10/09/2014 - THE UNBELIEF FACTOR

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So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.  Hebrews 3.19

Just like any of us, the Lord is not pleased with those who close the door at His face. Unbelief is the worst disrespect towards God. The Most High, being wise, knows how to reveal Himself to people, making them believe in what He says so that He may be able to bless them. However, some people that are not watchful choose to be led by the demon and prefer to act with unbelief.

With His strong hand, the Lord retrieved the sons of Israel from Egypt. With this same hand, He drove us out of the kingdom of darkness (Cl 1.13). Our salvation did not happen randomly; it was the work of He who is perfect and All-Powerful. But like the Israelites that surrendered to unbelief, many times we also allow this wicked feeling to take over our hearts.

The unbelieving Israelites did not live without due punishment. Because of the wickedness of their hearts, they had to walk during 40 years through the desert. How many people have wondered from one side to another because they have not believed that God is powerful to help them and make His promises happen in their lives. Only the children of those wicked men entered in Canaan. Even so, this happened only after their parents died.

Joshua was great before the Most High. He learned with Moses for 40 years to trust in the Almighty. The time came when the tribes of Israel should take hold of the Promised Land. Moses’ successor was brilliant, for he managed to lead all the people to the Promised Land. However, when he was old, he heard the Lord saying that there was still much land to be conquered. In some way, he did not believe completely. Are we doing the same perhaps?

The father of the boy suffering with epilepsy (Ml 9) recognized that this was his problem. During many years that boy tried to take away his own life in fire and water, and how many tears he brought to his parents? Nobody expelled his demon, not even Jesus’ own disciples managed to do so. However, when the father had an encounter with Jesus, he wept aloud and cried out for Jesus to help him with his unbelief.

Thomas had the privilege of being counted as one of the 12. He walked with Jesus, heard that wonderful voice many times, learned with the Master of masters, and saw all kinds of miraculous operations happen. Anyhow, after the Lord resurrected, He revealed Himself to the disciples where some of them were gathered. Later, as he heard about it, Thomas said that he did not believe unless he saw the holes in the hands and the pierced body of Christ.

Unbelief has hindered the Church of the Lord to advance in the occupation of the land that was given to them. Some servants do not accept that one of their missions is to prosper and support financially the work of the Lord. They think they are the masters of their possessions, so the unbelief in their hearts paralyses the divine hand and blocks them from being more prosperous.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares