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The Enemy of Our Faith (Part 3) · Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons

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Welcome to NECF sermons. Each message here is
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designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
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walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
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the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
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right in. We've been talking about the enemy
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of our faith. The enemy of our faith. Wednesday
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we we move ahead a bit and We saw that you know,
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there is a fight for faith There is a fight for
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faith and when we talk about an enemy we are
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not referring to a human being even though yes
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The enemy the devil who is the opposition who
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is the enemy can walk through men But men are
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not our enemies hallelujah Men are not our enemies.
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The devil is our opposition. But he can walk
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through men. He can walk through the words that
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can come through men. He can walk through, you
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know, circumstances in our lives. He can walk
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through situations. There are diverse ways by
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which the enemy can come to us. But there is
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a fight for faith. And when we talk about the
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fight for faith, we're not fighting to earn our,
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or to have faith. We are not saying you should
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fight so that you have faith because there could
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be a challenge where we are doing something so
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that faith will be in our heart. No. We are not
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fighting to earn or to have faith. But because
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we are men of faith, therefore we fight. We have
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fight from the position of authority. We are
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fighting from the position of victory. we already
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have faith in our heart. So when we talk about
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the fight of faith, we are simply saying that
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we need to be on God to ensure that what we have
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in our hearts, that what we have in us, that
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God has created in us fine expression in our
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lives daily. 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 12 will
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give us, 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 12. Here Paul
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was speaking to Timothy. It says fight the good
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fight of faith Lay hold on eternal life to which
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you were also called and have confessed the good
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confession in the presence of many witnesses
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Second Timothy chapter 4 verse 7 We see where
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Paul himself as an example will tell us that
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he himself has fought Second Timothy 4 verse
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7 Yes, it says, I fought the fight, the good
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fight, the good fight. I have finished the race
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and I have kept the faith. Jude 1 verse 3 to
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4. Jude 1 verse 3 to 4 says, Beloved, while I
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was very diligent to write to you concerning
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our common salvation, I found it necessary to
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write to exalt you. exhorting you to content
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earnestly content earnestly for the faith which
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was for all delivered to the saints so we can
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see evidentially in scriptures that we have been
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called earnestly you know content for the faith
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to fight for the faith that has been delivered
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to us that has been delivered to us hallelujah
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and of course as pastor was praying leading us
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in prayer he says that the faith You know the
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fight for faith cannot be done carnally because
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what we are fighting is not a physical fight
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We are fighting a spiritual fight in second corinthians
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chapter 10 verse 3 talks about the nature of
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the fight that we are not Though we walk in the
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flesh We are not We are not fighting according
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to the flesh the flesh here speaks about we been
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in the human body though we are in the human
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body, we don't fight according to the natural
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way of fighting. Hallelujah. Then verse 4 goes
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on to say, for the weapons of our warfare, what
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we use in engaging, you know, this enemy are
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not physical, they are not carnal, but they are
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mighty, even though they are not physical, even
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though they are spiritual, because sometimes
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when something is invisible, we seem to assume
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that it's not powerful. So these weapons, even
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though they are not physical, they are not carnal,
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They are what? They are mighty in God. So the
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rest, the ability of these weapons working are
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in Christ. But they are mighty in God for what?
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For pulling down strongholds. Strongholds. Casting
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down arguments. So this is how the enemy, you
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know, contracts our faith. Arguments on every
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high thing that exalt you save against the knowledge
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of God, bringing every thought into captivity,
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even to the obedience. of christ and then we
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said also that the fight of faith is in our heart
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first of all is originally in our hearts the
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battlefield so to say is primarily in our heart
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is in our heart and the bible in the course of
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study we will see the scriptures presents the
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heart as the core of a man obviously when you
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got born again You got born again by receiving
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the word of salvation the message was preached
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to you And when you got born again, there was
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nothing that happens to you physically Hallelujah
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when they preach the gospel to you When you are
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a bit, you know short We didn't see your size
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increase because you are born again You didn't
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suddenly increase in height Are we together?
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Your skin color did not suddenly change because
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you are now born again Your eye colors did not
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suddenly change because you are born again But
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then there's a transformation that happens in
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you that men cannot see hallelujah There is a
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spiritual transformation that happened. So that
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heart Okay, what the Bible as scribes describes
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as that inner man is what we call the heart And
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that is where actually this contention for faith
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happens that unseen part of you So the heart
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is the core of man, not merely that physical
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organ that pumps blood to our system. It is a
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descriptive term that used to explain where our
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motives are, the convictions that we have. We
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have convictions in our heart, the intentions
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are generated, intentions are established and
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from where actions are taken. You know, we read
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earlier on in... Now we should guard our heart
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with all diligence, because the heart is where
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actions originate from. The heart. So, and then
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we also establish that both faith and doubt,
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because faith and doubt operates in the heart.
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Alright? Faith and doubt, of course, and subsequently
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unbelief. operates from the heart. So if faith
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operates in the heart, and we can also see doubt
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in operation in the heart. Doubt can lead to
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unbelief, and unbelief is sin. It's sin. Unbelief
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is unrighteousness. Unbelief is disobedience.
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But it starts from what? From doubt. Doubt on
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its own, all right, is not sin, but when given
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a place, it results to sin. Hallelujah. So we
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see also that doubt operates in the heart, okay?
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And sometimes when we hear you speaking, when
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we hear your speech, we can sense doubt in your
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speech also. And sometimes in your actions, we
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can see doubt in your actions. So as much as
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faith is operational in the heart, also doubt
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and unbelief can operate in a similar place.
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Hallelujah. So it is therefore necessary that
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we study more and understand the operations of
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doubt. How does doubt operate? How can we counter
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doubt? How can we live daily in victory? Living
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daily in victory is actually living daily above
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the doubts that arises in our hearts. And I want
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you to know, for the account of the faith you
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have, doubt must come. We will see it later.
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Hallelujah. For the fact that you are a man of
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faith Automatically as we said earlier on you've
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been enlisted into a life of war And that war
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is the war of faith to ensure that what God has
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done in your heart Finds expression and the devil
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is not interested in you Expressing that which
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God has done in your heart that which God has
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done in you He's not interested In fact, the
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devil is not necessarily threatened by you coming
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to church. The devil is not threatened by you,
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you know, being in teams and groups in church,
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attend all the meetings, so long as you will
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not apply what has been taught, so long as you
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will not express what you've been taught, so
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long as you will not have understanding. He blinds
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the eyes of men that they may not understand
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the truth. God because when you come to the light
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of what God has done you come into the light
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of what God is doing You will have expression
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in your life. You begin to walk in the light
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of what God has done So what the devil does is
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that he counteracts the truth He he he brings
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information that comes against the truth hallelujah
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So as we said alien on faith comes by hearing
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the word of God. All right in Romans of the 10
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verse 17 will establish to us that you know we
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confess with our heart Romans 10 verse 17 says
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so then faith comes by hearing and hearing by
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the word of god when we hear the word of god
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we have faith hallelujah also doubt comes from
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hearing another message the same way by which
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faith comes in so also is the same way by which
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doubt comes into the heart of a man Doubts come
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also by hearing another message doubt has to
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be communicated Hallelujah in fact as a believer
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you have not been given the spirit of fear You've
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not been given an ability to doubt You got the
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spirit God has given to you is a spirit of sound
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mind which means that the believer is naturally
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a man of faith The believer is natural not a
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man of doubt So it simply means that doubt must
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be communicated Doubt must be communicated from
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words and from a message from from from ideas
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from thoughts hallelujah Doubt has to be communicated
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Faith precedes doubt that is to say faith comes
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in before doubt comes on later on Doubt comes
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when the word of faith has been given or the
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word of faith has been received Doubt comes into
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your heart when the word of faith has been received
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or the word of faith has been given then doubt
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will come in order to counteract the faith that
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has been given by the word of God As we establish
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several times a doubt having a contrary opinion
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to what the word of faith has said. Doubt is
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what? A contrary opinion. Having a contrary opinion
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to what has been said. To what the word of faith
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has said or is saying at the moment. Hallelujah.
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So to doubt is to have a contrary opinion. Okay?
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So you cannot have a contrary opinion about something
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that has not been said or done. Until something
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has been said until something has been done there
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cannot be a contrary opinion to read So contrary
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opinion will come for the sake of what has been
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said or for the sake of what has been done So
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something must be said or done before we can
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see You know we can see doubt So doubt cannot
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stand alone All right doubt cannot exist alone
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Just as darkness cannot stand alone All right
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Darkness without light there will be no darkness
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Hope you know that so for the fact that lie there
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is light there is darkness so as much as doubt
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cannot stand alone as Darkness cannot stand alone
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without light There must be faith before doubt
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can come or operate Hallelujah. So what we are
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establishing is that doubting comes externally
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Doubt comes external of the believer it comes
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externally From the believer. Hallelujah. Now,
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let's look at some examples from scriptures the
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first You know instance where we see doubt in
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operation is in Genesis chapter 3 Genesis chapter
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3. Let's turn to Genesis chapter 3 And let's
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read from verse 1 to verse 7. Then we will see
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how doubt operates Now the serpent was more cunning
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than any beast of the field which the Lord God
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had made and he said to the woman Has God indeed
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said you shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
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And the woman said to the serpent, we may eat
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the fruit of the trees of the garden, but the
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fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the
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garden, God has said, you shall not eat, nor
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shall you touch it, lest you die. Then the serpent
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said to the woman, you will not surely die. For
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God knows that in the day you eat of it your
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eyes will be opened and you will be like God
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knowing good and evil So when the woman saw that
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the three was good for food and it was pleasant
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to the eyes and a treat desirable to make one
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wise She took of his fruit and ate. She also
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gave to her husband with her and he ate verse
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7 Then the eyes of both of men both of them were
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opened and they knew That they were naked and
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the syphilis together and made themselves coverings
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hallelujah now, let's go back to verse 1 The
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Bible says the serpent came the serpent is actually
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a figurative expression of the opposition of
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the enemy Satan The serpent here It's referring
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to the devil or Satan. Revelation 12 verse 9.
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Let's establish Revelation 12 verse 9. Revelation
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12 verse 9. So what I'm trying to say is that
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serpent is not literally a snake, but is a figurative
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expression of Satan, of an opposition. So the
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great dragon, verse 12 verse 9. Revelation 12
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verse 9. So the great dragon was cast out Okay,
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look at how Revelation explains it that serpent
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of old Okay, the serpent of old the serpent of
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old is a serpent in Genesis chapter 3 called
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the devil and Satan Hallelujah. So the old serpent
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is what is a devil and Satan Who deceives the
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world, the whole world? So we see that what the
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devil does or what the serpent does is deceit.
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He deceives the whole world. He was cast to the
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earth and his angels were cast out with him.
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Hallelujah. Also 2 Corinthians 11 verse 3, trying
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to establish that that serpent is figuratively
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expressing Satan. But I fear lest somehow As
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the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so
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your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity
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that is in Christ. So what we see in the serpent
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or in Satan is the walk of deceit. Alright? And
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deceit happens in the mind. Happens in the mind.
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And the devil or the serpent or the snake has
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not retired from his walk Amen and what he's
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does today is the same work of deceit We see
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where Jesus Christ was talking today to the Pharisees.
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He called them brute of liars Evil right evil
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men that when they speak they speak their language
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The language of their father the devil who has
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been a liar from the beginning who has been a
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liar from Genesis 3 hallelujah, so This is actually
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the one who deceives. So we will see from Genesis
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3 verse 1 that the serpent came on the account
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of what? What brought him? He came on the account
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of the plan, on the account of the purpose, on
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the account of the program of God for humanity.
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God has an agenda for humanity. and the plan
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and the purpose of God was communicated in words
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of instructions given to Adam without the instructions
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without the plan and the purpose of God without
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the intentions of God the intentions of God were
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communicated and are still communicated today
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in words and he came and he said has God indeed
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said verse 1 has God indeed said And sometimes
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it comes to us like a harmless question, even
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to us. Doubts sometimes come to us in forms of
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what? Harmless questions. You know. Some of you
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will come to us and you receive an instruction.
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And you say, oh, I'm still praying about it.
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It's not wrong to pray about something. But sometimes
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you're not actually praying about it. You're
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actually doubting. What has been said? Hallelujah.
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So, it comes sometimes like a harmless question.
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Has God indeed said? Has God indeed said? And
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sometimes these harmless questions can come in
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form of harmless jokes. Alright? Concerning what
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God has said. In a form of harmless songs. Come
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on, it's just entertainment. It's just a real
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All right, it's just a harmless comedy Okay,
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but what is the goal of that? What is the goal
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of that? Let's look at verse 2 and verse 3 Genesis
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verse 2 verse 1 verse 2 and verse 3 and the woman
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said to the serpent in reply We may eat the fruit
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of the trees of the garden But of the fruit of
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the tree which is in the in the midst of the
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garden God has said you shall not eat no shall
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you touch it lest you die So we can see clearly
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the woman engaging the devil But in her engagement
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of the devil She has knowledge Hallelujah Does
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she has knowledge? She has knowledge about what
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God has said She has the knowledge of what God
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has said So what is telling us right now is that
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for the sake that you have knowledge, right?
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Knowledge does not immune you from what? from
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the strategies, from the schemes, from the plan
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of the enemy. For the fact that you have knowledge,
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the devil will come for the knowledge you have.
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Hallelujah. So, she knows what God says. And
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what way did God say it? He said it in chapter
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2 verse 15 to 17. Give me Genesis 2 verse 15
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to 17. Then the Lord God took the man and put
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him in the garden of Eden to tent and keep it
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And the Lord God commanded the man saying of
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every tree of the garden you may freely eat But
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of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
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you shall not eat for in the day that you eat
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of it You shall surely die. This was the word
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of God. Hallelujah She is not ignorant of what
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of what God have said. All right She's not ignorant
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of the Word of God. So as I said, the knowledge
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of God's Word, knowing the Word of God, having
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the head knowledge, having been able to memorize,
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sometimes we memorize scriptures, even teaching
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it, all right, does not immunize us against the
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assaults of the enemy. But what preserves us
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is actually Applying the word, allowing the word
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to be true in our lives, in our conducts. Applying
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the word will make you victorious against the
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enemy of your faith. So some of you will say,
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I know. I know. You know, but we can't see it
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happening. I know what the word of God has said
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about my life. I know the instruction of God
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concerning my life. It's not about you knowing,
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but it's about what you know. What you know,
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what you know. seen actively in your life. Hallelujah.
