The Problem With Your Faith - Dr. Michael O. Oyedokun II

Devotional

Day 1: Faith That Endures Through Trials

True faith is not proven in comfort but in adversity; it is in the furnace of trials, storms, and hardships that faith is refined and made unshakable. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who faced the fiery furnace, believers are called to trust God’s power and authority even when deliverance is not guaranteed. Their declaration—“our God whom we serve is able to deliver us…but if not, we will not serve your gods”—shows a faith that is steadfast regardless of the outcome. This kind of faith does not waver when circumstances are dire but stands firm, knowing that God is sovereign and able, whether or not He chooses to intervene in the way we desire. [42:36]

Daniel 3:16-18 (ESV)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Reflection: When have you faced a situation where you had to trust God even when you didn’t know if He would deliver you? How can you choose to stand firm in faith today, regardless of the outcome?

Day 2: Moving Beyond Conditional Faith

Conditional faith says, “If God does this, then I will believe or obey,” but genuine faith trusts God’s character and promises without demanding proof or favorable circumstances. Jacob’s “if God will be with me” attitude and Gideon’s request for signs reveal a tendency to bargain with God, but mature faith moves from “if” to “though”—trusting God even when He doesn’t act as we hope. The call is to let go of an “if God” religion and embrace a “though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” faith, knowing that God’s wisdom and sovereignty are greater than our understanding. [50:15]

Genesis 28:20-21 (ESV)
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God.”

Reflection: In what area of your life are you waiting for God to “prove Himself” before you fully trust or obey Him? What would it look like to trust Him today, even without guarantees?

Day 3: Faith That Is Alive, Not Dead

Faith without works is dead; true faith is demonstrated by a changed life and good works that flow from trust in God, not from a desire to earn His favor. It is possible to know the right words, quote Scripture, and appear religious, yet lack genuine, living faith. Dead faith is counterfeit—it looks real on the outside but lacks the substance of a heart surrendered to God. Living faith is active, consistent, and results in transformation, not just intellectual agreement or empty ritual. [56:02]

James 2:20 (ESV)
Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

Reflection: What is one specific way you can put your faith into action today, demonstrating that your trust in God is real and alive?

Day 4: Rejecting Convenient Faith for Consistent Faith

Convenient faith is faith that is only activated when it is easy or beneficial, but God calls His people to a consistent, enduring faith that persists through waiting, discomfort, and delay. Just as you cannot rush a good meal or shortcut the process of growth, faith matures over time and through perseverance. God desires that you finish the race, not just start it, and He promises to carry you when you are weak. Consistent faith trusts God’s timing and refuses to take shortcuts, knowing that the process is as important as the outcome. [01:10:27]

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Reflection: Where are you tempted to take shortcuts in your walk with God? How can you practice patient, consistent faith in that area this week?

Day 5: Faith That Pleases God

Without faith, it is impossible to please God; faith is not about seeing the outcome but about trusting God’s character, power, and promises. The call is to move beyond conditional, dead, or convenient faith and embrace a wholehearted trust that says, “God, I don’t know how You will do it, but I trust that You will.” This kind of faith is the foundation of a life that honors God and experiences His presence and provision, even in uncertainty. [01:20:25]

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Reflection: What is one step you can take today to trust God more fully, even when you cannot see how He will work things out?

Sermon Summary

Today’s gathering centered on the nature of genuine faith and the pitfalls that can hinder a vibrant, living trust in God. Drawing from the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3, the focus was on the kind of faith that stands firm even when deliverance is not guaranteed. These three men declared that God was able to deliver them from the fiery furnace, but even if He did not, they would not bow to another god. This “but if not” faith is the gold standard—faith that trusts God’s character and sovereignty regardless of the outcome.

Many people, however, struggle with three common problems in their faith: conditional faith, casket (dead) faith, and convenient faith. Conditional faith is the “if God, then I will” approach, where trust is dependent on God meeting our terms. This is seen in Jacob’s story, where he bargains with God for protection and provision before pledging his loyalty. True faith, however, is not transactional; it is rooted in trust, not in deals.

Casket faith is faith without works—a dead, intellectual assent that does not transform life or produce action. It is possible to know all the right words, quote scripture, and appear spiritual, yet lack the living faith that moves us to obedience and service. This kind of faith is counterfeit, offering a false sense of security but lacking the power to sustain or save.

Convenient faith is faith that is only exercised when it is easy or beneficial. Like fast food or quick fixes, we want God to act on our timetable and for our comfort. But real faith is forged in waiting, in perseverance, and in trusting God’s timing and process. The story of the three Hebrew boys reminds us that faith is not about shortcuts or convenience, but about consistency and endurance, even in the fire.

Ultimately, the call is to move beyond these shallow forms of faith and embrace a faith that is steadfast, active, and unwavering—one that trusts God’s ability and authority, but also His wisdom and will, even when the outcome is uncertain. This is the faith that pleases God and transforms lives.

