Mark 16:17-18 (NKJV) 17  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

This is the scripture that many Christians, especially those in the word of faith and prosperity gospel movements, use to say that all believers have the ability, whether they use it or not, to perform exorcisms or cast out demons.  They also use it for claiming universal authority for other things as well but those are not a subject of this post.

Exorcism is derived from a Greek word, exorkistēs, meaning to adjure, or bind by oath. I wrote about binding in another post. Can We Bind and Rebuke Satin - What Does The Bible Say?, You can read it by clicking this LINK!

Disclaimer

Before I begin as I have done with other controversial posts I must make this disclaimer.  you write a post like this you run the risk of being misunderstood so I did have some reluctance in finally deciding to do it. I do believe that Satan exists and that the spirit world is full of countless numbers of demonic spirits or demons.  I also believe that Jesus “cast out”, ordered, commanded, or otherwise told demons to leave the bodies of people when he walked the earth.  I believe, because it is recorded in scripture, that Jesus gave his followers authority to “cast out” demons and finally I believe, again because it is recorded in scripture, that the apostles and others were able to “cast out” demons after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.   What I don’t believe is that scripture says that all believers or followers of Jesus have that authority.  That is why I wrote this post.

One point that I want to make right out of the box is that when I refer to the casting out of demons I’m talking about casting them out of the unbeliever.  The believer can’t be possessed or be the dwelling place of a demon.  I say that because as Paul says the believer’s body is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19 (NKJV) 19  Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Think about it. Can a demon or an evil spirit dwell in the same place as God?  Now that that is clear I want to quickly address those who believe that any illness that they have is the result of demonic presence. Again I say it is impossible for there to be any possession of any kind in the body of a believer.  There can be and there is attack from outside the body but we are told to resist and the devil (that includes his demon friends) will flee. 

James 4:7 (NKJV) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Ephesians 6:13 (NKJV) Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

One other point.  Every illness, financial crisis, breakup, loss of job, or other unpleasant happening are the result of demonic activity.  Poor eating habits or dangerous activities may be the cause of sickness or accidents.  Foolish financial decisions can result in financial crises.  Downsizing of a company or an economic recession can cause loss of a job....you get the picture. 

Mark 16:9-20 

I first want to address the scripture that is most often used to assert that all Christians or believers have been given the authority to “cast out”.  My guess is that there is a note of some kind in your bible that reads something like; “The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9-20."  This is another way of saying that these verses are not considered inspired scripture, and thus should not be used to build doctrines or to even preach on by themselves, since they are considered unreliable and were most likely added to the scriptures by some scribe.

This is from the notes in The MacArthur Study Bible, copyright 1997 Word Publishing, Nashville, TN:

"Mark 16:9–20 The external evidence strongly suggests these verses were not originally part of Mark’s gospel. While the majority of Gr. manuscripts contain these verses, the earliest and most reliable do not. A shorter ending also existed, but it is not included in the text. Further, some that include the passage note that it was missing from older Gr. manuscripts, while others have scribal marks indicating the passage was considered spurious. The fourth-century church fathers Eusebius and Jerome noted that almost all Gr. manuscripts available to them lacked vv. 9–20. The internal evidence from this passage also weighs heavily against Mark’s authorship. The transition between vv. 8 and 9 is abrupt and awkward. The Gr. particle translated "now" that begins v. 9 implies continuity with the preceding narrative. What follows, however, does not continue the story of the women referred to in v. 8, but describes Christ’s appearance to Mary Magdalene (cf. John 20:11–18). The masculine participle in v. 9 expects "he" as its antecedent, yet the subject of v. 8 is the women. Although she had just been mentioned 3 times (v. 1; 15:40, 47), v. 9 introduces Mary Magdalene as if for the first time. Further, if Mark wrote v. 9, it is strange that he would only now note that Jesus had cast 7 demons out of her. The angel spoke of Jesus’ appearing to His followers in Galilee, yet the appearances described in vv. 9–20 are all in the Jerusalem area. Finally, the presence in these verses of a significant number of Gr. words used nowhere else in Mark argues that Mark did not write them. Verses 9–20 represent an early (they were known to the second-century fathers Irenaeus, Tatian, and, possibly, Justin Martyr) attempt to complete Mark’s gospel. While for the most part summarizing truths taught elsewhere in Scripture, vv. 9–20 should always be compared with the rest of Scripture, and no doctrines should be formulated based solely on them. Since, in spite of all these considerations of the likely unreliability of this section, it is possible to be wrong on the issue, and thus, it is good to consider the meaning of this passage and leave it in the text, just as with John 7:53–8:11."

