Chapter 9:
Our Faith Is being Attacked
Faith is the striking force, of the power of God, in our lives. Faith is what storms the forts of the devil and invades the world of demonic power, which causes sickness, disease and sin. Faith in God releases the lightning power of God to deliver us. The gift of faith is imparted from God through the Word, but the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of faith. The gift of faith can move mountains, but the fruit of faith is what is required for daily living. The fruit of faith enables us to walk and love by faith (Romans 5:2). Without this kind of faith, it’s impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Faith is not a tangible material, that can be seen, heard, smelled, tasted or touched, but is as real as anything that can be perceived with these five senses. Faith is as certain as is the existence of water. Faith is as sure as the taste of an apple, the fragrance of a rose, the sound of thunder, the sight of the sun, the feel of a loving touch. Hope is a wish, a longing for something, not yet possessed, but with the expectation of getting it. Faith adds surely to the expectation of hope.
Our faith in God is under fierce satanic attack.. All the demons of hell, along with the devil’s principalities and powers of darkness are waging an all-out war against the faith of God’s saints. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of darkness of this world, against wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).
I do believe that the devil has brought intense attacks against God’s people, causing awful suffering. It says in John 10:10, that the devil has come as a thief to steal, kill and destroy. In today’s world there is such an unprecedented barrage of sicknesses, afflictions, troubles and unending problems, that it seems impossible, for the believer, to live an overcoming life. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil as a roaring loin, walketh about seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Why is the devil so determined to shake our faith in God? He knows, when our faith grows cold, we will lose hope in God. He puts thoughts in our mind, “Where is your God now? Look how things are going from bad to worse, and your pain, your suffering and your needs keep mounting with no relief in sight. Your God promised to make a way of escape for you so where is He now, when you need Him most? If you listen to Satan, you’ll begin to feel your faith is being shaken and if you listen to him long enough you’ll feel like you are defeated.
Jesus said unto them, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto the mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20). If you have great faith, it is faith; if you have little faith-it is faith. If you will just release what faith you have whether big, middle-size, even little faith, then God can release his miracle-working power in your life.
Our faith may waiver, but we can still keep our eyes on Jesus. He is patient and merciful. He hears all our complaining and questioning and He sees so many doubtful thoughts in our minds, yet He looks upon us with forgiveness and love. He says, if we keep our eyes continually on Him, we will make it through whatever we face in this life.
Dear friends, if we as Christians (yes, this includes Jim and me) would get up off our lazy do-nothings and start exercising our God-given faith and we would simply introduce our small problems to "OUR BIG GOD" instead of our big problems to our small God.
Matthew `9:26....But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With Men this is impossible: