Enemies of our Faith

Introduction

• There are 245 occurrences of the word faith in the King James Version of the New Testament.
• One occurrence means “to anticipate or expect with pleasure or confidence” and is found in Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.
• In 239 occurrences (NT:4102 pistis) faith means, “persuasion or moral conviction of religious truth or the truthfulness of God.”
• The five remaining occurrences may explain why we sometimes struggle in our faith, and all are found in Jesus’ repeated phrase, “O ye of little faith.” (NT:3640 oligopistis – lacking confidence, trusting too little, or underdeveloped faith.)
• The inference is that, under certain circumstances and situations, the hearers had allowed an enemy to infiltrate their belief system and make their faith weak, frail, and fragile.
• This morning, Jesus is going to ask us four questions that will help us to uncover the enemies that may be weakening our persuasion, diluting our conviction, and eroding our reliance upon God.

 

Why do you worry? 6:25-33 (repeated in Luke 12:28)

1. Worry – NT:3309 merimnao – (KJV = take no thought) to be anxious and distracted in one’s thoughts; to divide into parts; the word suggests a preoccupation with things that cause anxiety, stress, and pressure.
2. The question follows Jesus’ teaching on single-hearted devotion to God – No one can serve two masters…God and money.
3. Why are you distracted by the daily needs of this life to the neglect of your devotion to the God of eternal life?
4. Worry is unnecessary because even unemployed birds know that they will be taken care of (v. 26)
5. Worry is unfruitful because it can’t produce the thing that we are worried about (v. 27)
6. Worry is unbecoming because it says to the heathen that our Father is unaware of what we need (v. 32)
7. The remedy to the enemy of worry is:

• Ps 55:22a – Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
• Phil 4:6-7 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Declare: Worry is an enemy, and I won’t let it hinder my faith!

Why are you fearful? 8:23-26

1. Fearful – NT:1169 deilos – from deos (dread); timid; by implication, faithless.
2. Fear is dread or apprehension about something that has yet to actually take place.
3. Jesus was asleep, the disciples were still able to speak, yet they said, “We are perishing (off to ruin, destruction, and death)!”
4. The remedy to the enemy of fear is:

• Isa 41:10-13 – Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them – Those who contended with you. Those who war against you shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing. For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, Fear not, I will help you.

Declare: Fear is an enemy, and I won’t let it hinder my faith

Why do you doubt? 14:22-31

1. Doubt – NT:1365 distazo – to waver in opinion; to think twice or have two opinions about the same thing.
2. Peter’s request: “Lord, if it is You, command (incite me by Your word) me to come to You on the water.
3. Jesus’ response: “Come”
4. Peter’s action: He walked on the water (he exercised the power to do the impossible).
5. Peter’s enemy: When he saw the wind (Critical Text of the Greet New Testament brackets “that” and “was boisterous”
6. Doubt comes in when we begin to SEE something different than what God SAID!
7. The remedy to the enemy of fear is:

• Ps 138:7-8 TLB – Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will bring me safely through them. You will clench your fist against my angry enemies!  Your power will save me.  The Lord will work out his plans for my life, for your loving kindness, Lord, continues forever.

Declare: Doubt is an enemy, and I won’t let it hinder my faith

Why do you reason? 16:5-12

1. Reason – NT:1260 dialogizomai – to deliberate, dispute, and compute.
2. Understand – NT:3539 noeo – To exercise the mind; to observe, comprehend, and heed.
3. Understood – NT: 4920 suniemi – to put together; to mentally comprehend.
4. Jesus had no problem with his followers using their intellect. His issue was that they allowed their intellect to override their spiritual insight and their ability to recall what He had done.
5. When we allow our intellect to override our spiritual insight, we forget what God has already done and we open the door for reason to overrule our faith.
6. The remedy to the enemy of fear is:

• Prov 3:5-7 (NKJV) – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
• Prov 3:5-7 (BBE) – Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support. In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps. Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you and keep yourself from evil.
• Prov 3:5-7 (MSG) – Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!

Declare: Reason is an enemy, and I won’t let it hinder my faith

How do we overcome the enemies of worry, fear, doubt, and reason?  Jesus said it best as recorded in Mark 11:22 – “Have faith in God.”