Somebody
Help Me
Living by Faith Isn’t Working!
by Pastor John Hamel
"This
is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with
the things I've revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and
he'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing
its banks!" (John 16:23,24
Message Bible)
How
often we've had folks come to us in distress, explaining, "I'm trying
to live by faith but it's not working, Pastor John and Barbara. My prayers just aren't being answered."
Normally, after spending a few moments talking with them, we discover
they almost always have at least one of three problems occurring in their
lives.
In this study we'll examine those three areas. This will
help to get anyone back on track who may also be thinking, "I'm trying
to live by faith but it's just not working."
The
first thing everyone must do if they expect to live a life of faith and
power is to be "Born Again." Jesus said, "Except a man
be born again, he cannot see (or experience) the Kingdom of God."
(John 3:3) This is a simple spiritual law.
The
first time you were born, you were born physically. You were birthed
into the Earth through the natural door of your mother's womb.
The
second time you are born, you are "Born
Again" or birthed into the Spirit realm by accepting Jesus Christ as
your personal Savior. He alone is the Door into
the Spirit realm. This is why He referred to Himself as "the
Door." (John 10:1,7,9)
When
Jesus said that only the Born Again can "see" the Kingdom
of God,
He actually meant that only the Born Again can see the principles of the
Kingdom work successfully in their lives.
The
Bible also says, "But as many as received him, to
them gave he POWER ..."
(John 1:12) If you have not yet said, "Jesus, You're my
only choice" you can do that right now, out loud. That is all it
takes to be Born Again. (Romans 10:13) This is the first step to
living the life of faith successfully.
The
second area we examine when someone tells us, "My faith just isn't
working," is sin. That's right, SIN! You know, that increasingly unpopular word that repulses all the
"Modernists" who are committing it. You
cannot possibly successfully apply faith principles, which are rooted in
the Holiness of God, while you are living in sin.
Every
teenager and adult knows what sin is. If you are at all unsure,
simply go back and re-read the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20:3-17)
That's a good starting point.
Satan absolutely fears the thought of
Believers living sin-free, holy, powerful lives. This is why
he's Hell-bent on removing the Ten Commandments from public
buildings and public places. He regrets the day Moses ever went back
and got a second set, having smashed the first set in anger. (Exodus 32:19;
34:4)
People
who live in sin have no confidence when it comes to prayer. They have
no confidence when it comes to pushing Satan off of their
turf.
The Bible says, "If our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence towards
God." (1John 3:21)
The reverse application of this principle is obvious. When living in
sin, we have absolutely no confidence towards God or in exercising
authority over Satan.
If
you have sin in your life such as unforgiveness,
immorality, dishonesty, etc., confess it immediately to God. Ask Him
to forgive you for it. He'll be faithful to do so whether you feel
like He does or not. (1 John 1:9)
Forgiveness isn't based on
"feelings." Forgiveness is
based on Jesus' cleansing Blood. (Hebrews 9:22)
Sin
is now being called "Progressive" by some religious and
political leaders, their constituents and other confederations of
dunces, but not by Almighty God.
"Black is black and white is
white. Hell is hot 'cause sin ain't
right." Get it out of your life at all costs. (Mark 9:43-48)
Finally,
you must realize that Satan is already a
defeated foe. The Bible says that Jesus came to the world
to destroy Satan's ability and He did just that. (1 John 3:8)
Everywhere,
literally everywhere, we have traveled across America we have
found Believers "fighting spiritual warfare against the devil and
demon powers." This is simply trying to do what Jesus has
already done.
Jesus
has already defeated Satan and demon powers. Satan is thrilled to
hear Believers talk and pray and "war" as if he has some sort of
power over the Born Again Believers of the world. He knows that
Believers who beg God to "Get the devil off of me," don't understand
their authority over him. He knows
that Believers who engage in spiritual "conflict" with demon
powers over cities and nations simply have no idea of their
authority.
We
are not to engage in conflict with the devil. We are to "enforce"
Jesus' defeat over them. (Luke 19:13)
Believers
must understand that even as the Angels of God obey the
Believer's voice of authority, so, too, Satan and demon
spirits must obey the command of knowledgeable Believers. (Psalm
103:20)
Jesus has literally "slapped back the ears" of
Satan and demon spirits, stripping them of all power and authority,
"triumphing" over them. (Hebrews 2:14,15; Colossians 2:14,15;
1Corinthians 2:6)
Jesus
said, "Behold I give you power to tread on serpents and
scorpions (symbolic of Satan and demon
spirits) and over all the power of the enemy ... the
spirits are subject to you ..."
(Luke 10:19,20)
The
word Jesus used for "power" in this verse literally means
"delegated authority."
Jesus has delegated His authority
over Satan and demon powers to all Born Again Believers who live free from
deliberate, habitual sin.
When we tell Satan to back off our
families, finances, bodies, etc., using the Name of Jesus, he has no choice but to
obey. (James 4:7)
However,
it is entirely up to the child of God to open their mouth and decree, "Satan, I enforce your defeat
in this area. Now back off in Jesus' Name."
Jesus called
this "binding the strong man."
(Matthew 12:29)
Don't
wait for Almighty God to do what He's waiting for you
to do.
Every Born Again child of God who is living a life
free of habitual, deliberate, repeated sin can back the devil down in every
realm of life and see superior results.
It
is then that their cries of "Somebody help me. It's not
working" will change to ...
"Praise
God! It's finally really working!"
Examine
yourself in these three areas and ...
Be blessed ...
John and Barbara Hamel
How
to Be Born Again (Receive Christ as Your Savior)
How
to Receive The Holy Spirit & Power
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