Reason: The Greatest Hindrance to Faith You Will Ever Know

[David Newby]

Excessive reasoning is contrary to faith. God is a Spirit, and He is unseen, so to speak. Consequently, faith is required in order for one to believe in God. Excessive reasoning convinces us that we have to see something or someone in order for them to exist. It’s reasonable to reason. That’s because we are fleshly, and we depend on our five senses and our ability to think logically and assess situations to make many of our decisions. However, being too logical with our thoughts will prevent us from achieving the levels of faith and breakthrough that God desires for us.

When Logic Fails, Go Faith: Running Out of Gas
Several years ago I attended a church conference. The service was about 30-40 minutes away from my house. I had just enough gas to make it there, and I had five dollars in my pocket, for gas to make it back. At the end of service the pastor took an offering. Although I had only five dollars on me, I felt compelled to sow it. I struggled with the thought of sowing everything I had and still getting home. My gas tank was pretty low, as I had not put the gas in to make it home. Nonetheless, the offering plate came my way, and I was forced to make a decision. So I made the decision, but before I did, I prayed. I asked God to let me make it home, and to bless my seed as a result of me sowing in obedience.

Note: Never sow without expectation of a return! Direct your seed toward your desired blessing.

In any event, I eventually sowed everything I had and the service was over. As soon as I began driving home, my gas indicator light came on. Reasoning told me that I was about to run out of gas and break down on the side of the road with no way home. Logic convinced me that a gas indicator light tells you that you need gas or else your car will stop. However, faith told me to trust in God and obey Him. Moreover, God’s Kingdom is not based on reasoning; it’s based on faith. God is moved by our faith, as evidenced in the Bible verse below from Hebrews 11:1-6:

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Ultimately, I was commanded by God to sow a seed in which my rationality and carnal mind opposed. God intentionally instructed me to sow all I had in order for Him to test my faith. He commanded me to do something outside of the confines of reason, and certainly outside of what I would normally do.

Note: Go when God tells you to go. Do what He tells you to do. God is all-seeing and all-knowing, and He will direct you to a blessing and to wells of water. You may not see it at the time, but there’s always a blessing in obeying Him. See Psalm 23.

In going back to my story, I watched the gas indicator light while I was driving home, and it was bright orange—a color you definitely do not want to see when you’re trying to make it 30-40 minutes to your destination on the highway (in the middle of nowhere). By that point, my gas needle was so far past empty (E) that I’m surprised the car didn’t shut off. Sure, the reserve tank may have had something to do with it, but I personally believe there was some divine intervention in that situation. I prayed for that!

The whole way home I continued praying and asking God to help me make it home without breaking down. I kept getting distracted by the gas needle and indicator light. Then, I received a revelation from God saying that, “Reason is a faith-breaker”. I also received a revelation saying that I had to keep my eyes on God, and not on my current situation. I was then led back to the Bible and the story of Peter walking on the water (See Matthew 14:28). Jesus had already walked on the water, and Peter asked Jesus if he was real (and not a ghost) to bid him come. Jesus instructed Peter to walk on the water and come to Him. Peter obeyed and walked on the water to Jesus. However, Peter eventually began to sink; and he begged Jesus to rescue him. I believe Peter began to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus and he focused on his situation. His rationality and reasoning told him that a man was not supposed to be walking on water. However, faith does the opposite; it convinces you to go where you aren’t supposed to go, and to do things you aren’t typically supposed to do. The lesson here is that Peter walked on water by faith, but he sank by reasoning.

Note: Reason helps us accomplish mundane goals. Faith helps us achieve the supernatural, and walk on water!

Reasoning is Natural
Reasoning is perfectly acceptable and also necessary for our everyday lives. After all, God gave us the ability to reason, so it must be important. However, excessive reasoning can be detrimental to our true successes in God. In addition, in order to really grow in God and accomplish all that we’re meant to accomplish we are supposed to walk by faith, not by sight:

Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.


2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight

Note: God will never give us a life in Him in which faith is not required. Rest assured God will test your faith in order to grow your faith.

Going back to my testimony, I eventually made it all the way home on an empty gas tank and with the gas indicator light on the whole way there. Making it home was a blessing in itself. However, I believe that God blessed me above and beyond that. After all, I had sown a seed in obedience, and I asked God for a return.

Have Faith
We develop our reasoning through our education and experiences in life. We also need to develop our faith. Reason teaches us to get triumphs based on our abilities. Faith teaches us to get breakthroughs based on God’s abilities. Think outside the box. Here’s some final encouragement to grow your faith in God:

2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.


Takeaways

* Reasoning is natural, but excessive reasoning hinders your faith
* Growing in God requires faith
* Go when God tells you to. He knows the rewards at the end of the path he directs you on (Psalm 23)
* Sow/give in faith, obedience, and expectation of a return
* Reason gives us earthly success. Faith enables us to achieve the supernatural



With you in faith,

David

[Edward Smoth]

excessive reasoning is contrary to faith. God is a spirit, and he is unseen, so to speak. Consequently, faith is required in order for one to believe in god. Excessive reasoning convinces us that we have to see something or someone in order for them to exist. It’s reasonable to reason. That’s because we are fleshly, and we depend on our five senses and our ability to think logically and assess situations to make many of our decisions. However, being too logical with our thoughts will prevent us from achieving the levels of faith and breakthrough that god desires for us.

when logic fails, go faith: Running out of gas
several years ago i attended a church conference. The service was about 30-40 minutes away from my house. I had just enough gas to make it there, and i had five dollars in my pocket, for gas to make it back. At the end of service the pastor took an offering. Although i had only five dollars on me, i felt compelled to sow it. I struggled with the thought of sowing everything i had and still getting home. My gas tank was pretty low, as i had not put the gas in to make it home. Nonetheless, the offering plate came my way, and i was forced to make a decision. So i made the decision, but before i did, i prayed. I asked god to let me make it home, and to bless my seed as a result of me sowing in obedience.

note: Never sow without expectation of a return! Direct your seed toward your desired blessing.

in any event, i eventually sowed everything i had and the service was over. As soon as i began driving home, my gas indicator light came on. Reasoning told me that i was about to run out of gas and break down on the side of the road with no way home. Logic convinced me that a gas indicator light tells you that you need gas or else your car will stop. However, faith told me to trust in god and obey him. Moreover, god’s kingdom is not based on reasoning; it’s based on faith. God is moved by our faith, as evidenced in the bible verse below from hebrews 11:1-6:

Heb 11:6 but without faith it is impossible to please him: For he that cometh to god must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Ultimately, i was commanded by god to sow a seed in which my rationality and carnal mind opposed. God intentionally instructed me to sow all i had in order for him to test my faith. He commanded me to do something outside of the confines of reason, and certainly outside of what i would normally do.

note: Go when god tells you to go. Do what he tells you to do. God is all-seeing and all-knowing, and he will direct you to a blessing and to wells of water. You may not see it at the time, but there’s always a blessing in obeying him. See psalm 23.

in going back to my story, i watched the gas indicator light while i was driving home, and it was bright orange—a color you definitely do not want to see when you’re trying to make it 30-40 minutes to your destination on the highway (in the middle of nowhere). By that point, my gas needle was so far past empty (e) that i’m surprised the car didn’t shut off. Sure, the reserve tank may have had something to do with it, but i personally believe there was some divine intervention in that situation. I prayed for that!

The whole way home i continued praying and asking god to help me make it home without breaking down. I kept getting distracted by the gas needle and indicator light. Then, i received a revelation from god saying that, “reason is a faith-breaker”. I also received a revelation saying that i had to keep my eyes on god, and not on my current situation. I was then led back to the bible and the story of peter walking on the water (see matthew 14:28). Jesus had already walked on the water, and peter asked jesus if he was real (and not a ghost) to bid him come. Jesus instructed peter to walk on the water and come to him. Peter obeyed and walked on the water to jesus. However, peter eventually began to sink; and he begged jesus to rescue him. I believe peter began to sink because he took his eyes off jesus and he focused on his situation. His rationality and reasoning told him that a man was not supposed to be walking on water. However, faith does the opposite; it convinces you to go where you aren’t supposed to go, and to do things you aren’t typically supposed to do. The lesson here is that peter walked on water by faith, but he sank by reasoning.

note: Reason helps us accomplish mundane goals. Faith helps us achieve the supernatural, and walk on water!

reasoning is natural
reasoning is perfectly acceptable and also necessary for our everyday lives. After all, god gave us the ability to reason, so it must be important. However, excessive reasoning can be detrimental to our true successes in god. In addition, in order to really grow in god and accomplish all that we’re meant to accomplish we are supposed to walk by faith, not by sight:

Hab 2:4 behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: But the just shall live by his faith.


2co 5:7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight

note: God will never give us a life in him in which faith is not required. Rest assured god will test your faith in order to grow your faith.

going back to my testimony, i eventually made it all the way home on an empty gas tank and with the gas indicator light on the whole way there. Making it home was a blessing in itself. However, i believe that god blessed me above and beyond that. After all, i had sown a seed in obedience, and i asked god for a return.

have faith
we develop our reasoning through our education and experiences in life. We also need to develop our faith. Reason teaches us to get triumphs based on our abilities. Faith teaches us to get breakthroughs based on god’s abilities. Think outside the box. Here’s some final encouragement to grow your faith in god:

2co 4:17 for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2co 4:18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: For the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.


takeaways

* reasoning is natural, but excessive reasoning hinders your faith
* growing in god requires faith
* go when god tells you to. He knows the rewards at the end of the path he directs you on (psalm 23)
* sow/give in faith, obedience, and expectation of a return
* reason gives us earthly success. Faith enables us to achieve the supernatural



with you in faith,

david

no god can be scientifically proven!