The Enemy of Our Faith (Part 3)

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the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive

right in. We've been talking about the enemy

of our faith. The enemy of our faith. Wednesday

we we move ahead a bit and We saw that you know,

there is a fight for faith There is a fight for

faith and when we talk about an enemy we are

not referring to a human being even though yes

The enemy the devil who is the opposition who

is the enemy can walk through men But men are

not our enemies hallelujah Men are not our enemies.

The devil is our opposition. But he can walk

through men. He can walk through the words that

can come through men. He can walk through, you

know, circumstances in our lives. He can walk

through situations. There are diverse ways by

which the enemy can come to us. But there is

a fight for faith. And when we talk about the

fight for faith, we're not fighting to earn our,

or to have faith. We are not saying you should

fight so that you have faith because there could

be a challenge where we are doing something so

that faith will be in our heart. No. We are not

fighting to earn or to have faith. But because

we are men of faith, therefore we fight. We have

fight from the position of authority. We are

fighting from the position of victory. we already

have faith in our heart. So when we talk about

the fight of faith, we are simply saying that

we need to be on God to ensure that what we have

in our hearts, that what we have in us, that

God has created in us fine expression in our

lives daily. 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 12 will

1 Timothy 6:12

give us, 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 12. Here Paul

1 Timothy 6:12

was speaking to Timothy. It says fight the good

fight of faith Lay hold on eternal life to which

you were also called and have confessed the good

confession in the presence of many witnesses

Second Timothy chapter 4 verse 7 We see where

2 Timothy 4:7

Paul himself as an example will tell us that

he himself has fought Second Timothy 4 verse

2 Timothy 4:7

7 Yes, it says, I fought the fight, the good

fight, the good fight. I have finished the race

and I have kept the faith. Jude 1 verse 3 to

Jude 1:3–4

4. Jude 1 verse 3 to 4 says, Beloved, while I

Jude 1:3–4

was very diligent to write to you concerning

our common salvation, I found it necessary to

write to exalt you. exhorting you to content

earnestly content earnestly for the faith which

was for all delivered to the saints so we can

see evidentially in scriptures that we have been

called earnestly you know content for the faith

to fight for the faith that has been delivered

to us that has been delivered to us hallelujah

and of course as pastor was praying leading us

in prayer he says that the faith You know the

fight for faith cannot be done carnally because

what we are fighting is not a physical fight

We are fighting a spiritual fight in second corinthians

2 Corinthians 10:3

chapter 10 verse 3 talks about the nature of

the fight that we are not Though we walk in the

flesh We are not We are not fighting according

to the flesh the flesh here speaks about we been

in the human body though we are in the human

body, we don't fight according to the natural

way of fighting. Hallelujah. Then verse 4 goes

on to say, for the weapons of our warfare, what

we use in engaging, you know, this enemy are

not physical, they are not carnal, but they are

mighty, even though they are not physical, even

though they are spiritual, because sometimes

when something is invisible, we seem to assume

that it's not powerful. So these weapons, even

though they are not physical, they are not carnal,

They are what? They are mighty in God. So the

rest, the ability of these weapons working are

in Christ. But they are mighty in God for what?

For pulling down strongholds. Strongholds. Casting

down arguments. So this is how the enemy, you

know, contracts our faith. Arguments on every

high thing that exalt you save against the knowledge

of God, bringing every thought into captivity,

even to the obedience. of christ and then we

said also that the fight of faith is in our heart

first of all is originally in our hearts the

battlefield so to say is primarily in our heart

is in our heart and the bible in the course of

study we will see the scriptures presents the

heart as the core of a man obviously when you

got born again You got born again by receiving

the word of salvation the message was preached

to you And when you got born again, there was

nothing that happens to you physically Hallelujah

when they preach the gospel to you When you are

a bit, you know short We didn't see your size

increase because you are born again You didn't

suddenly increase in height Are we together?

Your skin color did not suddenly change because

you are now born again Your eye colors did not

suddenly change because you are born again But

then there's a transformation that happens in

you that men cannot see hallelujah There is a

spiritual transformation that happened. So that

heart Okay, what the Bible as scribes describes

as that inner man is what we call the heart And

that is where actually this contention for faith

happens that unseen part of you So the heart

is the core of man, not merely that physical

organ that pumps blood to our system. It is a

descriptive term that used to explain where our

motives are, the convictions that we have. We

have convictions in our heart, the intentions

are generated, intentions are established and

from where actions are taken. You know, we read

earlier on in... Now we should guard our heart

with all diligence, because the heart is where

actions originate from. The heart. So, and then

we also establish that both faith and doubt,

because faith and doubt operates in the heart.

Alright? Faith and doubt, of course, and subsequently

unbelief. operates from the heart. So if faith

operates in the heart, and we can also see doubt

in operation in the heart. Doubt can lead to

unbelief, and unbelief is sin. It's sin. Unbelief

is unrighteousness. Unbelief is disobedience.

But it starts from what? From doubt. Doubt on

its own, all right, is not sin, but when given

a place, it results to sin. Hallelujah. So we

see also that doubt operates in the heart, okay?

And sometimes when we hear you speaking, when

we hear your speech, we can sense doubt in your

speech also. And sometimes in your actions, we

can see doubt in your actions. So as much as

faith is operational in the heart, also doubt

and unbelief can operate in a similar place.

Hallelujah. So it is therefore necessary that

we study more and understand the operations of

doubt. How does doubt operate? How can we counter

doubt? How can we live daily in victory? Living

daily in victory is actually living daily above

the doubts that arises in our hearts. And I want

you to know, for the account of the faith you

have, doubt must come. We will see it later.

Hallelujah. For the fact that you are a man of

faith Automatically as we said earlier on you've

been enlisted into a life of war And that war

is the war of faith to ensure that what God has

done in your heart Finds expression and the devil

is not interested in you Expressing that which

God has done in your heart that which God has

done in you He's not interested In fact, the

devil is not necessarily threatened by you coming

to church. The devil is not threatened by you,

you know, being in teams and groups in church,

attend all the meetings, so long as you will

not apply what has been taught, so long as you

will not express what you've been taught, so

long as you will not have understanding. He blinds

the eyes of men that they may not understand

the truth. God because when you come to the light

of what God has done you come into the light

of what God is doing You will have expression

in your life. You begin to walk in the light

of what God has done So what the devil does is

that he counteracts the truth He he he brings

information that comes against the truth hallelujah

So as we said alien on faith comes by hearing

the word of God. All right in Romans of the 10

verse 17 will establish to us that you know we

confess with our heart Romans 10 verse 17 says

Romans 10:17

so then faith comes by hearing and hearing by

the word of god when we hear the word of god

we have faith hallelujah also doubt comes from

hearing another message the same way by which

faith comes in so also is the same way by which

doubt comes into the heart of a man Doubts come

also by hearing another message doubt has to

be communicated Hallelujah in fact as a believer

you have not been given the spirit of fear You've

not been given an ability to doubt You got the

spirit God has given to you is a spirit of sound

mind which means that the believer is naturally

a man of faith The believer is natural not a

man of doubt So it simply means that doubt must

be communicated Doubt must be communicated from

words and from a message from from from ideas

from thoughts hallelujah Doubt has to be communicated

Faith precedes doubt that is to say faith comes

in before doubt comes on later on Doubt comes

when the word of faith has been given or the

word of faith has been received Doubt comes into

your heart when the word of faith has been received

or the word of faith has been given then doubt

will come in order to counteract the faith that

has been given by the word of God As we establish

several times a doubt having a contrary opinion

to what the word of faith has said. Doubt is

what? A contrary opinion. Having a contrary opinion

to what has been said. To what the word of faith

has said or is saying at the moment. Hallelujah.

So to doubt is to have a contrary opinion. Okay?

So you cannot have a contrary opinion about something

that has not been said or done. Until something

has been said until something has been done there

cannot be a contrary opinion to read So contrary

opinion will come for the sake of what has been

said or for the sake of what has been done So

something must be said or done before we can

see You know we can see doubt So doubt cannot

stand alone All right doubt cannot exist alone

Just as darkness cannot stand alone All right

Darkness without light there will be no darkness

Hope you know that so for the fact that lie there

is light there is darkness so as much as doubt

cannot stand alone as Darkness cannot stand alone

without light There must be faith before doubt

can come or operate Hallelujah. So what we are

establishing is that doubting comes externally

Doubt comes external of the believer it comes

externally From the believer. Hallelujah. Now,

let's look at some examples from scriptures the

first You know instance where we see doubt in

operation is in Genesis chapter 3 Genesis chapter

Genesis 3 · chapter mention Genesis 3 · chapter mention

3. Let's turn to Genesis chapter 3 And let's

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

read from verse 1 to verse 7. Then we will see

how doubt operates Now the serpent was more cunning

than any beast of the field which the Lord God

had made and he said to the woman Has God indeed

said you shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

And the woman said to the serpent, we may eat

the fruit of the trees of the garden, but the

fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the

garden, God has said, you shall not eat, nor

shall you touch it, lest you die. Then the serpent

said to the woman, you will not surely die. For

God knows that in the day you eat of it your

eyes will be opened and you will be like God

knowing good and evil So when the woman saw that

the three was good for food and it was pleasant

to the eyes and a treat desirable to make one

wise She took of his fruit and ate. She also

gave to her husband with her and he ate verse

7 Then the eyes of both of men both of them were

opened and they knew That they were naked and

the syphilis together and made themselves coverings

hallelujah now, let's go back to verse 1 The

Bible says the serpent came the serpent is actually

a figurative expression of the opposition of

the enemy Satan The serpent here It's referring

to the devil or Satan. Revelation 12 verse 9.

Revelation 12:9

Let's establish Revelation 12 verse 9. Revelation

Revelation 12:9 Revelation 12:9

12 verse 9. So what I'm trying to say is that

serpent is not literally a snake, but is a figurative

expression of Satan, of an opposition. So the

great dragon, verse 12 verse 9. Revelation 12

Revelation 12:9

verse 9. So the great dragon was cast out Okay,

look at how Revelation explains it that serpent

of old Okay, the serpent of old the serpent of

old is a serpent in Genesis chapter 3 called

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

the devil and Satan Hallelujah. So the old serpent

is what is a devil and Satan Who deceives the

world, the whole world? So we see that what the

devil does or what the serpent does is deceit.

He deceives the whole world. He was cast to the

earth and his angels were cast out with him.

Hallelujah. Also 2 Corinthians 11 verse 3, trying

2 Corinthians 11:3

to establish that that serpent is figuratively

expressing Satan. But I fear lest somehow As

the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so

your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity

that is in Christ. So what we see in the serpent

or in Satan is the walk of deceit. Alright? And

deceit happens in the mind. Happens in the mind.

And the devil or the serpent or the snake has

not retired from his walk Amen and what he's

does today is the same work of deceit We see

where Jesus Christ was talking today to the Pharisees.

He called them brute of liars Evil right evil

men that when they speak they speak their language

The language of their father the devil who has

been a liar from the beginning who has been a

liar from Genesis 3 hallelujah, so This is actually

the one who deceives. So we will see from Genesis

Genesis 3:1

3 verse 1 that the serpent came on the account

of what? What brought him? He came on the account

of the plan, on the account of the purpose, on

the account of the program of God for humanity.

God has an agenda for humanity. and the plan

and the purpose of God was communicated in words

of instructions given to Adam without the instructions

without the plan and the purpose of God without

the intentions of God the intentions of God were

communicated and are still communicated today

in words and he came and he said has God indeed

said verse 1 has God indeed said And sometimes

it comes to us like a harmless question, even

to us. Doubts sometimes come to us in forms of

what? Harmless questions. You know. Some of you

will come to us and you receive an instruction.

And you say, oh, I'm still praying about it.

It's not wrong to pray about something. But sometimes

you're not actually praying about it. You're

actually doubting. What has been said? Hallelujah.

So, it comes sometimes like a harmless question.

Has God indeed said? Has God indeed said? And

sometimes these harmless questions can come in

form of harmless jokes. Alright? Concerning what

God has said. In a form of harmless songs. Come

on, it's just entertainment. It's just a real

All right, it's just a harmless comedy Okay,

but what is the goal of that? What is the goal

of that? Let's look at verse 2 and verse 3 Genesis

verse 2 verse 1 verse 2 and verse 3 and the woman

said to the serpent in reply We may eat the fruit

of the trees of the garden But of the fruit of

the tree which is in the in the midst of the

garden God has said you shall not eat no shall

you touch it lest you die So we can see clearly

the woman engaging the devil But in her engagement

of the devil She has knowledge Hallelujah Does

she has knowledge? She has knowledge about what

God has said She has the knowledge of what God

has said So what is telling us right now is that

for the sake that you have knowledge, right?

Knowledge does not immune you from what? from

the strategies, from the schemes, from the plan

of the enemy. For the fact that you have knowledge,

the devil will come for the knowledge you have.

Hallelujah. So, she knows what God says. And

what way did God say it? He said it in chapter

2 verse 15 to 17. Give me Genesis 2 verse 15

Genesis 2:15–17

to 17. Then the Lord God took the man and put

him in the garden of Eden to tent and keep it

And the Lord God commanded the man saying of

every tree of the garden you may freely eat But

of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil

you shall not eat for in the day that you eat

of it You shall surely die. This was the word

of God. Hallelujah She is not ignorant of what

of what God have said. All right She's not ignorant

of the Word of God. So as I said, the knowledge

of God's Word, knowing the Word of God, having

the head knowledge, having been able to memorize,

sometimes we memorize scriptures, even teaching

it, all right, does not immunize us against the

assaults of the enemy. But what preserves us

is actually Applying the word, allowing the word

to be true in our lives, in our conducts. Applying

the word will make you victorious against the

enemy of your faith. So some of you will say,

I know. I know. You know, but we can't see it

happening. I know what the word of God has said

about my life. I know the instruction of God

concerning my life. It's not about you knowing,

but it's about what you know. What you know,

what you know. seen actively in your life. Hallelujah.

Verse four and verse five, Genesis four and verse

five. We will see how the enemy comes in and

sowing a seed, sowing the seed of doubt. But

he did not, no, Genesis three, verse four and

five. Look at what the enemy did. Then the serpent

said to her After knowing what that the woman

knows what God have said. All right Testing to

know what she knows. Then the serpent said to

the woman you will not surely die You will not

surely die For God knows that in the day that

you eat of it Your eyes will be open and you

will be like God knowing good and evil So what

is the Satan saying? He's saying that what the

God is lying God said the day you eat of it,

you will surely die, but the devil is saying

what you will not surely die So he's either God

is lying or Satan is lying but we know that God

is true. Hallelujah. The word of God is true

And that is how Satan comes to us subtly measuring

what we know Okay, measuring what we know on

how our understanding and then he brings in a

countering opinion concerning what we've been

taught concerning what we've learned concerning

the things we've even practiced because up until

now Adam and Eve were in the garden and they've

not touched the fruits of evil and what of the

knowledge of good and evil hallelujah so god

said something the devil also said something

so we see that both doubt and faith is communicated

by words and what satan said is not something

new but something opposing what god said okay

what satan said here is not something new but

actually in line with what god has already said

counteracting it opposing it he went further

to misrepresent the plan and the purpose of god

for humanity what is god's plan and purpose for

humanity God's plan and purpose from the beginning

in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 is that humanity is

to be in God's image and to have dominion. God

in his plan and purpose is that humanity will

be in God's image and have dominion on the earth.

And that was communicated in Genesis chapter

2 verse 26. Let's look at what God said in Genesis

chapter 2 verse 26 also. Genesis chapter 2 verse

26 Genesis 226 Genesis chapter 2 Yes, I read

Genesis 2 · chapter mention

Did I Okay, so that's Genesis 2. Okay, Genesis

1, sorry. Sorry. Genesis 1, 26. Then God said

after, you know, his plans, then God said, let

us make man in our image according to our likeness.

And if you've been in church here for a while,

you know that we've taught that that image there

is what? What is the image? God's plan is a man

will be created to represent God. that image

is talking about representation all right so

god said let us make man in our image according

to our likeness let them have what dominion okay

over the birds dominion over the fish of the

sea over the birds of the air over the cattle

over all the earth over every creeping thing

that creeps on the earth so god created man in

his own image In the image of God he created

him male and female he created him. So man and

woman are what? Are the image of God. Alright?

Then God blessed them and God said to them be

fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue

it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea. Over

the birds of the air and over every living thing

that moves on the earth. And God said See I've

given you every herb that yields seed which is

on the face of all the earth and every tree whose

food yields seed to you it shall be for food

also to every beast of the earth to every breath

of the air to everything that creeps on the earth

in which there is life I have given every green

herb for food and it was so then God saw everything

that he made and indeed it was what it was very

good It was very good. It was perfect so every

evening and the morning and The morning with

the sixth day hallelujah, but we see the devil

coming toward to counter the plan and the purpose

of God Because he knows that if Man will go against

what God have said man will what will not walk

in the plan and the purpose of God for his life

That is why Satan is interested in what you have

in your heart So long as he will bring doubt

So long as you bring a counter opinion so long

as He will counter the knowledge you have about

you About what God has done in Christ for you

about what you should be doing in Christ. You

will not function You will not be able to express

the life that God has created you for So long

as you be chasing other things You'll be chasing

money You'll be chasing fame. You'll be chasing

all sort of things that are not what God has

created you for He's satisfied in fact, he can

even give you money You know, they will prosper

people. You don't know He prospers his own The

devil can even make you what he can make you?

popular if it's popularity you're looking for

So long as you will not be that image of God

has created you to be So long as you will not

be representing God on earth Hallelujah So it

is important. We understand the enemy the enemy

of our faith Does not want us to walk in God's

plan and his purpose for our lives At this moment

the devil has planted his seed of doubt true

words he spoke to leave right It is not true

This is the woman said this is what God said

But he said this thing that God said is not true.