Jesus Did Give Authority to Cast out Demons

Matthew 10:1, 8 (NKJV) And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 8  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Mark 3:14-15 (NKJV) 14  Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15  and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:

Mark 6:7-13 (NKJV) 7  And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 8  He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff--no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts-- 9  but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. 10  Also He said to them, "In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. 11  And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!" 12  So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13  And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.

Luke 10:1, 17 (NKJV) 1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 17  Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."

Luke 9:1-2 (NKJV) 1  Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2  He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

It appears that the purpose of Jesus' disciples performing exorcisms was to show Christ's dominion over the demons (Luke 10:17) and to verify that the disciples were acting in His name and by His authority.  It was obvious that this act of casting out demons was important to the ministry of the disciples.

However, in none of these scriptures is there any indication that Jesus gives this authority to all who follow Him and believe.  Jesus gave these men this power and authority to prove that he had to authority to grant this ability to others in proof of his Deity.  I do believe that today certain believers may be able to perform an exorcism but not all believers, because scripture doesn’t support it.

After Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and ascension there are scriptural references to casting out demons

Acts 8:6-7 (NKJV) 6  And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7  For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.

Acts 16:17-18 (NKJV) 17  This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." 18  And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour.

Acts 19:11-12 (NKJV) 11  Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12  so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

Again there is no scriptural indication that all believers have this ability or have been given this authority.  All believers do not have the same gifts of the Spirit so it stands to reason that all believers would not be given the authority to cast out demons. So while God is no respecter of persons, as we like to say, He does give some people gifts and talents that He doesn’t give others.

I would caution you about confronting demons, unless you definitely know that you have been given authority by Jesus to do battle with them.  There are some examples in scripture of those who didn’t have that authority.  The bible doesn’t say whether these people are believers or not but Jesus Himself said that there were those who were not His followers with the ability to “cast out demons”

Luke 11:19 (NKJV) 19  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.

Acts 19:13-16 (NKJV) 13  Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14  Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15  And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" 16  Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Read the account of Simon who the bible say was a believer.

Acts 8:5-9, 13, 18-24 (NKJV) 5  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6  And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7  For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8  And there was great joy in that city. 9  But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,  13  Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.  18  And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19  saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 20  But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21  You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22  Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23  For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity." 24  Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me."

As I said in my disclaimer I do believe in the existence of Satan and demons and I believe that I have sensed their presence before. My response has been to pray for protection and then “split”.  It is foolish to seek confrontation and to discount the instructions and advice of scripture.

 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NKJV) But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

James 4:7 (NKJV) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Here is what is says on the GotQuestion?org website!

In the New Testament books of Romans through Jude, in which is most of the teaching and doctrine for the church, there are references to demonic activity but there is no discussion of casting them out nor are believers exhorted to do so. We are told to put on the armor to stand against them (Ephesians 6:10-18). We are told to resist the devil (James 4:7), be careful of him (1 Peter 5:8), and not give him room in our lives (Ephesians 4:27). However, we are not told how to cast him or his demons out of others, or that we should even consider doing so.

It appears that as the Word of God was completed, the Christians had more weapons with which to battle the spirit world than the early Christians did. The role of casting out demons was replaced, for the most part, with evangelism and discipleship through the Word of God. Since the methods of spiritual warfare in the New Testament do not involve casting out demons, it is difficult to determine instructions on how to do such a thing. If necessary at all, it seems that it is through exposing the individual to the truth of the Word of God and the name of Jesus Christ. 

 Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV) 21  "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22  Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23  And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

If God has not ordained you to use His name for casting out demons, don’t think you can simply conjure up some faith and do it anyway. Based on the Bible, it will not work!

Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT)  Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

To Receive

1. To take or acquire (something given, offered, or transmitted); get.
   
2. To hear or see (information, for example): receive bad news; received a good report of the group's activities.
3. Accept delivery of something

How Do We Receive From the Lord?

