The Enemy of Our Faith (Part 4)

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the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive

right in. Mark. Mark chapter 9. Mark 9, verse

Mark 9 · chapter mention Mark 9:14

14. On Sunday, I was trying to explain some truth

from this text. And I just want to start from

this particular text. Because there are some

things that I needed to not only clarify, but

to give evidence. Because the essence of Bible

teaching is that we're able to give sufficient

evidence, sufficient proof to the things that

are in the scriptures, that by them we have conviction

and understanding. Mark chapter 9, verse 14 to

Mark 9:14–29

29. When he came to the disciples, he saw a great

multitude around them. and scribes disputing

with them. Immediately when they saw him, all

the people were greatly amazed and running to

him, greeting him. And when he asked the scribes,

what are you discussing with them? Then one of

the crowd answered and said, Teacher, I brought

to you my son who has a mute spirit. Wherever

it sees him, it throws him down. He foams at

the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid.

So I spoke to your disciples that they should

cast it out. But they could not. Verse 19. He

answered him and said, O faithless generation,

how long shall I be with you? How long shall

I bear with you? Bring him to me. Then they brought

him to him. When he saw him, immediately the

spirit convulsed him and he fell on the ground

and wallowed, forming at the mouth. So he asked

his father, has this been happening to him? And

he said, from childhood. And often he has. Thrown

him both into the fire and into the water to

destroy him. But you can do anything. But if

you can do anything, have compassion on us. Help

us. Jesus said to him, if you can believe, hallelujah,

if you can believe, all things are possible to

him who believes. Hallelujah. What are the all

things? Context. Amen? All things are possible

to who? All things are possible. All things are

possible to him who believes. Immediately, the

father of the child cried out and said with tears,

Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. When Jesus

saw that the people came running together, he

rebuked the unclean spirit saying to it, deaf

and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him

and enter him no more. Then the spirit cried

out and convulsed him greatly and came out of

him and he became as one death. So that many

said he is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand

and lifted him up and he arose. And when he had

come into the house, his disciples asked him

privately, why couldn't we cast it out? So he

said to them, this kind come out by nothing but

prayer and fasting. Hallelujah. And we say that.

The reference in this verse 29 was specifically

not to the demon, but actually to their unbelief,

the unbelief of the disciples. Instead for them

to be carriers of solution, especially to the

situation at hand. And I believe so much that

in our generation, God is counting on us. All

right. There are people that they've been oppressed

in ignorance. They've been oppressed with sicknesses,

by demons, and by all kinds of things, especially

sometimes even in our families. And what God

wants to do with our lives is that What God is

making with our lives is that he makes us solution

carriers. Hallelujah. That we, by the faith of

God that we have in our hearts, by the power

of the spirit of God in our hearts, that we will

be able to provide solution to all these situations.

Hallelujah. And we cannot be a solution in our

families, in our nation, in this campus. wherever

we find ourselves if we don't believe what the

word of god has said oh he's saying about us

we must believe that god has walked in us that

ability hallelujah now we keep saying this every

day we keep saying this every week we gather

here in church that we have the power of the

spirit of god in us and our trust is that we

will agree with what we are saying amen that

we will subscribe to the words that we're explaining.

It's not just enough to know that you carry power.

It's not just enough to know that you are a child

of God. It's not just enough to know that these

are all the things that God has made available

in you. But that we see that you are rising up

every single day and you are living in dominion.

And dominion simply means that you are living

fully expressing the character of God, the power

of God that is in you. That is our desire. All

of us daily, we grow in the manifestation of

the power of God. So we grow daily in the manifestation

of the power. It's not just to know, but let

what we know be seen visible and in expression

in our lives. But then we see in these disciples

that, They doubted, all right? They doubted.

They came to him privately. Why could we not

cast it out? Let it not just be that people will

come to you trusting that you are a believer,

you know, and then here you talk about God and

what God can do. But when it's an opportunity

for us to show what God can do or what God is

doing, then we fail because of unbelief. Hallelujah.

So they came to him in verse 28 and they asked,

why could we not cast it out? Why could we not

cast it out? On recognizing that there was a

failure, they wanted to understand why. And the

why to our inability. To manifest faith is unbelief.

It's not that there's no power in us, but it's

unbelief. And unbelief is us allowing an information

that is not the information that God has given

us to have preeminence in our hearts, thereby

limiting the power of God at work in us. So,

Jesus pointed... The problem to them, the issue,

and the issue is the issue of unbelief. Now when

we look at Matthew chapter 17, where the same

Matthew 17 · chapter mention

story was given and was narrated in Matthew.

Matthew chapter 17, verse 20. Matthew chapter

Matthew 17:20 Matthew 17:20

17, verse 20. So Jesus said to them, the same

place. He says, because of your unbelief. Let's

read. Verse 18 from verse 18. And Jesus rebuked

the demon and it came out of him and the child

was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples

came to Jesus privately and said, why could we

not cast it out? Why could we not cast it out?