So what is he bringing? He's bringing an opinion

that is contrary to God's opinion. To God's opinion.

Alright? God expressed his plan through words

to man. And then we see the attack of the enemy

attacking the understanding. You know, understanding

of man. And that is what he does even to the

believer. blinding our minds from coming into

the light, the full light of what God has done.

What the devil does, his strategy is to ensure

that he blinds you from what? From having an

understanding, from having a full grasp of what

God has done. So long as you will not understand,

so long as the knowledge, your mind is not communicated

what has been done in the spirit, you will not

walk in it. John 12 verse 40 we will see where

John 12:40

you know talking about the devil give me John

John 12:40

12 verse 40 yes 40 40 John 12 verse 40 says he

John 12:40

has blinded their eyes and what what did he do

he hardened their hearts so who hardens their

heart the devil He has blinded their eyes and

hardened their hearts, lest they should see with

their eyes, lest they should all understand what.

Where does understanding come from? It comes

from the heart. Lest they understand with their

heart and turn so that they might be healed.

Second Corinthians chapter four verse three.

Of course we read. Arguments, okay? Opinions,

alright? Even if our gospel is veiled. The gospel

has to do with what God has done the gospel has

to do with the plan and the purpose of God But

even if that plan and a purpose of God for humanity

is veiled. It is veiled to those who are perishing.

Why? verse 4 whose mind whose heart whose mind

the God of this age the God of this world Has

blinded who do not believe so because he blinded

their minds. Okay They could not believe the

words of God or the plans of God communicated

in words. He has blinded Right who do not believe

lest the light of what the gospel of the glory

of Christ Who is the representation of God who

is the image of God should shine in their hearts?

To shine in their hearts for we do not preach

ourselves But Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves

your born servants for Jesus Christ sake the

message and of course we'll see where Paul will

be praying for the efficient trust in Ephesians

Ephesians 1:15

chapter 1 verse 15 often times that the eyes

of their understanding be what be open okay why

will he pray for their eyes of understanding

say therefore also after I've heard of your faith

because they have faith their eyes of their understanding

must be open of your faith in the Lord Jesus

and your love for all the sins okay Verse 16

do not cease to give thanks for you making mention

of you in my prayers What is he praying for them

that the god of our lord jesus christ the father

of glory May give you the spirit of wisdom and

revelation the same spirit is of the same spirit

of wisdom The same spirit of revelation in the

knowledge of him in the knowledge of him that

what? That the eyes of your minds the eyes of

your heart the eyes of your understanding might

be enlightened that you may know What is the

hope of his calling the calling has to do with

the purpose of God for you the hope of his calling

That are what are the riches of the glory of

his inheritance in the sense all talking about

the work of God And what is the exceeding greatness

of his power to us all who believe according

to the walking of his power Which which he walked

in Christ when he raised him from the dead and

seated him at his right hand in the heavenly

hallelujah So we see here consistently that what?

That the enemy wants to blind our eyes from the

reality of what God has done. He comes with opinions

and the essence of that opinion is that we will

subscribe to the opinions of Satan as against

what God has done, as against what God is doing.

Therefore we choose what the devil is saying

that is unbelief and we are doing unrighteousness.

Hallelujah. So let's look at verse 6. Genesis

Genesis 3:6

chapter 3 verse 6. Let's see the reaction of

what the enemy says. Look at what he did. The

first part of verse 6. So when the woman saw

that a tree was good for food, okay? That it

was pleasant to the eyes and a tree desirable

to make one wise. At this point, she is what?

She is judging. Okay? At this point, she is operating

in doubt. She's beginning to look at what God

said and what the devil said. And she's beginning

to examine what the devil said. This tree is

actually good for food. This tree is actually

pleasant in the eyes. This tree is actually desirable

to make one wise. And she is judging and distinguishing

between what God has said and the new information

the devil has presented. And then we will see

doubt fully in operation in our hearts. She took

off its foot and what? And ate. She only gave

it gifts to her husband with her and he ate.

She has concluded and believed the words of Satan.