We receive from the Lord today in the same way that people in the Bible received from the Lord—whether it is salvation, healing, wisdom, or some other gift God has provided. We receive by faith, and faith is belief and trust in God and who He is.

James 1:5-7 (NLT) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.  But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.  Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

The Word of God makes it clear that it is by faith, or belief in God and His Word that we receive.

Let’s look at more scripture that prove this point.

Matthew 21:22 (NLT) You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”

These are Jesus' comments after the disciples remarked that fig tree that Jesus cursed the day before on the way to the temple was now dead.   The Arabic version of the New Testament, which is what Jesus and the disciples probably spoke, reads like this, "in prayer with faith".  This indicates that for whatever is asked in faith, if it is agrees with the will of God, which is contained in His word, it will be given, even if it appears to be impossible:

Mark 9:23 (NLT) “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

Jesus said this after that great scene where Jesus was with Peter, James, and John and Jesus was transfigured and talked with Moses and Elijah.   When they came down from the mountain, there was a crowd and there was a man there with a demon possessed son.  He had asked Jesus’ disciples to help and cast the demon from his son but they couldn’t do it.  The man then asked Jesus for help.  The man said he believed but he also asked that Jesus to help him overcome his unbelief.  I wrote about this in another blog post, “Lord I Believe; Help My Unbelief – Increase My Faith”.   Here’s the link to it.  Jesus also talks about prayer and fasting in this particular case but this post is about the absolute necessity of faith in order to receive and that's the case with fasting and prayer anyway.  

This from the Pulpit Commentary.  It is as though Jesus said, "Thou sayest to me, 'If thou canst do anything!' Ah, that 'If thou canst!' All things are possible to him that believeth." In other words, our Lord said to him, "Believe in me, and your child shall be healed." It was right that Christ should demand faith in himself; for it was not fitting that he should confer his special benefits on those who disbelieved or doubted about him - that he should thrust his blessings on those who were unworthy of them. The answer of the father is touching and beautiful. Greatly agitated, he cried out and said, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. It is as though he said," I do believe; but my faith is weak. Do thou, therefore, increase and strengthen it; so that whatever there is in me of doubt or remaining unbelief may be taken away, and I may be counted worthy to obtain from thee this blessing for my son."

Where Does Belief/Faith Happen?

I believe that these verses indicate that believing takes place in our heart, not in our head.   Let me explain.

Romans 10:8-10 (NLT)  In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. (Emphasis mine)

The word “heart” and some form of the word “believe” or “faith” are used in each one of these verses.

Whatever we receive from God comes the same way—by faith, or by believing. And it’s with our heart, not our head—our intellect or our physical senses. 

How Do We Believe With Our Heart Its A Muscle?

Yes it’s the muscle that pumps blood through our bodies but that’s not what I’m talking about.

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Society promotes the “heart” as ONLY emotions (I love you with all my heart, I just love the way she/he makes me feel, my heart is broken) but the “heart” refers to the CORE of our inner person.

The heart, according to Strong’s Concordance: includes thinking. The Greek word is kardia - prolonged from a primary kar (Latin cor, “heart”); the heart, i.e. (figurative) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle :- (+ broken-) heart (-ed).

Holman Bible Dictionary - First, the word heart refers to the physical organ and is considered to be the center of the physical life. Eating and drinking are spoken of as strengthening the heart (Genesis 18:5; Judges 19:5; Acts 14:17 ). As the center of physical life, the heart came to stand for the person as a whole.

The heart became the focus for all the vital functions of the body; including both intellectual and spiritual life. The heart and the intellect are closely connected, the heart being the seat of intelligence: “For this people's heart is waxed gross lest at any time they should understand with their heart, and should be converted” (Matthew 13:15 ). The heart is connected with thinking: As a person “thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7 ). To ponder something in one's heart means to consider it carefully (Luke 1:66; Luke 2:19 ). “To set one's heart on” is the literal Hebrew that means to give attention to something, to worry about it (1 Samuel 9:20 ). To call to heart (mind) something means to remember something (Isaiah 46:8 ). All of these are functions of the mind, but are connected with the heart in biblical language.