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Verse four and verse five, Genesis four and verse
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five. We will see how the enemy comes in and
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sowing a seed, sowing the seed of doubt. But
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he did not, no, Genesis three, verse four and
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five. Look at what the enemy did. Then the serpent
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said to her After knowing what that the woman
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knows what God have said. All right Testing to
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know what she knows. Then the serpent said to
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the woman you will not surely die You will not
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surely die For God knows that in the day that
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you eat of it Your eyes will be open and you
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will be like God knowing good and evil So what
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is the Satan saying? He's saying that what the
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God is lying God said the day you eat of it,
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you will surely die, but the devil is saying
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what you will not surely die So he's either God
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is lying or Satan is lying but we know that God
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is true. Hallelujah. The word of God is true
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And that is how Satan comes to us subtly measuring
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what we know Okay, measuring what we know on
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how our understanding and then he brings in a
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countering opinion concerning what we've been
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taught concerning what we've learned concerning
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the things we've even practiced because up until
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now Adam and Eve were in the garden and they've
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not touched the fruits of evil and what of the
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knowledge of good and evil hallelujah so god
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said something the devil also said something
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so we see that both doubt and faith is communicated
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by words and what satan said is not something
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new but something opposing what god said okay
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what satan said here is not something new but
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actually in line with what god has already said
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counteracting it opposing it he went further
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to misrepresent the plan and the purpose of god
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for humanity what is god's plan and purpose for
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humanity God's plan and purpose from the beginning
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in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 is that humanity is
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to be in God's image and to have dominion. God
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in his plan and purpose is that humanity will
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be in God's image and have dominion on the earth.
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And that was communicated in Genesis chapter
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2 verse 26. Let's look at what God said in Genesis
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chapter 2 verse 26 also. Genesis chapter 2 verse
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26 Genesis 226 Genesis chapter 2 Yes, I read
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Did I Okay, so that's Genesis 2. Okay, Genesis
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1, sorry. Sorry. Genesis 1, 26. Then God said
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after, you know, his plans, then God said, let
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us make man in our image according to our likeness.
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And if you've been in church here for a while,
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you know that we've taught that that image there
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is what? What is the image? God's plan is a man
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will be created to represent God. that image
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is talking about representation all right so
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god said let us make man in our image according
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to our likeness let them have what dominion okay
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over the birds dominion over the fish of the
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sea over the birds of the air over the cattle
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over all the earth over every creeping thing
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that creeps on the earth so god created man in
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his own image In the image of God he created
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him male and female he created him. So man and
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woman are what? Are the image of God. Alright?
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Then God blessed them and God said to them be
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fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue
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it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea. Over
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the birds of the air and over every living thing
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that moves on the earth. And God said See I've
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given you every herb that yields seed which is
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on the face of all the earth and every tree whose
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food yields seed to you it shall be for food
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also to every beast of the earth to every breath
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of the air to everything that creeps on the earth
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in which there is life I have given every green
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herb for food and it was so then God saw everything
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that he made and indeed it was what it was very
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good It was very good. It was perfect so every
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evening and the morning and The morning with
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the sixth day hallelujah, but we see the devil
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coming toward to counter the plan and the purpose
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of God Because he knows that if Man will go against
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what God have said man will what will not walk
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in the plan and the purpose of God for his life
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That is why Satan is interested in what you have
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in your heart So long as he will bring doubt
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So long as you bring a counter opinion so long
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as He will counter the knowledge you have about
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you About what God has done in Christ for you
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about what you should be doing in Christ. You
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will not function You will not be able to express
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the life that God has created you for So long
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as you be chasing other things You'll be chasing
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money You'll be chasing fame. You'll be chasing
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all sort of things that are not what God has
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created you for He's satisfied in fact, he can
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even give you money You know, they will prosper
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people. You don't know He prospers his own The
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devil can even make you what he can make you?
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popular if it's popularity you're looking for
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So long as you will not be that image of God
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has created you to be So long as you will not
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be representing God on earth Hallelujah So it
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is important. We understand the enemy the enemy
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of our faith Does not want us to walk in God's
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plan and his purpose for our lives At this moment
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the devil has planted his seed of doubt true
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words he spoke to leave right It is not true
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This is the woman said this is what God said
30:25
But he said this thing that God said is not true.
30:28
So what is he bringing? He's bringing an opinion
30:30
that is contrary to God's opinion. To God's opinion.
30:36
Alright? God expressed his plan through words
30:39
to man. And then we see the attack of the enemy
30:44
attacking the understanding. You know, understanding
30:48
of man. And that is what he does even to the
30:50
believer. blinding our minds from coming into
30:54
the light, the full light of what God has done.
30:57
What the devil does, his strategy is to ensure
30:59
that he blinds you from what? From having an
31:03
understanding, from having a full grasp of what
31:08
God has done. So long as you will not understand,
31:11
so long as the knowledge, your mind is not communicated
31:14
what has been done in the spirit, you will not
31:16
walk in it. John 12 verse 40 we will see where
31:22
you know talking about the devil give me John
31:27
12 verse 40 yes 40 40 John 12 verse 40 says he
31:33
has blinded their eyes and what what did he do
31:37
he hardened their hearts so who hardens their
31:39
heart the devil He has blinded their eyes and
31:42
hardened their hearts, lest they should see with
31:45
their eyes, lest they should all understand what.
31:48
Where does understanding come from? It comes
31:49
from the heart. Lest they understand with their
31:52
heart and turn so that they might be healed.
31:57
Second Corinthians chapter four verse three.
32:01
Of course we read. Arguments, okay? Opinions,
32:05
alright? Even if our gospel is veiled. The gospel
32:10
has to do with what God has done the gospel has
32:13
to do with the plan and the purpose of God But
32:15
even if that plan and a purpose of God for humanity
32:17
is veiled. It is veiled to those who are perishing.
