Transcription
Now open your Bible with me tonight to 1 Timothy 6:12. Paul, writing to young Timothy, said, "Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life where unto thou art also called and has professed a good profession before many witnesses."
Now listen carefully. Paul did not say fight the fight of sin. He didn't say fight the fight of sickness. He didn't say fight the fight of demons. No, he said fight the good fight of faith. That is the only fight a Christian is called to fight. Say it out loud with me. The only fight I fight is the fight of faith. Say it again. Say it again till it gets inside you.
Why is it the only fight? Because Jesus already fought every other fight. Jesus fought sin and he won. He who knew no sin was made to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21. Jesus fought sickness and he won. Surely he hath borne our sicknesses and carried our pains, and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5. Jesus fought Satan himself, and he won. Having disarmed principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:15. Hallelujah. Jesus defeated sin. He defeated sickness. He defeated Satan. So you and I are not called to refight what Jesus already conquered. We are called to fight the good fight of faith.
Now, what does that mean? It means this. The devil will try to rob you of your faith. The world will try to shake your faith. Circumstances will try to drown your faith. But God said, "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4. Say it again. My victory is in my faith. One more time. This is the victory that overcomes the world. My faith.
You see, if you don't understand this, you'll waste your energy fighting the wrong battles. You'll wrestle against people. You'll fight your family. You'll fight your neighbor. But Paul said in Ephesians 6:12, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places." But don't forget Colossians says Jesus already stripped them, already disarmed them, already triumphed over them.
So what is our part? To hold fast our faith, to refuse to let go of the word, to say with boldness, "God said it. I believe it. That settles it." That's why Paul called it the good fight of faith. Why is it a good fight? Because it's a fight you already win when you stand your ground on the word of God. When symptoms come, you fight the fight of faith by saying, "Himself took my infirmities and bear my sicknesses." Matthew 8:17. When lack comes, you fight the fight of faith by saying, "My God shall supply all my need according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19. When fear comes, you fight the fight of faith by saying, "God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7.
The only fight we fight is the fight of faith, because every other fight has already been won by Jesus. Glory to God. Now, say it out loud three times. I fight the good fight of faith. I fight the good fight of faith. I fight the good fight of faith. And friend, that fight is not hard when you know your victory is already assured. It is only a matter of standing, holding, and confessing until what God promised is manifested in your life. That's why we must examine the things that stop faith from working. Because the only way Satan can defeat you is to rob your faith. And we are not going to let him do it. Amen.
Now, let's go to the very first mistake that stops faith from working. Ignorance of the word of God. Paul wrote in Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Faith doesn't come by praying for it. Faith doesn't come by crying for it. Faith doesn't come by fasting for it. No, faith comes one way only: by hearing and hearing and hearing the word of God. Say that out loud with me. Faith comes by hearing and hearing and hearing the word of God. Say it again till it soaks into your spirit.
Now if faith comes by hearing the word, then unbelief comes by hearing something else. If you keep hearing the doctor's report only, unbelief will come. If you keep hearing the news only, unbelief will come. If you keep hearing your feelings only, unbelief will come. But if you will give God's word the final authority, faith will come. Proverbs 4:20 says, "My son, attend to my words. Incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes. Keep them in the midst of thine heart, for they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh." Did you hear that? The word is life. The word is health. The margin says medicine. God's word is medicine to all your flesh. Glory to God.
So why are so many Christians weak in faith? Because they're not taking their medicine. They're ignorant of what belongs to them. You can't have faith for what you don't know. Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Notice it doesn't say the sinner is destroyed for lack of knowledge. It says, "My people, God's people, Christians can be destroyed simply because they don't know what belongs to them."
Now listen closely. You don't have a right to your opinion. You don't have a right to your beliefs. You have a right to the Bible. You have a right to believe what God said. Incline thine ear unto my sayings. Not your sayings, not man's sayings, not tradition sayings, God's sayings.
Somebody says, "Well, I've heard that before." No, faith doesn't come by having heard. Romans 10:17 doesn't say, "So, then faith comes by having heard." No, it says faith comes by hearing, present tense, continuous, ongoing. You have to keep hearing. You have to keep taking the medicine.
