Holding Forth The Mystery of Faith (IV)

The way the devil works is that he comes to start off a conflict within you after you have heard a powerful word from God or His servant, Mark 4:16-17.  For example, the day a man receives the ministration for healing could be the same day he has the most intense pain. What the devil doesn’t know which believers also don’t understand is that the trial of the word is to purify that word to make it work better for you. But because we don’t know, we tend to cast away the word we received at the slightest inclination of opposition.

When the word comes, the enemy also comes along to try that word and once he is able to attack the word that you have received and the understanding that you have about God, he is going to supply doubt. When doubt is supplied, it is only a matter of time for fear to set in. And anytime fear sets in, the atmosphere of faith is depleted. Once the atmosphere of faith is depleted, although the presence of God is still there, His power will no longer be active on your behalf.

While you cannot avoid the persecution that comes with the word you have received, you can protect the word that has been spoken to you concerning the situation and your understanding about God? In Matthew 14:24-31, Peter could only attempt to walk on water on the strength of the word of Jesus. In this example, the attack that came to Peter shifted his focus from the word to his surroundings.

2 Timothy 1:12 tells us that there is a link between our persuasion and our understanding of who God is. If the devil cannot succeed in changing your perspective on God, your persuasion will remain strong. People’s faith don’t work for them because they don’t understand God before they begin to practice their faith. Beloved, your faith in God must be well established before it can work.