Introduction:

Over the last weeks, we have been studying on how to turn our faith loose. We saw the important role thinking right, believing right, confessing right and ultimately acting right play in order to achieve this. The word “right” in the preceding sentence refers to the Word of God – the bible as God's Word is Faith Food. This week, we shall begin a series on major hindrances to our faith. By the grace of God, we will consider two of these hindrances today. Proverbs 27:12 says: “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences”. As the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to these hindrances, may we receive grace to avoid them in Jesus’ name (Amen).

Can Faith be hindered?

1 Timothy 6:12: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

To fight means to endeavor vigorously to win or to move forward with difficulty, especially by overcoming physical obstacles. Here, Paul was using the language of athletics contest and enjoining Timothy to give his best effort to this most worthwhile of struggles, the struggle to further the faith. Since there is a fight to faith then this suggests that there must be enemies or hindrances to faith.

Quite generally, Lack of Faith Comes From Lack of Knowledge of God's Word as Romans10:17 says “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Hindrance Number One: Lack of Understanding Regarding the New Creation

Who are we in Christ?

2 Corinthians 5:17:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

This means that we have received a new nature - God's nature (2 Peter 1:4).

We are children of God, sons of God, and heirs of God - joint-heirs with Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:17).

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have ETERNAL life." (1 John 5:13).

Hindrance Number Two: Lack of Understanding of Our Place in Christ

What is our position in Christ?

1 John 4:4 "... greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

Colossians 1:13, which says, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." "Who" refers to God, the Father.

Conclusion

It is a very good assignment to go through the New Testament and find places where “in Christ”, “in Him”, “in Whom” are written as suggested by Kenneth Hagin. Once found, we should confess, "This is who I am. This is what I have,"

Below are some lists compiled therefore let us rise up and confess who we are and what we have in Him

Acts

17:28a

For in him we live, and move, and have our being;

Romans

8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death

I Corinthians

1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours

1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption

4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised

8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him

15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive

2 Corinthians

1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God

2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place

5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new

Galatians

2:20 I am crucified with Christ:nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me

3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus

5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love

Ephesians:

2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them

3:11-12 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him

Phillipians

3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus

Colossians

1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving

2:9-10 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power

3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God

2 Timothy

1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began

2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus

Philemon

1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

I John

4:4 ... greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world

4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us

Contributor: Akin Akande