Let me give you an illustration. Suppose a doctor gave you a bottle of penicillin last year for an infection and you took it and got better, but this year you've got a new infection. You can't say, "Well, I had penicillin last year. I don't need it again." No, you need to take it fresh again. The word works the same way. Yesterday's hearing won't carry you today. Faith must be fed daily. Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4. Just as your physical body needs daily bread, your spirit needs daily word. If you don't feed your body, you'll get weak. If you don't feed your spirit, you'll get weak in faith. That's why many believers crumble in the day of trial. Not because God failed. Not because faith doesn't work, but because they were ignorant of the word and did not feed their faith.
Now, let's make a bold confession together. I am not ignorant of the word. The word of God is my final authority. I attend to his word daily. His word is medicine to my flesh, strength to my spirit, and light to my path. Glory to God forevermore.
Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 5:17. Paul said, "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new." Now, hear me. One of the great mistakes that stops faith from working is this. Too many believers keep looking at their past. They keep dragging around what Jesus already put away. They say, "Well, I was a terrible sinner. I don't deserve healing. I don't deserve blessing. I don't deserve victory." My brother, my sister, none of us deserved it. But thank God, he gave it to us anyway in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 8:12 says, "Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Hallelujah. God said he does not remember your past. And if God doesn't remember it, why should you? Isaiah 43:25 says, "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." Did you hear that? He blotted them out, not covered. Not hidden in a closet somewhere. Blotted out. Gone forever. Say it with me. My past is gone. My sins are blotted out. I am a new creature in Christ Jesus.
Now listen closely. Faith cannot work if condemnation is sitting in your heart. 1 John 3:21 says, "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God." If you are looking backward in guilt and shame, you cannot look forward in faith and confidence. But when you know the blood has washed you, when you know you've been made righteous, when you know old things are passed away, then your faith rises strong, bold, and unashamed.
Too many Christians let the devil drag up their past. They pray for healing and the devil whispers, "But remember what you did 10 years ago. Remember the failure. Remember the mistake." Friend, when the devil brings up your past, you remind him of his future. His future is the lake of fire. Your future is glory with Christ. Glory to God. You are not who you used to be. Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Not next year, not when you get to heaven, now. Confess this boldly with me. I am not who I used to be. I am in Christ a new creation. Old things are gone. All things are new. There is no condemnation in me, for I am in Christ Jesus.
Now when you stand on that, your faith works. When you know you are righteous, your prayers are strong. James 5:16 says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Not a guilty man. Not a condemned man. A righteous man. And that righteous man is you in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah. That's why you must stop looking at your past and start looking at who you are now, a new creation in Christ.
Now turn with me to 2 Corinthians 5:7. Paul said, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." Let's say it together. We walk by faith, not by sight. Say it again. Say it until it registers deep down inside you.
One of the greatest mistakes Christians make is trying to live by feelings. They say, "I don't feel saved. I don't feel healed. I don't feel forgiven. I don't feel like God is with me." But nowhere in the Bible does it say the just shall live by feelings. No. Over and over again it says the just shall live by faith. Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38. Faith believes what God said, regardless of what the senses feel. Faith declares the promise, even when everything around screams the opposite. Jesus himself said in Matthew 24:35, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away." Feelings will pass, symptoms will pass, circumstances will pass, but the word of God abides forever. Glory to God.
Now listen carefully. When you put your faith in feelings, you will always be unstable. One day you feel up, the next day you feel down. But when you put your faith in the word, you become unshakable. Psalm 125:1 says, "They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever." The devil loves to play in the realm of feeling. He will whisper, "If you really were healed, you wouldn't feel that pain." He will say, "If you really were forgiven, you wouldn't feel so guilty." But listen, feelings are the last thing to line up. Faith takes hold of the promise first, and then feelings catch up later.
Let me give you an example. When I was bedfast as a boy, paralyzed near death, I didn't feel healed when I believed God's word. No, I felt weak. I felt pain. I felt hopeless. But the word said, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:24. I chose to believe the word above my feelings. And when I acted on the word, my body lined up, and I was made whole. That's the way faith works. Believe first, feel later. Confess first, see later. Act first, then results come. Say this out loud with me. I do not live by feelings. I live by faith. God's word is true no matter what I feel. Feelings change, but God's word never changes. Glory to God forevermore.