All right? Her unbelief is demonstrated in her

eating. All right? She believed the Word of Satan

against what God have said. She acted on her

own will, right? Because when you're judging

you're using your will to judge. So it's not

something that happens. Listen, whenever you

go against God's Word. Whenever you go against

God's Word, okay? It's not a mistake. It's a

calculated plan. You calculated. You thought

about it. You planned how you would do it. And

you executed it. So there's always a timeline.

People don't fall into sin by accident. People

slide into sin, gradually, gradually, gradually,

and they are in sin. And let me tell you, some

things are planted in your heart that will live

for 10 years, 15 years before they manifest.

Some opinions, some conversations, some thoughts.

Some things you see, some things you hear remain

in you. If the Word of God is not given the place,

it will remain in you in one corner. At the right

time, at the appointed time, it will show forth.

And you will wonder, how did it happen? How did

these thoughts, how did these evil thoughts come

out of me? How did I, I didn't even know what

was over me. Something was over you. We know

what is over you. Hallelujah. So she thought

about it. She considered the conversation. She

gives a reasonable time thinking Looking at how

it will be fruitful for her And she operated

her will right she used her will Against what

God have said and we see her in unbelief in disobedience

in sin The devil comes with opinions The devil

comes with thoughts. The devil comes with contrary,

you know, opinions against what God has said.

And then we ponder over it and we see the execution

of what? Of disobedience. Doubt operates in the

heart. And we have an obligation to fight doubt

on a daily basis. Doubt is communicated through

experiences. Sometimes you had bad experiences

in your life. and it becomes it becomes the driving

force of your life all your decisions are made

out of bad experience as against what God have

said you hold on to what has been communicated

to you by bad experiences you hold on to an opinion

that is not the opinion of God that the devil

have used situations circumstances to communicate

to you and this becomes your truth you know in

this generation people used to say Just allow

let him say his truth There's only one truth.

There's no variation of truth It's either what

you're saying is a lie or is a truth there are

no shades of truth and Truth is founded in what

God have said concerning humanity concerning

us concerning the believer concerning what humanity

should be because he created us and He created

us for a purpose and for a reason And of course

in verse 7 we will see the consequence of that

action. Hallelujah. Let's look at another example.

Mark chapter 9. Mark chapter 9. Hope I will be

Mark 9 · chapter mention Mark 9 · chapter mention

able to do this. Mark chapter 9 from verse 14.

Mark 9 · chapter mention

And 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,

greeted him. And he asked the scribes, what are

you discussing with them? The scribes were having

issues. There was a conflict with the disciples.

Something has happened. We'll see what happened.

Then one of the crowd answered and said, teacher,

I brought you my son. Who has a mute spirit and

whenever wherever it seizes him it throws him

down He forms at the mouth, gnashes his teeth

and becomes rigid. So I spoke to your disciples

thinking you know that they have solution Since

they've been with you We've even saw with him.

I even had that they casted demons sometimes

back So I brought them to you and I didn't see

you and I saw them and I decided to say since

your master is not here Please do that thing

that you've been doing I spoke to your disciples

that they should cast it out, but they couldn't.

They couldn't cast out the devil. He answered

him and said, oh faithless generation, how shall

I be with you? How long shall I be with you?

Bring him to me. Then they brought him to him.

And when he saw him, immediately the spirit convoked

him and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming

at the mouth. So he asked his father, how long

has this been happening to him? And he said,

from childhood. From childhood. And hopefully

he has thrown him both into the fire and into

water to destroy him. But if you can do anything,

have compassion on us and help us, Jesus said

to him, if you can believe. All things are possible

to him who what who believes Immediately, okay

the next verse verse 25 When Jesus saw that the

people were running together He rebuked the unclean

spirit saying to it deaf and dumb spirit I command

you come out of him and enter into him no more

Then the spirit cried out convokes him greatly

and came after him and he became as one death

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 they came in

shamelessly privately why could we not cast it

out okay why could we not cast it out so he said

to them this kind can come out by nothing but

by prayer and fasting hallelujah so what is that

kind that can come out only by prayer and by

fasting is that this variation of demonic spirits

has a special you know special effects special

strength that you can only come when you pray

and fast Is it that the disciples do not pray

and fast? That was why they wouldn't cast out

the devil. Hallelujah. Now let's go back to verse

14. Jesus had returned and then he found confession

among the crowds and the scribes and the disciples.