The heart is thought to be the seat of the inner self (composed of life, soul, mind, and spirit). Heart is similar in meaning to soul, but often the heart has a focus on thinking and understanding.

Mark 2:8 (NLT) Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?

Luke 24:38-40 (NLT) “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt?  Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.”  As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.

The heart is regarded as the seat of feeling, impulse, affection, desire.

 Matthew 6:21 (NLT) Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

The heart, as the seat of intellect.

Matthew 13:15 (NLT) For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’

The conscience.

1 John 3:21-22 (BBE) My loved ones, if our heart does not say that we have done wrong, we have no fear before him; And he gives us all our requests, because we keep his laws and do the things which are pleasing in his eyes.

So when you think of your heart, think about your inner self including your thoughts, emotions, attitudes, desires, passions, motives, etc.

When the Bible talks about believing with our heart, it’s talking about believing with the inner man, or our spirit.

In other words, you believe on the inside. And what you believe on the inside is manifested on the outside. God starts working on the inside of a person and works to the outside. For example, healing doesn’t start on the outside—it starts with your believing in your heart (on the inside). When you pray, you believe, or have faith, that you receive and you do.

How Does it Happen?

Romans 10:17 (BBE) So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Remember believing is with the heart.  To receive you must believe and it begins with hearing the Word of Christ.  The King James says the Word of God.  Hearing is more than just sitting through a sermon on Sunday or listening to a preacher on the radio, or television, or YouTube.   It means spending time reading, studying, praying.  But you must accept and receive into your own hearts—the Word.

So often Christians just accept what someone else says instead of studying the Bible for themselves. That’s how so many are deceived by false teachers and doctrine and are hurt and even leave the church.  Don't just take my word or the word of your Pastor, or favorite Televangelist or author, study the Word for yourself.   What I say, or what anyone else says, is unimportant unless it’s scriptural.

You must believe God’s Word for yourself—in your own heart—to receive from Him. Yes, God can and still does perform miracles but that is not the ordinary way to receive from Him. So don’t sit around and wait for something to turn up. Get in the Word for yourself, believe it in your heart, and then do what the Word says!

Too many Christians are just waiting, letting time pass expecting God to move in their lives. When He does not fix the situation they give up and lose hope.  In some cases they blame God, the church, the Pastor or themselves, but the result is the same. God cannot move in their lives simply by praying and then letting time pass. We often quote James 2:17 Even so faith without works is dead (BBE).  However many times we don’t work we just wait and do nothing.  Work doesn’t mean we forget about God but we do what we know to do and then leave the rest to God.

This cycle has rendered too many Christians powerless, defeated and not much different than the unsaved people around them. In some cases they are worse off because they pray and then do nothing... waiting on God to do a miracle. Meanwhile the unsaved aren't waiting for God so they go ahead and do whatever they can and in many cases come out looking better than the Christian.

In the bible we can read about the miracles in the early church, what happened? When did we lose the power? Did God get tired? Did He treat them differently than us?

Absolutely not! God is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Then what is the problem? If you have been taught that waiting on the Lord is a Holy thing and that God is sovereign and therefore if He answers prayer He will... and if He doesn't then just accept it and He will help you get through the situation... even if it kills you... WELL…. IT MAY JUST DO THAT

Some scriptures that can be misused or misunderstood.

Psalm 5:3 (NLT)  Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

 Psalm 27:14 (NLT) Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

Psalm 62:1-2 (NLT)  I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.

Isaiah 40:27-31 (NKJV) Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: "My way is hidden from the LORD, And my just claim is passed over by my God"? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,  But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

These scriptures read in context tell us to apply our faith to the waiting time.

If we want prayer answered in our lives and receive from God we need to get this! Waiting on the Lord has more to do with what we do, and our faith, than it does with time passing. Time alone will not bring the promises of God into our lives. If it did then over the years we would see everybody healed, and all the problems of the world solved. But we don’t see that do we?

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT) And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

 Sincerely seeking is not just letting time pass…

Galatians 5:5-6 (HCSB) For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love. It is true most often there is a time period between "Amen and there it is,”  Biblical waiting on the Lord, God’s way is to ask in faith, expect in faith and receive in Faith.   If we start out in faith then give up we should not expect God to answer our prayer either.