The man who puts his faith in the word is unshakable. The woman who builds her life on the word is immovable. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away." So quit checking your feelings. Check the word. Quit saying, "I don't feel." Start saying, "It is written." That's how Jesus defeated the devil, not with feelings, but with the word. And that's how you'll win every single time.
Turn with me to Romans 5:17. The Apostle Paul writes, "For if by one man's offense death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." Now underline that. The gift of righteousness. Righteousness is not something you work for. Righteousness is not something you earn by good behavior. Righteousness is a gift. Say it out loud. Righteousness is a gift.
This is one of the greatest truths in the word of God and yet one of the greatest areas of ignorance in the church. Too many Christians are trying to become righteous by their own works. They say, "If, uh, if I could just pray enough, if I could just read enough, if I could just live good enough, maybe then God will hear me." No. The Bible says righteousness is a gift and it comes by faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Glory to God. Jesus took our sin, and we took his righteousness. He took our place so that we could take our place in him.
Now listen, if you don't understand righteousness, your faith will never be bold. Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Boldly, not timidly, not shamefaced, not crawling in on your belly like a worm. Boldly. Why? Because you've been made the righteousness of God in Christ. The devil wants to keep you in condemnation. He knows that a believer who feels guilty cannot pray in faith. But the Bible says there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1. Not later, not someday, now. Say this out loud with me. I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I have been made righteous by his blood. I come boldly before God's throne. There is no condemnation in me.
Now, let me show you something. James 5:16 says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." It does not say the prayer of a guilty man. It does not say the prayer of a condemned man. It does not say the prayer of a weak man. No, it says the prayer of a righteous man. And thank God that righteous man is you. You are not righteous because you feel righteous. You are not righteous because you acted righteous. You are righteous because Jesus made you righteous with his own blood.
When God looks at you, he does not see your past. He sees you clothed in the robe of righteousness. He sees you standing before him clean, pure, holy, washed in the blood. Glory to God. When you know that, your faith becomes strong. When you know that, you pray with confidence. When you know that, you can look the devil in the eye and say, "You can't condemn me anymore. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus." Hallelujah. The gift of righteousness makes you bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1 says, "The righteous are bold as a lion." Lions don't beg. Lions don't whimper. Lions don't crawl in shame. Lions roar. And when you understand your righteousness in Christ, your faith roars like a lion, bold, fearless, and victorious.
Now, open your Bible with me to Hebrews 10:23. It says, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised." Notice that word profession. The Greek word is homologo, which means to say the same thing, to confess, to agree with God. So Paul is saying, "Hold fast the confession of your faith."
Here's the mistake. Too many Christians have a weak confession. They say what they feel. They say what they see. They say what the devil whispers. But they don't say what God said. Now hear me. Your confession rules your life. Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Death is in your tongue. Life is in your tongue. What you say is what you'll eat.
Jesus said in Mark 11:23, "Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." Notice three times Jesus used the word say, and only one time the word believe. That means believing is important, but saying is three times more important. Too many Christians are canceling their faith with their mouths. They pray for healing and then they say, "I don't think I'll ever get better." They pray for finances and then they say, "It looks like I'll always be broke." They pray for their family and then they say, "I don't think they'll ever change." My brother, my sister, you cannot talk unbelief and walk in faith. Say it out loud with me. My words make me or break me. My confession builds me or destroys me. I will speak only what God says.
Now listen, confession is not a one-time thing. It is holding fast. Hebrews says, "Hold fast the confession of your faith without wavering." You don't just say it once and then forget it. You keep saying it until you see it. You water the seed of faith with your confession day and night. Proverbs 4:21 says, "Let them not depart from thine eyes. Keep them in the midst of thine heart." You've got to keep the word before your eyes, in your ears, in your heart, and on your lips.
Let me give you an illustration. Suppose you plant corn in your field. You put it in the ground, but then you never water it. What happens? It dries up. It dies. But if you water it day after day, the sun shines on it, and before long, you've got a harvest. Faith is the seed. Confession is the water. Keep watering and you'll see the harvest. Say this out loud with me right now. I will not have a weak confession. I hold fast the confession of my faith. I say what God says. I call things that be not as though they were. My words line up with God's word. Hallelujah.
