Welcome to NECF sermons. Each message here is
designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
right in. Second Corinthians 13 verse 1, it says,
this will be the third time I'm coming to you
by the mouth of two or three witnesses. Every
word shall be established. I've told you before,
and foretell, as if I were present the second
time. And now, being absent, I write to those
who have sinned before, which means that in this
church, especially the Corinthian church, there
are those who are living in sin or who have sinned.
He says, I write to those who have sinned before
and to all the rest, that if I come again, I
will not spare. Since you seek a proof of Christ
speaking in me who is not weak towards he but
mighty in you verse 4 For though he was crucified
in weakness Yet he lives by the power of God
For we also are weak in him, but we shall live
with him by the power of God Towards you now
look up and look at verse 5 importantly it says
examine yourselves examine yourself as to whether
you are in the faith examine yourself some translation
will say test yourself examine yourself whether
you are in the faith this sentence or this first
sentence in this verse you know Will imply that
Because of course he's written to believe us
Hallelujah is written to the church when we look
at the context in from chapter one. Let's let's
respond to chapter one First second Corinthians
up to one From verse one. He says Paul an apostle
of Jesus Christ by the will of God and Timothy
our brother To the church, so he was writing
to a church to believe us the Church of God which
is at current with all the saints who are in
all Achaia who are all in Achaia so he's writing
to the Church of God which is at current all
the saints who are in Achaia and when we go further
in even from chapter 13 verse 11 further we see
making comment to prove that he's writing to
believers. Yes, finally, brethren, brethren means
that he's writing to people that are of the faith,
that are in the faith. Finally, brethren, farewell,
be complete, be of good comfort, be of one mind,
live in peace, and the God of love and peace
will be with you. Greet one another with a holy
kiss, verse 13, all the saints greet you, the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
The communion, that means this would have fellowship
of the Holy Spirit. That means they have fellowship,
the koinonia of the Holy Spirit with all, be
with you all. That is, it is with them. It's
not actually a prayer, but an affirmation of
what their identity is. But then verse five is
looking like a contrast, right? It says, examine
yourself. as to whether you are in the faith
which will will bring us to the possibility that
a man can be born again okay a man can be born
again but you know his life can be so that's
what you say as one who is not in the faith because
examine yourself as to whether you are in the
faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourself
that Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you
are disqualified? In the Amplified, these are
the Amplified Classic, it says, examine and test
and evaluate your own selves to see whether you
are holding to your faith and showing the proper
fruit of it. Hallelujah. So a man can be in faith,
a man can be born again, a man can have the Spirit
of God, you know, and then his life might be
showing contrary, you know, to his identity.
It says examine and test and evaluate your own
selves to see whether you are holding to your
faith and showing the proper fruits. Yes. and
showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove
yourselves, not in Christ. Do you not yourselves
realize and know thoroughly by an ever -increasing
experience that Jesus Christ is in you unless
you outwit your counterfeits, disapprove on trial,
and reject it. Hallelujah. So it's possible for
us who are in Christ Jesus, okay? That when we
examine ourselves, by our conduct, by our actions,
by the expressions of our daily living, it's
possible for us to see that there are elements
in our lives that we are not walking in faith.
That we are not allowing our life to portray
the life that God has developed or created in
us, the life of faith. So, What I just want to
do, maybe laying a foundation, maybe we will
not go deeply into it because of time and the
planning of the teaching, is to try to bring
to our notice some of the things that are hindrances,
or some of the things we can say, some of the
enemies, I will say, of our faith, of the faith.
All right? What can enable a man, what can make
a man in Christ to begin in the faith, But, you
know, in his conduct, he ended up living in the
flesh. It's very possible. Hallelujah. James
says something, James 1 verse 2. James 1 verse
2. Now, I want to also make us know that, you
know, having faith, or being a man of faith does
not immunize us from the possibility of living
in doubt. Now I've mentioned two important things,
you know, faith and doubt. James chapter one
verse two. From verse two to verse eight. Just,
my brethren, count it all joy. When you fall
into various trials, when you fall into various
trials, knowing that the testing of your faith,
what does it produce? It produces patience, okay?
