Faith BustersFaith Busters

The Enemy’s Tactics to The Enemy’s Tactics to break our faith or trust in break our faith or trust in

GodGod

FAITHFAITH

Opposing Plans Opposing Plans

God loves God loves youyou

He has a He has a wonderfuwonderful plan for l plan for your life!your life!

Satan Satan hates youhates youHe has a He has a horrible horrible plan for plan for your life!your life!

Spiritual AwarenessSpiritual Awareness

. . .lest Satan should . . .lest Satan should take advantage of us; take advantage of us;

for we are not ignorant for we are not ignorant of his devices.of his devices.

2 Corinthians 2:112 Corinthians 2:11

4 Faith Busters4 Faith Busters

Four Busting TacticsFour Busting Tactics

1.1. Focus on Future NeedsFocus on Future Needs

2.2. Focus on Sudden ProblemsFocus on Sudden Problems

3.3. Focus on the CircumstancesFocus on the Circumstances

4.4. Focus only on the Physical Focus only on the Physical RealmRealm

FAITHFAITH

The Focus of the BusterThe Focus of the BusterFrom Matthew’s GospelFrom Matthew’s Gospel

Its Power: - Its Power: -

Its Core: -Its Core: -

Its Weapon: -Its Weapon: -

How to Overcome: -How to Overcome: -

1.1. Focus on Future NeedsFocus on Future NeedsMatthew 6:25-33Matthew 6:25-33

Its Power: - WorryIts Power: - Worry

Its Core: - Distrust Lord’s Its Core: - Distrust Lord’s

ProvisionsProvisions

Its Weapon: - Our needsIts Weapon: - Our needs

1.1. Focus on Future NeedsFocus on Future NeedsMatthew 6:19-33Matthew 6:19-33

Its Power: - WorryIts Power: - Worry

Its Core: - Distrust Lord’s ProvisionsIts Core: - Distrust Lord’s Provisions

Its Weapon: - Our needsIts Weapon: - Our needs

How to Overcome:How to Overcome:

Focus on God’s kingdom Focus on God’s kingdom

and His righteousness and His righteousness

Matthew 6:25-33Matthew 6:25-33

1. Focus on future Needs1. Focus on future Needs

Its WeaknessIts Weakness

IllustratedIllustrated

NourishmentNourishment – Birds of the – Birds of the

airair

ClothingClothing- Flowers of the - Flowers of the

fieldfield

Trust the FatherTrust the Father – He – He

KnowsKnows

Do not worry about tomorrowDo not worry about tomorrowToday’s problems are enoughToday’s problems are enough

1. Focus on future Needs1. Focus on future Needs

Its WeaknessIts Weakness

But seek first the kingdom of But seek first the kingdom of

God and His righteousness, God and His righteousness,

and all these things and all these things

shall be added to you. shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33Matthew 6:33

Four TacticsFour Tactics

1.1. Focus on Future NeedsFocus on Future Needs

2.2. Focus on the Sudden Focus on the Sudden ProblemsProblems

FAITHFAITH

2. Focus on Sudden Problems 2. Focus on Sudden Problems Matthew 8:23-27Matthew 8:23-27

Its Power: FearIts Power: Fear

Its Core: Distrust Lord’s PlansIts Core: Distrust Lord’s Plans

Its Weapon: Its Weapon:

Sudden uncontrollable Sudden uncontrollable

circumstancescircumstances

2. Focus on Sudden Problems2. Focus on Sudden Problems

Its Weapon: Its Weapon:

Sudden uncontrollable Sudden uncontrollable

circumstancescircumstances

It can overwhelmIt can overwhelm

EmotionsEmotions - Matthew 8:26 - - Matthew 8:26 - We We

FearFear

Will -Will - Matthew 8:26 - Matthew 8:26 - UnbeliefUnbelief

2.2. Focus on Real ProblemsFocus on Real ProblemsMatthew 8:26Matthew 8:26

Its Power: FearIts Power: Fear

Its Core: Distrust Lord’s PlansIts Core: Distrust Lord’s Plans

Its Weapon: Uncontrollable circumstancesIts Weapon: Uncontrollable circumstances1. Emotion - fear; 2. Will - unbelief = Little Faith1. Emotion - fear; 2. Will - unbelief = Little Faith