Let's see what the father did. The father came

and then he narrated the story. He explains that

his son, you know, of course we saw what has

been happening with him. Why couldn't they cast

out the demons? I want you to understand that

this is not their first encounter with demons,

okay? In Mark chapter 6 verse 7, the disciples

Mark 6:7

has previously been given authority over unclean

spirits. Mark chapter 6 verse 7, let's see previous

Mark 6:7

chapters to this. Mark chapter 6 verse 7, and

Mark 6:7

he called the 12 to him and began to send them

out two by two. And what did he do? He gave the

12th, he gave them, including Judas, he gave

them power over unclean spirits, all right? He

commanded them to take nothing for the journey,

except a staff, no bag, no bread, no copper in

their money belts, but to wear sandals and not

to put out on two tonics. And he also said to

them, in whatever place you enter a house, whatever

place you enter a house, stay there till you

depart from that place. And whatever will not,

whoever will not receive you, nor hear you when

you depart from there, take off the dust under

your feet as a testimony against them, I shall

say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom

and Gomorrah in the days of judgment than for

that city. So they went out and preached that

people should what? That people should repent.

That people should repent. And what did they

do? Look at what they did, the 12th. They cast

out many demons and anointed with oil as many

who were sick. And what happened? And they healed

them. Hallelujah. So what might have happened

to them? Okay. That they could not be able to

cast out this special demon. Could it be that

they have not seen this type of demon before?

Amen. certainly they must have subscribed to

other information all right certainly they might

have listened to another opinion certainly from

the past experience of this experience they might

have been a counter opinion over what they are

and what they can do probably they've gone through

Facebook if there was Facebook in that time and

they've seen somebody Trying to perform some

things and then they went to the comments. So

all these fake pastors And then that comments

have entered their hearts and they begin to doubt

ah, let me know do you so that they will say

I'm a fake All right, and there's doubt probably

if they watch a reel On Instagram That speaks

negatively about the miraculous and just saying

probably all right Anything may have come. A

contrary opinion can come from anywhere. We can

see that victories of yesterday, alright? The

spiritual victories of yesterday do not replace

the need to walk in faith today. That is the

first thing I want you to understand. Your experience

of yesterday, your victories of yesterday do

not mean that you should not walk in faith today.

Faith must be active now and always Sometimes

we may have strong, you know, we may express

faith in some areas of our lives But surrender

to doubts in other areas it's possible oh When

it comes to believing God for provision because

you've believed God before and you've seen God

done it you believe that God can provide then

suddenly Symptom of sickness comes then you begin

to doubt the God's power to heal it's possible

and What God desire is a consistency consists

consistently your life today tomorrow and forever

that you walk always expressing faith Look at

Jesus's answer in verse 19. He answered it and

said all foolish generation Mark 6 19 all foolish

generation Mark 9 sorry Mark 9 Mark 9 19 After

the situation as we explained to Jesus he said

all foolish generations all faithless generations

So the reason is what is faith is a faith problem

Okay, the reason for the inability to cast out

the devil's is what is a faith issue How long

shall I be with you? How long shall I teach you?

How long shall I be exposing you to truth? How

long shall I keep telling you that I've given

you authority and power to cast out devils? How

long shall I bear with you? Jesus addresses generation

and exposes the atmosphere around the situation.

Doubt. that has resulted in unbelief, have seen

the disciples unable to cast out the devil. Jesus

did not highlight the strength of the demon.

He didn't say, oh, this demon, ah, ah, ah, ah,

ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,

ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,

ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,

ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,

ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,

ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,

ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,

ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah you have to fast so no

he didn't amplify what the strength of the demon

is not about how strong the demon is okay but

the issue is what is the issue of faith the issue

is the issue of faith unbelief exists in the

disciples all right verse 20 and verse 2 we'll

see you know how the father speaks of the experience

of his son And then he went on to say if he can

do anything His words reveal disappointments

and uncertainty from what has been a repeated

suffering. All right His doubt he's you know,

he's He's in doubt himself Because listen the

man the father of the son have expressed a certain

level of faith, even though he wouldn't you know

have brought The son to Jesus Christ to heal

he believed that Jesus can what can heal that

is why he brought his son But unseen that the

disciples could not perform. What do you think

has happened to his fate? Listen God want to

display the knowledge of his will God want to

display his glory on earth Because of time and

the only way that God can do it is through you

and it's through me We hold the solution to the

problems of our generation We hold the answers

to the questions that our generation is asking

and most at times the questions of our generations

are the questions of identity the questions of

purpose The questions of why am I here? The question

is what am I supposed to do here? And the question

is is wrapped up in the message of the gospel.

