SIX ENEMIES TO FAITH !

SIX ENEMIES TO FAITH: When we "fight the good fight of faith," we can step out all the narrow place of failure into the boundless power of God. Our lesson today discusses the Believer's "good fight of faith," as mentioned in (1 Timothy 6:12). I have heard people say they were going to fight the devil. I don't know why, because, in the first place, they were no match for him. Second, Jesus already has defeated the devil for us. I guess this is due from religious teaching ! Jesus was and is our substitute. I also have heard people say they were going to fight sin. But I am not going to fight sin; I'm going to preach the cure for sin. Jesus is the cure for sin ! The only fight the Believer is called upon to fight is "the good fight of faith." If there is such a fight, that implies there must be enemies or hindrance to faith for if there were no enemies to faith, there would be no fight to it. In this lesson we will deal with six enemies to faith. ENEMY NO. 1 -- FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST JESUS: (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." A lack of understanding of what it means to be a new creature hinders many believers faith life. Many people do not realize that they actually are new creatures. They are constantly looking at the natural temporal things in this world with a carnal mindset ! They think that when they were saved, God simply forgave them of their sins. It would do little good if this were all the sinner receive, for he or she is a child of the devil and still would go to hell. He or she has to be born again ! He or she has to become a new creature, putting off his or her old, sinful nature and ways. No, we are not just forgiven sinners. We are not barely getting along church members. We are not living at the Inn of the block on struggling to Get to Heaven Street next to Grumble Alley. That's not for us ! That is what religion teaches. We are new creatures, created by God in Christ Jesus with the very life and nature of God in our spirits. We are children of God, sons and daughters of God, and heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ Jesus. ENEMY NO. 2 -- FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND OUR PLACE: Everywhere I go, I suggest that believers go through The New Testament -- primarily The Epistles -- and right now the phrase "in Christ," "in whom," and "in Him." Writing them down will help you remember them. There are approximately 140 such expressions in the New Testament. If you will read and meditate on these scriptures until they become a part of you, life will be different for you. How, or we born again ? (1 Peter 1:23) says "you have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal Oregon (seed, sperm), but from one that is Immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God." The amplified Bible. As you read these verses, say to yourself out loud, "this is who I am. This is what I have in Christ Jesus. You're not born again because you went and joined some building that they call church ! You are born again because you confessed the Word of God who is the Lord Christ Jesus.