Tag: unbelief
Watch out for unbelief!
Scripture reading for October 16: Hebrews 3
“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is written, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:12-19
God had the prophets and apostles write down the story of His redemption and work to bring His people into full salvation and an inheritance. The story of God’s people being delivered by Moses from slavery in Egypt was recorded by Moses and retold by the psalmist in Psalm 95 and by Paul as examples for us. (1 Corinthians 10:6-12) Their journey from Egypt to the promised land should have taken a short time, but His people would not listen to God’s direction and instruction. They suffered from the sin of ‘unbelief.’ It is not that they did not hear, but that they chose to ignore and suppress God’s Word. This brought consequences that cost them their lives and a delay in obtaining what God had promised. It took forty years for the older generation to die in the wilderness. What they had feared came upon them!
Now the writer of Hebrews exhorted Jewish believers in Jesus to watch out for the evil and sin of unbelief in their own lives. “Today” was the only day promised to us and we must use the present to live by faith and trust in God’s Word. We must not complain or rebel against God’s Word. We must watch over each other and encourage one another to stand firm. If this sin of unbelief takes root, it causes hard hearts and affects others who are believers. The end result is failure to enter into God’s promised rest of eternal life in His presence. It can lead to eternal separation from God.
Have you ever heard God speak to you concerning something in your life needing attention? Are you the type of person who readily obeys or do you procrastinate? Do you have strong believers or pastoral guides that give you strong encouragement and warning when needed?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the Scripture and the stories You recorded as examples for us. They are a source of encouragement to me. Thank you for your church and those who watch over me daily and give me the full counsel of Your Word. Use me daily to watch over my family and Your people. Amen.
Jesus rebukes unbelief!
Scripture reading for March 3: Mark 16
“Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and He rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My Name the will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:14-18
In our permissive and spoiled culture we tend to let each person believe as they want and accept their attitudes and actions. But Jesus had a different assessment of His own disciples who had been given the opportunity to walk with Him for three years. They had watched and then participated in healings, deliverances from demons, and even raising the dead. They had witnessed Jesus teaching and demonstrating His authority and the Father’s compassion. They had been plainly told on numerous occasions about Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. He had patiently appeared to many of them on numerous occasions after His resurrection and eye witnesses had shared, but they had refused to believe and had hardened hearts.
After Jesus’ loving rebuke, He charged them with a clear mission of doing what He had taught them to do and preaching the Gospel to all. He emphasized that those who would believe and baptized would be saved. Those who hardened their hearts and refused to believe would be condemned. By faith God would work with them and through them to continue Jesus’ ministry of compassion and spoiling Satan’s kingdom of demonic oppression, sickness, and withstanding Satan’s attempts to destroy them. Their faith would move them forward to go, preach and obey in response to Jesus’ powerful Word.
Have you ever mocked or rejected a believer in Jesus who sought to witness to you? Have you responded to the Gospel message of Jesus and His followers? What does Jesus’ rebuke to His disciples say to you and your current life direction?
Prayer: Loving Father, thank You for Your life-giving rebuke for those who follow Jesus and harden their hearts. I have been there and done that. Thank You for the clear instructions on how to walk in faith and fulfill the Great Commission to preach the Gospel and proclaim Satan’s defeat. Use me today! Amen.
All things are possible!
Scripture reading for February 20: Mark 9
“And they brought the boy to Him. And when the spirit saw Him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his Father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”” Mark 9:20-23
Jesus had been on the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James and John. There they had witnessed Jesus in a glorified body meeting with Moses and Elijah and heard the testimony of God the Father concerning Jesus. When they returned to the rest of the disciples, there was a commotion over a failed healing and deliverance. A man had brough his demon-tormented son to the disciples for help, but they could not help. Jesus rebuked them sharply for their unbelief and requested the boy be brought to Him. Upon seeing Jesus, the boy convulsed violently and was thrown to the ground foaming at the mouth.