But let patience have its perfect work, that
you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Even though of you lacks wisdom, let him ask
of God who gives to all liberally and without
reproach and it will be given to him, okay? But
let him ask in faith, this is how the man should
ask in faith, with no doubting. For he who doubts
is like a wave of the sea driven, tossed by the
wind. For let not that man suppose that he will
receive anything from the Lord. He is a double
-minded man, unstable in all his ways. And I
also want to remind us that this text was written
to believers, all right? That is not written
to people that are not born again, but is an
epistle to who? To believers, which means that
a man that is born again can pray and not receive
the result for the things of which he prayed
for. And the problem is not often with God, all
right? The problem is not with God, but the problem
is coming from the person that is praying because
his prayer, in his prayer, You know, he is not
he has not equipped himself to receive of what
God will give Because he has allowed doubt To
rule over his heart therefore being a hindrance
to receiving that which God Will do in his life
So he says counted all joy when you fall into
various trials, you know, definitely trials will
come there are times in our lives the trial will
come And when trial comes, you know, that target
is to test our faith, to test the authenticity
of the work of God in our lives. Knowing that
the testing of our faith, you know, will result
to strengthening and we see patience manifested.
Hallelujah. So it is important to understand
that a believer, a man that has faith, Cannot
only walk and not only walk and there's a possibility
for him not to only walk in the flesh That is
walking not in faith, but also doubt It's a possibility
in the believer I Wanted to see an example two
examples particularly in scriptures First of
all, we've seen the story of our Peter. Let's
let's go to that story again. Once again in Matthew
chapter 14 Matthew chapter 14 Matthew 14 verse
22 Now having doubt does not mean that the man
does not have faith I want you to hold that thought
very much in your heart. That having doubt does
not mean, okay, that you don't have faith. Hallelujah.
Because sometimes we think that when we are doubting,
you know, then it simply means that, you know,
there's no faith in us. Matthew chapter 14 verse
22. Immediately, Jesus met his disciples to get
into the board. and go before him to the other
side, while he sent the multitude away. And when
he had sent the multitudes away, he went up on
the mountain by himself to pray. Now when evening
came, he was alone there, but the boat was now
in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves
for the wind was contrary. All right, Jesus has
sent his disciples, all of them to go to the
other side, and he himself excluded himself to
pray. And as they were in the middle of the sea,
behold, there was a wave, a wind, waves, wind
that is contrary to the sailing of the boat.
Now in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went
to them and walking on the sea. And when the
disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were
troubled saying, it is a ghost. And they cried
out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to
them saying, be of good cheer. It is I do not
be afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord,
if it is you, command me to what? To come on
the water. Now, I want you to see clearly that
Peter did not just jump into the water, right?
Hoping that some miraculous activity will happen.
You know, sometimes some of the challenges we
face in this life are our own orchestrations.
You know, we are so zealous and we make decisions.
We don't we don't we don't wait on God When it
comes to making decisions, you know, we are praying
before that let every action we take All right,
let every step I take in my life Let every action
I take let every conduct let every decision I
take concerning my life Concerning my home concerning
every in fact every part of your life. God is
interested in every part of your life Sometimes
we often think that God is just interested in
you going to church and doing the work of ministry.
When it comes to the decision of a way to live,
then you know, this is my own personal decision.
No! God is interested in every detail that has
to do with our lives. So every decision we take
must be a decision that is laid by God, by the
Spirit of God. So Peter here did not just...
think an idea within himself and say okay since
Jesus is walking on the waters I can just jump
into the water hoping that the water will float
with him as Jesus was walking on water but he
in his wisdom has to ask Jesus to command him
to come on the water hallelujah now I want to
just bring this to our notice once again that
our life can be like that boat that is on the
water, all right? Our life can be likened to
that boat that is in the water. And at any point
in time, the waves can come upon the boat, okay?
The waters can stare in the sea, and there could
be the possibility or fear to grip our hearts,
all right? But one thing that we must be sure,
is that God is always with us at all times. Okay?
We can be sure, because God is interested in
our lives, is interested in everything that concerns
us. We can be always sure that God will show
up at every point. In fact, God is with us. And
we'll see the manifestation of His presence in
every time. And James says that we should count
it all joy. When what? When we face trials, which
means that trials are very definite. Okay? Trials
are very definite. As we used to say, if you're
not experiencing one, maybe you're just coming
out from one, you're on a break, or very soon
you enter one. But as a believer, trials and
temptations are certain, okay? And persecution
also, because these are the realities of what
the Bible teaches us, right? We face trials,
we face temptations, we face persecutions. can
come in different forms in different sizes and
different shapes and the goal of those trials
those temptations and those persecutions is or
is against what we believe against what we anchor
our life upon it is whether we are we are in
the faith but that shouldn't make us afraid because
we are sure of he who holds us to himself hallelujah
we are sure of the faithfulness of god God is
faithful to us and is able to keep us at all
times. So we can rely on the faithfulness of
God. Imagine the middle of the sea if Jesus has
just maybe left them on their own and to their
feet. You know there was another instance where
Jesus was sleeping in the boat and then something
similar happened. And they run to Jesus, don't
you care that we perish? You know? And then we
see Jesus Jesus, you know reaching the The waves
and they and whatever what happened the storm
And then we see him speaking and then correcting
their own belief hallelujah So we must be rest
assured or we must always remind ourselves of
the faithfulness of God in all times in all season
And whatever we're going to face whatever we're
facing. All right We are sure of the health of
God at all times. Hallelujah But in the case
of Peter, Peter was looking forward to, probably
in his mind, we can see from the text, he was
asking for a word from Jesus. All right? A word
from Jesus. If it is you, ask me to come. Okay?