Key Takeaways

1. Genuine faith is not conditional on God meeting our expectations or demands. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, true faith says, “God is able, but even if He does not, I will still trust Him.” This kind of faith is rooted in God’s character, not in the outcomes we desire. It refuses to bargain with God and instead surrenders to His sovereignty. [49:31]
2. Faith that is alive produces action and transformation. Merely knowing scripture or having the right words is not enough; faith without works is dead. Living faith is demonstrated in obedience, service, and a changed life, not just in intellectual agreement or religious vocabulary. [56:02]
3. The enemy seeks to undermine faith through circumstances, relationships, and discouragement. Spiritual warfare is real, and we must put on the whole armor of God to withstand attacks that target our trust in Him. Even when pressed on every side, faith holds on to the assurance that God is present and able to deliver. [60:05]
4. Convenient faith is a temptation in a culture that values speed and comfort. We often want God to act quickly and on our terms, but faith is developed in the waiting, in the process, and in enduring trials. God’s timing and methods are perfect, and shortcuts only lead to incomplete growth. [66:15]
5. Consistency in faith is more important than perfection or speed. God is not looking for those who start strong and fade, but for those who finish the race, even if limping or carried by His strength. The journey of faith is marked by perseverance, and God honors those who trust Him through every season, not just when it is easy. [70:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:05] - Scripture Reading: Acts 2
[02:42] - Opening Prayer
[04:31] - Responsive Reading & Mission Statement
[06:18] - Praise and Worship
[12:26] - Announcements
[19:19] - Intercessory Prayer
[24:53] - Offering and Thanksgiving
[38:05] - Testimonies of Change
[42:01] - Scripture: Daniel 3
[43:06] - The Problem with Your Faith
[49:31] - Conditional Faith
[56:02] - Casket (Dead) Faith
[65:24] - Convenient Faith
[70:27] - Consistency and Endurance in Faith
[74:25] - God’s Deliverance in the Fire
[80:25] - Invitation to True Faith
[88:50] - Welcome to New Members
[95:26] - Closing and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Daniel 3:16-18 (ESV) — > Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

James 2:17, 20 (ESV) — > So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
> Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

Hebrews 11:1, 6 (ESV) — > Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
> And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Observation Questions

In Daniel 3:16-18, what do Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego say about God’s ability to deliver them, and what is their response if He does not?
According to James 2:17, 20, what is the result of faith that does not produce works?
In Hebrews 11:6, what two things are required to please God?
The sermon described three types of problematic faith: conditional faith, casket (dead) faith, and convenient faith. What is one example of each from the sermon? [[49:31]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to worship the golden image, even if God does not rescue them? What does this reveal about the nature of their faith? [[49:31]]
The sermon says that “conditional faith” is when we trust God only if He meets our terms. Why is this kind of faith ultimately unsatisfying or unstable? [[50:03]]
What does it mean for faith to be “dead” according to James 2, and how did the sermon illustrate this with the idea of “casket faith”? [[56:02]]
The pastor mentioned that “convenient faith” is faith that only shows up when it’s easy or beneficial. Why is this a problem for spiritual growth? [[01:06:15]]

Application Questions

The three Hebrew boys said, “But if not, we will not serve your gods.” Can you think of a time when you had to trust God even when you didn’t know if He would answer your prayer the way you wanted? How did you respond? [[49:31]]
The sermon talked about “conditional faith”—trusting God only if He does what we want. Are there areas in your life where your faith has been conditional? What would it look like to surrender those conditions to God? [[50:03]]
“Casket faith” is faith without action. Is there an area where you know the right thing to do, but haven’t acted on it? What is one step you can take this week to put your faith into action? [[56:02]]
The pastor said that convenient faith is like wanting fast food—you want results quickly and on your terms. Where in your life are you tempted to look for spiritual shortcuts or quick fixes? How can you practice patience and perseverance instead? [[01:06:15]]
The sermon emphasized that faith is developed in the waiting and in the fire. Is there a situation right now where you are waiting on God? How can you remain consistent and faithful during this season? [[01:10:27]]
The enemy tries to undermine our faith through circumstances and discouragement. What are some practical ways you can “put on the whole armor of God” this week to protect your faith? [[01:00:05]]
The pastor said God is looking for those who finish the race, even if limping or carried by His strength. What does “finishing the race” look like for you in this season of life? [[01:10:27]]

Sermon Clips

Don't allow what you're going through to weaken your faith. Unshakable faith comes from having your faith shaken. Once we are saved and have accepted Jesus Christ into our lives, the trial of our faith begins.

