Free MP3 Message Downloads 

Dr.  Ronald Powell

This Week's Message:  

Introduction: It is impossible to please the Lord without faith!

Heb. 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

The clue here is seeking Him with faith and not allowing doubt and unbelief enter or rule your mind.

Biblical References to Faith

It is important to walk and talk and live in biblical faith. 

Biblical faith is an absolute necessity to receive anything from God.  Could that be the possible reason for unanswered prayers?

Biblical faith is simply believing that God meant what He Said.

Are you standing for loved one for salvation?  Is there doubt and unbelief because of looking at the natural and not the supernatural or what you cannot see happening?

Biblical Verses Faith: Jesus said, "Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:24

Faith is believing without evidence of anything happening but believing, because of who our father in heaven is, the creator of the universe, is working on our behalf.  Doubt and unbelief is a big inhibitor.

How about giving up or murmuring and complaining to God?

Faith is praising the Lord, after you have prayed to him or made your need known, that it is already done.  It is a knowing and a trust in the Father of Heaven.

1-Enemies of Faith

Satan will come to try to steal and that is where discernment comes into play.  Who is talking to you?  Is it Satan or God when standing on a promise, or ask God, etc.

Those who do not believe in God can be enemies of faith and sometimes other Christians can be enemies of faith through their doubt and unbelief.

The reason you have trouble believing is you don't want to believe.  Did you have an earthly father who made promises but never carried them out and so afraid God will do the same?

How about reasoning it away.  Many people are very intellectual and it gets in the way.  It might not make sense to them but a person, who is intellectual, needs to clear that thought way of life out and believe.

Abiding Faith

Biblical Verses Faith: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the word of God." Roman 10:17

To stand in faith means to abide in Him.  Abiding faith does not mean church membership but those living in the Word of God - Abiding Faith.

If your faith is wavering, the best way to combat the doubt and unbelief, is get the word out and stand and declare and decree His word out loud.  That can really help build faith.

It is getting in His word of His promises and standing on the promises of God, if it is for salvation of a loved one or standing for healing.  Stand and decree His Word to the heavens or meditate on his word - that is abiding in Christ.  Christ is the Word according to John 1.

The Kingdom of God

Second is "seeking the Kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt. 6:33.

We need to seek His direction and plan to carry out the plan of God or ask you have made to how to fulfill it.  Many times there are actions we have to do but it takes abiding in Him to know His plan and steps.

Are you seeking answers but still living in your own lust?  "Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts," James 4:3.  This is done not in faith.

Those who abide in Christ and His Word abide.

Another Hindrance of Faith is Condemnation - Hindrances to Healing

1 John 3:21-22 "If our heart condemns us not, then we have confidence toward God.  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."

Until you meet his conditions, keep his commandments, abide in him, then, faith will come to believers.  That means healing in your life, standing for something that is important.

God's power is enough to heal, as well as to save anyone and everybody but his promises is to heal those who keep His commandments and walk in the statutes.

God does heal unbelievers because God is using it to bring them to salvation.

Conclusion of Part 1:

Living in sin, disobedience to God's voice or His word, are hindrances to faith.

Part 2- Hindrances to Biblical Faith Brings Hindrances to Healing

Other areas which bring Hindrances to Faith and Hindrances to Healing:

• Not submitting to authority (your boss, minister, etc.)

• Not submitting to her husband

• Not submitting to government

• Not submitting to parents

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher power" - The governing authorities.

Not submitting to government system.  "For there is no power but god; the powers that are ordained of God." Romans 13:1

Christ continually spoke about God's government being established on earth. Christians yield to, obey and submit themselves to  government authorities!

As Christians you are subject to obey the appointed authorities over us as long as it does not violate the laws of God.  When a Christian refuses to obey the appointed authorities, then you are resisting and disobeying God!

Rulers are servants of God (even if pagan) since God ordained them with powers to be governing authorities over society.  And to violate civil law is a major hindrance to faith and hindrance to healing.

The Word of God is very strong in regards to children not obeying parents. 

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father  and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well  with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth, EPH 6:1-3.

This is what Almighty God, who designed the family, has to say about the family.  Children learn obedience at home.  If they don't, they will not learn it from the world or in society. 

Children must learn to see that their parents are training them and bringing them up in "the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  Therefore, it is important for us to receive these directives as the Word of the living God, not as the opinions of some man.

Wife's submit to their husbands....

We are to obey the voice of God, his word and the laws in our society regardless if the rulers are followers of God or not as long as the laws are not against God.

"herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men." Acts. 24:16. 

We are to have a Christ-like attitude to those who are not Christians as a light to the World.

In Gal. 6:10, do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of biblical faith."

Part 3- Hindrances to Faith and Hindrances to Healing

Next area of Hindrances to Faith and Hindrances to healing is Failure to Tithe to God.

We have to realize everything we have comes from God. 

So, if it all comes from God, since He is the creator of the universe, why do some rob God. 

This brings a curse even though many people say that is not true today and that we do not live the Old Testament.

We are commanded in scripture to bring in our first fruit tot he storehouse.  Mal. 3:8-12 says "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.  And all nations shall call you blessed; for ye shall be a delight some land, saith the Lord of Hosts."

Hindrances to Faith in the Area of Tithing

What is keeping you from tithing to the Lord? 

Is it not believing in God's word, doubt and unbelief He will take care of you?  Do you believe that tithing was under the law?  Lets remember, before the law, Abraham paid a tithe to Melchizedek and so did Jacob before the law began.  So, that in itself proves tithing belongs to the Lord is not only during the time of the law.

In Luke 6:38 says "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.  For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

When you tithe, you are investing in the eternal perspectives that is forever to your benefit for the Kingdom of God.  Look at it as an investment for your future in eternal things which weigh much more than the things on earth which will all be burned to stubble or not worth anything.

Hindrances to Faith: Failure to Confess Faults:

James 5:16 says "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed."

We all judge one another but fail to see the faults in our own heart.  We all need to take the time to check our own heart.  How can we know what is in our hearts.  When you read and study the Word and spend time with the Lord, He is gracious to show us areas that need to be dealt with or sanctified or die to our flesh.

We serve a faithful God who is continually working on us but it takes spending time and building a relationship with Him to become more Christ like.  It consist of not judging others.  In fact, scripture talks about not judging others unless you want to be judged.  John 3:18

"18.  There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son."

Matthew 7:1-6 and 1 Corinthians 10:23-24:

23. You say, I am allowed to do anything "but not everything is good for you. You say, I am allowed to do anything but not everything is beneficial. 24. Don't be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.

Closing:

An unwillingness to confess faults to one another indicates lack of confidence in the power of God to deliver them or there is just a lot of pride and the person is bound to pride.