If it is you, ask me to come. At every point
in time, There is a word that God will definitely
give us and will lead us in every point in time,
in every single, you know, challenge and temptation
and trial, whatever it is that we will face.
And sometimes what God will tell us as a point
in time, okay, may be different from what He
will tell us in another time. So we must be very
sure to know at all times, understand what God
wants us to do at every point in time. There's
a word that we will receive for every season
of our lives. And that is what will enable us
to navigate through all the challenges and the
trials that we'll face in our lives. And Peter
received an instruction to come, right? And we
see from the verse, which verse is it? Yes, verse
29. So he said, come, that is the word at that
moment, come. And when Peter had come down out
of the boat, what happened? He walked on the
water to go to Jesus, right? So, He actually,
you know, oftentimes when we read this story,
the first, the most glaring part of the story
for us was the fact that Peter was sinking. And
we don't really give, I will not say, we're not
really, we're not giving him credit, but we forget
the fact that Peter actually walked on the water.
All right? We see him walking on water at the
word of Jesus. So the word of Jesus that says
come, and in moving obedience to the word, enables
him to begin to walk on the water. So he started
by faith. By the word of God, he was able to
walk on the water. The next verse, verse 30.
But when he shifted his attention, but when he
saw that the wind was by a stress, he was afraid.
So what happened? When the focus shifted from
what Jesus said, When his focus shifted from
Jesus to what? To the circumstance around him.
When his focus shifted from Jesus Christ to the
wave, to the challenges, to the trials, to the
temptations, something came into his mind. He
was afraid. Alright? Something happened to him.
Fear came in. So instead of faith, what do we
see? We see fear. And the difference here is
on the focus. What was his focus now? His focus
was no longer on Jesus and what Jesus has said,
but his focus shifted to what? To the circumstance,
the environment, the trials, the temptations.
And sometimes, you know, we do similar. All right?
We shift our attention to what God has said,
the promises of God, all the Word of God concerning
our lives, the prophecies we've received. the
hands that have been laid upon us. From every
catatismas we've heard prophecies, what have
been given to us almost every Sunday, every cell
meeting. For the moment temptations and trial
comes, it seems as though we are not working
by prophecies, by promises, and by the word of
God. Because we quickly shift our attention to
what? To the challenges, the circumstances around
us. I'm beginning to think, what happened? He
cried out saying, Lord, save me. And immediately
Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him and
said to him, Oh, you of little faith, why did
you what? So why did he begin sinking? Because
there was doubt in his heart. All right. There
was doubt in his heart. So the same person that
was able to walk by faith will see that doubt
did what? Doubt came into his heart. All right.
So having faith or rather been made of faith
does not immunize us from the possibility of
doubt. Even though he received the word of faith
that enables him to walk on water, he actually
started in faith. We can see clearly that evidently
that he started in faith, he walked on water,
but later doubted because his attention shifted
from Jesus to the water, to the storm, to the
waves that is on the sea. Also there's another
example in scriptures example of Abraham Romans
chapter 4 verse 18 will give us a testimony about
Abraham. Here's a positive example Romans chapter
4 verse 18 to 20 Alright, let me read from verse
16 or verse 13. For where there is no law, there
is no transgression. Verse 16. Therefore, it
is of faith that it might be according to grace,
so that the promise might be sure to all the
seed, not only to those who are of the law, but
also to those who are of the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of us all. As it is written,
I have made you father of many nations, in the
presence of him whom He believed. That is Abraham
believed, right? Believed God. Who gives life
to the dead and call those things which do not
exist as though they exist, they did. Verse 18.
