Scripture: James 1 v 3 -7: "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord."
Faith is confidence in God's ability to do what He has promised in His Word, or to you as an answer to prayer. When we know the Lord in a personal relationship, a friendship, we know that He is always with us and if we ask for anything according to God's will, we will have it.
People lose faith when they do not get immediate answers to desperate prayers. They blame God for allowing a loved one to die or be seriously injured, or have a chronic disease. Instead they should seek the Lord's view of the situation. Find out why this awful thing happened.
There are no easy answers to some of life's hard questions, but the Lord is faithful and full of love. In John 10 v 10: "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
The thief is Satan. His nature and intention towards all human beings is to steal, kill and destroy. People think he is a mythical figure and his demons are mystical and non-existent. Satan likes it that way because he can do all his deadly work and have God blamed for it.
Jesus came to bring us life in full abundance. We need to be realistic and examine all sides of the situation. We need to know our enemy and his intentions, and we need to outwit him through faith and prayer. Paul said we must work out our salvation through fear and trembling. Philippians 2 v 12: "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
This is an active application of our faith. It can be a bit scary at first until you see the results. You need to assess your life and home for anything forbidden by God, that could be an open door for Satan to harass you. What idols do you have in your home? Perhaps a statue of Buddha or a shrine to Mary, or carved or sculpted African heads. These things attract evil spirits to your home, and they bring sin, sickness, and death with them.
Do you have books or movies that exalt witchcraft or occultism. Like The Omen, or The Exorcist, or Vampires? Or pornography? Or Video games with an occult theme? Just a little bit of leaven (sin) leavens the whole lump. Just a little bit of sin makes you vulnerable to the invasion of demons into your home or life. They come with a plan to destroy your life and use people to do it. Hijack, robbery, murder, kidnapping is inspired by the evil presence of demons.
Your faith will waver, and your prayers will not be heard. To have unwavering faith you need a clean home and a clean heart. Ask the Lord to show you if there is anything in your life or home that offends the Holy Spirit. It may take time to get it all sorted but that is what the trying of your faith is all about. It produces patience, or endurance, and that is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Deuteronomy 7 v 25 - 26: "The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.
26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing."
This is the unseen war raging in our homes, cars, offices, churches, places of entertainment. In Joshua 7 v 10 - 12: "And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you."
It was found that Achan had taken idols of the enemy and hidden them there. In the end he and his entire family died and all his belongings were burnt under the law of Moses. Today we are forgiven but must still get rid of books, dvds, objects, music, photos, paintings or anything else that could bring a curse upon your home. EG music with Parental Advisory warnings could fall into this category. Pray through your home and be led of the Holy Spirit as He will highlight things that attract evil.
Jesus needs you to overcome the enemy so that you can live a life of true spiritual abundance. It makes you a clean and holy vessel meet for the Master's use. It removes fear and trembling and you become bold in your faith and witness. Even though some people shun you keep going, their problem is still to be overcome and they have idols that need breaking.
I Samuel 15 v 23: "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king."
When people are rebellious the sin behind it is witchcraft. The two go hand in hand. Witchcraft is not just spells, black magic and sorcery, its nature is portrayed as rebellious, demanding, controlling, emotional blackmail, possessiveness, jealousy and forceful. The definition of witchcraft is the control of any person or place by means of a spirit which is not the Holy Spirit.
Idolatry is stubbornness and iniquity or sinfulness. If you are set in your ways and don't allow the Lord to make changes to your habits, traditions and worldly lifestyle after you are born again, there are idols in your heart or home making a blockage. This will cause your faith to waver at difficult moments in your life when you really need God to help you. Alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, sexual perversions, and other addictions cause these blockages as well.
Spend quality time with Jesus every day. Study your Bible and do what it says to do. Forgive people that have hurt you. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Do not quench Him or His work within you. Have faith in God, doubting nothing. Walk in the Light as Jesus is in the Light and have fellowship with other Christians. Ask God to reveal if you have been deceived by the doctrines of men, and make changes.
If you abide in Him your faith will never waver. You will live an abundant life and witness the answer to every prayer. Everlasting joy will be upon your head!
Prayer: Heavenly Father You delight to comfort and help Your children, but there are things we must do to work out our salvation. We cannot passively fight battles against Satan and his demons, we must overcome them. Teach us Father to use the authority Jesus gave to all believers when He ascended to Heaven. In Jesus' name. Amen.