Jesus questioned the father concerning the boy’s condition. He had been tormented from early in life. The father asked Jesus for help, if He could do anything. This father was skeptical after the disciples had failed and he had lived with the condition in his son all his life. Jesus mildly rebuked him. The ‘if You can’ attitude must be repented of and replaced by faith and confidence in God’s goodness and power. The father’s confession and prayer help us to have the correct attitude of faith and dependence: “I believe! Help my unbelief.”
Have you ever gone to God or God’s people with a need that seemed impossible? Have you faced failure and become skeptical of God’s ability or willingness to help? Take a moment and pray a prayer inspired by this story in Scripture designed to help you receive the ‘impossible’ by faith!
Prayer: Father God, I do believe but have become complacent and possibly skeptical about Your willingness and ability to help me or my relatives. Forgive my unbelief! I believe that with You, all things are possible as I fully believe in You. Amen! Amen!
“If you believe . .”
Scripture reading for October 16: Mark 8-10
Have you faced a situation that was beyond your spiritual ability to know what to do? Today we have the story of a man with a son who had an evil spirit that was trying to kill him. This boy was often thrown to the ground, into the fire, and foamed at the mouth and became rigid. The father had brought his son to Jesus’ disciples for deliverance, but they could do nothing. This problem was not responding to what they knew and where they were spiritually. They needed help!
“O, unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” Mark 9:19 Jesus cried out from the depths of His being! He had spent many hours with these men and showed them the power of faith and of words. They were being ruled by sight! As the boy was brought before Him, the spirit caused another seizure to occur. Jesus asked the boy’s father how long he had been like this and he replied that his son had been that way from childhood. The man begged Jesus, “. . .if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”. “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:23 “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”” Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, it left the boy and he was healed!
The disciples were perplexed as to why they had failed. Jesus explained to them that this kind of demonic activity can only be defeated by prayer. (Mark 9:29) At this point, we should stop and think about what has happened and look at our lives as disciples. Jesus called His followers to take up their cross and follow Him. He lived a life of prayer and of complete submission to God as Father. He left these records for us to know that by faith, all things are possible. When we are faced with an impossible situation, prayer (and fasting) often is the only way to victory. God has answers if we won’t give up or quit too soon! If we lack faith, we need to seek His Word and direction on whatever obstacle we face and ask!
A scriptural prayer is found on the lips of the boy’s father: “I believe; help my unbelief!” He saw the salvation of God because of his faith and Jesus’ mercy. May we enjoy growing in faith and experience His mercy in our lives today!
Struggling with unbelief
Scripture reading for July 21st: Matthew 17
Key Scriptures: Matthew 17:18-23 “And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.”
Jesus and Peter, James, and John had just come down from a spiritual high on the Mount of Transfiguration to find the rest of the disciples faced with a demonically possesses boy that they were unable to help. Jesus rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith and cast the demon out with instant success. The puzzled disciples came privately to Jesus for an answer. Jesus plainly stated it was unbelief–a lack of faith and trust in God’s Word. Jesus further stated that it wasn’t necessary to have ‘big’ faith, but even just a small amount of faith would produce mountain-moving results. In fact, nothing would be impossible! He then shared with them again about His coming death and resurrection on the third day. This brought distress and anguish to His disciples because they struggled with unbelief here as well. Jesus also struggled with His disciples unbelief after three years of teaching and example! How slow to learn we are at times!
Matthew 17:17 “And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father, forgive me for reading and hearing Your Word and yet often living like it is not true. I struggle with unbelief like the disciples but thank You for the power of the Holy Spirit to bring boldness and Your Word to my understanding. Increase my faith as I study Your Word, trusting that all things are possible for those who believe.
Mark 9:23-24 “And Jesus said to him, “If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!””
By faith we stand!
Scripture reading for February 23rd: Romans 11
Key Scriptures: Romans 11:19-23 “Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.”
Paul used the example of an olive tree to describe the Church and the true spiritual Israel. The Jews were natural branches that were cut off because they refused to accept Jesus the Messiah. The Gentiles who by faith received Christ were wild olive branches that were grafted into the tree that is the symbol of true believers. They stood in their place because of faith and by faith they would continue. Those natural branches were cut off because of unbelief, but God desired to graft them in again if they would believe. God’s kindness is towards believers and His severity towards those refusing to believe. He desires to show mercy to all and see them saved but they must repent and believe in Jesus.