We can receive from God it if we have knowledge of His Word, are committed to His Will, Trust in His ways, and Pray for His Wisdom.

Do You Want To Receive From God?  

If so you need to be a part of His family, you need to become acquainted with His Son Jesus. 

John 1:12-13 (NLT)  But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. Here’s how that happens;

Romans 10:9-12 (NLT) If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.  As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.

If you want to receive all the benefits that God has promised to His children then pray this prayer in all sincerity (only you and God know if you’re really sincere);

“Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.”

If you have just prayed this prayer, in all sincerity, call, text, email, Tweet, change your Facebook status and tell somebody, leave me a comment here or send me an email with this Link.  Then find a bible believing church and start to fellowship with other believers.  Welcome to the family of God.

Faith is the means by which we are saved by God’s grace, in fact we can’t be saved without it.

Ephesians 2:8 (HCSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift--

Hebrews 11:6 (HCSB) Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.

Habakkuk 2:4 (HCSB) …But the righteous one will live by his faith.

The Three Things Necessary for Faith

1. Someone must make a promise. 
2. There must be good reason for believing in the integrity and sufficiency of the person who made the promise. 
3. There follows a comfortable assurance that it will be so; in fact, the believer is able to count on the object promised as if it had already come into actual possession. 

These three conditions are fulfilled in Christian faith. 

The Bible's Definition Of Faith

Hebrews 11:1-2

• NIV Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. – 
•  New King James Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. – 
• Amplified  Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, [a]the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses 
• The Message Bible The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. 
• New Living Translation Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.
• Hebrews 11:1-2 (HCSB) Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.  For our ancestors won God’s approval by it.

The Greek word used here that is translated faith is pistis which primarily is “firm persuasion”, a conviction based upon hearing, a guarantee   

Faith is "substance" or "assurance" (hypostasis - confidence, confident)  The word literally means "a standing under, support" "Faith," in relation to hope, is assurance. It stands under and supports our hope. Thus, one's hope is only as secure as his faith is strong. -  W.E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

The term "evidence" or "conviction" (elenchus - proof, conviction) - The New Strong's Concise Concordance & Vine's Concise Dictionary Of The Bible

The word, “hope” (elpizō - to anticipate, usually with pleasure) - The New Strong's Concise Concordance & Vine's Concise Dictionary Of The Bible

We are positive, without the shadow of a doubt, and with complete expectation, that God will do what He has said He will do.   Because we have this absolute belief and trust we should live our lives as did those heroes of faith in the book of Hebrews who having died without seeing the fulfillment of the promises, embraced and confessed them as though they actually received them.

Faith, by its very nature, begins and ends in the realm of the unseen. The believer’s faith is conviction supported by evidence concerning things we don’t know by experience. By faith we accept that the invisible things of God are behind the visible universe

​In earlier times it did not take faith to believe that God existed— almost everybody took that for granted. Rather, faith had to do with one’s relationship to God— whether one trusted in God. The difference between faith as “belief in something that may or may not exist” and faith as “trusting in God” is enormous. The first is a matter of the head, the second a matter of the heart. The first can leave us unchanged, the second intrinsically brings change. —The Ragamuffin Gospel Manning, Brennan; Blase, John (2013-05-13). Dear Abba: Morning and Evening Prayer (p. 10). Bondfire Books. Kindle Edition. 


Hebrews 11:3 (HCSB) By faith we understand that the universe was created by God’s command, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.

By faith we hope for a home in heaven, though we have never seen it.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (HCSB) So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Does this mean faith is unreasonable? We believe that the Pilgrims landed on the shores of what is now Massachusetts, in 1620. We can’t confirm this by scientific methods but it is true. Things we can’t experience now like historical facts, are demonstrated and proven in ways other than observation and scientific experiments.

The believer’s faith is not a blind acceptance of unprovable opinions. It is not based on feeling, emotion, or a "blind leap." It is conviction supported by evidence.

The evidence that supports our faith is divine in origin. God is more trustworthy than man and we should expect this evidence to be of greater value than just human testimony.

