In the last issue, you have by the help of the Spirit of God understood the destructive effect of mending with doubt in your life. The revelation of God’s Word is not just design to inform you, but to impart you with the grace required to walk in the demand of that revelation.
I believe God by the revelation of God’s Word that you will not only be instructed on how to overcome doubt but imparted with the grace required (Act 2:2, Act 10:44)
How to deal with the evil heart of unbelief
To understand how to deal effectively with doubt, it is importance to understand its nature, source, and how it operates.
The battle ground of the Mind
Every redeemed child of God is a spirit that has a mind living in a body because like beget like, We were made in the image and likeness of God who is a spirit, so man is essentially a spirit. Faith is of the spirit (Rom 10:10) while doubt is of the mind (James 1:6-8).
Most time, when we talk about spiritual warfare, many think that it is in the spirit realm; yes it is but the actual fight that determines whether you will be a victor or not is in the mind. Hear what the word of the Lord says
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2Co 10:3-5)
Verse 3 says that we don’t war after the flesh and verse 4 says that our weapons are powerful through God in pulling down stronghold.
What are these strongholds?
Verse 5 described these strongholds “Imagination, high thing that exaleth itself against the knowledge of God and thoughts”
All these three things are of the mind, imagination is of the mind, knowledge is of the mind & thought is of the mind. So the real warfare takes place in the mind. So we are expected to engage our weapon of warfare on thoughts, imagination and knowledge that exalt itself against the Christ in our mind, because our of it proceeds the issues of life.
No one sees the devil in real form in the street (although you might have seen one through the operation of the gift of discerning of spirit), but basically he comes to your mind that why the bible admonish us to guard the mind for out of it proceeds the issue of life using his greatest weapon of suggestion to deceive us from the truth. If you are defeated in the mental realm, you have been defeated in the spirit realm
Nature of doubt
It has been established that doubt is not from God, it is of the devil. The bible called it “evil heart of unbelief” and it is departing from the Living God, just as faith is of God, unbelief is of the devil.
Just like every other devices from the devil, doubt is deceitful in nature, it comes as a deceitful thought. Satan doesn’t force anyone to sin instead he suggest to you just like he did to Eve in the Garden of Eden.
He is a trick master and he tricks to buffet the sons of men. The bible instructed us that we should not give any place to the devil, he can’t force himself on any child of God, he simply gain ground in the life of a believer first by suggestion.
These suggestions comes in the mind in form of imagination, thoughts and ideas, so is doubt- it comes as suggestion into your mind
Doubt or unbelief draw its strength from the happening around, the news and report you see, feel and hear. When Peter was walking on water by faith, he was doing fine but immediately he saw the storm and gave in to doubt, he started sinking.
Anytime faith comes alive in you, Satan brings up doubt and fear in order to stop your faith because Satan is afraid of your faith.
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1Pe 5:9)
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Eph 6:16)
The above scriptures validate why the devil is afraid of your faith, because at the instance of faith, you command divine presence and when God step into your affair, then the devil must step out.
With faith, you win (1John5:4), Jesus have already won the devil, but the only thing that can establish the victory is faith, my bible called faith THE VICTORY.
By faith you quench all the arrow of the devil, by faith you claim God’s promises and devil don’t want that, so whenever your faith comes alive, he fight you with doubt, fear and discouragement so to stop you.
In order not to let doubt step in, you must adhere to the scripture instruction – not to focus on the things we see, but on heavenly things because what we see are temporal but what we see not is eternal.
Subtlety of Doubt
How did the serpent deceived Eve to sin against God. In verse 1 of Genesis 3, he started with a question, and in verse 6, he was able to convince the woman. Eve saw that the tree was good for food and it was pleasant to the eye.
The devil bring and reinforce unbelief through our sense that why faith and feeling are eternal enemies because God and the flesh are enmity according to scripture.
You hear them say “Didn’t you listen to the news today, this and that happen” later the devil will use such facts to fight you, that it is why we must strive to build up the Word in our spirits so that when the devil comes, you can easily dislodge him.
I am not against listening to news, but let your heart not dwell on them, let your heart be richly filled with wisdom of God’s Word. The word said “when they shall say there is a casting down, we shall be saying there is a lifting up”
You can even hear the devil suggesting to you “stop deceiving yourself, those things won’t work, wake up and face realities, can you see you are getting weaker and weaker”
Tell him, that you are face with the real thing – the word of God that has the power to change everything. Tell him that God is too faithful to fail, He didn’t fail men of the past, He would start with you.
How to deal with doubt
1. Let the Word dwell richly in you (Col 3:16)
The principal source of faith is the Word of God (Rom 10:17) when faith grows, then unbelief bow out. Just like when the intensity of a light in a room increases, every form of darkness fade off. Only little faith according to scripture is vulnerable to doubt and fear, great faith is immune to doubt because of its depth in the word of God. In Math 14:31, Jesus said to Peter
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Unbelief is of the devil – it connote darkness but Word of God is light (Ps 119:130). The more you stay with the Word of God, the more the Word illuminate your spirit man and more faith arise up (Rom 10:17) and doubt fade out automatically, no struggle.
Basically, every other ways to deal with doubt depend on this one way – being filled with the Word, even if the spirit of God come to empower you, you must a man or woman filled with God’s Word. Anytime you believe God for anything according to His promises, stay with the Word until the promises is realized in your life. Faith is a living force (it grows) so if it must remain strong to deliver, you must continue to feed it on the Word of God.
2. Word Counter Attack
The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit, anytime the devil bring doubt in your mind, counter it immediately with “it is written” Note: the word can only have effect only if it has it root in your heart, that why step one is important. The logo holds no benefit to anyone, it is Rhema that is powerful, a personal revelation and encounter with the Word is what make that word a sword in your hands.
Sometime ago, the Spirit of the Lord instructed never to argue with the devil, but to always answer him back with the Word of God just like Jesus did.
You must understand that the devil is very subtle (Gen 3:1), he has been around from the beginning, he has seen several generation of mankind, and so even if he is a dummy, by the reason of those experiences, he now understands the game and how human beings reasons but he can’t stand the Word of God. Always answer him back, it is written.
3. Let Doubt Die Unborn
Many people are defeated in this area, whenever doubt comes into your mind, that don’t mean you have fallen into doubt, no just like when you encounter temptation, it don’t mean you have sin. Jesus was tempted beyond measure but was found without sin, so when doubt comes and you don’t give to it, it dies unborn.
How then do we ensure that every doubt dies unborn?
First refuse to think in that line of doubt, the Word admonish us to bring to captivity every thought to the knowledge of Christ.
Secondly, Bind the spirit of fear, at the root of every doubt is fear of the unknown. So bind it in the Name of Jesus.
Thirdly, refuse to speak in line with that thought of doubt and finally, don’t act in line with that thought. When you do that, doubt dies unborn.
4. Rebuke the Devil
It is a very big shame today that most Christian doesn’t know or understand their authority in Christ, why some are afraid to use their authority because they believe that the devil will attack them back.
Let me help you in this line: Devil has no power over any child of God because we are sited with Christ in heavenly (Eph 2:6) and Eph 1:20-21 made us to understand that this heavenly places is far above principality, power, dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but that is to come.
Again, your divine authority in Christ offers immunity over you; hear what Jesus said in Luk 10:19 (AMP)
Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and NOTHING SHALL IN ANY WAY HARM YOU.
Note: nothing shall in any way harm you, note the nothing mean (1 – 1 = 0), it mean emptiness, no force can hurt you. Every child of God has power over the devil through the name of Jesus.
The seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name! (Luk 10:17)
And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; (Mar 16:17)
Bind the devil and he will flee, God wouldn’t do it for you, God is waiting for you to do it and God’s Work is to confirm your declaration.
5. Maintain a good company
Your relationships determine your progress in life. Also in your faith walk, the kind of relationship/friends you keep will either make or mar your faith – build your faith or infuse doubt inside you.
The Word said
He that walketh with the wise shall be wise, the companion of fool shall be destroyed
It has been said you will be the same person you are in the next 5 years except for the books you read and the company you keep. Your relationship either make you or mar your destiny, if you surrounded with faith filled people, you faith will be challenged and built up because faith is of the spirit and it is contagious any day anytime.
But if you walk with doubtful people, doubt will start creeping into your life, the above scripture can be paraphrased as this
He that walketh with faithful shall be faithful. He that walketh with doubters shall have his faith destroyed
The company of people, you go to during crisis matters a lot especially when your faith is challenged and tested.
In Act 4, when Peter and John was threatened and challenged by the Chief Priest and the elders, note what they did in verse 23
After they were permitted to go, [the apostles] RETURNED TO THEIR OWN [COMPANY] and told all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. (Act 4:23)
They returned to their own company, some years ago, the Spirit of God interpreted this verse to me as “they returned to their own company of like faith”
I want to ask you, who do you go when crisis or challenge arise, if you are a believer of divine healing, then don’t hang around individuals or even believers that doesn’t believe in divine healing.
Do you know why? They will rubbish your faith in divine healing.
Do not give that which is holy (the sacred thing) to the dogs, and do not throw your pearls before hogs, lest they trample upon them with their feet and turn and tear you in pieces. (Mat 7:6)
Careful Choose your friends, in my own personal life, I have noticed that whenever I discuss with genuine and serious Christians – true followers of Jesus not just Church goers, I am naturally nurtured and refreshed. This is because:
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. (Pro 27:17)
Stop keeping company with individuals that mock your Christian faith and also separate individuals that the Lord instructs you to separate from. This separation is need for you to go forward in life
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1Co 15:33)
When God called Abraham, he took Lot with him, did you know that Abraham never entered into the blessing the God promised him in Gen 12 until Lot separated from him
And the LORD said unto Abram, AFTER THAT LOT WAS SEPARATED FROM HIM, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
(Gen 13:14-15)
Prophet Isaiah never saw any vision until the King Uzziah died
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. (Isa 6:1)
Remember that, in the Old Testament – there are three principal vessels that works together to promote the worship of God among God’s people – the priest, the prophet and the King.
So your company of friends matter a lot in the journey of life and in this case in your faith life. To enjoy a faith driven life, you must hang around faith filled men, friends what a joy. Friendship is not by force (Amos 3:3)
True friendship is never born until the parties involved are mutually agreed. Go for the right relationship and see your faith soaring in Jesus Name Amen.
6. Pray in the Holy Spirit
Most people in the body of Christ has under-estimated the power of speaking in tongues. When you pray in tongues, you stir up the person of the Holy Spirit that is resident in your inside.
According to scripture, one of the principal ministry of the Holy Spirit is the ministry of truth (John 14:26). When you pray in tongue, the Spirit gives you utterance (Act 2:4) – in other words He is stirred up and When He comes alive in you, light comes
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. (Isa 28:11)
And their nothing that fire up a man’s faith like insight into God’s Word (Rom 10:17), because a man in his right mind doesn’t doubt what he see
Many years ago, during my early days in the university, I encountered a problem, I didn’t know anybody and I didn’t know how to solve it. I was depressed, immediately I went into my room; I knelt down and started praying in tongues. Within five minutes, a powerful light broke forth from Math 7:11 and I stood up with my joy and great faith. To cut the story short, God step into the case and solved it miraculous.
Word In season: Please note that Holy Spirit doesn’t come and go as many people believe. Jesus said in John 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may ABIDE WITH YOU FOR EVER; (Joh 14:16)
The word “abide” mean to live with, to stay with. If Holy Spirit comes and go, then He is not abiding forever, is He ?
Some believe that when you sin, that the Spirit of God departs from you. No, sin only hinder and stop His operation in your life but He still abide.
Hear this: if He leaves you and I when we sin, you and I will never stand up against sin because He is our seal of redemption, He is the Spirit of adoption. He is the one the call you back to true devotion to Jesus – that inner urge or fire or love that draw you back to Jesus.
We are convicted by the God’s love, but that Holy Spirit is the source of that love (Rom 5:5) He is the one that makes your heart long after righteousness even when your body is weak in sin (Rom 7:15,22-25)
Without Him, we will continue in sin forever because He is the Spirit of Holiness (Rom 4:1), He is that inner quiet voice calling you back to God during your quiet time and time of silence.
Sin only hinder and grieve Him, but He still abide, He is the Spirit of adoption, if He depart from us, then we are lost forever and no longer children of God.