32:22
Why? verse 4 whose mind whose heart whose mind
32:27
the God of this age the God of this world Has
32:32
blinded who do not believe so because he blinded
32:36
their minds. Okay They could not believe the
32:39
words of God or the plans of God communicated
32:41
in words. He has blinded Right who do not believe
32:46
lest the light of what the gospel of the glory
32:49
of Christ Who is the representation of God who
32:53
is the image of God should shine in their hearts?
32:58
To shine in their hearts for we do not preach
33:00
ourselves But Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves
33:03
your born servants for Jesus Christ sake the
33:07
message and of course we'll see where Paul will
33:09
be praying for the efficient trust in Ephesians
33:12
chapter 1 verse 15 often times that the eyes
33:15
of their understanding be what be open okay why
33:18
will he pray for their eyes of understanding
33:20
say therefore also after I've heard of your faith
33:22
because they have faith their eyes of their understanding
33:25
must be open of your faith in the Lord Jesus
33:29
and your love for all the sins okay Verse 16
33:33
do not cease to give thanks for you making mention
33:36
of you in my prayers What is he praying for them
33:39
that the god of our lord jesus christ the father
33:42
of glory May give you the spirit of wisdom and
33:45
revelation the same spirit is of the same spirit
33:48
of wisdom The same spirit of revelation in the
33:50
knowledge of him in the knowledge of him that
33:53
what? That the eyes of your minds the eyes of
33:56
your heart the eyes of your understanding might
33:58
be enlightened that you may know What is the
34:03
hope of his calling the calling has to do with
34:05
the purpose of God for you the hope of his calling
34:07
That are what are the riches of the glory of
34:10
his inheritance in the sense all talking about
34:12
the work of God And what is the exceeding greatness
34:16
of his power to us all who believe according
34:20
to the walking of his power Which which he walked
34:24
in Christ when he raised him from the dead and
34:27
seated him at his right hand in the heavenly
34:29
hallelujah So we see here consistently that what?
34:33
That the enemy wants to blind our eyes from the
34:37
reality of what God has done. He comes with opinions
34:42
and the essence of that opinion is that we will
34:45
subscribe to the opinions of Satan as against
34:47
what God has done, as against what God is doing.
34:50
Therefore we choose what the devil is saying
34:53
that is unbelief and we are doing unrighteousness.
34:57
Hallelujah. So let's look at verse 6. Genesis
35:00
chapter 3 verse 6. Let's see the reaction of
35:05
what the enemy says. Look at what he did. The
35:09
first part of verse 6. So when the woman saw
35:12
that a tree was good for food, okay? That it
35:16
was pleasant to the eyes and a tree desirable
35:20
to make one wise. At this point, she is what?
35:25
She is judging. Okay? At this point, she is operating
35:31
in doubt. She's beginning to look at what God
35:33
said and what the devil said. And she's beginning
35:36
to examine what the devil said. This tree is
35:40
actually good for food. This tree is actually
35:44
pleasant in the eyes. This tree is actually desirable
35:47
to make one wise. And she is judging and distinguishing
35:51
between what God has said and the new information
35:55
the devil has presented. And then we will see
35:58
doubt fully in operation in our hearts. She took
36:06
off its foot and what? And ate. She only gave
36:10
it gifts to her husband with her and he ate.
36:14
She has concluded and believed the words of Satan.
36:19
All right? Her unbelief is demonstrated in her
36:23
eating. All right? She believed the Word of Satan
36:26
against what God have said. She acted on her
36:29
own will, right? Because when you're judging
36:32
you're using your will to judge. So it's not
36:34
something that happens. Listen, whenever you
36:36
go against God's Word. Whenever you go against
36:39
God's Word, okay? It's not a mistake. It's a
36:43
calculated plan. You calculated. You thought
36:49
about it. You planned how you would do it. And
36:52
you executed it. So there's always a timeline.
36:59
People don't fall into sin by accident. People
37:02
slide into sin, gradually, gradually, gradually,
37:05
and they are in sin. And let me tell you, some
37:10
things are planted in your heart that will live
37:13
for 10 years, 15 years before they manifest.
37:18
Some opinions, some conversations, some thoughts.
37:23
Some things you see, some things you hear remain
37:27
in you. If the Word of God is not given the place,
37:30
it will remain in you in one corner. At the right
37:34
time, at the appointed time, it will show forth.
37:37
And you will wonder, how did it happen? How did
37:41
these thoughts, how did these evil thoughts come
37:44
out of me? How did I, I didn't even know what
37:46
was over me. Something was over you. We know
37:48
what is over you. Hallelujah. So she thought
37:53
about it. She considered the conversation. She
37:55
gives a reasonable time thinking Looking at how
37:59
it will be fruitful for her And she operated
38:03
her will right she used her will Against what
38:07
God have said and we see her in unbelief in disobedience
38:12
in sin The devil comes with opinions The devil
38:18
comes with thoughts. The devil comes with contrary,
38:21
you know, opinions against what God has said.
