The faith of God's people has been under relentless attack, leaving many unsure of what to believe. Questions about the validity of promises in God's Word plague our brethren, highlighting the urgent need to increase faith. Jesus taught that seeking honor from men blocks faith in God, as seen in His words to the religious Jews who persecuted Him. He contrasted His own attitude, not grasping for human honor, with theirs, who sought recognition from one another rather than from God, thus hindering their belief. This pursuit of personal recognition prevents true faith, as it shifts trust from God to oneself. Instead, we must avoid such attitudes, focusing on humility and giving glory to God, which will foster growth in faith for all.

Faith Blockers are doubts that hinder our trust in God. These doubts manifest as questions about God's care, wisdom, provision, and faithfulness to His promises. They can lead to fear, unbelief, and a lack of confidence in God's guidance and protection. Such doubts prevent us from fully trusting and obeying God, as seen in Gideon's struggles with his faith. Faith Blockers can cause us to question God's concern for us, His ability to use us, His provision for our needs, and His reliability in keeping His promises. Overcoming these doubts requires hearing and trusting in God's Word, which strengthens our faith and enables us to live by faith rather than by sight.

In the account of Jesus feeding the 4,000, the disciples' spiritual development is tested in the area of faith, revealing several faith blockers that hinder their trust in God's power. They express skepticism about feeding the crowd, focusing on their low store of food and declaring their inability to provide bread even before being asked. The disciples fail to include God's power as the primary means to accomplish anything, viewing the desolate location as an impossible place for such a provision. They believe that harsh or limiting conditions can obstruct God's work, not recognizing that His power overcomes all difficulties. Additionally, the enormous size of the crowd becomes an obstacle to their faith, devaluing God's ability to provide. None of the disciples is willing to stand against the others in faith, further weakening their conviction. The disciples' doubts about feeding the 4,000 are particularly striking given their recent witness of Jesus miraculously feeding the 5,000. Despite having seen His power multiply loaves and fish to satisfy a hungry crowd, they throw up their hands in despair when faced with a similar challenge, claiming it cannot be done. This skepticism reflects a failure to remember God's previous interventions, revealing a short memory for His faithfulness and love. Such doubt, while not a total absence of faith, indicates a weakness that hinders their ability to trust God in new but similar trials.