When Faith Falters: Pray, Worship, Fight Spiritual Battles

We know that, okay, yeah, maybe something physical is going on, but there's a bitter bigger battle happening behind the scenes that we know nothing about. It is a spiritual battle that the enemy is trying to use to get us focused on the things of this world rather than on the things that God is trying to accomplish in our lives. So teenagers, when you're at it with your parents and you feel like they are the devil and they are your enemy, they're not. It's a spiritual battle that's going on. [00:40:01] (31 seconds)  #SpiritualBattleReality

But we make a very bad holy spirit. We make a very bad holy spirit. And when we try to do those things, and when we try to enforce our will on others, it does not go well for us. And so the next time that anxiety, temptation, that bitterness, the conflict begins to bubble up, invite Jesus in. Renew your relationship with him. Instead of spending more time trying to fix the problem, go to the problem fixer. [01:00:52] (38 seconds)  #InviteJesusIn

In fact, He strengthens you. That's the amazing thing about our God. He doesn't shame our weak faith, he only strengthens it. So we need to be honest about where we are, and then we need to fight with the right weapons. [00:57:55] (16 seconds)  #GodStrengthensUs

It was about a year and a half ago before we entered our building project. I tell you, was really anxious. I was really worried about how we were gonna do it all, and how it's gonna happen, and worried honestly, I'd be made a fool. And in that deer stand, as I just continued to pour out my heart to God, he said, don't you remember I own the cattle of a thousand hill? [01:03:32] (21 seconds)  #TrustGodsProvision

Don't you remember I have all the funds needed to make this happen? You don't need to carry this burden anymore, and it was gone. When faith begins to falter, we need to go back to his throne, back to the cross, back to worship him, back to our prayer life, back to our prayer closet. It's about our relationship with Jesus. [01:03:53] (24 seconds)  #ReturnToPrayer

I wonder if we spend as much time in prayer as we do thinking and worrying about our problems, how much different our lives would be. And what about worship? You see, worship is not limited to the twenty minutes we hear at Saint we spend here singing four songs. Worship is a lifestyle. It doesn't mean that you have to sing these songs twenty four seven. For example, when when I go on walks around my little neighborhood, oftentimes, I'll spend a a good part of that walk praying. [01:02:17] (30 seconds)  #WorshipIsALifestyle

See, most theologians think that the disciples had been careless in their their spiritual walk, and they had neglected prayer. And we know that the authority that Jesus had given them is only effective when exercised by faith, and faith is cultivated through a relationship with Jesus. And it's thought they neglected their spiritual disciplines and their devotion to him. And I wonder how much how often really we go through life and we face these various problems of many kinds, and we get frustrated by it, and then we begin to doubt, and we begin to have anxiety about the situation, and the reality is we simply need to turn back to Jesus. [00:59:35] (51 seconds)  #PrayerCultivatesFaith

And God can handle your honesty. He can handle it. If you say, I wanna take a step forward, but Lord, I don't know how. I want to have more faith, but I'm just not sure. I think you're leading in this direction, but gotta have a lot I'll have a lot of questions. You can be very honest with God about where you are. And the wonderful thing about Him is He does not shame you or guilt you for doubting or having questions. [00:57:23] (32 seconds)  #BeHonestWithGod