So Jesus said to them, because of what? Because

they didn't pray and fast? No. Because This can

come only by prayer and fasting. But look at

it here. Because of your unbelief. For surely

I say to you, if you have faith, how? If you

have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to

this mountain, move from here to there, and it

will move. And nothing will be impossible for

you. If you what? Have faith as what? As a master.

Now we are not saying that faith is countable.

Okay? Faith is intangible. We are not saying

that faith is small faith in the sense that some

people have a small quantity of faith or some

people have a large. You know, quantity of faith,

no. What we are saying here, what Jesus is saying

here is that even if your faith is as little

as a mustard seed, it's sufficient enough to

do what? To exhibit the power of God. Hallelujah.

But we don't have a mustard seed faith. We have

actually the completeness of what God has done

in Christ in us. Amen? So let our mind and our

heart, our mind and our heart, our consciousness,

our awareness, our... Let there be an agreement

in what God has said concerning us. Hallelujah.

Let there be unity with what God has said in

his word and what our circumstances are and whatever

is happening in our lives. So the issue here

is the issue of unbelief and not that the demon

is so powerful that in need, you know, prayer

and fasting, the day might cast it out. Now,

I just want to build on and give more clarity

on this so that we'll move on to the next thing.

If we check in the scriptures where Jesus, you

know, in the gospels especially, performed you

know, casting out of devils. We will not see

any instance in the Bible where Jesus, before

he cast out the devil, right? He first of all

prayed, fasted, then he cast out the devil. You

know, the manifestation of the things of the

Spirit should be as natural to us as breathing.

They should be to us, the church, as natural

as breathing. Amen? Now, some of us have come

up to a certain level that when you want to pray,

you don't know when you even start. You begin

prayer by praying in tongues. All right? Do you

believe the tongues that you are praying? Do

you believe that you are speaking to God when

you pray in tongues? Obviously, you are praying

in tongues because you believe that you are the

child of God, so you speak in tongues. So if

you can easily express The love of the Spirit

in tongues, equally, it should be as natural

to us as what? Demonstrating the things of the

Spirit should be as natural to us as we speak

in tongues. Now, let's go to Scriptures and see,

then we move on to the next thing. Matthew 8,

Matthew 8:16

verse 16. As I said, we'll see instances in Scripture

where Jesus Christ cast out devils and then,

you know, he didn't have to. Pray or fast so

that that will happen. Matthew chapter 18 verse

Matthew 18:16

16. When even had come, they brought to him many

who were demon possessed. And he what? He cast

out the spirit with a word. And heal all who

is sick. So Jesus cast. He cast out the spirit

with what? With a word. And heal all who is sick.

Matthew chapter 8 verse 28. Another. situation,

Matthew 8:28

Matthew chapter 8, verse 28. When he had come

Matthew 8:28

to another side, to the country of the Gergesens,

Gergesens, yes, there met him two demon -possessed

men coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce,

so that no one could pass that way. For I, 28,

29. And suddenly they cried out, saying, what

have we to do with you, Jesus, you son of God?

Have you come here to torment us before the time?

Now, a good way off from them there was a herd

of many swine feeding. So the demons begged him,

saying, if you cast If you cast us out, permit

us to go away into the herd of swine. And he

said to them, go. So when they had come out,

they went into the herd of swine and suddenly

the whole herd of swine ran violently down the

steep place into the sea and perished in the

water. Then those who kept the field and they

went away into the city and told everything including

what had happened. a demon possessed man there

are several instances another one matthew chapter

Matthew 9:32

9 verse 32 34 and all these are instances where

we see jesus christ having an encounter with

a demon possessed man a woman whatever and then

we see him speaking to the situation casting

out the devils in the authority that he has as

they went out behold they brought to him a man

mute and demon possessed and when the demon was

And when the demon was cast out, it was 33. And

when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke.

The multitude marveled, saying, it was never

seen like this in Israel. Another one in Matthew

Matthew 12:22

chapter 12, verse 22. Matthew 12, verse 22. Matthew

Matthew 12:22 Matthew 12:22

12, verse 22. Then one was brought to him who

was demon possessed, blind and mute, and he healed

him so that the blind and the mute man's body

spoke and so. And all the multitude were amazed

and said, could this be the son of David? Now

when the Pharisee had it, they said, this fellow

does cast out demons except, does not cast out

demons except by, Beelzebub, the ruler of the

demons. But Jesus knew their thoughts and said

to them, every kingdom divided against itself

is brought to dissolution. Every city or house

divided against itself will not stand. If Satan

casts out Satan, he's divided against himself.

Now, how then will his kingdom stand? And if

I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom your

sons cast them out, therefore... You shall be

your judges. Another text, Matthew 15, verse

Matthew 15:21

21. You can write that down. Matthew 15, 21 to

28. We'll see another instance where Jesus has

cast out devils. And then Mark 1, verse 21 to

Mark 1:21–28

28. Another instance. Mark chapter, give me Mark

Mark 1:39

chapter 1, verse 39. Mark 1, verse 39. Mark 1,

Mark 1:39 Mark 1:39

verse 39. Yes, and he was preaching in their

synagogues throughout all Galilee and what? And

casting out demons. Mark 16, verse 9. Mark 16,

Mark 16:9 Mark 16:9

verse 9. Mark 16, verse 9. And he was preaching.

