We need and must have faith in order to make it into the Kingdom of God. There several deterrents to growing in it. Knowing what they are, recognizing them and learning how to overcome them will greatly aid us in this endeavor.
Enemies of Faith
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
How important is faith?
Hebrews 11:6 But 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.
Christ considered it very important
Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
Faith is more than: BELIEF THERE IS A GOD; it is a BELIEF IN GOD (who He is; what He stands for; Following what He commands us to do)
Most in the US believe there is a God, statistics of 92%
They knew there was a God…
Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Romans 1:21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Romans 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
But they didn’t Believe Him
It is not enough to just believe there is a God
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
The world wants to wait until they get a certain CONVICTION, a certain FEELING, a sort of assurance they can FEEL — before they really believe they shall have the answer.
But THAT is not faith! That is FEELING!
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
Matthew 7:23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Matthew 7:20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Most in the US believe there is a God … But do they believe in God?
You know what a person believes in by their actions
Definition of faith:
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The assurance that you will receive all that God has promised. Being assured God will fulfill all that He has said He will do.
Faith is trusting that God will do what He says that He will do. We must exercise Faith until God fulfills His promises.
To believe in God is just the beginning. This is the starting point! We must go on from there.
Faith is a deep conviction in Gods Word. That all He says is true.
Faith is dynamic. Not static. We don’t get it and that’s it. We grow in it. It is a living Faith able to grow. As we learn more about Gods way we can grow in Faith. Our Faith becomes stronger as we diligently seek him; as we live by His ways; as we see these ways work; as we see His word come to fruition.
Do you see why the world doesn’t have Faith or can’t have it? They don’t know what his word says. They have been told the same old errors, they don’t read, they don’t understand because they don’t diligently seek him.
EXAMPLES:
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
They stepped out in Faith with no evidence per se that these things would come to pass. What do you think happened to their Faith in God when these things came to pass? It grew even more!
The same is true for us. In all of our years in this walk with God have we not seen enough to know that God will eventually do all that He says He will do? [expound: healing, fruits of living this way, a way of life that works and is better?]
YET Christ still said this:
Luke 18:8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Christ knows that our faith will be tested and that there will be obstacles that we will encounter along the way As we work at attaining the Faith of Christ.
Christ wants us to have that faith, so he has taken the time to point out the things that are detrimental to faith
Today I would like to go through and identify the Enemies of our Faith.
Bring to attention/forefront; so that when we are confronted with them, we will know them, know their purpose, and be able to subdue them.
1. FEAR/TIMIDITY
Matthew 8:23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
Matthew 8:24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
Matthew 8:25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
Mathew 8:26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
If we are to have faith, we can’t be fearful. This is not the same fear as … The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.
Hebrews 10:38 NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; BUT IF ANYONE DRAWS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.”
Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition [we are not to be the timid ones; but the ones that keep moving forward into the battle], but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
SOLUTION:
1 John 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
1 John 4:13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
1 John 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
2. DOUBT
Sum Up:
Matthew 14:25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
Matthew 14:26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
Matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
Matthew 14:29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
Matthew 14:30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Story of me walking on water: believed, but in the back of my mind didn’t really, which is why I only ever tried with a swimming suit on.
Matthew 21:19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
Matthew 21:20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”
Matthew 21:21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.
Matthew 21:22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Several other examples like:
John 20:27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
SOLUTION
Proverbs 22:17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge;
Proverbs 22:18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips,
Proverbs 22:19 So that your trust may be in the LORD; I have instructed you today, even you.
Proverbs 22:20 Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,
Proverbs 22:21That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you?
We are to know that every Word of God is true and just and then of course live by every word of God
3. WORLDLY HUMAN REASONING
This is when we come to conclusions ourselves. We have a learning curve that we have to go through if we don’t read the words of the Bible (child rearing and proper and Godly discipline expound problems; may figure out solution down the road after the fact)
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
Faith is at odds with human nature…our carnality.
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk [live] by faith, not by sight.
Faith is hard to hold on to because you don’t use your 5 senses.
The world places its trust in Imperialistic knowledge, what it can deduce from the 5 senses. They trust in their money, power and strength. They trust the things that they can deduce. The things of Science and the “Educated” tell them.
EXAMPLE:
Matthew 16:5 Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
Matthew 16:6 Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”
Matthew 16:7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”
Matthew 16:8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?
Matthew 16:9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up?
Matthew 16:10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up?
Matthew 16:11 How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Matthew 16:12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
SOLUTION:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
4. WORRY
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6:27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
Matthew 6:28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
Matthew 6:29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Matthew 6:30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Matthew 6:31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
Matthew 6:32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
5. SOCIETY
Acts 13:6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,
Acts 13:7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
Acts 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
SOLUTION:
2 Corinthians 6:15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM. I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”
2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore “COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE SEPARATE, SAYS THE LORD. DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN, AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU.”
2 Corinthians 6:18 “I WILL BE A FATHER TO YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY.”
John 14, 15 16 During Passover we talk about coming out of the world
Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
6. LACK OF WORKS
James 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
James 2:20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
James 2:22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” And he was called the friend of God.
James 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
James 2:25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 1:18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
James 1:20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
James 1:24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
7. SATAN
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times [Very appropriate considering the times that we now live in] some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
1 Timothy 4:2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, [this is what they want for us. Not to listen to the Holy Spirit :1 but to listen to them and do what they want you to do until your own conscience is seared and your faith is gone]
Satan is going to implement all these devices and he will come at you with everything in his arsenal and come in at every angle possible.
We will be tested. Just spoke on it Do you want to put the link here?
Faith is required for Salvation, it is a prerequisite for the Kingdom of God
Revelation 21:7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
He wants, He needs us to grow in it.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
Examine yourselves as whether you are in the faith