When your confession lines up with the word of God, your faith becomes strong, steady, and immovable, and the devil has no place to stop it. Now, let's move to the next mistake. Doubting God's will to heal. Oh, how this has robbed Christians of their blessing. Turn with me to Mark 1:40-41. The Bible says, "And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean."
Notice what the leper said, "If thou wilt." He knew Jesus could, but he wasn't sure if Jesus would. That's where many believers are today. They know God is able, but they're not sure if he is willing. But thank God, Jesus settled the question forever when he stretched out his hand and said, "I will." Say it with me. God's will is healing. God's will is health. God's will is life. I know his will.
Nowhere in the ministry of Jesus do you ever find him saying, "I will not." Not once. You never find him turning away the sick. You never find him refusing the afflicted. The Bible says in Acts 10:38, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." Healing all, not some, not a few, not the lucky ones, all. So when someone says, "Well, maybe it's not God's will to heal me," they are contradicting the very ministry of Jesus.
Jesus said in John 6:38, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." And what was that will? Healing the sick, delivering the oppressed, setting the captives free. Say this out loud. Jesus is the will of God in action. When I see Jesus, I see God's will. And Jesus healed them all.
Now, why do so many doubt God's will to heal? Because of wrong teaching. Because of tradition. Jesus said in Mark 7:13, "Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition." Tradition says maybe God is trying to teach you something with sickness. But the Bible says Jesus came to set you free. Tradition says healing passed away. But the Bible says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8. Tradition says you can't know the will of God. But the Bible says, "Be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:17. Hallelujah. We know his will. His will is healing. His will is blessing. His will is life.
Now lift your hands and say this boldly. It is God's will that I be healed. Healing is mine now. I refuse to doubt his will. By his stripes, I was healed and I am healed. Glory to God forevermore. Once you know the will of God, your faith takes root. Once you know his will, you can stand boldly. And once you know his will, no devil, no man, no circumstance can talk you out of your healing.
Now, let's deal with the next great mistake that stops faith, unforgiveness. Turn with me to Mark 11:23-25. We all know verses 23 and 24. Jesus said, "Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." We love to preach that, and thank God it's true. But don't stop reading.
Verse 25 says, "And when ye stand praying, forgive if ye have ought against any, that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." You see, Jesus tied forgiveness directly to faith. He tied forgiveness directly to prayer. You can have mountain-moving faith. You can have believing prayer, but if you have unforgiveness in your heart, it will stop the whole process. Unforgiveness is a sin just like lying is a sin, just like adultery is a sin, just like stealing is a sin. Sin is sin, big or small, hidden or open. And Jesus warned us unforgiveness is the number one hindrance to prayer. Say this out loud. I will not let unforgiveness stop my faith. I forgive even as Christ forgave me.
Ephesians 4:32 says, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." How did God forgive you? Freely, fully, instantly, without strings attached. And that's how you are to forgive. Somebody says, "But Brother Hagen, you don't know what they did to me." No, I don't. But I do know what they did to Jesus. They spat on him. They beat him. They crucified him. And hanging on that cross, he said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34. If he could forgive, so can you. Say it boldly. I choose to forgive. I refuse to hold grudges. I release every person right now. Nothing will hinder my faith.
Now listen, forgiveness is not a feeling. Forgiveness is an act of faith. You may not feel like it. Your emotions may scream against it. But when you say, "I forgive in Jesus' name," heaven records it. And when you release them, you release your own faith to work. Unforgiveness keeps many Christians in bondage. They wonder why their prayers are not answered. They wonder why healing doesn't manifest. They wonder why peace doesn't come. And all the while, there's bitterness lodged in their heart. Friend, let it go. Let it go for your own sake. 1 John 3:21 says, "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God." When unforgiveness is gone, your heart is clear, and your confidence rises. And confidence is the backbone of faith.
Now, lift your hands and declare, "I hold no unforgiveness. I release every wrong against me. My heart is clear. My conscience is clean. My faith is free. Nothing will stop my faith from working." Hallelujah. When you forgive, you shut the door on the devil. When you forgive, you free your faith. When you forgive, you open wide the channel for God's blessings to flow.