38:24
And then we ponder over it and we see the execution
38:28
of what? Of disobedience. Doubt operates in the
38:34
heart. And we have an obligation to fight doubt
38:38
on a daily basis. Doubt is communicated through
38:42
experiences. Sometimes you had bad experiences
38:45
in your life. and it becomes it becomes the driving
38:51
force of your life all your decisions are made
38:54
out of bad experience as against what God have
38:59
said you hold on to what has been communicated
39:01
to you by bad experiences you hold on to an opinion
39:05
that is not the opinion of God that the devil
39:07
have used situations circumstances to communicate
39:10
to you and this becomes your truth you know in
39:13
this generation people used to say Just allow
39:17
let him say his truth There's only one truth.
39:20
There's no variation of truth It's either what
39:25
you're saying is a lie or is a truth there are
39:28
no shades of truth and Truth is founded in what
39:33
God have said concerning humanity concerning
39:35
us concerning the believer concerning what humanity
39:38
should be because he created us and He created
39:42
us for a purpose and for a reason And of course
39:45
in verse 7 we will see the consequence of that
39:49
action. Hallelujah. Let's look at another example.
39:58
Mark chapter 9. Mark chapter 9. Hope I will be
40:05
able to do this. Mark chapter 9 from verse 14.
40:14
And when he came to the disciples, he saw a great
40:18
multitude around them and scribes disputing with
40:20
them. Immediately when they saw him, all the
40:23
people were greatly amazed and running to him,
40:26
greeted him. And he asked the scribes, what are
40:30
you discussing with them? The scribes were having
40:33
issues. There was a conflict with the disciples.
40:35
Something has happened. We'll see what happened.
40:37
Then one of the crowd answered and said, teacher,
40:42
I brought you my son. Who has a mute spirit and
40:47
whenever wherever it seizes him it throws him
40:51
down He forms at the mouth, gnashes his teeth
40:54
and becomes rigid. So I spoke to your disciples
40:57
thinking you know that they have solution Since
41:00
they've been with you We've even saw with him.
41:03
I even had that they casted demons sometimes
41:05
back So I brought them to you and I didn't see
41:07
you and I saw them and I decided to say since
41:10
your master is not here Please do that thing
41:12
that you've been doing I spoke to your disciples
41:17
that they should cast it out, but they couldn't.
41:22
They couldn't cast out the devil. He answered
41:25
him and said, oh faithless generation, how shall
41:29
I be with you? How long shall I be with you?
41:33
Bring him to me. Then they brought him to him.
41:38
And when he saw him, immediately the spirit convoked
41:41
him and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming
41:45
at the mouth. So he asked his father, how long
41:47
has this been happening to him? And he said,
41:50
from childhood. From childhood. And hopefully
41:55
he has thrown him both into the fire and into
41:58
water to destroy him. But if you can do anything,
42:02
have compassion on us and help us, Jesus said
42:05
to him, if you can believe. All things are possible
42:10
to him who what who believes Immediately, okay
42:15
the next verse verse 25 When Jesus saw that the
42:20
people were running together He rebuked the unclean
42:23
spirit saying to it deaf and dumb spirit I command
42:27
you come out of him and enter into him no more
42:31
Then the spirit cried out convokes him greatly
42:35
and came after him and he became as one death
42:38
as one death so that many said he is dead but
42:44
Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up
42:46
and he arose and when he had come into the house
42:50
his disciples asked him privately they came in
42:56
shamelessly privately why could we not cast it
43:01
out okay why could we not cast it out so he said
43:05
to them this kind can come out by nothing but
43:11
by prayer and fasting hallelujah so what is that
43:15
kind that can come out only by prayer and by
43:19
fasting is that this variation of demonic spirits
43:23
has a special you know special effects special
43:28
strength that you can only come when you pray
43:30
and fast Is it that the disciples do not pray
43:33
and fast? That was why they wouldn't cast out
43:36
the devil. Hallelujah. Now let's go back to verse
43:40
14. Jesus had returned and then he found confession
43:43
among the crowds and the scribes and the disciples.
43:46
Let's see what the father did. The father came
43:49
and then he narrated the story. He explains that
43:52
his son, you know, of course we saw what has
43:57
been happening with him. Why couldn't they cast
44:03
out the demons? I want you to understand that
44:06
this is not their first encounter with demons,
44:09
okay? In Mark chapter 6 verse 7, the disciples
44:14
has previously been given authority over unclean
44:16
spirits. Mark chapter 6 verse 7, let's see previous
44:20
chapters to this. Mark chapter 6 verse 7, and
44:24
he called the 12 to him and began to send them
44:27
out two by two. And what did he do? He gave the
44:31
12th, he gave them, including Judas, he gave
44:34
them power over unclean spirits, all right? He
44:38
commanded them to take nothing for the journey,
44:40
except a staff, no bag, no bread, no copper in
44:43
their money belts, but to wear sandals and not
44:47
to put out on two tonics. And he also said to
44:52
them, in whatever place you enter a house, whatever
44:56
place you enter a house, stay there till you
44:59
depart from that place. And whatever will not,
45:03
whoever will not receive you, nor hear you when
45:06
you depart from there, take off the dust under
45:08
your feet as a testimony against them, I shall
45:10
say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom
45:13
and Gomorrah in the days of judgment than for
45:16
that city. So they went out and preached that
45:20
people should what? That people should repent.