Also the Spirit of God is our comforter, helper, standby and advocate. Now what kind of comforter will abandon the one, he to comfort during the times of crisis? He is here to help you and I especially in our weakness – struggle with sin, life difficulties.
Please engage the Holy Spirit, Jesus committed us into His Hand, ask for His Help with a sincere heart and He will help in you, I proven this truth in my life for years now and it is still working. He is your helper, standby, and counselor. Come on friend, engage HIM.
7. Exercise your faith violently
Anytime doubt arise up, refuse to accept it and act on the Word that you believe either by declaring it or acting on the truth. I made this a practice, anytime the devil come against me at a hot frequency; I drive him mad by singing and dancing before the Lord for what I am believing God to do for me.
Hear this: Faith and Doubt can’t grow at the same time, just as light and darkness, when one increase the other decrease. When faith increase, doubt decrease. According to scripture, growth and maturity is not prayed into but pursed. Maturity and growth comes by exercise.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Heb 5:14)
Instead of wishing that doubt will go away, simply act on what you believe and your faith will increase and doubt will disappear. The Word of God build potential for great faith in us, but what actually grow our faith is challenge (James 1:1-2)
Just like your physical muscles, food gives us the strength and provides the nourishment that we need, but it is not enough, we must exercise those muscles if it must develop. The great man of God and respected mentor, Smith Wigglesworth said “Great faith is born out great trial”
Exercise that faith and doubt will flee from you, continue to speak positively in line with God’s Word that you believe, continue to act in it.
8. Engage the Spirit of faith
One cheapest way to keep doubt out of your reach and enjoy ever triumphant faith is by the Spirit of faith
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; (2Co 4:13)
The spirit of faith is the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that enables the carrier of such gift to stand strong in faith until the promise speaks. The Spirit of faith drive you on the faith frequency, you don’t need to plan it – it just happens automatically and naturally.
And immediately the Spirit DRIVETH him into the wilderness. (Mar 1:12)
When the Spirit of faith is at work in your life, the Spirit of the Lord automatically puts you in the faith frequency. The Spirit of faith manifests first by explosive insight into the Word and inner strength to stand on that truth until God confirms His Word.
Think of the Abraham, how can a man wait for 34 years for a promise, despite this: the word had a testimony that he staggered not at the promise of God but was strong in faith (Rom 4:18)
Such stability comes by the operation of Spirit of faith; normal faith can stand such test of time. The Spirit of faith takes you out of this world, it makes you dare the impossible, it makes you accomplish feat that are beyond your faith.
In my life, the Spirit of faith came alive in my spirit when the Faith Mandate was delivered to me and since that time till now, I have operate in a realms of faith that are beyond my faith. In 2009, the Lord said to me after studying the life of Smith Wigglesworth “When you come to the end of your faith, I will step in and take over from there”
Virtually every testimonies in my life and ministration is driven by that the Operation of that Spirit, in such situation, I am conscious that this is not me but God at work in me. Every man called of God is empowered by God has certain gifts to empowered and equip him to deliver the mandate deliver to such person (Is 60:1, Luk 4:18, Judge 6:4, 1 Thel 5:24)
A man called into deliverance ministry will carry a deliverance gift/anointing, the man called into teaching ministry will possess a teaching gift, the man called into healing will possess a healing anointing. Every calling of God is given with their respective empowerment.
Every calling of God and gift is not just for the caller but for the body of Christ and the Word instructed us to desire the operation of the Spirit. I am privileged by God and not by qualification, I carry a little portion of that Spirit of faith by the virtue of the faith mandate delivered to me and what a joy that that gift is available to you
The Lord said to me
Preach faith to the People, By this Mandate I will liberate men and raise up giants in the Kingdom
He also said to me
These giants shall be men who will take Me My Word and do exploit
Preach the Word of faith so that the faith of men will not rest on man’s wisdom but on the power of God
Friends such realm require the operation of the Spirit of faith because by strength shall no man prevail. It is not in a man of God to duplicate such gifting that He carry, it is God’s responsibility
And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. (Num 11:17)
But it is your thirst and desire that move God to release His Spirit upon you.
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: (Isa 44:3)
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (Joh 7:37)
Look up to Jesus and cry out from the depth of your heart for the operation of the Spirit. Ask Him to prove that this faith Mandate is from Him.