The greatest enemy of faith, the most subtle and the most devastating, is the lack of knowledge of the Word of God. To believe the devil’s lie that, “It is God that is putting you through trials and tests” will neutralize your faith. Through religious tradition Satan has blinded the minds of Christians to what the Word says. Jesus said, “SATAN HATH DESIRED TO…SIFT YOU.”
James 1:2 says,”…count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” Notice, he said, “when you fall into temptations,” not when you walk into them with your eyes open. Some folks have walked into them with their eyes wide open! This verse is often misquoted as, “The trying of your faith perfects it.” But the Word says, “The trying of your faith works patience.”
Patience is a spiritual force that will support your faith like a pier under a bridge. Satan tries that which you call “faith” to see if it is true faith, or if it is mental assent. The force of patience will undergird your faith and cause you to be constant – holding the same confession through the trial Satan brought.
Satan is Out to Destroy Your Faith
Peter said, “… think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings…” (I Pet. 4:12-13) No, it’s not strange that these things happen. Satan is not out to perfect your faith. If the trying of your faith perfected it, we would all have it made. Our faith would be perfect. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t had plenty of trials or tests!
I’ll admit that if you win out with your faith, you will be stronger. If you’ll put your faith into action through the Word, you will come out with a determination to not let Satan win another battle. But that is not what Satan designed it to do. He designed the trial to put you under, not over.
Trials are a design of Satan. If you believe that God sends trials, that is a devastating blow to your faith. If God is doing it, certainly you don’t want to resist God. For instance, in the area of sickness, if it’s God’s will for you to be sick, why go to a doctor and try to get out of God’s will?
It is God’s will that you be well. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (III John 2) God wants you healed, and He will go any way you choose: through doctors, through the Word, or both. But, if you fall for Satan’s lie, your faith is in neutral. You cannot use your faith to get rid of something you believe God gave you.
Satan is not the finisher of your faith, and if trials and tests perfected faith, Satan would be the finisher of it. Hebrews 12:2 declares that Jesus is the author and finisher of your faith.
God is Not the Tempter
Let me call your attention to something Jesus said when He was teaching His disciples principles of prayer. “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:9-10) Just stop and ask yourself this question: Is it God’s will that we be tested and tried in heaven? The answer is obvious. There will be no tests or trials there. Then that must be God’s will for the earth.
In Matthew 26:41, Jesus said to His disciples, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation….” Evidently you can avoid temptations, tests, and trials by watching and praying. Most of the time we get into trials and temptations by not doing what Jesus said to do to avoid them.
The word temptation in James 1:2, “…count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations,” and in verse 13, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God….” is the same word translated trial and test in other parts of the New Testament. Let’s paraphrase it: “Let no man say that it is God doing the tempting and trying: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man.”
“Do not err, my beloved brethren.” Or as we would say, do not be misled. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:16-17) The word shadow here speaks of less light, or darkness. There is never any gradual turning from that which is good and perfect. God is not guilty of using evil or darkness to perfect you.
Two Forces at Work
The Father is the giver of all good. In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life….” Thank God that He came to bring life, not trials. There are two opposing forces: the force of evil and the force of righteousness. The force of evil steals, kills and destroys. If you let him, Satan will steal your faith, kill your testimony, and destroy your health. He’ll do anything to destroy you. The force of righteousness is from God who gave Jesus to provide life more abundantly. This force works for you; the other works against you. The force working against you is in no way working for you. You can write that down. That opposing force is not working a good in you. It was designed to destroy your faith and to keep you from pleasing God. That is the design of Satan.
Jesus said you could avoid some of those temptations by watching and praying: “And lead us not into temptation,” or “Lead us not into any way that we would be tempted, tested, or tried.” If testing and trials would perfect their faith, I wonder why Jesus didn’t know it? He is the author of our faith.
Now, if Jesus authored your faith, don’t you know that He does not have to try it to see if it will work? General Motors wouldn’t be so foolish to build a car, sell it to someone, and then try it out to see if it would run. When their trademark goes on it, they know that it will work. It has already been proven. Jesus authored your faith.
It is His faith. It has already been tried and proven; it works. He never did make any unworthy workmanship. We are His workmanship; He authored us and our faith. (Eph. 2:10; Heb. 12:2)
Lack of Word Equals Lack of Faith
How does faith come? Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). A lack of faith is caused from a lack of the Word. Christians have a lack of faith because the Word does not abide in them. If God’s Word is in you, faith is there. If Satan comes along with his smoke screen and says, “This is God trying and testing you,” most people will just melt and have a pity party. They cry, “Why me, Lord?”