Mark 16:9

Now, when he rose early on the first day of the

week, he appeared. Is it the text? Yes, yes,

yes. Talking about Mary. When he had cast what?

Seven demons. This is just a reference of what?

Luke 9, verse 37 to 43. Luke 13, verse 10 to

Luke 9:37–43 Luke 13:10–17

17. In all these instances, we see where Jesus,

you know, exercised authority. Okay? It seems

as though he has special affinity, so to say,

for demons. And wherever they are, what he did

was to cast them out. And we have also been given

that authority by the Spirit of God to set the

captives free by the power of God. Even when

we go through the book of Acts, we'll see also

in the life of the apostles that the same way

by which Jesus demonstrated the power of God,

they also, even though, of course, prayer was

characterized, characterizes their life, but

recorded in personal demons themselves. The records

in Acts chapter 8, verse 5 to 7. Let's read that

Acts 8:5–7

one. Acts chapter 8, verse 5 to 7. Then Philip

Acts 8:5–7

went down to the city of Samaria and preached

Christ to them. And the multitude with one accord

heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and

seeing the miracles which he did. For what? For

unclean spirit on the spot when we read the context

and the story. On clean spirit, time with a loud

voice came out of many who were possessed. And

many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.

Right? Were healed. Yes. And then we'll see Paul

also in Acts chapter 16, verse 16 to 18. Acts

Acts 16:16–18 Acts 16:16–18

16, verse 16 to 18. Now it happened as we went

to prayer. It's not that you were going to the

synagogue to pray, okay? That exciting slave

girl possessed with a spirit of divination met

us, who brought her masters much profit for fortune

telling. This girl followed Paul and us and cried

out saying, these men are the servants of the

most high God who proclaim to us the way of salvation.

And this she did for many days, for many days.

But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to

the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus

Christ to come out of her. And he came out that

very hour, that very hour. Hallelujah. So we

see extraordinary miracles of casting out demons

was done. Of course, there's one also in Acts

Acts 9:11–12

9, verse 11 to 12. Let's read that one too. Acts

19, Acts 19, 11, 12. Acts 19, verse 11 to 12

Acts 19:11–12

says, God worked unusual miracles by the hands

of Paul, that word, so that even handkerchiefs

or aprons were brought from his body to the sick

and the diseased. Diseases left them and the

evil spirit went out of them. The evil spirit

went out of them. So these records were not recorded

for us for... For entertainment's sake. Hallelujah.

It was not just recorded for us to just see the

power of God and wish that we were in that generation.

You know, once upon a time, there was a time

when I was very, very, I was young in Nigeria

before I came to Cyprus. You know, it was a conversation

between believers. I don't want to give us a

context because I'll share this somewhere. with

the pastors. There was a conversation with some

believers. I was there. And what believers were

saying is that in this generation that nobody

has the power as in the days before to walk on

water as Jesus did. So they've relegated the

Bible stories to ancient stories. Stories that

has no relevance today. That when they see the

things that are recorded in scriptures, They

see them as historic facts that has happened.

They believe that it happened because they hold

the Bible in high esteem as the word of God.

And the records today are things that have happened

and they believe them. But they don't see themselves

in the pages of the scriptures. They see what

has happened as what has ended probably in the

generation that they were done. And there's no

longer relevance of such kind of power at work

in our generation. Now, we are supposed to be

the continuity of the record of Scripture. All

right? The work of God is supposed to continue

with us. As much as we see in Scriptures the

demonstration of the power of God in the miraculous,

the healing of the sick, the casting out of devils,

and all the preaching of the gospel and the work

of ministry that was done by the apostles, we

are expected... to carry on the work of ministry.

And this work of ministry, as we always emphasize,

is the work of faith. And we must see God walking

through us and believing. Sometimes when I read

the book of Acts, every time I read through the

book of Acts, and I see what God walked through

ordinary men. Men by virtue of qualification

of education in our generation today, we are

much more educated than them. You know, we are

the most exposed generation when it comes to

information. But in the simplicity of faith,

they believe what God is saying, they believe

in the work of the Spirit of God, and they are

able to demonstrate the power of the Spirit of

God. And to us today, we must also understand

the power of God. We must also come to terms

with what God is doing and anticipate. In the

work of God. Hallelujah. So. Here we've established

clearly that. The issue of unbelief was the matter.

With the disciples. And of course Jesus Christ.

Pointing it out to them. You know that. The matter

is a matter of faith. Now let's look at another

example. Where. You know doubt is an operation.

How the enemy. by the power of contrary opinions,

he raises issues to interrupt the work of God

in our lives. Doubts, questions that God has

said, doubting what God has said by what the

enemy is bringing as an opinion. Now in Acts

Acts 13 · chapter mention

chapter 13, we see how the enemy operates also

in Acts chapter 13. And I want us to look at

Acts 13 · chapter mention

this carefully and gently in Acts chapter 13.