Romans 3:3-4 (HCSB) What then? If some did not believe, will their unbelief cancel God’s faithfulness? Absolutely not! God must be true, even if everyone is a liar, as it is written: That You may be justified in Your words and triumph when You judge.

The first body of evidence, the world (nature). The world, the first and general revelation of God to man. The very existence of the universe, its power, order, and complexity demand an Intelligent Designer…God

Romans 1:20 (HCSB) For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.

The second body of evidence, the Word. From the world or nature we can only know that there is a God, that He has unlimited power and intelligence, and that He possesses will. But what is He like? What does He want from me? How can I enjoy His fellowship? To find the answer to these questions I have to turn to the second body of evidence, the word…the Bible

Romans 10:17 (NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  

The word not only tells me about God, it gives evidence to demonstrate that there is a God, that the Bible is the word of God, and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The evidence is  the harmony of the Scriptures, fulfilled prophecies both about ancient nations and about Christ, and the evidence Christ has been raised from the dead.

These two bodies of evidence, the world and the word, give ample reason for a firm, reasonable conviction that there is a God in heaven, that the Bible is His word, and that Jesus Christ is His Son.

In Hebrews 11 starting at verse 4 the writer gives us a list of the Heroes of Faith.   Examples of people that God commended for their faith even though as it says in verse 39 that none of them had received what was promised. 

Hebrews 11:39 (HCSB)  All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised,

Faith, The Guiding Principle Of The Believer’s Life

To some people faith means believing that you can do a job better than you have done it in the past, or believing that a loved one will recover from and illness, or you will receive a financial blessing. There may be real value in such “positive thinking,” but this is not the meaning of faith.

True Biblical faith has God as its object. We believe God and trust His Word. That Word does not tell us that we have any reason to expect to be the richest.   In fact it tells us, on the contrary, that we will have tribulations and that as Jesus’ disciples we will have crosses to bear. It assures us, however, of grace to bear them.

Faith has a backward look. It declares what God has done in the past. Faith also has a forward look. It declares that God can be trusted for the future.  Faith is the firm assurance, the conviction, that God will do what He has promised to do.

It would, of course, be presumptuous to insist that He do what we want done. Many Christians have become disillusioned in their lives because God does not conform to their wills. Faith takes God at His word; faith does not insist that He conform to our ideas.

From the time a person makes that confession of faith then grows daily in knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of the Lord's will, and develops a character more and more like Jesus, every step they take that is pleasing to God is a step taken in faith. Every step taken without faith is sin. "

Romans 14:23 (NKJV) But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Faith Isn't Really Faith Until You Act On It. 

Saying “I believe” while living as if you don’t believe is the same as not believing.  Many people think that faith is an attitude or an agreement with a certain doctrine.  That’s not faith.  Genuine faith changes us.  It affects our behavior and it controls our actions.  Faith that is nothing more than a mental agreement is worthless, dead, and of no effect.  Faith must act--or what good is it?

James 2:26 (NKJV)  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

The Rewards Of Faith

At the beginning of this post I quoted a verse from Hebrews that says that when you have faith you believe the God rewards those who seek him.  Here are some of those rewards:

• Remission of sins - Romans 3:25 (HCSB) God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.
  
• Justification - Romans 3:21-22 (HCSB) But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed—attested by the Law and the Prophets —that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 
• Salvation - Acts 16:31 (BBE)  And they said, Have faith in the Lord Jesus, and you and your family will have salvation. 
• Sanctification - Acts 26:17-18 (HCSB)  I will rescue you from the people and from the Gentiles. I now send you to them to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that by faith in Me they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified.’ 
• Adoption - Galatians 3:26 (HCSB) for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
  
• Spiritual Life - Galatians 2:20 (HCSB) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 
• Eternal Life - John 3:16 (BBE)  For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life. 
  

The only catch is that these rewards are reserved for believers, that is, those who have accepted the gift of salvation made possible by the sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus; those who have made Him Lord of your life.  If you haven’t done this you have exempted yourself from these rewards.  God wants to give you these and even more but you must accept His gift of salvation.  The apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Rome tells you all that you need to do.

Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

If you want to experience the freedom the joy, the eternal life, and, yes rewards that come with of a life of faith in God pray this prayer;

“Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.”

