theme : Dealing with Unbelief
Text: Mark 11;22 and Jesus answering saith unto them have faith in God.
Introduction : I like to show you how unreasonable unbelief is. Unbelief makes unreasonable demands of God and the Bible. Unbelief is motivated by an evil spirit. It's interesting to see that the word unbelief isn"t mentioned in the Old Testament but repeatedly we can see it mentioned in the New Testament. We deal with unbelief on an everyday basis almost every decision we make revolves around whether we believe our we don't. When we go to work knock on doors we either believe we will succeed or we won't that's just from the natural point of having faith in yourself. But unbelief when it comes to God's word will make you or break you as a Christian.
1.) What is unbelief ?.
A.) unbelieve is refusal to trust God's word.
B.) Unbelief is our fear of obstacles.
C.) Unbelief is a result from seeing the problems instead of seeing God's word.
2.) Doubt versus unbelief.
3.) unbelief is the cruelest thing in the world.
A. The difference between doubt and unbelief.
Unbelief is from the French word( DOUTER) which means to fear. It goes back to the Latin word (DUBIUS) which means unsettled when we doubt were confused in our judgment. This means doubt can be honest. For example: Nathaniel had doubt but later he believed. Thomas had doubt but believed however Judas had unbelief-and refused to believe.
B. Unbelief is very different from doubt. It means uncertainty our skepticism-it is a negative reaction to faith. It's the opposite of believing. The dictionary says for "unbelievers"-is to be an infidel. Unbelief is a negative action a deliberate action and a unresponsible action and proceeds from an evil heart. Hebrews 3: 12 says, take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God."
Unbelief screams, no! Without thinking without proving.
C. When Christ was dying on the cross for the sins of the world unbelief screened in Matthew 27: 40, if thou be the son of God come down from the cross! Rather than seeking to know the purpose of the cross in Christ dying on the cross unbelief demands that he be selfish and come down.
D. unbelief will kick crutches from under the arms of a crippled man. Unbelief will still bread from the window. Unbelief will hold back water from a thirsty person. Unbelief is like weeds growing out without nobody tending to their garden. gnostic and the atheist are unbelievers this is how they believe.
E. Unbelief cries acts 2: 13 these men are followed
without seeking to determine if they were good men or if it was a gift from God.
F. Unbelief cries to the praying man for the sick Mark 3:22 he has Beelzebub and by the Prince of the Devils casteth he out devils. (without-seeking to know the truth)
G. Unbelief demand statistics and material reality rather than faith. For this reason, no spiritual thing can flourish in the atmosphere of unbelief.
4.) What unbelief will do to you
A. Israel wandered in circles for 40 years until death, because of unbelief. Hebrews 3: 9:11 when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works for years. Verse 10 wherefore I was grieved with that generation and said, they do away error in their hearts, and they have not known my ways. verse 11 so I swear in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest.)
B. Second Kings 7:19 and 20 Lord answered the man of God, and said now behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, behold thou shalt see it with thine eyes, and but child not eat thereof. v 20, and so it fell out onto him, but for the people trode upon him but in the gate, and he died.
The Kings right-hand man was trampled to death at the gate because he could not believe what was prophesied by Elisha C. To Kings Saul and Goliath: Saul did not believe, so the devil gave him unbelief until finally he became a suicide victom.
D. Denominational unbelief: many churches reject the great commission, to preach that he that believes in saved and he that believes not is damned: and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to heal the sick and cast out devils are not for today. Mark 16;14 and 18 afterwards he appeared unto the 11 as they sat at meat, and unbridled them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not that which had seen him after he was risen. v 15, and he said unto them go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be damned. 17, and these signs shall follow them that believe, and my name they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, 18, they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing and shall not hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover
5. Whole towns and cities.
The force of unbelief is seen in Matthew 13;58 Jesus could not do know great miracles because of unbelief in Nazareth. The sick could not be healed..the Heathon prevented the sick from recovery.
6. Ultimate destiny of unbelievers
Revelations 21;8 but the fearful and the unbelieving… Shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
7. How to destroy unbelief
- Romans 10;17so then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
- Faith is an act. We destroy unbelief by acting on God’s word.
- Noah acted-and he saved his family and the world.
- Abraham acted-and gave birth to nation’s.
- Moses acted-and saved 2 or 3 million out of slavery.
- Faith is a act. We destroy unbelief by acting on God’s word. James 2;20 will thou no o vein man, that faith without works is dead?
- Noah acted, and saved his family and the world. Hebrews 11: 7 by faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he commanded the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
- Abraham acted, and gave birth to a nation. James 2;.21was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Galatians 3; 16 now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not,and to seeds, as of many; but as one, and to thy seed, which is Christ.
- Moses acted, and brought two or 3 million people out of slavery Exodus 12: 31-38 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, rise up and get you forth among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and ghosts are the Lord as you have said.v 32 also take your flocks and your herds, as you had said and be gone; and bless me also.v 33, and the Egyptians were ignorant upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, we need all dead men. V. 34 and the people took their goods before it was leavened, there kneading-troughs being bound up in their close upon their shoulders. V. 35 and the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and will and rimaiment; v. 36, and the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.v. 37, and the children of Israel journeyed from Ramses to Succoth,about 600,000 on foot that were men, beside children.v 38, and a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks and herds, even very much cattle.
- Joshua acted, and took Israel into the holy land. Joshua 11:23so Joshua took the whole land, according to all the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it four an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. In the land rested from war
- The blind man obeyed. John 9;7 go wash in the pool of Saloam,( which is by interpretation, sent) he went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
- The man with a withered arm thrusted it forth. Mark 3;5 he and when he had looked around about on them with anger, being grieved for their hardness of their hearts, he said unto man, stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out; in his hand was restored whole as the other
Conclusion; so many times we are confronted with many decisions to believe God and his word are to act on our own belief system the world system, if we put our confidence in the word of God and believe with our heart in what Jesus said we will grow in our faith as believers our lives will be fuller from day-to-day I know what we face in our daily lives our families are relatives are children depend on us as believers to make the right choices there are only two choices and that is decisions based upon the word of God and believing what it says, or believing what the world says we should be and what we should do, it is taken me many years to begin to make the right choices but God never gives up on you and his word never fails. James Stewart