Romans 11:30-31 “For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.”
Faith confession and prayer: Thank You Lord for your patience and kindness shown towards me and all the unbelievers. I stand in faith and holy fear. Use me today to share the good news of Your kindness and mercy through Jesus Christ.
Romans 11:36 “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.”
Spirit-filled authority!
Scripture reading for January 23rd: Genesis 41-42, Mark 16
Key Scriptures: Mark 16:14-16 “Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and He rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “God into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Genesis 41:38-40 “And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house and all my people shall order themselves as you command.”
Jesus had appeared to several disciples and women who had come to the tomb. They had told the disciples they had seen Jesus alive but the disciples refused to believe. Now Jesus appeared to them all, rebuking them for their hard hearts and unbelief. They were commanded to get to work sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ–the wisest and most discerning man, full of the Spirit of God! Through resurrection from death, Jesus was declared the Ruler of God’s House!
Faith confession and Prayer: Lord, forgive me for my unbelief and at times hardness of heart. Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit within me and the great commission to go into all the world and preach the Gospel! Keep reminding me that faithful obedience means life to those who believe.
Holding firm our confidence!
Scripture reading for October 16th: Hebrews 3, Psalm 57, Proverbs 22
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 3:12-14 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”
This letter contains a warning against unbelief and falling away from the living God. It is possible to let go of our confidence in Christ Jesus and again be overcome by the sin of unbelief. We are charged by God’s Word to exhort one another to stand firm and watch over each other and our own hearts for hardening through the deception of sin. Today is the day to be watchful!
Faith Confession: I am watchful today for sin’s deception in my life. I do not want to be hardened by the sin of unbelief and fall away from the faith. Help me to watch over my own heart and others in my life who believe and exhort them today.
Psalm 57:1 “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in You my soul takes refuge, in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.”
Mountain-moving faith!
Scripture reading for January 25th: Matthew 17
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Matthew 17:18-21 “Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Jesus demonstrated the power of faith to his unbelieving disciples when He cast out the demon from the boy with severe seizures. They had tried, but had failed and Jesus had severely rebuked them, calling them an ‘unbelieving and perverse generation’. When they questioned Him as to why, He clearly told them it was a lack of faith! Jesus was hard on them because He had given them authority to cast out demons when He called them to preach. (Mark 3:14-15) They had failed to use what was given to them to advance the kingdom of heaven and spoil Satan’s hold on the lost and hurting. This walk of faith is essential for over-comers in these last days.
Observation for over-comers: All it takes, according to our Lord Jesus, is faith the size of a mustard seed and we can move mountains! “You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. . .It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.” (Psalm 18:28-29,32)
The mission!
Scripture reading for April 29th: Luke 24:13-53
The resurrection brought fear, doubt, and amazement to the disciples of Jesus. On resurrection day, two disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus, talking about what had happened in Jerusalem. As they walked along, Jesus began to walk with them. They did not recognize Him as He questioned them about the experiences they were discussing. They shared their hopes of redemption through Jesus and how He was crucified. Then they told Him how some of the women had told them that Jesus was alive and how others had found the tomb empty. They weren’t sure what to believe!
After listening to them, “He said to them, “How foolish you are, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” And beginning at the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” (Luke 24:25-27) Jesus was instructing His disciples and correcting their unbelief and they did not recognize Him! These two disciples asked Jesus to stay with them that evening and as He broke bread with them, they did recognize Him. He then disappeared from their sight!
They quickly returned to Jerusalem to tell the others! As they were telling their story, Jesus appeared to them saying “Peace be with you.” (Luke 24:36) They were frightened and thought it might be a ghost! He showed them His hands and feet and invited them to touch Him. He even ate some fish with them. He was a real man with flesh and bones.
The real task for these disciples lay ahead. “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His Name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what My Father has promised: but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:46-49) Jesus was still seeking out lost people and calling them to repent. These disciples would now be the witnesses who would share this truth. They would begin in Jerusalem and go to the nations! The gift of the Father would clothe them with power! His mission was their great commission!