Acts 13 · chapter mention

We will see how the devil works, how he operates

cunningly. Acts 13, from verse 1. Now in the

church that was at Antioch, there were certain

prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon, who

was called Nija, Lucius of Cyrene, Manion, who

had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch and

Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted,

the Holy Spirit said, Now separate to me Barnabas

and Saul for the work to which I have called

them. So now, there's an affirmation of the call

of God upon your lives. Okay? And the call of

God upon your lives is to go out and preach the

gospel. Then having fasted and prayed and laid

hands on them, they sent them away. So being

sent out by the Holy Spirit, now the Holy Spirit

is the one that sent them. We can see the proof

that the word came as they were praying and they

were fellowshipping and they were sent out to

do what? To preach the gospel. Now the fact that

they were sent out to preach the gospel does

not mean that the devil will not be involved

in what, will not be interested in what they

were going to do. That's what I want to bring

to our notice. So being sent out by the Holy

Spirit, they went out to Seleucia and from there

sailed to Cyprus. And when they arrived in Salamis,

they preached the word of God in the synagogue

of the Jews here in Cyprus. They also had John

as their assistant. Now, when they had gone through

the islands to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer,

Paul, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was by

Jesus, who was with the proconsul. Sergius Paulus,

an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas

and Saul and sought to hear. What was he seeking

to hear here? Verse 7. He was seeking to hear

the word of God. Hallelujah. He was sent by God

to go preach the gospel. Now the leader here

wants to hear what God has sent him to proclaim.

So. Verse 7 again. 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. But Elimus, the sorcerer, for

Saul his name is translated, withstood them.

The sorcerer withstood them. Even though, all

right, they were to preach the word of God, they

were to speak the word of God, there was an opposition.

There was an opposition to what God has called

them and have sent them out to do. Verse 8. But

Elemas, the sorcerer, for so his name is translated,

withstood them, seeking to do what? To turn the

proconsul away from the faith. Now, when we're

thinking, we're thinking, this is sorcery. All

of us are from Africa. You know what sorcery

is. This is juju. Right? He was trying to do

some spiritual things to shift away, you know,

the man from hearing the word of God. This is

satanic. And sometimes when you go to preach

the gospel, you don't know why people are so

aggressive. You don't know why some people, when

they just look at you, they become offensive.

Even before opening your mouth, they become whatever

they are. Because Listen, the gospel is spiritual.

Are we together? Faith is spiritual. It's a spiritual

reality. Unbelief is also a spiritual reality.

Fear is also a spiritual reality. So as you go

to speak, know that what you are engaging is

a spiritual activity. So when you see a physical

manifestation, Just know that it is a physical

manifestation of a spiritual condition. That

is why when we go out for evangelism, you must

understand that it is a spiritual activity. You

are not just going for a social program. Walk

around, you know, city center in case you see

somebody you just talked to. And then, you know,

try to socialize with the person. No, you are

engaging in a spiritual activity. It is a matter

of life. Hallelujah. So the devil, what I'm trying

to say is that the devil is also interested in

that thing that you've been sent to do. So you

must understand how the devil works. Whenever

it has to do with the work of God, whenever it

has to do with the plan and the purpose of God,

the enemy automatically is interested. No wonder

there's been a nod in your heart to go out to

preach. But you don't just know how, you just

find yourself, you know, either. slip off, right?

You can remember anything you can remember, but

when it comes to evangelism, you easily can't

forget. Or immediately fear comes into your heart,

you know? So we must understand that it is a

spiritual activity. The devil equally is interested

because his plan is to oppose whatever God does.

So we see in the case of Elemas here, The sorcerer.

He was seeking to turn away the man. Away from

the faith. Because when they preach to him. They

are bringing the message of faith. And when the

message of faith comes to him. He is going to

believe. And he will what? And he will come into

union with God. So. Verse 9. Then Saul who is

called Paul. Still with the Holy Spirit. Looked

intently at him. And said. Full of deceit and

all fraud. Does it look like Genesis 3? Does

it look like the character in Genesis 3? The

serpent that comes subtly, deceitfully, cunningly,

fraudulently. And that is the consistency of

what? Of the activity of Satan. Hallelujah. So,

he says, you full of all deceit. And thought,

you son of who? Son of the devil. You, enemy

of what? All righteousness. These are all characteristics

of the devil. You, enemy of all righteousness.

Will you not cease perverting the straight ways

of the Lord? Which means that Elymas was trying

to make it crooked. Elymas was trying to bring

about diversion to the truth. Will you cease

to do what? To perverting the straight ways of

the Lord? And now indeed, now, Paul, you know,

walk in authority. The hand of the Lord is upon

you. And you shall be blind, not seeing the sun

for a while. For a while. Pastor Victor and we've

been training center. We said that this is for

a while. All right? We suspend the activities

of the devil with the authority of God in us

for a while. We are not saying that with the

Spirit of God you can tell people, you can do

wicked things. No. We say for a while, which

means that he will receive his side later. But

for standing against the work of God, he has

to use the authority that he has in Christ. And

bringing down the argument, bringing down the

opposition, uprooting the perversion from elements.

