Unbelief and Doubt
Scripture: Hebrews 4 v 2; 6:
"For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as
unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with
faith in them that heard it. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter
therein, and they to whom it was first preached did not enter in because of
unbelief."
The first time unbelief appeared on Earth was in the
Garden of Eden when Eve chose to believe Satan, the Serpent, when he suggested
to her that she could doubt God's Word and live. However, he did not give her the fine print
of how she would have to live! Outside of God's protection and abundance.
Working for a living. Subject to sin, illness, death and him!
Unbelief in God's Word caused her to eat of the forbidden
fruit which set in motion all the evil of the world to this day. Unbelief causes us to question God's wisdom
and also doubt the power and might of Jesus Christ.
When we start to doubt then we start to backslide away
from our commitment to Jesus. Just as Adam and Eve covered themselves with the
figleaves of self-justification so do backsliders try to justify their sinful
actions usually by blaming God for some bitter disappointment. Words like,
"If God was real this would not have happened!" This is the core
statement of the spirit of Unbelief.
When Moses went up the mountain to receive the Ten
Commandments the spirit of unbelief in his brother Aaron was at work down below
making another god, a golden calf, to distract the Israelites from the One True
God. This same brother who had seen the mighty miracles God did in Egypt which
finally set them free. He walked between the walls of water of the Red Sea by
faith that it would not close over them but unbelief rose up and he fell for
satan's lies.
Throughout the Old Testament God had to deal with their
unbelief and disobedience, usually by allowing them to be captured until they
were willing to follow the Lord again. The same thing happens to Christians
spiritually when unbelief sets in we become enslaved to another god.
It may be alcohol, drugs or tobacco; occult teachings;
false doctrines; worship of angels; worldliness; extramarital affairs; fraud or
family feuds.
As Peter was walking on the water to Jesus, belief kept
him from sinking. When he looked at the waves by taking his eyes off Jesus the
spirit of unbelief and doubt drove him under. As long as we keep our eyes on
Jesus we will be victorious. It is a constant lifestyle that focuses on how we
can please our Lord and grow into His likeness.
Whenever we compromise our Christianity by allowing the
world's ways to influence us we open the door for the spirit of unbelief to do
its deadly work. Whenever we justify our sinful actions we endanger our access
to the Tree of Life and can be sent out of the place of redemption back into
the world to try to overcome our bad nature without the help of Jesus.
It is a place of discipline and hardship which God never
intended for His children. Its a place where you come under the condemnation of
the law like the foolish Galatians.
All those churches who have abandoned a Spirit-filled
walk with Jesus Christ for the futility of living under the Jewish Law are
bound by the spirit of unbelief. All those churches who have traded true
revival for the Toronto "blessing" are bound by the spirit of
unbelief. Those who preach Kingdom Now and Dominion Theology are bound by
unbelief.
All those entertainment centres trying to amalgamate the
world and the church are in captivity to unbelief. They have turned God's House
into a House of Merchandise and the same anger that drove Jesus to overturn the
tables of the moneylenders is directed back at them.
Satan has sent hordes of spirits of unbelief to
destabilise Christianity. Jesus knew he would and even asked "When I
return will I find faith on Earth?" If you have realised that you need to
be free of unbelief say the following prayer -
Heavenly Father, Today I know myself and see how satan
has deceived me with unbelief. Forgive all my backsliding through doubt.
Forgive me for not guarding my soul and for leading others to believe the same
errors. Father cleanse me with the Blood of Jesus and restore me to true and
full belief in the Word of God. I will bring the truth to those I have misled.
In Jesus' name. Amen.