And you and I are committed with that. Not only

that we are committed with it, but we are committed

with the power to deliver men from the shackles

of the kingdom of darkness. And if the word of

God have said it I believe we can do it. Hallelujah

When Jesus was talking about this can go Only

but by what by prayer and some translation will

say I'm fasting it's talking about their unbelief

This kind of unbelief you have to do seven days

of fasting and prayer So that you will be aligned

with God to the point that you believe the word

of God again Maybe that is your Your testimony

this morning. Are you doubting? Are you beginning

to doubt the Word of God? Oh Sometimes they go

I used to believe I was afraid I know there was

a time I lay hand on the sick and there was healing

Now I don't even believe this healing is it really

true? You need fasting and prayer Hmm time of

communion with God in the world You need teaching

of God's Word. In fact, you need dry fast Put

away the reel you've been watching. Put away

the Facebook that you've been engaging. Put away

the distraction and bring into us things that

distract us. That comment gets contrary opinion,

the devices that when we are not watchful, they

can speak things that are contrary to our faith.

And we hold on to those opinions and we work

in these opinions. Maybe it's time for you to

have a retreat. Or sometimes when I've discovered

that I'm weak in faith, I know that it is an

opportunity for me to spend time with God. I

know that it's an opportunity for me to go to

a brother in Christ to encourage me. I know that

it's an opportunity for me to spend time with

God in the place of prayer and communion until

I believe again. Your man says, I have faith.

Help my unbelief. Is there somebody here that

once God is saying deeply in your heart, Lord,

I believe, but help my unbelief. I'm doubting.

And the only way you can be strengthened, see,

the solution for a weak faith is faith. If your

faith is weak, the solution is faith. And faith

comes only by the hearing of the word of God.

And the way by which you be strengthened is by

the word, is by fellowship with God. is by fellowship

and communion with other saints that the word

of God will become alive to you dispelling the

arguments dispelling the doubts dispelling every

contrary opinion until you find yourself in the

place of conviction until you find yourself in

the place of persuasion oh there are some things

that you you the devil cannot tempt you about

some things because he knows that you are persuaded

hallelujah He knows that you are persuaded. No

matter what you tell me, you cannot convince

me that Arsenal is not the best club in the world.

You know why? I am persuaded. Even if the results

are not saying what it is, I believe. That is

the way we should come to God's Word. Hallelujah.

That we are so persuaded. Alright? That we are

convinced in our heart. Even if we see a result

saying something contrary to what we are seeing,

say I believe what the word of God said. I can

heal the sick. I lay my hands on the sick and

they are healed. Oh, I'm trusting God for supply.

I believe God's supply for my life. The word

of God says it. I believe it. I meditate on it

until life comes inside of me. When you come

to ministry, ministry is a walk of faith. If

it's not by faith, some of us will have packed

out and leave this country. I'm telling you the

truth. The thing is fun to be in this country

for 15 years. Some of us have been here when

kebab was three tiered. Three tiered, you eat

kebab. Good one, not fake. Correct kebab. dollar

was how much 1 .2 1 .5 TL to a dollar we saw

it oh when we see you celebrating the the downfall

of dollar we wept we weep because the glory we

saw before is better than what you are seeing

now but it takes faith to remain committed Even

when we don't know how to do it, even when sometimes

we'll go back and we begin to look at some of

the things we've been teaching, ask your pastors.

We laugh at what we used to teach you before.

We never give up. We hold on to what we believe

and we're convinced, even when we don't understand.

Until we rise up to the place of conviction,

until we reach a place of persuasion. It was

persuasion that brought Abraham to a place that

we call him a man of faith today. Against all

odds his body was saying I am old I'm weak his

wife was at a position that she cannot give birth

But he hold on to the word of God the Bible says

he never stagger at a promise But he believed

that he who promise is able to bring it to manifestation

and we see the reality the evidence of What he

hold on to in Christ Jesus and that is what God

is bringing to you this morning Against the contrary

opinion as against all that the devil is saying

as against every single contradiction that you

will face every single day the moment you put

your you wake up from your bed and you put your

leg on the ground the devil has already arranged

contradictions and you're walking into contradictions

daily in your life in your place of work contradiction

in your place of education contradiction even

in in class you are teaching you want to live

in love you want to express love as a lecturer

but the students are attempting are bringing

contrary opinion against the love that is in

your heart even if you are in business customers

will look at you customers are always right they

bring contrary opinion as against the work of

love but what God expects from you is that the

spirit of God inspires you to live above the

contradiction that you face in your life daily

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 for additional

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you care about. Until next time, stay blessed.