If you have just prayed this prayer, in all sincerity, call, text, email, Tweet, change your Facebook status and tell somebody, leave me a comment here or send me an email with this Link.  Then find a bible believing church and start to fellowship with other believers.  Welcome to the family of God.

Abraham’s Faith Overcame Familiar Surroundings and People

Genesis 13:1-2 (NKJV) Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South.  Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 

Genesis 24:34-35 (NKJV) So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. 

Hebrews 11:8-10 (NKJV) By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Emphasis mine)

 Abraham’s Faith Overcame His and Sarah’s Ages

Abraham and Sarah were childless, which in that culture was looked down upon.  God promised Abraham that he would have a son. 

Genesis 15:4-6 (NKJV)” And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness

Only problem was that both Abraham and Sarah were very old 

Genesis 17:17 (NKJV)  Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?  

Here’s what happened. 


Genesis 21:1-3 (NKJV) And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him–whom Sarah bore to him–Isaac.”  


Hebrews 11:11-12 (NKJV) By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude–innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. (Emphasis mine)

 Abraham’s Faith Overcame His Biggest Test

Isaac was this child God promised to Abraham and Sarah in their old age.  One day God gave Abraham a command that must have shocked and crushed him.   God told Abraham to sacrifice his son. 

Genesis 22:1-2 (NKJV) Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”  

Just as when God told Abram, to leave his familiar surroundings,  he didn't hesitate. 

Genesis 22:3 (NKJV) So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 

Here’s what happened

Genesis 22:10-14 (NKJV) “And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.  But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of The LORD it shall be provided.”  

Hebrews 11:17-19 (NKJV) By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. (Emphasis mine)

 What We Can Learn From Abraham and His Overcoming Faith

Abraham wasn’t perfect, and neither are we, but Abraham’s life of faith is an example for us in how we can, be blessed when we believe, trust, and obey God.   When God told Abraham to leave his family and his familiar surroundings, he left.  When told that he and Sarah would have a son, even though they were old and Sarah was barren, he believed God.  When told to sacrifice Isaac, his and Sarah’s promised son, he was prepared to do it.  Abraham was justified by his faith and he acted in faith. 

God used Abraham to play a very important role in His plan of redemption which culminates in Jesus.  Abraham is a living example of the truths of overcoming faith.  We too can live our lives walking in faith, believing, and trusting in the promises of God.  Then we can say and experience “the victory that overcomes the world.”

I am going to continue this series with posts about  Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Samuel, David and others who had faith that overcomes the world.  You have that kind of faith too if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  If not then you don’t have the kind of faith that overcomes the world and you won’t have victory but you will continue to be defeated.     

If you are tired of being defeated here’s how you can turn that defeat into victory.

Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 If you want the victory then pray this prayer right now.

“Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.”

If you have just prayed this prayer, in all sincerity, call, text, email, Tweet, change your Facebook status and tell somebody, leave me a comment here or send me an email with this Link.  Then find a bible believing church and start to fellowship with other believers.  Welcome to the family of God.

We prevail because of our faith in God.  We prevail because we trust God and believe that He will do what He said He would do in His word. 

Prevail - prove more powerful than opposing forces; to be victorious; to win, win/out, triumph, carry the day, succeed, conquer, and overcome.  These are all definitions and synonyms for prevail. 

The writer of Hebrews describes prevailing faith.

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The Greek word used translated faith is pistis which is “firm persuasion”, a conviction based upon hearing. Pistis it is used in the New Testament always of faith in God or Christ, or in things spiritual.

The word “substance” literally means “a standing under, support. “Faith,” in relation to hope, is assurance. It stands under and supports our hope. So that our hope is only as secure as our faith is strong. ” - W.E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, vol. 1, p. 85

The word “evidence” is defined as “proof, proving”.   Faith is not blind acceptance of unprovable opinions. It is not based on feeling, emotion, or a “blind leap.” It is conviction supported by evidence.

Faith is the principle by which believers live. Every step we take in life that is pleasing to God is a step taken in faith. Every step taken without faith is sin.