Dead faith is counterfeit faith that lures the person into a false confidence of eternal life. And so watch this, dead faith is counterfeit. You been trying to serve a little G God that's not real, you been trying to do it on your own, you been trying to handle it on your own, and only to find out that your strength ain't strong enough, your wisdom is not intelligent enough, that God is the only genuine God, the only true God that can get you where you need.

Many of us have conditional faith. How many of us have an if God religion in our life that say, Lord, if you do this, then I'll come to church more, if you deliver me from this financial burden, then I'll worship you more, if you deal with my haters and my enemy, but how many of us don't have a conditional faith and we say, Lord, you don't have to do nothing else for me, I'm still going to serve.

If I can put it into my own modern vernacular, faith is trusting God even when you don't know how things will work out. Faith is saying that I can see God and believe in what he will do even when he doesn't let me know how he will do it. [00:44:02]

If our faith is to grow, it has to go through hardships, our own failures and trials. There is no other way. So if we want our faith to grow, our faith doesn't grow just by always being in the sunshine, but our faith grows knowing that we can make it even through our storms. [00:47:26]

It wasn't until you came out of your situation that you knew that God was able to deliver you. And so here in Daniel chapter 3, we see these three Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and the king told them that when a trumpet blows, that you have to bow down and worship the king. And so they knew that the physical earthly king could not match up to a spiritual king. [00:48:07]

You want to know what faith is? Faith is saying God, I know you're able to deliver me, but even if you don't, it's going to be alright. [00:49:33]

As Christians we must move from an if to a though, and the problem with our faith is that we try to back God into a corner and make God prove himself before we believe in who he is. [00:52:13]

How much does God have to prove to us before we believe that he is the I am of our lives? When we get sick, we ought to know he's able. When we're dealing with things, we ought to know that he can do it. When we need direction and deliverance, we ought to already know that God has the power and the authority to do it. [00:53:20]

You ought to lose your mind and say, Lord, I thank you that you know what's ahead of me even when I don't know. We gotta have a full faith that Job possessed in chapter 13 verse 15 when he cried out and said, though he slayed me, yet will I trust in him. [00:54:49]

If you're working only because you see the benefits, your works are in vain. But if you're working because you have faith in the God whom you serve, then your faith is living, true, and genuine. [00:56:37]

People with this casket faith, they know the correct vocabulary for prayer and sound doctrine, they can quote the right verses from the Bible, but their walk does not measure their talk. You got a whole lot of folk that sound holy, just a few of you, they can quote scripture, but their lives are not demonstrative of the word of God. [00:57:03]

Faith is saying that God, even though I'm going through what I'm going through, I know that you can still bring me out. Anybody ever been to the valley only for God to deliver you? Anybody ever been in the lowest place of your life, you thought that there was no way that you could come back from where you are, but God said, watch what I can do. [01:00:45]

Any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a false declaration. It is a dead faith. And I just love how the Holy Spirit connects Brother Wes and myself when he's saying change, that if your faith does not change who you are, then it is considered a dead faith. [01:02:56]

Convenient faith is that faith that we sit on a shelf or a mantel and we grab it when it is beneficial to our needs. And there are certain things that we like convenience for. We like food to be convenient. When I go to fast food places, if they take too long, why are you calling it fast food? [01:06:14]

You gotta wait on God, that everything is not going to be convenient, that God would put you in the fire at the right temperature at the right time in order for you to come out the way you need to come out. And you gotta stop taking shortcuts with God, but faith is saying, God, I'm gonna wait and I'm gonna hold out until you do what you need to do in my life. [01:09:59]

There ought to be some consistency in our faith and what we can learn from Daniel teaches us that it is consistency that pays off. It isn't about how you start the race, although that's important, but it's about how you finish the race that's also important. And watch this, God is interested in our running faithfully all the way. [01:10:26]

When we get injured, when we fall down on the way, that he will pick us up and carry us to the finish line. I saw the young Meshach and Abednego demonstrated consistent faith. They said the God that we serve is able and I can't run past that cause the word able means two things in the Greek language. Able is dunamai, which means power. It is also exousia, which means authority. [01:11:58]

He's able to do exceeding and abundantly above that we could ever ask or think. Who is that anybody will defy that you serve an able God? He's able to turn my situation around. And they said he's able to deliver us. But here's where faith come in. They said, but if not, that's where faith steps in. We will still not serve your God. [01:13:08]

Let us not operate in conditional faith, let us not operate in casket faith, let us not operate in convenient faith, but let us operate in a true and genuine faith, trusting and believing in a God who can work it out for our good. [01:20:08]

Scripture says without faith it's impossible to please God and that faith is saying God I don't know how you gonna do but I trust that you will. [01:20:31]

When you give your life to God, give your life over to the Lord, that's trusting him, saying God I'm trusting you, I'm giving my life over to you, wholeheartedly believe in your word. I believe that there's a heaven and a hell and I want to be in that number that you'll call home to. [01:20:49]

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