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true eneMies to your faith: Part 1 By Bonita Britt | Continued From Page 12
This illustrates how Satan will try to discour- ageus. Assoonaswedeclareastandoffaith, we can be sure he’s going to send someone to ridicule you and call you a fool. If you ever told a family member, a friend or someone you’re just talking to that you believe God for a heal- ing, financial breakthrough or a promotion, they make look at you strange or say, “you must be kidding.” “You need to come back to reality. Ifyouhavehadfaithallthistimeand you’re still dealing with the same thing, then why hasn’t it happen for you yet?”
Just like Sanaballat and his friends, some will probably laugh at you. This could be de- signedbytheenemytodiscourseyou. Itcer- tainly would have been easy for Nehemiah to getdiscouraged. Didhe?Readtheresponse to Sanaballat: “Then answered I them, and said unto them, the God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore, we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem.”
issue of blood. If this wasn’t enough, some - thing happened that was designed to destroy Jairus’ faith and hope:
“While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler, “your daughter is dead.” They said, “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Mark 5:35(NIV)
Always remember that when you get a promise from the Lord concerning some- thing, you can be sure you’re going to be bombarded with reports saying that just the opposite is true.
Do as Jesus did:
“Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the syn- agogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid just believe.”
Mark 5:36(NIV)
When you get a negative report, ignore it and keep your ears tuned to what Jesus is say- ing. Reject fear and concentrate on what the Wordsaysaboutyoursituation. Jesusdealt with the report immediately. We must do the same. Let’s not ponder it, meditate on it, wonder about it, or try to figure it out. Our answer is to go in faith! If you do this, you will disarm another of the enemy’s weapons of discouragement.
Keep in mind, however, he doesn‘t give up easily. If one thing doesn’t work, he’ll try again. Jesus encountered something when He arrived at Jairus’ house; “When He came in, He said to them,” Why make this com- motion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the fa- ther and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. (Mark 5:39-40).
To Be Continued...
(Nehemiah 2:20)
How did Nehemiah respond to ridicule? He made a bold confession of faith and trust in God. Notice Nehemiah didn’t succumb to discouragement through his persecution.
He surely didn’t let the laughter of others (unbelievers) move him off his stand of faith. Weshouldn’teither. Don’tallowtheenemy to use persecution to fall into discouragement.
Who Will You Believe
Persecution isn’t the only way of discourag - ing us. We sometimes get trapped frequently into believing the negative report. In Mark 5, we find a familiar account of Jesus on the way to the house of Jairus, to heal his gravely ill daughter. Jairus received hope because Jesus had agreed to come. But, there was an inci- dent that delayed him, the woman with the
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