Now, let's go to another mistake that cripples the faith of many believers, ignoring their authority in Christ. Turn with me to Luke 10:19. Jesus said, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." That word power is better translated authority. Jesus said, "Behold, I give unto you authority over all the power of the enemy." Glory to God. Authority has been given to the believer.
But here's the mistake. Too many Christians don't use their authority. They cry. They beg. They plead with God to do something about the devil. But God has already done something about the devil through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Now, he has delegated that authority to you and me. Ephesians 1:20-22 says that God raised Christ from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and hath put all things under his feet. And then Ephesians 2:6 says, "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
Do you see it? Jesus is seated far above the devil, and you are seated with him. If all things are under his feet, then all things are under your feet. Say it with me. Satan is under my feet. Demons are under my feet. Sickness is under my feet. Lack is under my feet. Fear is under my feet. The devil has no legal right to dominate you. Colossians 1:13 says, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." Past tense delivered, not going to be. Translated, not hoping to be. It's already done.
Now, here's the problem. Many Christians are waiting for God to move the devil out of their way. But James 4:7 says, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." You resist him. You speak to him. You stand against him in the name of Jesus. It's, uh, just like a policeman. The policeman doesn't have the strength to stop a car with his bare hands, but he has authority. When he holds up his hand and says, "Stop in the name of the law," the whole power of the government backs him up. In the same way, when you say, "Stop, devil, in the name of Jesus," all the power of heaven backs you up. Glory to God. That's authority. Not in your name, not in your strength, but in the mighty name of Jesus.
Now repeat after me. I have authority in Christ. I am seated with him in heavenly places. The devil is under my feet. In the name of Jesus, I resist the enemy and he flees from me. Hallelujah. When you understand your authority and use it, your faith grows strong. Faith cannot operate if you think the devil has power over you. But faith soars when you know you've been given authority over all his works. So don't ignore your authority. Exercise it, speak boldly, stand firmly, and watch the devil run in terror.
Now, let's move on to the next mistake. Living in presumption instead of the word of God. Turn with me to Psalm 119:130. It says, "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." Notice that the entrance of God's word brings light, but when you step outside the word, you step into darkness. Too many Christians are not walking in light. They're walking in presumption. They're trying to believe God for things that his word never promised. And then when it doesn't come to pass, they say, "Well, I guess faith doesn't work." No, friend. Faith always works when it's based on the word. But faith cannot work when it's based on presumption. Say this out loud. Faith begins where the will of God is known.
Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." That means if the word doesn't say it, you don't have a foundation to believe for it. You can only have faith where you have scripture. For example, someone once told me, "Brother Hagen, I'm believing that God will give me someone else's husband." That's not faith. That's foolishness. That's not believing. That's presumption. It contradicts the word of God. And anything that contradicts the word cannot be faith.
Now listen carefully. The devil loves to push believers into presumption. He tried to push Jesus into it. Remember in Matthew 4, he told Jesus, "Cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee." But Jesus answered, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." The devil quoted scripture, but twisted it to tempt Jesus into presumption. And Jesus defeated him by rightly dividing the word. Glory to God. That's our example. Stay with the word. Stay in the light. Don't step out into darkness. Say it with me. I do not walk in presumption. I walk in the light of God's word. The entrance of his word gives me light. My faith is based on the word, and the word cannot fail.
Now, let me show you this. When you base your faith on the word, it's like building a house on rock. Jesus said in Matthew 7:24, "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock." The storms came, the winds blew, but the house stood firm. But when you build on presumption, just your ideas, your desires, your feelings, it's like building on sand. And when the storm comes, it falls flat. So here's the key. Find the promise. Stand on the promise. Confess the promise. Act on the promise. That's faith. Anything else is presumption. Glory to God forevermore.
When you walk in the light of the word, you cannot stumble. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105. Now let's move on to the next mistake. Not attending to the word of God daily. Turn with me to Proverbs 4:20-22. God says, "My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart; for they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh." Did you hear that? The word of God is life. The word of God is health. The Hebrew word there is literally medicine. God's word is medicine to all your flesh.