And now indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon

you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun

for a time. And immediately a dark mist fell

on him, and he went around seeking someone to

lead him by the hand. Now look at verse 12 carefully.

Look at verse 12. Then the procreant said, what

did he do? He believed when he saw what had been

done, being astonished, At what? What did he

believe in? Is it in the casting out of the devil?

I believe that a man at that level has seen spirit.

He has interacted with spirits. Alright? So,

those miraculous things, the Bible was very specific

about what he believed. He believed what? Astonished

at the teaching of the Lord. Hallelujah. Now,

we'll move down to verse 12. We'll see that they

left that place. Okay, verse 12. Then the procurator

believed, yes, yes, it was starting. Now when

Paul had and his party set sail from Paphos,

they came to Perga in Pamphylia and John departed

from them, returned to Jerusalem. But when they

departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in

Pisidia and went into synagogue on the Sabbath

day and sat down. Yes. And after that, after

the reading of the law and the prophets, the

rulers of the synagogue sent to them saying,

men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation

for us, for the people, say on. Then Paul stood

up, mounting with his hands, said, men of Israel,

and you who fear God, listen, the God of these

people, Israel, choose our fathers and exalted

the people. When they dwell as strangers in the

land of Egypt and with an uplifted arm, he brought

them out of it. Now he began to tell them the

message of the gospel. Okay. But I want you to

look at verse 38. Down to verse 38 is his explanation

of the gospel message. Okay. Now look at verse

38. Yes. Verse 38. Yes. Therefore, let it be

known to you, brethren, that through this man.

Now. He gave a history from, and that is how,

listen, go and read this text, the entire chapter.

That is how the gospel is preached. From what

God did in the Old Testament, right? From the

prophets down to, explaining down to the person

of Jesus Christ. Verse 38. Therefore, let it

be known to you, brethren, that through this

man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins.

And by him, everyone who believes is justified

from all things from which you could not be justified.

So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the

Gentiles begged that these words might be preached

to them the next Sabbath. The Gentiles also wanted

to hear this message again. Now, when the congregation

had broken up, many of the Jews, devout postulates,

followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to

them, persuaded them to continue in the grace

of God. So, there are people that encouraged

them to continue in the grace of God. Everything

was moving fine. Verse 44, on the next Sabbath,

almost the whole city came together. To hear

the word of God. You see, the progress of the

gospel, the prosperity of the word of faith,

right? But when the Jews saw the multitudes,

what happened now? The devil comes in, right?

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were

filled with what? Envy. Is it by the spirit?

No, the devil is walking here. They were filled

with envy. With envy, what did they do? Look

at the next verse. The last seems like what the

devil... He's doing? Contradicting. Okay? The

patterns of the enemy. Contradicting what? Contradicting

and blaspheming. What did they oppose? They opposed

the gospel. What Paul? Opposed the things. What

are the things Paul was speaking about? The things

concerning Christ. They were what? Contradicting.

That is, Paul would say, hey, They will say it's

not true. It's B. Contradicting what Paul is

saying. Opposing what Paul is saying. Blaspheming

what Paul is saying. And that is what the enemy

does. To the gospel. The word of God. He comes

contradicting what God is saying. Blaspheming

what God is saying. Opposing what God is saying.

Verse 46. Then Paul and Barnabas be bold. Opposition

should not be an excuse, right? These men were

called. These men were sent by the Holy Ghost.

And we see almost every step they move, there

is an opposition to the word of faith. And also

the one that you receive as a believer, there's

an opposition. In your heart, there's an opposition.

And the goal is to ensure that there is no progress

in your life. The word of God does not. Find

free course in your life. Then Paul and Barnabas.

Be bold and say. It was necessary. That the word

of God should be spoken to you first. That is

to the Jews. But since you reject it. And judge

yourself. Behold we turn to the Gentiles. For

so the Lord has commanded us. I have said. I

have said to you as a lie to the Gentiles. You

should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.

Now, when the Gentiles had this, they were what?

They were glad and glorified the word of the

Lord. And that is how we should, that is should

be our disposition to the word of God. And as

many as had been appointed to work to eternal

life, believed. I don't want to talk about that

appointment, but, and the word of the Lord was

being spread to all the regions. So the opposite,

see, the word of God always tries. The Word of

God has the power to triumph above whatever form

of doubt. What I want you to see is the authority,

the power of the Word of God. No matter the resistance,

imagine in ages, over 2 ,000 years, there has

always been a rise of opposition against the

gospel. But what we see is that the gospel has

continuously expanded. irrespective of the opposition.