Who? Talking about Abraham now. Look at the example
now. Who? Talking about Abraham. Contrary to
hope. In hope, belief. Contrary to hope. In hope,
belief. So that he became the father of many
nations. According to what was spoken, there
was a word that was spoken, all right? Just as
in the case of, let's say, just as in the case
of Peter, a word was spoken. So also to Abraham,
a word was spoken. So shall your descendants
be, all right? And not being weak in faith, Abraham
was all weak in faith. How did we know that he
was all weak in faith? He did not consider his
own body. Okay? That means he didn't bring to
remembrance. He didn't look at the frailty of
his body. For example now, if you give me a word
right now that I'm going to play on the 17 football
for my country. I mean, I have every evidence
to doubt your words. Because I'm over twice that
age. So there's no possibility that I will make
the under -17 squad of Nigeria, if by just looking
at me they will disqualify me. Right? Now, carry
that context to the context of Abraham, who had
not been weak in faith. He did not consider his
own body already dead. Since he was about a hundred
years old, imagine he was about a hundred years
old, right? And there was a promise him that
his own will have a son. And also what? The deadness
of what? Of Sarah's womb. What himself? And the
impossibility. How old was Sarah? Huh? Help me,
how old was she? When the word came, yes, the
promise. 80 what? 89? 90? Let's even say she's
60. Miracles can happen. But somebody in the
80s in this 70s 80s and then a promise came even
how she loved when the angel said She was going
to give her she loved But look at Abraham The
Bible says he didn't consider the deadness of
his body There's a possibility to doubt. There's
every evidence, right? There's every logical
evidence without the promise of God It's every
logical evidence to doubt what God have said
The deadness of Sarah's womb was an issue Was
20 He did not waver. Look at what the Bible says.
He did not waver at the promise of God through
what? Through unbelief But was strengthened in
faith giving glory to God hallelujah So We quickly
just see our Abraham believe God as a scar but
I can tell you that there's every possibility
not to believe God's word Biologically is impossible
for that to happen biologically speaking But
God said it and what happened? He didn't allow
the natural factors the evidence, you know, some
people tell you let's speak facts right facts
and faith, sometimes when you begin to consider
facts, then you will not live by faith. Hallelujah.
So there's every fact needed to prove, to make
Abraham doubt the promise of the word of God.
But the Bible says he didn't waver, right? Against
all impossibilities. He did not doubt the promise
of God, even though he was dead in his body.
And also we see the issue of Sarah's womb. So
from these two examples we've seen, Peter, for
example now, you know, he doubted because he
shifted his attention toward the environment,
to the situation. And we see an example of Abraham
who, against all odds, hold onto the word and
the promise that came from God. So we can deduce
that to act upon Doubt is a choice everyone must
make. All right? It's a choice that everyone
must make. Noun. I said it several times that
we came into Christ by the exercise of our will.
All right? And even now that we're in Christ,
our will have not been taken away. We still have
the ability to do what? To exercise our will.
And every single time as we live, we are confronted
with situations, with circumstances, with facts,
with proofs, with evidence that will warrant
us to doubt the promise of God. We are confronted
with trials, with temptations, with difficulties
that will warrant us to doubt the promises of
God, to doubt the Word of God, to doubt what
God has said concerning us. But we have a choice
to make. And the choice lies in the exercise
of our will. Whether we are going to hold on
to what God has said, regardless of what the
noise is about, regardless of what the surrounding
the facts are saying, or we succumb. So we can
exercise our will by allowing doubt to control
our decision and actions or do the opposite and
allow faith to stand strong. For example now,
we keep telling you every day you have the Spirit
of God in you, you can lay your hand on the sick.
Right? And sometimes when you look at the nature
of the person's sickness, when you look at the
nature, when you look at the person's age, how
long the person have been sick. Sometimes we
don't need to even investigate and get facts
for signing the sickness. Sometimes we want to
know what kind of sickness is it? Is it HIV?
Is it hepatitis? So we build an archive of facts
and then we begin to work on those things. Things
that can limit us from what? From acting in faith.
So we can exercise our will, align doubt to control
our decisions or actions or do the opposite and
allow faith to sound strong. Peter in the case
of the example we saw did not create, he didn't
create the circumstance around him right. He
was not responsible for the storm nor did he
do anything to make the waters you know to increase
the the the the bias trustness. But he had a
choice and his choice was to fix his gaze on
Jesus. What Jesus said come to fix his gaze on
Jesus, come or turn away looking at the stormy
waters and then begin to sink. In the case of
Abraham, Abraham had a choice to do what? Abraham
did not create the all -age for himself at that
moment, right? Because sometimes, you know, we
can begin to look at our situation and look at
the situation as our own creation. Abraham did
not create his circumstance nor the barrenness
of his wife, but he had the choice to hold on
to the promise of God or allow doubt to conquer.