Now, what good is medicine if you never take it? What good is a prescription if you leave it sitting on the shelf? No. If you want it to work, you have to take it daily, faithfully, regularly. And that's where many Christians miss it. They try to live on yesterday's word. They say, "Well, I read my Bible last week." But "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God," Matthew 4:4. You don't feed your body once a week and expect to stay strong. You don't eat bread on Sunday and then starve until next Sunday. No, you eat every day. In the same way, your spirit must be fed every day. Say this out loud. God's word is my daily bread. God's word is my daily medicine. I attend to his word every day.
Now, notice Proverbs says, "Attend to my words." That means pay attention. Give the word first place. Too many believers attend to everything else first. They attend to the news, to social media, to entertainment, to the doctor's report. Then, if they have a little time left over, they glance at the Bible. No wonder their faith is weak. Jesus said in John 8:31-32, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Notice the word continue. Not visit once in a while. Not glance occasionally. Continue. Stay in it. Live in it.
Let me give you an illustration. Suppose the doctor says, "Take this pill three times a day, every day." You take it Monday, you skip Tuesday, you forget Wednesday, and then Thursday you say, "Doctor, this medicine doesn't work." The problem is not the medicine. The problem is you didn't take it properly. Friend, God's word works, but only when you attend to it. Keep it before your eyes, keep it in your ears, and keep it in your heart every day. Joshua 1:8 says, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Day and night. That's God's prescription for success. Say this boldly. I give God's word first place in my life. I attend to his word every day. His word is life to me. His word is health to me. His word is strength to me. I cannot be defeated because I live by the word of God. Hallelujah.
When you make the word your daily diet, your faith grows strong. Your spirit becomes steady, and your life begins to shine with the light of God's truth. Now, let's look at another mistake that robs believers of victory, neglecting praise. Turn with me to Psalm 34:1. David said, "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." Notice that: not sometimes, not only when I feel like it, not only when everything looks good, at all times. And he said, "Continually in my mouth." That means praise is not supposed to be an occasional thing. It is supposed to be the lifestyle of the believer. Hebrews 13:15 says, "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." Praise is not a suggestion. Praise is not optional. Praise is a sacrifice we are called to offer continually. Say it with me. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Now, listen. Prayer is powerful. Confession is powerful. But if you leave out praise, your faith will become weak. Praise is the voice of faith. Praise is the highest expression of faith. Anybody can shout after the answer shows up. Anybody can praise after the healing manifests. But real faith praises God before it sees the result. That's exactly what Paul and Silas did in Acts 16. The Bible says they were beaten, thrown in prison, their feet fast in the stocks. At midnight, the darkest hour, they prayed and sang praises unto God, and the prisoners heard them, and suddenly there was an earthquake. The doors flew open, the chains fell off, deliverance came, not just for them, but for everyone in that prison. Why? Because praise changes things. Praise brings the power of God on the scene. Praise turns the battle. Psalm 22:3 says, "Thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." God dwells in the praises of his people. When you praise him, he shows up. And when he shows up, victory shows up. Say this boldly. Praise is the voice of my faith. I will praise God before I see the answer. I will praise him at all times. My praise brings the victory. Glory to God forevermore.
The devil cannot stand praise. He was once in charge of worship in heaven and he lost that place. That's why he flees when you lift your voice in praise. He cannot stay in the atmosphere of praise. So if you want to keep your faith strong, don't neglect praise. Keep a song on your lips. Keep thanksgiving in your heart. Praise God when you feel like it. Praise him when you don't. Praise him in the morning. Praise him at midnight. Praise him till the walls fall down and the chains break off. Hallelujah. Praise will keep your faith alive, your heart strong, and your victory certain.
Now, let's move to another mistake. Not praying Paul's prayers. Too many Christians spend their prayer life begging, pleading, or complaining. But Paul, by the Spirit, gave us prayers in the New Testament that are inspired by God himself. And yet most believers neglect them. No wonder their faith is weak. Their revelation is shallow, and their walk is unstable. Turn with me to Ephesians 1:16-20. Paul prayed, "I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places."
Now notice Paul didn't pray, "Oh Lord, please give them faith." He didn't pray, "Oh Lord, please bless them." No, he prayed that they would have wisdom, revelation, and understanding. Because when you see who you are in Christ, when your eyes are open, faith rises automatically. Say it out loud. The eyes of my understanding are being enlightened. I know who I am in Christ. I know what I have in Christ. I know what I can do in Christ.
