Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2023 August 10

 Five Things that Can Destroy the Faith of Christians 

“And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

 

Today’s Morsel: Four times in scripture, we read that the just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38). So, what is hindering your faith? We know that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). So with that backdrop, nothing should destroy our faith. Let me share with you 5 things that will destroy your faith and what you ought to do to present it from happening. 

1.    Fear. Scripture says, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) Remember, fear did not come with the Holy Ghost. It is a product of Satan. So, keep it out of your life. 

2.   A Lack of Time Management: The writer of Hebrews tells us, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” (Hebrews 5:12) You need to learn to keep God as priority one in your life. Not having enough time for the things of God will ensure you total defeat. 

3.   Busyness: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36) How much is your soul worth to you? If you are too busy to care for yourself, you have been deceived by the devil. Be productive, not busy.  Busy means: Being Under Satan’s Yoke. 

4.   A Lack of Joy in Spiritual Matters: “And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.” (Numbers 21:5). If you don’t find joy in spiritual matters, you sure won’t find it in the worldly. Everything that you do must be done as unto the Lord.

5.    A Lack of Attitude Adjustment: “And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:18-20) You must renew your mind. If you do not adjust your way of thinking, it will destroy your faith.

 

Remember, you became a Christian so that someday you would be able to live forever with Jesus. And the only way you will reach that goal is to walk and live by faith. 

 

Sing: My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me while I pray; take all my guilt away. Oh, let me from this day be wholly Thine!