So, can a Christian doubt? Yes. Is the Christian
a doubter? No. In the same way, a man can walk
in the flesh and yet be born of the Spirit. The
same way a man that is full of faith can also
allow doubt to do what? To control his action.
Hallelujah. Now, let me say this as we build
on gradually on this. Doubt in itself is not
sin. All right? Doubt in itself is what? Is not
sin. But responding to doubting is what is self.
That's when sin comes to be. Because to doubt
and to act on the doubt is to go against the
Word of God. And when we live against the Word
of God, then we are living in sin. What does
it mean to doubt? Matthew 21 verse 21. He says,
so Jesus answered and said to them, I shortly
I said to you, if you have faith, if you have
faith, right, and do not doubt, which means that
you can have faith and doubt, okay? If you have
faith and do not doubt, you will not only do
what was done to the fig tree, but also if you
say to this mountain, be removed and be cast
into the sea, it will be done. And whatever things
you ask in prayer, belief you will receive, okay?
So what does doubt means? What does doubt, what
does it mean to doubt? What does it mean to doubt?
Of course, we see in the case of Abraham in Romans
4, Romans 4 verse 19 talks about wavering, okay?
Verse 20. Verse 20. Yes, he did not waver at
the promise of God. He did not waver at the promise
of God. So what does that word that? What does
it mean? In the Greek it's called diachrino.
Okay? It means to waver. It means to hesitate
or be divided between two opinions. or be divided
between two opinions. It means to have two opinions,
to have another opinion, all right? To have another
opinion on something or let's say a contrary
opinion. Doubt is uncertainty. Doubt is uncertainty.
It means, it means divided thinking all right
it means having two opinions or being uncertain
now doubt is not exactly the opposite of faith
okay the opposite of faith is what is unbelief
hallelujah and unbelief is a sin all right so
we have doubt and doubt can lead to unbelief.
Okay? Doubt can lead to unbelief. When it becomes
unbelief, that's when we say that you are in
sin because you are going into unbelief. You
are walking in unbelief. Alright? You are living
not in accordance to what the Word of God says.
So you are in unbelief. You are in sin. Alright?
So, doubt is to have double thinking, double
opinion. concerning what has been said. For example,
now in Hebrews 3 verse 18 to 19, Hebrews 3 verse
18 to 19, and to whom did he sway that they will
not enter his rest, but to those who did not
obey. So we see that they could not enter in
because of what? Because of unbelief. So here
the problem was not about doubt But the refusal
to believe in God, okay, the refusal to believe
in God So unbelief goes further than doubt Just
trying to differentiate between what unbelief
is and what doubt is. Alright, so unbelief goes
further than doubt Unbelief is a subtle rejection
of God's Word God said this I said no I choose
to do this And often times the reason why we
move into unbelief is because we think or we
allow the thought, another opinion, the uncertainty
in our heart concerning what God has said. We
begin to calculate what God has said. We begin
to imagine the impossibility of what has been
said. We begin to meditate on the opposite of
what has been said. And then we find ourselves
in unbelief, making a decision not to obey or
not to believe. or not to act in accordance to
what God has said. So where does doubt operates?
Mark chapter 11 verse 21. Where does doubt operates?
Where do we see doubt operates? Mark chapter
11 verse 21 and 24. Mark 11 21 to 24. And Peter
remembering said to him, Rabbi look, The victory
which you curse has withered away. So Jesus answered
and said to them, have faith in God. For I shall
say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be
removed and be cast into the sea, and does not
doubt where, where, so where does doubt operates?
In their heart. All right? Doubt operates where?
In their hearts. But believe that those things
he says will be done. He will have whatever He
sees. Verse 24 Therefore I say to you whatever
things you ask when you pray believe that you
receive them and you will have them. So doubt
operates in the heart of man. Alright? Doubt
operates in the heart of man. In the heart of
man. And when we talk about heart, we're not
talking about the organ that pumps blood. Alright?
We're not talking about that organ in you that
they can change it, they can... Now these signs
have made it possible for them to replace with
something, right? Is it pacemaker, what do they
call it? Or they can do transplant, carry somebody's
heart and give somebody. That's not what we're
talking about, right? So the heart is figurative
here. It speaks of the thoughts or the feelings,
the mind. where feelings is the mind. In scripture,
the term heart is primarily a descriptive term,
all right? It's a descriptive term for the inner
life of a person, not a physical organ. When
the Bible says the heart of man, like in Jeremiah
17 verse 9, Jeremiah 17 verse 9 talks about the
deceitfulness of a man's heart. He's not talking
about that heart that palms blow, all right?
