17/09/2023
Our Sunday Service was glorious today!
find below our sermon, be blessed as you read.
FWC SUNDAY SERMON 17-09-2023.
Message by Pastor Ernest Amodu
TOPIC: The Just Shall Live By Faith; ENEMIES OF FAITH.
MAIN TEXTS: Romans 1: 16 & 17,
1 Timothy 6: 12 (ERV), Heb 11: 6.
ROMANS 1:16-17 The Just Live by Faith 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel [ a]of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
1TIMOTHY 6:12 (ERV) We have to fight to keep our faith. Try as hard as you can to win that fight. Take hold of eternal life. It is the life you were chosen to have when you confessed your faith in Jesus—that wonderful truth that you spoke so openly and that so many people heard.
HEWBREW 11:6 (ERV) Without faith no one can please God. Whoever comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who sincerely try to find him.
INTRODUCTION
Today, we are continuing our discussion on "The Just Shall Live By Faith.""
- We have defined faith as unwavering confidence in God and His word.
And this morning we shall be focusing on "Enemies of Faith."
- Enemies of faith are hindrances and things that derail faith. Faith has enemies because of its importance.
- A man of faith (i.e., a man that has absolute faith in God) can move mountains, overcome obstacles, and do great exploits for God and for himself.
Hebrews 11 highlights the exploits of the heroes of faith and their exploits in the Old Testament. Because of this, enemies of faith will arise from various areas and circumstances.
The following are some of the enemies of faith.
ENEMIES OF FAITH.
1. WORRY - Mathew 6: 25-31
A sense of uneasiness and dis-quietness about the future.
- Things that could cause worry; food, clothing, shelter, stagnated income, increasing bills, etc.
-We have been admonished from scriptures not to WORRY, etc. (Ecclesiastes 9:4)
Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things. DO NOT WORRY .
When Worry start building, speak and confess the Word already stored in your heart. When faith is full, you speak.
- Share your concerns with others. Don't die/suffer in silence alone.
2. FEAR MARK 4: 36 -40
-Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.
-Fear arises as a result of perceived danger. Fear has torment.
-Fear cripples and drains your faith. In other words, fear is an enemy of faith.
In Romans 14:23 the bible says whatever is not of faith is SIN.
Fear is the opposite of faith. (Faith and fear can not co-exist).
The Word of God is the cure for fear.
- II Timothy 1:7 says that "God has not given us the spirit of fear...." Resist fear, oppose fear, confront it with power, love, and a sound mind.
We have assurance from scriptures that God will not leave nor forsake us. Hebrews 13: 5-6. (AMPC). Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support.
- Fight fearful thoughts with words - God's word - Scripture. (Once the voice of fear comes, respond with scriptures immediately. Don't hold back nor sit still. Respond by speaking forth).
3.DOUBT & UNBELIEF. Mark 11: 23, Mathew 14: 28-32
(Why did you doubt?)
Doubt is a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction.
To doubt is to be double minded.
- It is to vacillate between two opinions- James 1:7-8.
Doubt arises when you take off your eyes from Jesus and dwell in stormy situations around you.
When you doubt, it is impossible to receive anything from God. Therefore, doubt is an enemy of faith.
To overcome doubts, spend time with the Word of God, meditate on the Word, and speak the Word of God over the situation. Mark 11:23 says that if you say to the mountain......
4.PRAYERLESSNESS - Luke 18:1
Prayerlessness is another great enemy of faith.
Prayer is Communication with God. When you don't pray, you disconnect from God, thereby weakening your faith.
- Since prayer is inviting God into your affairs, prayerlessness is keeping God off your affairs .
1Thessalonians. 5:17 says pray without ceasing...
In the light of Proverbs 3: 5-6 that says you should trust in the LORD and with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, you must acknowledge Him by praying always.
-Therefore Prayerlessness is an enemy of faith.
5. MINDSET - Romans 12:2-3.
-Mindsets are established set of attitude held by someone. It can also be mental attitude that determines how you interpret and respond to situations.
HOW ARE MINDSETS FORMED?
i. Upbringing
ii. Culture
iii. Exposure (Education, Associations, Training, - Socialisation).
- Examples - i. Recently a young girl travelled out of the country to continue her studies, she got in touch with her classmates back home in Nigeria that now she indeed sees nothing wrong with LGBT.
ii. Also, A young man travel out of the country, formed a mindset such that whatever he does he believes its his right to so do.
iv. Beliefs,
v. Values.
-You must subject every mindset to the authority of the Word of God and renew your mind. Romans 12: 2.
6. IGNORANCE - Hosea 4: 6
- Ignorance is lack of knowledge /information and is one of the enemies of faith.
One man of God says "If you are not informed, you are deformed but when you are informed you are transformed."
- You cannot apply faith for what you lack knowledge of.
- The Knowledge of the truth sets you free.
CONCLUSION
As we round off, the Bible says without faith it is impossible to please God.
- Faith is the Believer's currency.
THE DEVIL'S AGENDA IS TO STEAL KILL AND DESTROY. BUT THE SOLUTION TO ALL WE ENCOUNTER AS CHILDREN OF GOD IS THE WORD OF GOD.
If you want to make the Lord your saviour today kindly repeat this prayer after, “Lord Jesus thank you for calling me, I accept you as my Lord and saviour, I believe that Jesus is Lord, He died on the cross, He was buried and was raised up by God on the third day, I believe He is coming back again to take those who believe in Him home.
Thank you for making me your son/daughter. From today I am saved.
