Faith failures?

Have you ever questioned,

"Why didn't I receive what I prayed for?"

The first disciples asked the Lord Jesus Christ,

"Why couldn't we drive it [a demon] out?" Matthew 17:19; Mark 9:28

They had tried to expel a demon, but they couldn't do it. Matthew 17:14-16; Mark 9:17-18

Earlier, the Lord Himself had given them authority to drive out demons. Matthew 10:1; Mark 3:13-15

Did they have a "faith failure?"

Let's look at the answers Jesus gave them as told by Matthew and Mark.

You couldn't cast out this demon because --

"You have so little faith." Matthew 17:20

"This kind [of demon] cannot come out, except by prayer." Mark 9:29

Some translations add to prayer the action of fasting. [to not eat or drink for a certain time] Matthew 6:16-18; Acts 9:9; 13:1-3

HOW MUCH FAITH DO WE NEED?

If we have "so little faith" as Jesus said to them and could say to us as a reason for failing to receive, what should we do?

Maybe we could pray,

"Increase our faith!" Luke 17:5

Or in a desperate mode,

"I do believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:24

How might Jesus reply?

"For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move.

Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

A mustard seed was the smallest of seeds. Mark 4:31 

Therefore, we need only a little faith of that size, the faith that's from Jesus, Acts 3:16 to do what He wants Matthew 10:1, 7-8; 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 9:1-2; 10:1-2, 9 and receive. Matthew 21:22

"Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. [Jesus']

Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete." John 16:24 

Another response from the Savior could be,

"All things are possible to him [insert YOUR NAME] who believes!" Mark 9:23

MORE of HIS PRECIOUS and MAGNIFICENT PROMISES 2 Peter 1:4

"So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:11

"Have faith in God," Jesus said to them. [His first disciples]

"Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:22-24

Jesus said, "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples." John 15:7-8

REASONS FOR "FAITH FAILURES"

If you've listened to or read enough messages from preachers and teachers, it's possible to "hear" the spirit of faith 2 Corinthians 4:13 in the word of faith that they communicate. Romans 10:8 

They claim with confidence that you CAN receive from the Lord.

"He is NOT withholding anything from you when you live right." Psalm 84:11-12; Romans 8:32

Other ministers may have the spirit of doubt Matthew 14:31 or unbelief. Mark 9:24

"God usually doesn't do that anymore. So, don't count on it."

Some will bruise a reed and pour water on fire that's burning in a believer.

It was foretold Isaiah 42:3 that Jesus would NOT do that. Matthew 12:17-21

Let's follow in His steps 1 Peter 2:21 to have the same spirit of faith that others have had to minimize failures --

And in keeping with what is written: "I believed, therefore I have spoken," we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,

knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence. 2 Corinthians 4:13-14

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Let's have ears to hear. Mark 4:9; Revelation 2:7

Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

CHECKLIST

Paul wrote to Christians, 2 Corinthians 1:1-2

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.

Can't you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5

Let's look to see if we're falling short.

There are faith failures because --

1. And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures. James 4:3

Ouch.

One's friendship with the world's desires of the flesh, eyes, and the pride of life, James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-16, to conform to its ways, Romans 12:2 isn't the path to faith successes, is it?

Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." Matthew 7:13

2. We don't ask according to His will.

Even if our motives are right, our petition is NOT in harmony with His desire.

And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14

What a great promise!

But the opposite is true, too.

If we ask anything that is NOT according to His will, He doesn't hear us and we will have to accept that we will NOT get what we prayed for.

At first glance, it doesn't seem fair when we want His glory as Scripture instructs. Matthew 5:16; Philippians 1:11; Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

But God the Father knows what we need before we ask Him, Jesus said. Matthew 6:8

Father knows best and WHEN it's the right time for us to receive. Mark 4:26-29; Galatians 6:9

To everything there is a season,

and a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

For those who have searched the Bible and interpreted it correctly 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17 to find Scriptures that assure them that their prayers are His will, they still could be slightly off.

Therefore Paul wrote,

But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints [Lord's people Romans 1:7] according to the will of God. Romans 8:25-27

3. Prayers of husbands can be hindered and cause faith failures. 1 Peter 3:7

Why?

Husbands don't treat their wives as well as their own bodies. Ephesians 5:28, 33 

They might be bitter and harsh toward them, not gentle. Colossians 3:19

Some of us don't even try (or have stopped attempting) to love them as Christ loved the Church [His body of believers Ephesians 5:23] and gave Himself for it. Ephesians 5:25

We don't live with them with the Lord's knowledge of and consideration of them in honor. 1 Peter 3:7

Can we at least be aware that this is the standard?

Wives are to submit themselves to their own husbands, Ephesians 5:22-24, and respect them, Ephesians 5:33 which can have a benefit. 1 Peter 3:1-4

But if they don't, maybe that's a reason for faith failures.

4. Each believer, married or not, is to submit to one another Ephesians 5:21 as we're clothed with humility. Ephesians 4:2; 1 Peter 5:5

If we're proud Proverbs 6:16-17 and don't yield humbly to others Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:3 who do the Father's will Matthew 7:21 when they walk in the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:16 this could be another reason for faith failures.

Why?

"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5

5. We don't confess our sins and then stop a lifestyle of sinning. John 5:14; 8:10-12; 1 John 3:3-10

He who conceals his sins will not prosper,

but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy. Proverbs 28:13

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

6. Unforgiveness can be a cause for faith failures.

If we don't forgive a fellow human, how can we expect the Father to forgive us?

For if you forgive men [people] their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive men [people] their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours. Matthew 6:14-15

And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well. Mark 11:25

To forgive others, no matter what they've done, is Christianity at its basic, wonderful level.

Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

TRAVEL THE FAITH SUCCESS ROAD

Brick roads for travelers in ancient times and even now are built one brick at a time.

Let's NOT be discouraged if there's a delay or an apparent denial for what we believed was a legitimate, scriptural prayer request in the authority, character, and power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He said, "In that day [which includes now] you will no longer ask Me [Jesus] anything.

Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you." John 16:23

Let's continue (or start) to build our faith success road.

There are high standards for believers as we build.

Would we expect less?

Jesus said, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48

Peter wrote, As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.

But just as He Who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,

for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:14-16

John wrote, Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked. 1 John 2:6

Obedience as a lifestyle takes time to build spiritually into us, brick by brick.

Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,

and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.

And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us. 1 John 3:21-23

To believe in His name, that is, to trust Him completely and to love as He loves us John 13:34; Revelation 1:5 is a process.

To grow in holiness, Hebrews 12:10 let's understand that there are stages to this development.

How can we know this?

To fail 7 times in one day would be bad.

Should there still be forgiveness?

Jesus said, "Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents [turns from sin], forgive him.

Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, 'I repent,' you must forgive him." Luke 17:3-4

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!" [or possibly seventy multiplied by seven, which is 490 times] Matthew 18:21-22

Some good, first few bricks to lay on the faith success road could be these --

A. On account of God the Father's mercy, we offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to Him.

B. We do NOT conform to how the world thinks and acts. 

C. We renew our minds to how He thinks and acts as revealed in the Bible so that we're transformed. Romans 12:1-2 

If we stumble, He can give us more grace [His undeserved, unearned favor]. Romans 5:20-21; James 4:6

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin.

But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2

Every alleged faith failure, whether due to sin or some other reason, can bring us closer to success IF we remain in Jesus. John 15:4; Romans 5:3-5; 2 Corinthians 4:17; James 1:2-3; 1 Peter 1:6-7

Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. 1 Peter 5:6

Your thoughts?

R. Jason