Romans 14:23 (NKJV)  But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

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

Charles Spurgeon said about prevailing faith; “It is not a mere creed-holding.No use if it does not influence your heart and affect your life.   It is trust. As creatures we look up to the great Father of spirits; as sinners we trust for the pardon of our sins to the atonement of Christ; as being weak and feeble we trust to the power of the Holy Spirit to make us holy and to keep us so; we venture our eternal interests in the vessel of free grace, content to sink or swim with it. We rely upon God in Christ. We hang upon Christ as the vessel hangs upon the nail.

1. It touches the mainspring of our nature by creating love within the soul.
2. It puts us into a new relation. No longer servants, but sons.
3. It creates agreement with the Divine will. http://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/spurgeon/prevailing_faith.htm

Prevailing Faith Give us the Assumption of Victory

Charles Stanley says “Prevailing faith reckons the victory before the battle even begins. When the young shepherd looked at Goliath, he saw him as a dead man. In fact, because of David's relationship with the Lord, he understood that all giants- whether bears, lions, or Goliaths-were the same.

 How does this reckoning take place? First, we fight the "battle before the battle." Through prayer and meditation on Scripture, we work through any uncertainties and fears. We reaffirm in our heart that this is the Lord's battle, declare He has won the victory, and wait for His timing. When we act, we do it God's way, with trust in His presence and provision.”  (http://www.christianpost.com/news/prevailing-faith-101643/)

You Can Live a Victorious Life Through Prevailing Faith

Life is a battlefield in the war of good and evil between the children of God and Satan and his evil hordes.  The Bible warns us; 

Job 14:1 (NKJV)  Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble.

Our battle isn’t against people but we have protection and a powerful unbeatable weapon.

Ephesians 6:12-17 (HCSB) For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.

We put on the armor of God and advance with the sword of the Spirit by faith.  We can only be victorious in this battle by our prevailing faith. We don’t win because we’re smarter, or stronger, or richer.  These things are important and we can use them but in this battle against Satan and the world these things will not give us victory.   The one who becomes more than a conqueror is the one who has prevailing faith.  The kind of faith that assures them that they can win, that they can achieve, that they can persevere and do the hard work necessary to be victorious.

"Faith is the monarch of the realms of the mind. There is no being superior to its strength, no creature which will not bow to its Divine prowess. The lack of faith makes a man despicable, it shrivels him up so small that he might live in a nutshell. Give him faith and he is a leviathan that can dive into the depths of the sea. He is a warhorse that cries aha! Aha! In the battle. He is a giant that takes nations and crumbles them in his hand, who encounters hosts and at a sword they vanish. He binds up sheaves of scepters and gathers up all the crowns as his own. There is nothing like faith. Faith makes you almost as Omnipotent as God, by the borrowed might of its Divinity! Give us faith and we can do all things!" (C.H. Spurgeon, Sermon #14, March 18, 1855) - http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0014.htm

Here’s how you can live that Victorious Life of Prevailing Faith

For your faith to prevail all the time, you need to rely on the Word of God. That’s how to cultivate prevailing faith; you have to get the Word so much into you that you think, talk and live the Word!

1)  Accept the Word of God as the “Final Authority”

Isaiah 55:11 (NLT)  It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Hebrews 11:3 (NLT) By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

 Psalm 119:89 (HCSB)  LORD, Your word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven.

2)  Believe the Promises of God

Mark 9:23 (BBE) And Jesus said to him, If you are able! All things are possible to him who has faith.

1 John 5:14-15 (HCSB) Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.        

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT) So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

3)  Works with your faith.

James 2:17 (NKJV) Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. Daniel 11:32 (ESV)

2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT) Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

4)  Fight to the very end

1 Timothy 6:12 (NKJV)  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Revelation 12:11 (NLT) And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.

Do You Have Prevailing Faith?

If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior you don’t have prevailing faith and you will be a causality in this war I’ve been talking about.  You are no match for Satan and this world no matter what resources you have outside of God.  

If you are tired of being defeated here’s how you can turn that defeat into victory.

 Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 If you are tired of being defeated pray this prayer right now.

“Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.”

If you have just prayed this prayer, in all sincerity, call, text, email, Tweet, change your Facebook status and tell somebody, leave me a comment here or send me an email with this Link.  Then find a bible believing church and start to fellowship with other believers.  Welcome to the family of God.