In fact, opposition actually split the gospel

by opposition. Hallelujah. I saw somebody, someone

is a very intelligent professor, I think in America

or wherever, that he's afraid of the, he made

it this way, that he's scared of the gradual

coming to the end of Christianity. Because if

Christianity ends, you know the world because

in his own i don't know whether he's a believer

in his own you know perception that christianity

has brought order in society and the development

that christianity has brought about you know

men believe god and all these things but he's

he's he's beginning to feel that he said it is

coming to an end many people are not believing

like before i said no this man does not understand

the bible doesn't understand what works it's

his own perception about what god is doing hallelujah

amen So opposition does not stop the Word of

God from having its power and its authority.

So even in your own life, the contradictions,

the contradicting things that the enemy brings

does not have power. You are the one that can

limit the Word of God from finding expression.

You are the one that can limit the Word of God

from what? From finding expression. And the word

of the Lord was being spread throughout all the

region. Verse 50. But the Jews stayed up the

devote. Look at the enemy. They stayed up the

devote. And prominent women. Prominent women.

And the chief men of the city. Power. Now it's

political now. It's political. Rays of persecution.

Against who? Against Paul and Barnabas. And what

did they do? They expelled them from their region.

But they shook off the dust from their feet against

them. And came to Iconium. Hallelujah. The word

of God must spread. The word of God has power.

It has ability to move us. And the disciples

were filled with joy. And with what? With the

Holy Ghost in the midst of the opposition. Hallelujah.

So the devil. He's interested in what we have

and he wants to steal it from us. Let's look

at Matthew 13 as we begin to run up. Matthew

13. Matthew 13, the operation of the enemy. That's

what we're investigating to see how he operates

through his devices and how he works. Matthew

Matthew 13:1–11

13, verse 1 to 11. On the same day, Jesus went

out of the house and sat by the sea. And great

multitudes were gathered together to him, so

that he got into a boat and sat, and the whole

multitude stood on shore. Then he spoke many

things to them in parables, saying, Behold, a

sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some

feet fell by the wayside, and the birds came

and devoured them. Some fell on the stony places,

where they did not have much earth, and they

immediately sprung up, because they had no depth

of earth. But when the sun was up, as they were

scorched, and because they had no root, they

withered away. And some fell among the thorns,

and the thorns swung up and choked them. But

others fell on the good ground, and yielded a

cup from a hundredfold, sixty from thirty. He

who has ears to hear, let him what? Let him hear.

And the disciples came and said to him, why do

you speak to them in parables? He answered and

said to them, because it was been given to you

to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

But to them, it was not been given. Hallelujah.

Let's move down to verse 18. Therefore, hear

the parable of the sower. They came to him. Give

me verse 17 rather. Verse 18, yes. Which verse

is that? 14. 13, sorry. Yes, therefore I speak

to them in parables because seeing they do not

see and hearing they do not hear, nor do they

understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah

is fulfilled, which says, Hearing you will hear

and shall not understand, and seeing you will

see and not perceive. For the hearts of the people

have grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing,

and their eyes they have closed, lest they should

see with their eyes and hear with their hearts,

so they hear with their hearts, lest they should

understand with their hearts and turn, so that

I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes

for they see and your ears for they hear. For

surely I say to you that many prophets and righteous

men desire to see what you see and do not see

it and to hear what you hear and do not hear

it. Therefore, hear the parable of the sower.

Now he began to interpret to them the parable.

Verse 19. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom,

Because he's trying to explain to them a spiritual,

a kingdom matter. The story of the sower and

the plant is not agriculture he's teaching them.

He's not agriculture planting and sowing and

reaping that he's teaching them. He's not crop

rotation that he's teaching them or soil science.

He used natural things that they could understand

to bring about the communication of a spiritual

reality. And here he's interpreting what he has

just given them in a parable. When anyone hears

the word of the kingdom, the word of the kingdom,

the message of God, the word of God, and does

not understand it, then who? The wicked one.

That means we hear the message of the kingdom

and you lack the understanding of it. Then the

wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown

in his heart. This is he who receives it by the

wayside. Okay? But he who received the seed.

I skipped verse 18. Verse 18. Okay. Go back to

the previous verse. But he who received the seed

on the stony place is he who hears the word.

Which means that the seed in the parable is the

word of God. It's the word of the kingdom. The

message of the kingdom. But he who received the

seed on the stony place is he who hears the word

and immediately receives it with joy. Yet he

has no written himself, but endures only for

a while. When tribulations or persecutions arise

because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

Now he who receives it among the thorns is he

who hears the word. And the cares of this world

and the deceitfulness of riches shock the world,

and he becomes unfruitful. Now the desire of

God is that we become fruitful. We become fruitful.