Says the heart is deceitful. Above all things
and desperately wicked who can know it? So it
is referring to the inner core of the human personality
The realm where motives and intentions and convictions
are found That is where doubt operates All right
The heart describes a seat it describes a seat
of the belief and persuasion within a person
where there's belief and where there's persuasion
within a person. It is that inner center from
which thoughts, where thoughts are made, where
decisions are made, and it is from that place
that action flows, okay, from the heart. From
the abundance of the heart, the mother will speak,
right? From the abundance of your heart, you
will act. So we don't need to, we just need to
stay with you for a while and we'll know the
content of your heart. We'll know it by the words
that comes out of your mouth. Do you know that
by your words we'll know whether you have faith
or you don't have faith? I mean, subsequently
we will look at how, you know, we can locate,
I've said this the last time, I said we can find
faith way in the heart of a man and also on his
mouth, in his lips, all right? Because from what
is in your heart, we will see it manifest in
what you say. So let there be alignment Okay,
let there be alignment in what is in our heart
and what is on our lips so that we will eat the
fruit of The tongue. Hallelujah. The Bible will
tell us that life and death lies in the power
of the tongue. Okay? So It is important to understand
what that heart is. In biblical anthropology,
this inner conviction is formed through interaction
of the spirit and the mind, which together can
shape a person's understanding and how that person
responds to God. Okay. We're talking about the
heart. So when the scripture speaks about the
heart, it is describing that unseen center of
a person's conviction. and motives rather than
a literal organ. And I want to also bring to
your notice as well, okay? That as much as doubt
operates in the core, the heart of a man, that
is where faith also what? That is where also
faith operates. Romans from the 10 verse five
to 10 will talk about how faith operates in the
heart of a man. Romans from the 10 verse five
to 10. For Moses writes about the righteousness
which is of the law. The man who does these those
things shall live by them But the righteousness
of faith speaks. So the righteousness of faith
has speaks In this way do not say in way in your
heart Who will ascend into the heaven that is
to bring Christ out from there from above or
who will descend into the abyss? That is to bring
Christ up But what does this say? The word is
near you, is in your mouth and in your heart.
So what word? What word? That is the word of
faith which we preach. It's found in the heart,
it's found on the lips. But if you confess, confess
simply means agree. If you agree with your mouth,
right? The Lord Jesus, and believe where? And
believe in your heart. that God has raised him
from the dead, you will be saved. For with the
heart, what happens? One believes unto righteousness,
unto salvation. And with the mouth, agreement
is made unto salvation, okay? Confession, profession,
right? So we know that with the heart, man believes
in unto righteousness. And also we saw earlier
on that doubt also, you know, operates Doubt
is found in the heart and faith is also found,
it can also be operational in the heart. So we
locate faith in two places, a heart and also
in the mouth. Mark 11, 23 again, we say that,
So where do we see doubt? Shall not doubt in
the heart. So whether it is faith or doubt, they
walk through the heart, all right? So if we have
an understanding that doubt and faith will operate
through the heart, it means that we need to guard
our hearts with all diligence, for out of it
flows what? The issues of life. It therefore
means that we have a responsibility over our
hearts. Alright? Faith comes by what? By hearing
of the Word. So how do you think that will come?
By hearing of what? Of what? Which word? Any
word? Except the Word of God. Alright? See? Do
you know that what spoke to Peter was the waves?
Do you know that waves were speaking to his heart?
Do you know that waves is a circumstance that
is speaking to his heart? Probably in his heart,
you're going to sing, you're going to sing, you're
going to sing. You know, sometimes when we're
in trouble, we quickly know what is in your heart.
I'm going to die. I'm going to die. That's actually
what is in your heart. That's what the circumstance
is speaking to you. I'm in trouble, I'm in trouble.
Repeatedly, the confession on your lips is actually
what is dominating your heart, your core. And
what creates fear is actually you listening to
the circumstance, you listening to the trial,
you listening to the situation around you. All
right? So it simply means that we have a responsibility
to do what? To be watchful to what we hear. And
it can come, listen, it can come from a place
of love in court. Doubt can come from a place
of love. It can come in a seemingly, you know,
righteous way. But when you look at it, it's
not in alignment to God's work. It's not in alignment
to what God is saying concerning you, concerning
what you should do as a believer. So whether
it is faith or doubt, they walk through their
heart. And remember, we didn't say the spirit.
right that's different conversation so at a point
of regeneration we see that a man who is not
born again is a child of wrath we've we've said
this over and over again Ephesians chapter two
verse one to three that man is not born again
is disobedient child that is in his heart okay
in his heart that is in his spirit and his soul
because he's not born again but when a man is
born again he has a spirit of faith in him He
has the faith of God. Galatians 2 .20 speaks
about this. We've read it previously. 2 Corinthians
chapter 4 verse 13. You will see that that man
has a spirit of faith in him. But his mind, his
mind, his heart, his mind or that place of thinking
needs transformation. It needs understanding.
