bad!
Not knowing your Bible is spiritual compromise. Allowing fear to shake you to your bones and marrow crucifies your faith and exposes it to death.
In the days ahead of us, there will be opportunities (perhaps even each day) that “fear” is going to come knocking at your mind and heart. Stand at the door by faith and refuse to let fear it!

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† Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

We will continue this discussion and of the remaining
three compromising dangers to your faith in God in part two.