Its Weakness:Its Weakness:

Focus on God’s Plans for us Focus on God’s Plans for us

Jeremiah 29:11Jeremiah 29:11

2. Focus on Sudden Problems2. Focus on Sudden Problems

Its WeaknessIts Weakness

For I know the thoughts that I For I know the thoughts that I

think toward you, says the think toward you, says the

LORD, thoughts of peace and LORD, thoughts of peace and

not of evil, to give you a future not of evil, to give you a future

and a hope.and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11Jeremiah 29:11

Satan’s TacticsSatan’s Tactics

1. Focus on Future Needs1. Focus on Future NeedsBut we focus on the Kingdom of But we focus on the Kingdom of

God and His RighteousnessGod and His Righteousness

2. Focus on the Sudden 2. Focus on the Sudden ProblemsProblems

But we focus on God’s Plans for But we focus on God’s Plans for usus

Four TacticsFour Tactics

1.1. Focus on Future NeedsFocus on Future Needs

2.2. Focus on the Sudden Focus on the Sudden ProblemsProblems

3.3. Focus on the CircumstancesFocus on the Circumstances

FAITHFAITH

3. Focus on Circumstances 3. Focus on Circumstances Matthew 14:22-32Matthew 14:22-32

Its Power: Lack of TrustIts Power: Lack of Trust

Its Core: Distrust Lord’s Its Core: Distrust Lord’s

FaithfulnessFaithfulness

Its Weapon: Its Weapon:

Doubt - Double mindednessDoubt - Double mindedness

3. Focus on Circumstances3. Focus on Circumstances

Its Weapon: Its Weapon:

DoubtDoubt

It’s Cure: It’s Cure:

Focus on the Lord’s PresenceFocus on the Lord’s Presence

““Lord, save me!” Lord, save me!”

Matthew 14:30Matthew 14:30

Four TacticsFour Tactics

1.1. Focus on Future NeedsFocus on Future Needs

2.2. Focus on the Sudden Focus on the Sudden ProblemsProblems

3.3. Focus on the CircumstancesFocus on the Circumstances

4.4. Focus only on the Physical Focus only on the Physical RealmRealm

FAITHFAITH

4. Focus on Physical 4. Focus on Physical Realm Only Realm Only

Matthew 16:1-12Matthew 16:1-12

Its Power: ConfusionIts Power: Confusion

Its Core: Distrust Lord’s PowerIts Core: Distrust Lord’s Power

Its Weapon: Its Weapon:

Confusion – especially between theConfusion – especially between the

physical and spiritual realmsphysical and spiritual realms

4. Focus on Physical 4. Focus on Physical Realm onlyRealm only

Its Weapon: ConfusionIts Weapon: Confusion

It’s Cure: It’s Cure:

Remember what the Lord has done Remember what the Lord has done

in thein the

past for you.past for you.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget

not all His benefits: not all His benefits: Psalm 103:2Psalm 103:2

Four Tactics to failFour Tactics to fail

1.1. Focus on Future NeedsFocus on Future Needs

2.2. Focus on the Sudden Focus on the Sudden ProblemsProblems

3.3. Focus on the CircumstancesFocus on the Circumstances

4.4. Focus only on the Physical Focus only on the Physical RealmRealm

FAITHFAITH

Four Tactics to overcomeFour Tactics to overcome

1.1. Focus on God’s KingdomFocus on God’s Kingdom

2.2. Focus on God’s PlansFocus on God’s Plans

3.3. Focus on God’s PresenceFocus on God’s Presence

4.4. Focus Past Workings of GodFocus Past Workings of God

FAITHFAITH