It needs renewal. Okay? Because when you're born
again, your spirit is born again. Okay? But your
heart needs transformation. It needs renewal.
Hallelujah. So we say that faith comes from the
word of God. Romans 10 verse 17. Faith is produced
by the word of God. As scripture teaches, faith
comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
However, doubt may arise, okay, because listen,
doubt will arise. because of the word that has
come. All right? Doubt may arise after the word
has been heard. Doubt is often communicated through
circumstances. I gave an example with the circumstance
of Peter, okay? And even to Abraham, doubt may
have spoken to him through the circumstance of
his age. and how Sarah is unfit to give birth.
As a circumstance that can speak loudly than
even words. Doubt can speak from our experiences,
our past experiences. You know, some people have
failed in life to the point that they believe
that they cannot excel. So even when they they
are encouraged to take a step of faith to act.
They don't want to act because they've used the
experience they've had in the past to formulate
a theology that influences their life going forward.
So experiences can be instruments by which doubt
can speak. What we perceive through sense is
sensory. You can say that all these things can
come but from God. So any voice that comes apart
from God will create doubt. Anything that speaks
apart from the word of God will create doubt
in the heart of man concerning that particular
circumstance. For this reason, the apostle will
say we work by faith and not by sight. We work
by faith and not by our senses and not by what
comes externally. Second Corinthians chapter
5 verse 7. Second Corinthians chapter 5 verse
7. For we walk by faith, and not by what? By
sight. That sight there, my reference to not
only what we see with the physical eyes, but
to everything we perceive through, we perceive
through, I would say through our hearts, our
perception of life, our perception of circumstances.
and situation, not only on what we see with the
physical eyes alone. So doubt is therefore an
opinion, okay? Remember, when we're trying to
explain what doubt is, we say it's a diverse,
diverting opinion, right? Another thinking. So
doubt is therefore an opinion communicated by
circumstances, by perceptions, or by the words
of other people around you, okay? Which challenges
the faith that has been produced by the Word
of God? It challenges the faith that has been
produced by the Word of God in the believer If
such doubt is entertained If such doubt is entertained
and accepted because I told you that on its own
is not seen right But if it is entertained and
accepted it can develop into unbelief All right,
it can develop into unbelief Which is the deliberate
refusal to believe what God has said Okay So
what we will see is that faith does not eliminate
the possibility of doubt. All right Having faith
does not eliminate the possibility of doubt.
But it protects the believer against doubt, all
right? But it does not eliminate the possibility
of having doubt in our heart. Especially if we
read Ephesians 6, we're standing there about
where Paul was listing, you know, Yes, so finally
bread and be strong in the Lord and power of
his might Put on the whole armor of God and you
may be able to stand against the wires of the
devil and how does the devil comes By thoughts
by imaginations by deceitful thinking right?
Our mind for we do not wrestle against flesh
and blood but against principalities against
powers against the rulers of darkness of this
each against spiritual course of wickedness in
the heavenly places yes therefore take up the
whole armor of God that you may be able to stand
the evil day having done all to stand stand the
evoke having gathered your waste with truth having
put on the breastplate of righteousness and having
shot your feet with the preparation of the gospel
of peace above all taking the shield of what
the shield of it so what do you do with the shield
of faith which you will be able to quench the
fairy darts of the wicked one Now all those things
is describing actually fit. All right is able
to withstand Or shield us from the influence
of that. All right so faith grows all we say
the believer goes in faith as He continually
focus on Christ as he continually focus on what
the Word of God It enabled him to be strong and
to be established because we're praying for For
us to be established in faith, to be strong in
faith, and how that can come to be is by deepening
our root in the understanding of the Word of
God. So what he can do, deepening our self in
the Word, in the Word of God, in the Word of
Christ, because that's how faith comes, and that's
how faith is sustained by the Word of God. We
expose our self to the Word of God, the Word
of Christ, what Christ has done, what Christ
is doing and what Christ can do. All that he
has accomplished for us, you know, in redemption.
Our mind must be fixed on the truth of what God
has done in Christ. And we'll see our faith strengthen
and develop. There are certain examples that
would have loved us to go but because of time
So What has God said in his word concerning us?
