FAITH vs UNBELIEF
Sometimes, when your Faith says “Giddy-up”, your unbelief is saying “Whoa”.
We have the same faith as Paul (Galatians 2:20) and Peter (2 Peter 1:1) and Yes, even the same quantity and quality of faith that Jesus has; therefore, we can do the same works (Acts 9:36-42) and (Acts 5:15),.and even those that Jesus did, IF we receive this truth and begin to use what we have (John 14:12). Many Christians have not understood this, they have spent their time asking for faith or for more faith. there is only one measure of faith (Romans 12:3), the faith of Jesus. (Galatians 2:16)
So why can’t we “heal the sick and raise the dead”? (Matthew 10:8) … in Matthew 17:14-20, a man’s son was vexed and the disciples could not cure him. Jesus did and cast out the demon. When the disciples asked why thy could not, Jesus said, “because of your unbelief”.
In Mark 9, this same father pleads with Jesus when he said “.. Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.”
In the lesson of the fig tree and faith, Mark 11:11-14; 20-26, Jesus told us about the two conditions necessary to move mountains, when he said “…and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe” Mark 11:23
With faith and NO UNBELIEF nothing is impossible.
Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Believe the Word:
Unbeliefoccurs when we believe the world and Not the word.
Mark 4:18-19
We access God’s faith through His Word. When we hear God’s Word, the Holy Spirit empowers it, and if we receive the truth, God’s supernatural faith enters us. God made His faith available to us so that we could believe in Him and receive His salvation. We were saved by using God’s supernatural faith to receive His grace.
Once we receive God’s supernatural faith at salvation, it doesn’t leave us. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, FAITH, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”. Faith becomes a permanent part of our born-again spirits. There is no lack of faith within any true Christian - just a lack of knowing and using what God has already given us.
Matthew 13:1-29 The sower and the seed:
When the seed – the word – is planted in fertile ground – our heart – it has the potential to produce. The seed doesn’t determine how much is produced – all seeds of God (the Word) have the potential for God’s greatness and glory – the ground in which the seed is planted determines how much the seed produces.
When we allow the deceitfulness and lies and lusts of the world into our hearts it chokes God’s word and we limit what the seed – the word – can do in our lives. Our choice.
Proverbs 18:21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue. God gave us choice – choose life.
Choose God:
Deuteronomy 30:1-20 if you are to eliminate your unbelief, you are going to need to start spending time with Him. Every time we have a choice to make God is giving us direction …
John 10:27, My sheep hear my voice. If we’re aren’t hearing it we’re drowning it out.
Don’t be afraid to act:
In 2nd Kings 7:3-9 we read of the four lepers who decided to act, to risk it all, and when they did they won a great victory. Often we limit GOD with our unbelief because of our fear of failure.
If we’re not sure sure what God wants us to do – we should put some motion in our actions – even if it’s not “full speed ahead” we should act toward what we feel He is leading.
Instead of being overcome by our problems and our fear of not handling them correctly and thus not doing anything about them – we can choose to overcome our problems by His promise. Matthew 14:22-24, John 6:21
Remember the story of feeding the multitude with the young boy’s lunch of fishes and bread? After the multitude were sent away, Jesus told his disciples to go fish. The storm was so strong that as hard as they were paddling they were making very little progress. Jesus was walking on the waters and “would have passed by them”, Mark 6:48 - It was their responsibility to call out to Him by faith and to reach out and call upon His miracle-working power.
We must Act:
and When we act – He will provision us. He will provision us Where He wants us to be. Not in preparation for the call, but after we respond.
God asks us to act beyond our normal selves. – to step UP – outside of our comfort zone.
He asked Abraham to sacrifice his son – and provided the offering. He asked Noah to build a really big boat – and provided the pairs of animals. He asked Elijah to tell a king about famine and calamity - and had the ravens feed him. In each of these, God asked for an act – a call – that was beyond their normal comfort zone. And in each, when they acted, God provisioned – He provided what they needed.
Let go and Let God:
You have a part to play. God choose you. He has a purpose for you. He gave you gifts and abilities and talents to accomplish that purpose. His call will require you to act beyond your natural abilities – forcing you to rely on Him.
Paul was a highly educated Jew. Learned, educated, polished in the Jewish way – perfect to teach the legalistic Jew about the love and grace and faith of God. God sent him to the un-learned Gentile.
Peter was a raw, rough and worldly, an uneducated Gentile – perfect to teach the Gentile about the loving forgiveness and grace of God. God sent him to the legalistic Jew.
God loves you more than He loves what you can do. He sacrificed Himself for You, not for your service.
Empower God’s faith that is already in you!
Quit trying to convince God that you deserve something different – something more.
Do NOT become like the world …
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Be transformed – be changed
The beginning of God is at the end of you.
Your faith is full grown – it is Perfect. 2 Peter 1:1
Cast off your physical self and embrace your spiritual self in God’s Word.