Then look at Ephesians 3:16-19. Paul prayed that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Oh, glory. Filled with all the fullness of God. That's the result of praying these prayers. Wisdom, revelation, strength, love, fullness. That's what makes faith bold and unshakable.
Now, here's the mistake. Too many Christians are praying weak prayers. They're asking for things God has already given. They're begging for what is already theirs. Instead, they ought to pray these Spirit-inspired prayers until revelation explodes inside of them. That's what I did as a young preacher. I prayed these prayers over myself day after day for months. And after a while, the word opened up to me. Truths I had read for years suddenly came alive. Light came, revelation came, and faith soared. Say this with me. I pray the prayers of Paul. I receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation. The eyes of my heart are enlightened. I am strengthened with might in my inner man. I am filled with all the fullness of God. Hallelujah.
When you pray these prayers consistently, light comes, power flows, and your faith will never be weak again. Now, let's deal with another mistake that stops faith. Forgetting the true source of opposition. Turn with me to Ephesians 6:12. Paul said, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Did you hear that? We wrestle not against flesh and blood. People are not your problem. Your boss is not your problem. Your spouse is not your problem. The government's not your problem. Behind every opposition, behind every pressure, behind every attack is the devil and his forces. Say it with me. My fight is not with people. My fight is with the enemy. And my enemy is already defeated.
Now listen. One of the devil's greatest tricks is to hide behind circumstances and people so you'll fight the wrong battle. He wants you mad at your neighbor, upset with your pastor, bitter at your family, angry at your coworker. Why? Because if you waste your strength fighting flesh and blood, you'll never use your authority against him. But Colossians 2:15 says, "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." Jesus already defeated Satan. He already stripped him of his authority. He already triumphed. The devil is a defeated foe, but he doesn't want you to know it. He wants you distracted, misdirected, and fighting shadows. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." The devil blinds. The devil deceives. The devil is the source of darkness, oppression, sickness, fear, and destruction. John 10:10 says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Hallelujah. Jesus came to bring life. The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Don't confuse the two. Don't ever blame God for the works of the devil. Every good gift is from above. James 1:17. If it's stealing, killing, or destroying, it's the enemy. If it's life, health, blessing, peace, it's from God. Say it boldly. I know the source of opposition. The devil is under my feet. Jesus is my victory. I refuse to fight people. I stand against the enemy in Jesus' name. Glory to God.
When you recognize the real enemy and use your authority, you stop wasting your faith on the wrong fight. And when you resist the devil, the Bible says in James 4:7, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." He will flee. Not maybe, not might, he will. So don't forget who your enemy is. And don't forget who your victory is. Jesus Christ has already won. Your job is to enforce his victory with your faith.
Now, let's look at another mistake that robs believers of victory, expecting instant results without endurance. Turn with me to Hebrews 6:12. It says, "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Notice that: faith and patience. Not faith alone. Not patience alone. Faith and patience inherit the promises. So many Christians get excited when they first hear the word. They say, "Oh yes, I believe. I receive." But then when the answer doesn't show up in 24 hours, they throw in the towel and say, "Well, I guess it didn't work." No, friend. Faith is not a microwave. Faith is a seed. Jesus said in Mark 4:14, "The sower soweth the word." The word of God is seed. And what does seed do? It goes into the ground. It takes root. It grows quietly, invisibly, gradually, until it produces a harvest. Some seed sprouts fast. Some seed takes longer. But all good seed produces when it's watered and cared for. Say it out loud. My faith is seed. I keep watering it. I keep standing. I keep believing. And the harvest is sure.
Now listen. Hebrews 10:36 says, "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." That word patience means endurance, steadfastness, staying power. Anybody can shout when the answer shows up, but real faith keeps shouting in the meantime. That's exactly what Abraham did. Romans 4:20 says, "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God." How long did he stand? 25 years between the promise and Isaac's birth. But he never staggered. He kept praising. He kept believing. And the Bible says he was fully persuaded that what God had promised, he was able also to perform. Glory to God. That's endurance. That's patience with faith. Say this boldly. I refuse to be moved by time. I will not stagger at the promise of God. I am strong in faith, giving glory to God. Through faith and patience, I inherit every promise. James 1:4 says, "But let patience have her perfect work, that she may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." Did you hear that? Patience makes you complete. Patience brings you into the place of lacking nothing. So don't dig up your seed. Don't quit when it looks slow. Don't say it's not working. No. Keep the seed in the ground. Keep the water of confession flowing. Keep the sunlight of praise shining. And in due season, Galatians 6:9 says, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Hallelujah. You will reap. You must reap. You cannot fail if you refuse to quit.