Don’t allow Satan to bring every bad thing that comes down the road to you. “Neither give place to the devil.” (Eph. 4:27) It is not God perfecting you. Many books have been written out of self-pity and defeat. Many people fall under the attack of Satan, and say, “It must be God perfecting me.” That is a copout. It is easier to blame God than to admit that we failed to act on the Word. This kind of thinking is a devastating blow to anyone’s faith. It will stop your faith from working.
Your faith will fail to produce when you fall for Satan’s lies. It was not the law of faith that failed – you failed to apply the law because of lack of knowledge.
What You Allow, God Will Allow
When you feel one of those pity parties coming on and want to feel sorry for yourself, you can mark it down: Satan is on your case. If he can get you to feel sorry for yourself, your reaction usually is, “Oh, Lord, why did you allow this to happen to me?” That’s a foolish question. God will allow anything you will allow. He’ll let you rob a bank if you want to. God will allow you to go to hell if you want to. You are foolish if you do either one, but God will allow it. It’s sure not His will, but He will allow you to do it.
The Bible says that Jesus came and died that all would be saved and none would be lost (John 3:16), but God will still let you go to hell if you want to. The decision is yours, not God’s. This is where we have missed it. Somebody said, “God allowed it; so it must have been His will.” Nothing could be further from the truth. That is a lie of Satan. Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, but it wasn’t God’s will. It couldn’t have been, because God told Adam not to do it. The decision was Adam’s. God allows sin, but He is certainly not in favor of it. God allows sickness, but it is not His will.
Many banks are robbed every month, but we don’t accuse the chief of police, the mayor, or the governor of doing it or even allowing it in their state. Yes, it happened during their administration, but it is misplaced blame to say they did it or allowed it. A criminal person made the decision to commit a felony. The bank is responsible for having security measures in place to withstand the attack of an enemy. Ultimately it is the devil, and evil that is to blame.
Religious thinking says God is to blame for allowing things to happen to us. God is against sin, sickness, and suffering of every kind. But just like the bank, we are responsible to put measures into place to withstand the enemy. Put on the whole armor of God! Don’t allow the enemy access to your home, business, or body.
The most devastating blow to your faith is to believe that your Father God is the source of your problems. A true knowledge of God’s Word and understanding of Jesus’ earthly ministry will reveal that God is a good loving Father. Faith works by love! (Gal. 5:6)
Copyright © Charles Capps Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Charles Capps is a retired farmer, land developer, and Bible teacher who has traveled extensively throughout the United States and several foreign countries sharing the truths of God's Word. He has taught Bible seminars for over 35 years, emphasizing the authority of the believer, faith and the power of words.
Charles and Peggy both have their roots in the rich farmland of Lonoke County, Arkansas. Having been raised by parents who were farmers, Charles began farming cotton, soybeans, and rice immediately after graduating from high school and marrying in 1951.
Peggy, being 3 1/2 months older than Charles had to sign as the adult on his behalf when he wanted to begin flying lessons at the age of 17. They joined an organization known as the Flying Farmers and gained experience going to "fly-ins" and national meetings across the United States. Neither knew that this skill of flying would be such an asset later when Charles began teaching personal evangelism in the 1960's. He spoke on the subject of soulwinning in churches not only in the US, but flew his twin engine Piper Comanche to the Bahamas to teach students of Youth With a Mission how to share Christ with others.
After reading a book by Kenneth E. Hagin entitled, "Authority of the Believer", Charles and Peggy's life took on a new dimension of travel and ministry as Charles became known for his teaching gift and insight on the subjects of faith and confession. Invitations to minister to the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International (FGBMFI) began to pour in, eventually leading to the publication of his teachings in book form. "The Tongue a Creative Force" and "God's Creative Power(r) Will Work for You" became bestsellers after Buddy Harrison, Kenneth Hagin's son in law, launched his publishing company with these two classics. These two books have sold millions (the God's Creative Power(r) series has sold over 5 million copies) and are still much in demand today.
We celebrated Charles' promotion to heaven at 5:15 pm Sunday, February 23, 2014. He informed the family and close friends on Friday that he would be going home to heaven in 3 days. After having some final words with family and friends on Saturday, he went to bed, went to sleep and never awoke. (He kept saying, "I want to go in my sleep.") His wife and daughters had the privilege of being with him as he finally got that glorified body he always talked about. Charles Capps was a man of integrity, a man of his word and he got what he said. He called those things that be not as though they were.
Charles Capps broadcast called, "Concepts of Faith", continues a daily national radio broadcast and a weekly television broadcast aired over several networks, satellite, and the internet. Click on the Radio or TV link to find the broadcast in your area.
Peggy continues to reside in Arkansas. Both Charles' and Peggy's daughters, Annette and Beverly are involved in the ministry.
