EPISODE 600 – FAITH THAT CANNOT FAIL 10 — FAITH IS PERSISTENT 2

It is one thing to say you believe in God when there are no challenges. It is another thing to believe in God’s word even amid contrary opinions or challenges.

Some people easily give up on God’s word and begin to look for other alternatives, when things seem not to go as planned or expected.

To doubt the truth and power of the word of God simply because you didn’t see your expectations is evidence that you are not exercising faith or not persevering in faith.

When Jesus heard that Lazarus his friend was sick, He said Lazarus’s sickness is not unto death. Yet, Lazarus still died. Did Jesus change His confession? Did Jesus doubt the truth of the word He spoke? Jesus persevered in faith. He held on to that word and believed that, though Lazarus is buried he shall rise and live again! (John 11:23)

Oh hallelujah!

Faith is audacious and persistent. Faith cannot be silenced. Faith focuses on the expectation and goes for it irrespective of the opposition. Faith doesn’t give up. Faith doesn’t say, it cannot happen again. Faith says no, there is a way forward, even when all paths are blocked. Faith doesn’t think of impossibilities. Faith says with God all things are possible.

Did you read how God made a way in the Red Sea for the Israelites?

Faith always has a way forward.

A man of faith doesn’t take no for an answer; unless the “no” is from God.

When Jesus heard that Lazarus was dead, He didn’t quit. Faith doesn’t quit. Yes, He wept and had intense emotions. But that wasn’t an emotional breakdown. That was a demonstration of love for His friend. They said, “Look how much He loved Lazarus” (John 11:35-36).

As Jesus stood before the tomb of Lazarus, what was on His mind? What made Him think Lazarus would rise again?

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
What an audacity! He didn’t beg nor ask in fear. He said to them roll the stone.

As Martha was thinking about how impossible it would be for Lazarus to be raised, because of the decomposition of his body, Jesus told her to BELIEVE! (John 11:38-40).

Before Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out of the grave, He spoke to the Father saying, “Father thank you that you have heard my prayer”.

Then He commanded Lazarus to come out of the grave.

Did you see that?

Beloved, the persistence of faith is demonstrated through:

1. Prayer

2. Continuous declaration of what God said.

3. Taking bold action.

Your persistence in prayer is not faithlessness. To persist in prayer is to enforce the word of God and to demand an answer.

There are times you have declared the word of the Lord, that you shall not be sick, for example. And then after some time, you start seeing symptoms of some sickness. Don’t ignore the situation or the facts all in the name of faith. Faith doesn’t fake it nor pretend. Faith acts out the word. And don’t also accept the power of the facts over you. As you notice those symptoms take hold of the word.

This is where you boldly persist in faith to see the manifestation of your healing.

Maybe when you started experiencing the condition you were praying one-hour a day about the situation and it continued. Don’t say my prayers didn’t work.