Because of Your Unbelief

...Know No Man After the Flesh…2 Corinthians 5:16

Belief is the acceptance of known and witnessed truth. Therefore, unbelief is to reject proven or witnessed truths.

Suggestion: area highlighted can be removed as it speaks directly to BT.

Little did we know the vastness of the monster of unbelief. Its tentacles reach into every area of the ministry. We have failed as a church because of it. However, faith is faithful not only to reveal our failures, but to also provide us with the remedy. To fully understand the nature of belief and unbelief, we must look at it through the eyes of God. Follow closely as we dissect the following verses of scripture:

Romans 3:1-2

1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

The Jewish nation was the first to receive the commandments of God. They were given the law which defined the nature of the Creator. It revealed Him to be a holy God, who loved righteousness. It also revealed Him to be a God of authority and power. The promises of God were in the word they received. The prophets of their nation received direct revelation of the mind of God for His people. It was here that they discovered His wrath and vengeance upon those that did not believe in His plan of salvation.

Romans 3:3

For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Though given the Word of God, as well as having seen the great exploits of God, some still did not believe in His plan of salvation. The question is whether their unbelief, or their rejection of the plan of faith, would make the plan itself of none effect. I dare say it would not, for the plan of salvation through faith, is the operation of the Holy Ghost. It is not rendered inoperable in the face of unbelief. God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. Romans 3:4

The truth is in God. He is the only truth in existence. Everything outside of the realm of godliness is a lie. The truth is the revelation of the will of God, which is justified by His ability to perform that which He has spoken.

The lie is the revelation of the will of Satan lived out in the heavenlies, as well as through man. It is the doctrine of devils. The lie is anything that seeks to exist outside of the boundaries of authority set by the word of God. I could very quickly come to a profound conclusion here. However, in order to fully understand the magnitude of the purpose of belief, and the nature of unbelief, it would be more helpful to go to other witnessing scriptures.

A. JEALOUSY: A ROOT OF UNBELIEF

Matthew 13:53-58

53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, inasmuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

The people in the Lord’s own country witnessed His mighty works. They heard His great wisdom. Yet they rejected what they heard and saw, simply because He was one of them. He was from among them. Therefore, He could never be the prophet of God. He was too human. They knew Him. Since He grew up in the midst of them, they could not accept that God’s hand was upon Him. They rejected Him in spite of the truth they themselves witnessed.

This is pure jealousy. Why would God use Him? He’s one of us. This is the way many in the body of Christ are threatened by the ones that know them. If the Lord should begin to prosper one spiritually, the others will deny the wisdom, repudiate the word they teach and seek to destroy the character of the individual that was chosen by God. This jealousy was so strong, that they would allow the truth they heard to fall to the ground before they would embrace it. This is sad, because the work, as well as the help that the chosen of God could be to them, is hindered, because of their unbelief.

B. HARDNESS OF HEART: A ROOT OF UNBELIEF

Mark 16:9-14

9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

This is purely a case of hardness of heart. Out of the mouth of two or more witnesses, every word shall be established. The disciples were given at least three eyewitnessed accounts of the resurrection. But they still rejected the truth they heard. This also is true in the face of Jesus Himself having told them that He would return the third day.

They had seen the miracles He did. They knew that He was the Son of God: they told Him so. However, the circumstances surrounding His death caused them to see Him in what appeared to be human weakness. This is so typical of men and women of God. If a weakness is ever revealed, it wipes out all the good and powerful things the Lord has done with and through the individual.

C. FEAR: A ROOT OF UNBELIEF

The heart becomes hardened behind a veil of fear and/or self-righteousness. The disciples were afraid and fear hardened their hearts against the truth. In many instances, the saints of God depart from the truth they know because of fear. They fear a lack of control in the outcome of a situation, circumstance or relationship, if strict obedience to the Word is adhered. To operate in a situation God’s way may leave the flesh vulnerable or helpless.

Saints are afraid of being hurt. This fear will cause you to depart from the truth. To obey God might mean hurt and disappointment. Therefore the only way to avoid the hurt is to avoid God’s method of development. Hurt is a part of growing up in God. In fact, it is essential to the destruction of the power of the flesh. The outward man must perish, that the innerman might be increased day by day. Offenses will come if need be. However, you must accept this as part of the Lord’s method of development of the Body.

D. PRIDE: A ROOT OF UNBELIEF

The pride of life and the desire to lord over others is the greatest opposition to believing and trusting in the Word of God. The proud spirit seeks to be exalted, it wants recognition and authority. Let us learn how Jesus handled such pride:

Matthew 20:21-28

21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

1. Pride will cause you to see God’s way through the eyes of the world. Realistically, up is up. However, in God up is down. The greatest in the body is the one that will serve the most. To walk in belief is to possess a servant’s heart. To walk in unbelief is to desire to be served. This mindset is offensive to many of the saints in the body of Christ. Nevertheless, it is the truth.

2. Pride will not allow you to make the Word of God law for your life. When pride reigns, it will not accept the Word as the final authority in your life. It causes you to say you are in charge of your own destiny and making your own decisions, because this is your life and you decide how and what you want to do.

3. Pride will not allow you to believe in the power of the Holy Ghost, operating through anyone other than yourself. This is your guarantee that you remain a station above others in your territorial sphere of influence. You will be forever learning, but always denying the power in others.

Take heed, brothers and sisters, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. It will cause you to lose out on entering into God’s rest; which is the privilege of serving in His plan and purpose.

Believe, accept and walk in the truth that you have learned. Let nothing detour you. Obey the Word of God. Let it not be said that you missed God, because of your unbelief.

I love you much,

Doc