Preached October 10, 1999 at Faith Baptist Church
By Pastor Steven E. Mays

The Battle is for Your Faith

Luke 22: 23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me

You know what Paul did Before He Got SAVED!.....

Galatians 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
When He heard the Devil was working over the Thessalonians, what did He check out?
1 Thessalonians 3:5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

Facts about your Faith

1) What is Faith.. The substance of things Hoped For, the Evidence of things not seen
2) Without it.... you cannot please God, Heb. 11:6
3) When it's not of Faith... It's sin. Rom 14:23
4) What it will Do.. It'll give you the Victory -- this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Quote the Good ol' Song, "Faith is the Victory"
5) What makes it Grow? The hearing of the Word of God, Rom 10:17

Not only that but..

A. The believer walks by it. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
B. And lives by it. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me..
C. And has life by it. Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Faith is mentioned 280 times in the NT.

Fearfulness is the product of a lapse in our Faith!
Mark 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

The Battle is for Your Faith!

I. Faith in the Book

2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The thing Satan will always attack first is God's Book!
Never forget that you cannot please God without Faith! And you don't have any Faith unless you get under the word of God! (Heb. 11:6) Listen to what the Lord told this lady... Matthew 9:29 "Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you." That lady had great faith.. It brought her to Jesus for a great miracle! Yet you understand, if our faith in the book is ever busted or undermined or neglected, WE ARE GOING TO MISS OUT ON SOME OF GOD'S MIRACLES!

Note the contrast..

Matt. 17: 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief:
What is lacking in your Faith? You'll never have that need addressed until you get under the Book. Paul prayed..
1 Thessalonians 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
The Devil tells us we can get a long ok without it.. That is a lie..

The Devil says it is dated.. no no no.. It's Eternal in the Heavens!

II. Faith in God's Plan for Salvation

No other Way given.

John 14:6 - I am the Way! Not one of the ways, not a way, The Way!

No other Name given.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The world has no faith in God's plan of salvation
Eternal life does not begin with death; it begins with faith.
Now let me ask you to EXAMINE yourself!
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

III. Faith in the Goodness of God

From the very beginning Satan has worked on people to cause them to believe that God doesn't want what is best for His people! Gen. 3: -- Bears this out.. Doubt
Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Luke 12:28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Mark it Down God is Good!

Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
If all things are possible with God, then all things are possible to him who believes in him.
Corrie ten Boom (1892-1983)

IV. Faith in the Way or Will of God

Understand today that God has a plan for you and for me.. His way is the best way! Believe that! It's true! His way can be a rough way at times.. but it's going through the rough ways that make us strong! It's the fires that purify and prove us! You better have faith in God's way!
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

One of the most difficult aspects of the will or way of God is God's timing! How often do we pray and then loose faith in God!

How do you cope? Pray like the Apostles..

Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
A faith that hasn't been tested can't be trusted. -- Adrian Rogers





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