The things of the spirit. Okay? That we become

fruitful in the things of the spirit. In the

things of the spirit. That we are fruitful in

the things of the spirit. So, Satan steals the

word when taught and not understood. When the

message is taught and not understood, Satan comes

in and then he takes advantage of what I have

preached. Okay? He steals it away. What brings

lack of understanding? Lack of understanding

can come from teaching. Okay? When the word of

God is not taught properly, when the word of

God is not explained properly, the devil will

take advantage of the word when it's not properly

explained. When any message is taught without

understanding of Christ Jesus, the devil comes

and he steals the word. How does he steal the

word? Of course, we know what he does. By bringing

contradiction, right? Accusations, imaginations,

mockery. Steals the word away from the heart

of he who is and does not understand. Which means

that it is necessary that we understand. When

we don't understand, the devil takes advantage

of what has been spoken. Okay? Stealing the word

is figurative. It doesn't mean that he comes

and he takes the word. No. He rendered the world

ineffective. That's what that still means. He

renders the world ineffective in the life of

the man because the goal of the world is to bring

about fruitfulness in our lives. For example,

on the concept of prosperity, you know, when

the idea of prosperity, some of us have been

in an environment so much that when we hear the

issue of prosperity, we think, no, this man wants

to be cunning here. And we have so much belief,

we've positioned ourselves that we don't believe

that God prospers people. Alright? We believe

so much that we've come to a place that we don't

think that God prospers people financially. Why?

Because the enemy has taken advantage of the

message of prosperity. And he has tweaked it.

He has rebranded it with his own ideas. He has

sprinkled it with a lot of inaccuracy. And then

it becomes a message and the order of the day.

But the will of God is that we prosper, using

prosperity as an example, to tell us how when

the world is not preached properly, when the

world is spread, and there's no understanding,

and lack of understanding can come by lack of

proper teaching. Okay? So, God's will for us

is to prosper. But the devil comes and steals

this idea of prosperity. He pollutes the idea

of prosperity by the lack of understanding. People

could be ignorant concerning what God is saying

about our finances. Okay? We look at lack of

money and poverty as a sign of righteousness.

What is God's idea about prosperity? For instance,

The essence of wealth and finance should be understood

within the context of the word of God. The idea

about prosperity should not come from the world

because that is where the church has gotten it

wrong in many instances where we measure our

success financially with the lenses of the people

of the world. What influences our desire for

material wealth? is the worldly system, not the

word of God, not the word of God. Read 1 Corinthians

1, chapter 6, verse 7. Give me 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 6:7

6, verse 7, one of the scriptures. You see, Paul

was writing to the church. And what is he saying?

Now, therefore, it is already 1 Corinthians 6,

1 Corinthians 6:7

verse 7. Yes? Now, therefore, it is already an

utter failure for you that you go low against

one another. Yes. Why do you know that? I don't

know. This is a wrong one. 2 Corinthians 9 verse

2 Corinthians 9:8

8. 2 Corinthians 9 verse 8. Sorry. Yes. So Paul

2 Corinthians 9:8

was writing today. He says, and God is able to

make all grace abound towards you. And you, always

having all sufficiency. Because this is the purpose

of God for the believer. That a believer, having

all sufficiency, will do what? Will abound, right?

In all things may have abundance for what? What's

the essence of having sufficiency? That you will

be abundant, that you abound in what? For every

good work. Okay? So the desire of God is that

the believer prospers. So what does the enemy

do if this message is not understood? He took

this message of prosperity, okay, and then he

twists it. And then it becomes unfulfilled even

to the believer. Philippians 4, verse 19. Philippians

Philippians 4:19 Philippians 4:19

4, verse 19. Philippians 4, verse 19. And my

Philippians 4:19

God shall supply all your need according to his

riches in glory by Christ Jesus. There are several

scriptures. Matthew 6, verse 33. Of course, we

Matthew 6:33

know about how God prospers the righteous man.

3 John, verse 2. 3 John verse 2 that talks about

the prosperity of the believer. But there are

several scriptures that speaks about God's desire

for the believer to prosper. Not only in the

things of the spirit, but in material things.

Alright? But when the devil comes against this

world, he seals it, the world, and renders it

unfruitful. He renders this message of God's

plan and purpose for the believer unfruitful.

And of course, In Matthew chapter 13, we see

Matthew 13 · chapter mention

where Jesus Christ is explaining a parable, a

second category of people, verse 20, particularly

says, but can you receive the seed on stony place?

This is he who hears the word and immediately

receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself,

but endures only for a while. When tribulation

or persecution arises because of the word, immediately

he stumbles. The first category of people are

people that do not even understand the word.

Alright? Not understanding the word becomes an

opportunity for the devil to take advantage of

the righteous word of God. Not understanding

it. Secondly, we see somebody here that have

received it with great joy. Yet, what happened?

He himself is not rooted in nothing that he has

received with joy. So, understanding is key.

Being rooted is important to being fruitful.

For a while, for one tribulation, because Tribulation

will come on the account of what you've received.

Are we together? Tribulation will come on the

account of what you've received. For when tribulation

or persecution arises, because of what? Because

he stole something? Because if the word that

you have, immediately he stumbles. So those who

received the word accepted, but there was no

root, no foundation, no conviction, no decision

to do the word. We see challenges coming on the

account of the world that they have. You know,

you probably look at the scriptures and you see,

oh, God's plan for you, for example, let's go

back to the issue of prosperity. God's plan is

to prosper you. He will tell you that, you know,

God will prosper you. Your hand should be, you

should get a job and do something. And you went

to Sinai, you get your job and you're doing,

you believe that God has given you, God has led

you to having a job. God is prospering you in

the place of work. Suddenly they sack you. Then

you begin to wonder. Is it not the prosperity

of the Lord? Why did I lose the job? Because

probably you have no real understanding of what

God has done. Suddenly you have a problem in

your finances and you begin to question about

whether God exists. Suddenly a loved one in the

family dies and you begin to question the character

of God, the God that you've loved and worshipped.

The God that you've gone out to preach about.

Suddenly, one thing comes up and then you begin

to question the character of the God that you

serve. Because you have no root in what you've

received. You stumble because of what? On the

account of the what? Because of lack of understanding.

And the third category of people in verse 22.

Now, he who received the seed among the thorns

is he who hears the word. And the cares of this

world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the

world, and he becomes unfruitful. Now, those

who already have their own desires, this is talking

about those who have desires. The believer can

have the word of God, but he has, he's still

holding on to fleshy desires. We're together.

Holding on to desires that are not in alignment

with the will and the purpose of God. That also

is a mechanism by which the devil, because you're

holding in your heart what belongs to the devil.

And even when the word of God comes, it becomes

unfruitful. It becomes unfruitful. So, they already

have their own desires. They are lustful, you

know, lustful worldly things. Worldly desires.

Alright? So, when a world, listen, when somebody

has a lustful desire in his heart, okay? What

is inspiring his heart is the loss of the flesh,

the loss of the eyes, and all that is in life,

the preaching of life. If you preach that man

the gospel of prosperity, you will not think

with the mindset of the man that is in Christ,

even though he's a believer. So what is already

in his heart influences how he will receive the

word of God and how the word of God will be fulfilled.

Because of the desires that is already in, embedded

in his heart. That he has allowed desires that

are excellent to be in his heart. Therefore,

making the word of God ineffective. Lossful desires.

What did they do? They choked the word. For example,

in 1 Timothy 6, verse 17, you see where Paul

1 Timothy 6:17

speaks to believers concerning the same matter

of prosperity. Same matter of prosperity. 1 Timothy

1 Timothy 6:17

6, verse 17. It says, command those who are rich

in this present world not to be haughty, not

to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living

God who gives. What does he give? He gives us

richly all things to enjoy. Verse 18. Let them

do good. Okay? That's the essence of having the

riches. Let them do good that they be rich in

good works, ready to give and to share. That

is the essence. Of a believer prospering. It's

not that you will buy bags. Because you've seen

a Gucci bag somewhere. Maybe you saw my sister

here. The black dressing. Well you've seen her

clothes. She's wearing a very nice gown. And

you're converting this in your heart. If you

hear the message of prosperity. That's where

your mind will go to. Because deep in your heart.

There's a lustful desire for what is not yours.

So even when the word of God is preached. It

doesn't become fruitful. Even when you have.

You can't share. Because your heart is somewhere.

Hallelujah. So we must check the desires that

are in our heart because there is a system built

by which the enemy can take advantage and render

the word of God ineffective in our hearts. And

of course, the fourth category, 23, but he who

received the seed of the good on the good ground

is he who hears the word. And what? He didn't

only receive it, he understands it. Amen? That's

the plan of God for you. That's the plan of God

for me. He understands it. That means it has

been properly taught. That means that deeply

in his heart are not lustful desires for the

things of the world. Okay? In his heart is an

understanding the word is properly taught in

the light of Christ. Okay? The word of God is

taught properly in the light of Christ. He understands

it. Who indeed bears what bears fruit and produce

some eight hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some

thirty and... So when we hear the word, whatever

word that is preached in Christ, properly in

the light of Christ, with good desires in our

hearts, the word of God grows and prospers. And

we see the effect of God's word in our life.

Hallelujah. So how can we deal with doubt? How

can we deal with that? Because all this, how

can we deal with this mechanism of the enemy?

How can we deal with this? schemes of the enemy

hallelujah let me read this one version we close

philippians of the one verse six there must be

a level of persuadedness in the heart concerning

the word of god see paul will say i am give me

verse five for your fellowship in the gospel

from the first day until now Being what? Confident

of this very thing. Okay? That he who has begun

a good thing in you will complete it the day

of Jesus Christ. Now, what I would have expanded

on is the issue of his confidence. All right?

There are scriptures I would have read that Paul

would say, I am persuaded. Confidence and persuasions,

okay, is what will deal with the issue of doubt.

Confidence and persuasion in the word of God.

Paul would also write about Abraham that he did

not stagger. That text, whenever I come across

it, every day I read it, it challenges my faith.

It stirs me up. Because of the confidence he

has in God, he didn't stagger. Hallelujah. That

is where God will bring us into. As we give ourselves

to the ministry of the word, as we expose our

faith to God's word, understanding the word of

God, and allowing the word of God to have preeminence

in your hearts, we'll see our faith strengthened.

We are strengthened in faith that we stand against

opposition, we stand against the plans of the

enemy, and by no means the enemy will have place

in us. Hallelujah. We appreciate you being here

today. We hope you carry this word with you throughout

your week. Don't forget to check the show notes

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