Now, let's look at one more mistake that keeps believers weak and unfruitful. Forgetting the purpose of faith. Turn with me to Galatians 5:6. Paul writes, "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." Faith is not given to you just so you can consume blessings on yourself. Faith is not just for bigger houses, nicer cars, or more money in the bank. Thank God for his provision. Yes, he delights in the prosperity of his servant. Psalm 35:27. But the highest purpose of faith is not selfish gain. The
The highest purpose of faith is kingdom advancement. Say this with me. My faith is for the kingdom. My faith is for the harvest. My faith is for God's will on the earth. Jesus said in Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." That's the great commission. And your faith is given to help fulfill it. Your faith is for winning the lost. Your faith is for building the church. Your faith is for sending missionaries, supporting ministers, healing the sick, casting out devils, and advancing the kingdom of God.
Now hear me. If you use your faith only for yourself, it will shrink. But if you use your faith for others, it will grow. That's why Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 1:3, "Your faith growth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth. Faith grows as love flows." Faith thrives when it serves. That's why so many Christians are stagnant. They have made faith about them instead of about him. They pray, "Lord, bless me, heal me, give me." But real faith says, "Lord, make me a blessing. Heal me so I can heal others. Prosper me so I can finance the gospel. Strengthen me so I can strengthen others." Glory to God. That's the real purpose of faith.
Say this boldly. My faith is not selfish. My faith is for the kingdom. My faith is for souls. My faith is for the harvest. When you align your faith with God's purpose, you'll never lack supply. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Did you see it? When you put his kingdom first, all the things people are chasing after will chase after you. So don't forget the purpose of faith. Use it to bring the gospel to the lost. Use it to strengthen the church. Use it to glorify God. And as you do, you'll find yourself blessed beyond measure, for you'll be in the center of his will.
Now, we've walked through the hindrances, the mistakes that stop faith from working. We've seen how ignorance of the word, looking back at the past, following feelings, not understanding righteousness, weak confession, doubting God's will, unforgiveness, neglecting authority, presumption, neglecting the word, neglecting praise, failing to pray Paul's prayers, forgetting the source of opposition, expecting instant results without endurance, and forgetting the purpose of faith. All these things choke the word and rob believers of victory. But thank God we don't have to be robbed. Thank God we don't have to live defeated. Thank God we can fight the good fight of faith and win every time. One John 5:24 says, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Did you hear it? Your victory is not in your feelings. Your victory is not in your circumstances. Your victory is not in your own strength. Your victory is in your faith.
Say this out loud. My victory is in my faith. And my faith is in God's word. Therefore, I cannot be defeated and I will not quit. Glory to God. Let's make a bold declaration of victory together. Say it with me strong and loud. I fight the good fight of faith. I walk by faith, not by sight. I live by the word, not by feeling. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I hold fast my confession of faith without wavering. I know it is God's will to heal me, to bless me, to prosper me. I forgive every person. I hold no grudges. I use my authority in the name of Jesus. The devil's under my feet. I do not walk in presumption. I walk in the light of the word. I attend to the word daily. His word is life and medicine to me. I will praise the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. I pray the prayers of Paul. My eyes are enlightened. I am strengthened with might. I know the source of opposition. Satan is defeated. Jesus is Lord. Through faith and patience, I inherit every promise. I use my faith for the kingdom, for the harvest, for souls. This is the victory that overcomes the world, even my faith. Hallelujah. Shout it out. Thanks be unto God which always causeth us to triumph in Christ. Too core always. Not sometime, not maybe, always.
Friend, the only fight you're called to fight is the fight of faith. And it's a good fight because it's a fight you're guaranteed to win. Keep the word in your heart. Keep it in your mouth. Keep it in your actions. And you will see the victory every single time. Glory to God forever.