45:25
That people should repent. And what did they
45:28
do? Look at what they did, the 12th. They cast
45:30
out many demons and anointed with oil as many
45:35
who were sick. And what happened? And they healed
45:38
them. Hallelujah. So what might have happened
45:43
to them? Okay. That they could not be able to
45:47
cast out this special demon. Could it be that
45:52
they have not seen this type of demon before?
45:58
Amen. certainly they must have subscribed to
46:02
other information all right certainly they might
46:07
have listened to another opinion certainly from
46:12
the past experience of this experience they might
46:15
have been a counter opinion over what they are
46:18
and what they can do probably they've gone through
46:22
Facebook if there was Facebook in that time and
46:26
they've seen somebody Trying to perform some
46:29
things and then they went to the comments. So
46:32
all these fake pastors And then that comments
46:36
have entered their hearts and they begin to doubt
46:38
ah, let me know do you so that they will say
46:40
I'm a fake All right, and there's doubt probably
46:43
if they watch a reel On Instagram That speaks
46:49
negatively about the miraculous and just saying
46:52
probably all right Anything may have come. A
46:59
contrary opinion can come from anywhere. We can
47:07
see that victories of yesterday, alright? The
47:10
spiritual victories of yesterday do not replace
47:14
the need to walk in faith today. That is the
47:17
first thing I want you to understand. Your experience
47:19
of yesterday, your victories of yesterday do
47:23
not mean that you should not walk in faith today.
47:28
Faith must be active now and always Sometimes
47:33
we may have strong, you know, we may express
47:36
faith in some areas of our lives But surrender
47:41
to doubts in other areas it's possible oh When
47:48
it comes to believing God for provision because
47:51
you've believed God before and you've seen God
47:53
done it you believe that God can provide then
47:56
suddenly Symptom of sickness comes then you begin
47:59
to doubt the God's power to heal it's possible
48:02
and What God desire is a consistency consists
48:07
consistently your life today tomorrow and forever
48:11
that you walk always expressing faith Look at
48:17
Jesus's answer in verse 19. He answered it and
48:22
said all foolish generation Mark 6 19 all foolish
48:28
generation Mark 9 sorry Mark 9 Mark 9 19 After
48:39
the situation as we explained to Jesus he said
48:41
all foolish generations all faithless generations
48:43
So the reason is what is faith is a faith problem
48:48
Okay, the reason for the inability to cast out
48:52
the devil's is what is a faith issue How long
48:56
shall I be with you? How long shall I teach you?
49:00
How long shall I be exposing you to truth? How
49:04
long shall I keep telling you that I've given
49:06
you authority and power to cast out devils? How
49:10
long shall I bear with you? Jesus addresses generation
49:17
and exposes the atmosphere around the situation.
49:21
Doubt. that has resulted in unbelief, have seen
49:24
the disciples unable to cast out the devil. Jesus
49:32
did not highlight the strength of the demon.
49:35
He didn't say, oh, this demon, ah, ah, ah, ah,
49:40
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,
49:41
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,
49:41
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,
49:41
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,
49:41
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,
49:42
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,
49:44
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,
49:45
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah you have to fast so no
49:53
he didn't amplify what the strength of the demon
49:57
is not about how strong the demon is okay but
50:01
the issue is what is the issue of faith the issue
50:05
is the issue of faith unbelief exists in the
50:09
disciples all right verse 20 and verse 2 we'll
50:13
see you know how the father speaks of the experience
50:18
of his son And then he went on to say if he can
50:22
do anything His words reveal disappointments
50:26
and uncertainty from what has been a repeated
50:29
suffering. All right His doubt he's you know,
50:34
he's He's in doubt himself Because listen the
50:41
man the father of the son have expressed a certain
50:45
level of faith, even though he wouldn't you know
50:47
have brought The son to Jesus Christ to heal
50:49
he believed that Jesus can what can heal that
50:52
is why he brought his son But unseen that the
50:55
disciples could not perform. What do you think
50:57
has happened to his fate? Listen God want to
51:07
display the knowledge of his will God want to
51:13
display his glory on earth Because of time and
51:20
the only way that God can do it is through you
51:23
and it's through me We hold the solution to the
51:30
problems of our generation We hold the answers
51:35
to the questions that our generation is asking
51:38
and most at times the questions of our generations
51:42
are the questions of identity the questions of
51:45
purpose The questions of why am I here? The question
51:49
is what am I supposed to do here? And the question
51:52
is is wrapped up in the message of the gospel.
51:58
And you and I are committed with that. Not only
52:02
that we are committed with it, but we are committed
52:03
with the power to deliver men from the shackles
52:07
of the kingdom of darkness. And if the word of
52:13
God have said it I believe we can do it. Hallelujah
52:17
When Jesus was talking about this can go Only
52:26
but by what by prayer and some translation will
52:28
say I'm fasting it's talking about their unbelief
52:32
This kind of unbelief you have to do seven days
52:38
of fasting and prayer So that you will be aligned
52:41
with God to the point that you believe the word
52:43
of God again Maybe that is your Your testimony
52:48
this morning. Are you doubting? Are you beginning
52:51
to doubt the Word of God? Oh Sometimes they go
52:54
I used to believe I was afraid I know there was
52:57
a time I lay hand on the sick and there was healing
52:59
Now I don't even believe this healing is it really
53:01
true? You need fasting and prayer Hmm time of
53:07
communion with God in the world You need teaching
53:10
of God's Word. In fact, you need dry fast Put
53:15
away the reel you've been watching. Put away
53:18
the Facebook that you've been engaging. Put away
53:20
the distraction and bring into us things that
53:22
distract us. That comment gets contrary opinion,
53:25
the devices that when we are not watchful, they
53:28
can speak things that are contrary to our faith.
