The Growth Formula For Stronger Faith by Brother Duke Hansen

         There are a couple of places we are going to read from this morning. The first place we need to turn to is the book of Matthew chapter 17. We will start reading at verse 14 to verse 21. 

        14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

        15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falls into the fire, and oft into the water.

        16 And I brought him to thy disciples. and they could not cure him.

        17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

        18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

        19 Then cam the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could we not cast him out?

        20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

        21 Howbeit this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.

        In the moment where Jesus was approached from among the multitude regarding this boy, was Jesus fasting and praying before casting the lunatic spirit out of the boy? No he did not. In verse 16 the man said that the disciples could not cure his son. Interesting how the word cure is said and not heal or deliver. If we truly hear the words someone speaks we see his hearts intention. The boy obviously had a mental illness described as falling into fire and into water. In this miracle God is trying to teach his disciples a greater truth, and we today need to pay attention to the same truth today. The father was truly puzzled in why the disciples could not do what Jesus did. I mean, the disciples walked and travelled with Jesus, they too did good things but their measure of faith did not empower them like Jesus. Many of us could be considered similar examples today. We claim to walk with Jesus. We say we read the Bible, we pray for others, but when there's a person or moment that requires true faith in action we advise to go see a doctor. We tell someone to leave a hostile place with no follow up of where to go. We buckle like a belt and miss an opportunity to fulfill what we have been called to do then we make excuses as the day is long afterwards.

        A great problem we continue to have today is the abundance of wealth and things we surround our flesh with daily. The things we are called to be stewards over end up owning us and that short circuits the true power of the Holy Spirit. Like the disciples of his day, many of today know the word, we know the history of things, but we don't have faith in what we need the most. The generation is called perverse by Jesus. A definition of perverse is showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable, often in spite of consequences. Another definition is contrary to the accepted and expected standard of practice. An example would be someone taking a small hatchback to Home Depot and buying sheets of plywood then tying them to the roof of the car. It's perverse. There are some things in our life we inherited generation wise from the failures of the previous generation. A trickle down effect from generation to generation. The scripture reading is merely an example of Jesus' power. The true lesson comes in verse 19 to 21.

        There are things in our life which seems impossible to us. Sometimes those things are the bare minimum that others can accomplish by just getting up. God can get you back on track from a bad decision but there is the consequences of that decision you still have to contend with in life. Often the consequences are long term. Prayer and fasting seem to sound different against faith, like they contradict one another. It's actually a divine sequence given to us to use. Prayer and fasting are the components to a stronger faith. Sin has no power if you are walking in the spirit. True faith starts with the killing of your flesh. Going back to what we receive in pass downs from generation to generation; it isn't all the bad things. There are parts of wisdom through trial and error, boundaries which are set. You can have head knowledge of the basics in life, but if there was no man of God in that line, you are lost and confounded just stumbling through your days or tossed about by every new cool thing that becomes en vogue for a minute. The five fold ministry is there to empower you not only in your walk, but also in your witness. If you give God any inkling you want to strengthen your faith he will provide it for you. Many of us are so consumed by fear and unbelief because of what we take in daily through what we watch and what we hear, it's hard to focus on your individual faith. You get so wrapped around the axle regarding your wants and your needs you will believe in anything else if it takes the fear away even for a moment. Too many of us believe in money. There are those of us who place our faith and trust in our bank account because it seems to solve our problems in the short term. All your actually doing is avoiding the fear, or try to buy your own happiness. 

        How can you really build your faith? You deny your flesh and you put it unto subjection. How do you do that? By not only prayer, true prayer, not the "rub a dub dub thanks for the grub" prayer. Fasting. It's trendy in the world to do fasts of all sorts, even in some social clubs disguised as church. Here's the Daniel fast. Fasting extends past food. It's the comforts your flesh likes which you should fast from. When temptation creeps into your mind, you resist it.

        We are going to turn to the book of Ezra in a moment, but first a little context. It is a book that joins the book of Nehemiah because both books address the Israelites return from Babylon. The people were released by a decree of King Cyrus and commissioned to rebuild the house of the Lord. We are going to start reading in the 8th chapter of Ezra at the 21st verse.

        21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

        22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in thy way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and wrath is against all them that forsake him.

        23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.

        24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests...

        It is a certainty in life we all will experience pain from time to time. Don't waste your pain. You can convert that pain into faith. On the journey back from Babylon, Ezra went down to the river Ahava and proclaimed a fast right there for the people God was afflicting the people then to have them draw close to him and still God is doing this today. In all facets of life, whether its in business or routine you establish for yourself, preventive maintenance is the smartest way to work. Later in this chapter we read that the people were traveling with gold and silver. They had requested an army to accompany them on that journey. Look back at verse 22. Ezra realized he had put his trust in man rather than in God and felt conviction for it. God heard the peoples prayer and by verse 24 Ezra begins to separate the people. The gold and silver being transported were not the people, but it was to be given to the house of God. You have to afflict yourself realizing that true growth is going to take some time. We cannot stall nor falter in our walk because there are people depending on you today, whether you believe it or not. God can change someone's heart and mind but sometimes it is not very pretty. God wants you to know when you made a mistake because he isn't blind. He sees everything. There are more important things in your life besides your feelings or your possessions. You have to understand there will always be expectations in your life.

        In the four gospels there is only a fraction of works done by Jesus that are recorded. He did so many the book could not contain them all. In realizing that power, why would you forego a miracle, a move of God, to continue feeding your flesh? You will never grow spiritually if you continue to serve and pleasure your flesh. If you kill your flesh and follow the path of Jesus, you will attain the power promised to you in the scriptures. This church has seen the healing of people's bodies, the power of intercessory prayer with people returning. We shout and praise and feel joy for those victories, and yet limit ourselves because of inconsistency of commitment. Just fasting is not enough. Just prayer is not enough. You have a reason to seek God's face! If you are needing a physical healing and be made whole? There's a reason! If you have loved ones lost? There's a reason. If you are in a work environment that's toxic? There's a reason. If you have blood relatives who are genuinely awful? There's a reason. Everyone here has a reason to seek God's face.