Right, what has God said in our hearts what have
God said in his word concerning us? What has
God said in his word concerning us, you know,
he said that we are loved okay And this is what
God has said, we are loved. Do we allow circumstances
to speak contrary to this that God has said in
His word that we are loved? He says that we are
His family. Do we allow circumstances to speak
contrary to this that God has said concerning
us in His word? The word of God says that we
are in an inseparable union with Him. Do we allow
our experiences and circumstances to speak contrary
to this truth about what God has said? The Word
of God will say that He will meet all our needs,
or He has meet all our needs according to His
riches and glory, or He is able to meet all our
needs. God will supply all that we need, we require.
for life and for godliness. Do we hold on to
God's Word or we hold on to our current circumstance
of lack and hold on to what is speaking contrary
to the Word of God? What has God said concerning
His ability in us that we can do great works
or greater works? Do you allow circumstances
To speak contrary to what God have said concerning
your identity All right Now we can push and have
men converted do allow excuses Circumstances
to communicate a contrary opinion to you to what
God have said in his word The word of God is
saying that we are to change nations for God
right working changed nations by the preaching
of the gospel? Do you look down on yourself?
As Gideon would say, imagine the angel of God
appeared to Gideon. And Gideon would say, oh,
look, I'm the weakest in our clans. I'm this,
I'm that, and that, and then building up excuses.
Do we allow these excuses to speak contrary to
what God has said concerning our assignment?
concerning the faith He has given to us, committed
to us, to share the gospel to the world, to lay
our hands on the sick, to give words of prophecy,
you know, to heal the sick. What has God said
concerning us by prophecies we have received?
Some of us, we have books full of prophecies.
Every single time a brother gave us word, we
are quick to document. And when we go through,
do we allow our lives to be anchored on those
things that God has said concerning our lives?
Now we're going to see further as we go into
the story, how we can shield ourselves from things
that are enemies of the faith. Okay, we'll begin
to talk about them. Our companionship is a challenge.
The things we expose ourselves to listen to every
time can be an enemy. There are many, many things
around us that we can be mindful of. Sometimes
we neglect them, so they affect us. They create
a system within our heart that we don't see faith
expressed in our lives. The words we speak can
be against our identity and the things that God
has called us to walk in. So we must allow faith
to find expression in our heart and our action,
the action feel of faith. What vision has God
inspired your heart to do? Some of us, you see,
God has been giving us insight to what we should
do and some of us are traveling back to our countries
and God has, we have clarity that some of you
when we call you, you have clarity of what you
go back to your country to do. But the moment
you learn from the airport and the warm breeze
of your country blows your face, it washes away
the vision that God has given you and embraces
you into the reality of that nation. So you become
a prayer point. You know, we got to go soon.
We have to eat. You enter Lagos, you are busy
like the Lagosians. When I entered Lagos, everybody
was busy in Lagos. Everybody was moving from
one place to another. I wonder where they are
going to. So we can be caught up in the busyness
of life. And then we neglect the mandate that
God has given us. And then circumstances of life
squeeze us into a position where we begin to
doubt what God has said. See, it's all my prayer.
This will be our own experiences. And I know
I'm speaking to somebody here. This is an environment
that God has used to groom, to train, to empower
you with the knowledge that you've made. See,
we know within the pastorate that any save is
not your destination. So we know that what God
is doing here is to redeploy you elsewhere. So
when people are living here, we are happy that
people are living. because for us, we know it's
a redeployment and there is an expectation, all
right? So we must be able to embrace the calling
and the purpose of God for our lives and walk
in it because we are able because that's what
God has said concerning us. When we shift our
attention from Him, who has promised, we'll begin
to doubt and thereafter disobey, all right? We'll
begin to doubt and thereafter disobey. And may
that never be apportioned in Jesus' name. So
what are the circumstances limiting you from
trusting God? In doing those things He has said
you would do in your life. As I close Hebrews
chapter 12 verse 1 and 2. Remember doubt and
faith operates in the heart. You are a man of
faith, you are a woman of faith, you must be
diligent. Examine yourself always to see if you
are walking in the faith. When we say you are
walking in the faith, it means that you are walking
in obedience. Alright? You are walking in obedience
to the Word of God. You are responding to what
God has said in His Word for you concerning you,
concerning your conduct as a believer. Therefore,
we also, since we are so surrounded by a great
cloud of witnesses, Let us lay aside every weight
and sin which so easily ensnares us, and let
us learn with endurance the rays that is set
before us. Looking unto who? To Jesus. All right?
The author and the finisher of our faith. Who
for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and has sat down
at the right hand of the Father. We appreciate
you being here today. We hope you carried this
word with you throughout your week. Don't forget
to check the show notes for additional insights.
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Until next time, stay blessed.