53:31
And we hold on to those opinions and we work
53:34
in these opinions. Maybe it's time for you to
53:38
have a retreat. Or sometimes when I've discovered
53:41
that I'm weak in faith, I know that it is an
53:45
opportunity for me to spend time with God. I
53:47
know that it's an opportunity for me to go to
53:49
a brother in Christ to encourage me. I know that
53:52
it's an opportunity for me to spend time with
53:54
God in the place of prayer and communion until
53:57
I believe again. Your man says, I have faith.
54:02
Help my unbelief. Is there somebody here that
54:04
once God is saying deeply in your heart, Lord,
54:07
I believe, but help my unbelief. I'm doubting.
54:11
And the only way you can be strengthened, see,
54:16
the solution for a weak faith is faith. If your
54:23
faith is weak, the solution is faith. And faith
54:26
comes only by the hearing of the word of God.
54:32
And the way by which you be strengthened is by
54:34
the word, is by fellowship with God. is by fellowship
54:38
and communion with other saints that the word
54:40
of God will become alive to you dispelling the
54:43
arguments dispelling the doubts dispelling every
54:47
contrary opinion until you find yourself in the
54:52
place of conviction until you find yourself in
54:55
the place of persuasion oh there are some things
54:58
that you you the devil cannot tempt you about
55:01
some things because he knows that you are persuaded
55:03
hallelujah He knows that you are persuaded. No
55:09
matter what you tell me, you cannot convince
55:12
me that Arsenal is not the best club in the world.
55:20
You know why? I am persuaded. Even if the results
55:25
are not saying what it is, I believe. That is
55:33
the way we should come to God's Word. Hallelujah.
55:36
That we are so persuaded. Alright? That we are
55:40
convinced in our heart. Even if we see a result
55:43
saying something contrary to what we are seeing,
55:45
say I believe what the word of God said. I can
55:48
heal the sick. I lay my hands on the sick and
55:51
they are healed. Oh, I'm trusting God for supply.
55:55
I believe God's supply for my life. The word
55:58
of God says it. I believe it. I meditate on it
56:02
until life comes inside of me. When you come
56:08
to ministry, ministry is a walk of faith. If
56:12
it's not by faith, some of us will have packed
56:13
out and leave this country. I'm telling you the
56:15
truth. The thing is fun to be in this country
56:21
for 15 years. Some of us have been here when
56:26
kebab was three tiered. Three tiered, you eat
56:34
kebab. Good one, not fake. Correct kebab. dollar
56:38
was how much 1 .2 1 .5 TL to a dollar we saw
56:47
it oh when we see you celebrating the the downfall
56:51
of dollar we wept we weep because the glory we
56:57
saw before is better than what you are seeing
57:00
now but it takes faith to remain committed Even
57:06
when we don't know how to do it, even when sometimes
57:08
we'll go back and we begin to look at some of
57:10
the things we've been teaching, ask your pastors.
57:12
We laugh at what we used to teach you before.
57:15
We never give up. We hold on to what we believe
57:19
and we're convinced, even when we don't understand.
57:22
Until we rise up to the place of conviction,
57:25
until we reach a place of persuasion. It was
57:27
persuasion that brought Abraham to a place that
57:30
we call him a man of faith today. Against all
57:32
odds his body was saying I am old I'm weak his
57:36
wife was at a position that she cannot give birth
57:38
But he hold on to the word of God the Bible says
57:41
he never stagger at a promise But he believed
57:45
that he who promise is able to bring it to manifestation
57:47
and we see the reality the evidence of What he
57:52
hold on to in Christ Jesus and that is what God
57:55
is bringing to you this morning Against the contrary
57:59
opinion as against all that the devil is saying
58:02
as against every single contradiction that you
58:06
will face every single day the moment you put
58:09
your you wake up from your bed and you put your
58:11
leg on the ground the devil has already arranged
58:14
contradictions and you're walking into contradictions
58:18
daily in your life in your place of work contradiction
58:22
in your place of education contradiction even
58:25
in in class you are teaching you want to live
58:27
in love you want to express love as a lecturer
58:29
but the students are attempting are bringing
58:31
contrary opinion against the love that is in
58:33
your heart even if you are in business customers
58:38
will look at you customers are always right they
58:40
bring contrary opinion as against the work of
58:43
love but what God expects from you is that the
58:46
spirit of God inspires you to live above the
58:49
contradiction that you face in your life daily
58:51
we appreciate you being here today We hope you
58:56
carry this word with you throughout your week.
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Don't forget to check the show notes for additional
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insights. Stay connected with us through our
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website or follow us on social media. If you
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were encouraged, share this message with someone
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you care about. Until next time, stay blessed.