Settled Forever: Unbelief Equals Disobedience

‘For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry 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 not able to enter because of unbelief.

‘For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

‘Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.’ [Hebrews 3:16-19; 4:2,3,11]

This is a very interesting passage. The Holy Spirit is using the example of Israel not entering the Promised Land through unbelief and calls it disobedience, and then applies the same truth to us.

He told them to take the land, that it was theirs, that He would go before them. But they looked at the circumstances and chose to believe what they saw over what He said.

At first, this offended me. I mean, I can’t help it if I don’t have enough faith to bring the Word of God to pass in the earth, can I? It’s not my fault…[whining sound]

Then I saw it! Who says I don’t have enough faith? Am I one Spirit with the Lord or not? Are all things possible to me if I believe or not? Am I full of God or not? And if so, I must have faith to move mountains, heal the sick, raise the dead and pull money out of the mouths of fishes! Turn water into wine? Did I die and Christ now lives in me or not? Can I do greater works than Jesus did or not? [John 14:12]

Take the Land
God told Israel to take the land. That was His Word, and we know that a) His Word is settled forever and b) it will not return to Him without accomplishing what He sent it for. [Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 55:11]

They were disobedient…they did not unite the word they heard with faith [Hebrews 4:2] and consequently the Word did not come to pass for them.

But it did come to pass, because God’s Word will always come to pass through the ones who will unite it with faith. In the case of Israel, that was Joshua and Caleb!

It boils down to this: who’s right…God or me? He has said many things about and for me. Do I unite them with faith, to bring them to pass in the earth, or do I not?

Disobedience
More importantly, He sees my unbelief as disobedience…why?

Because He knows who I am, even if I don’t. He knows that He is in me, in all Three Persons, full of His glory. [John 14:23,26; John 17:22-24] He knows I have faith to do all things, because it is the Father within Who does the works! [John 14:10; Ephesians 3:16-21]

And guess what! Satan knows, too, because he can see plainly what’s what in the spiritual realm! He knows that you are the Body of Christ, the Word Multiplied, One Spirit with the Lord!

That’s exactly why he works so hard to deceive us into thinking we don’t have enough faith, [fill-on-the-blessing] may not be for us, it may have passed away, we don’t deserve it, it could never happen for us, blah blah blah.

That’s why he’s got preachers all over the earth working overtime to tell us that ‘sometimes the answer is no’ when the Word clearly tells us the opposite…

‘For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes ; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.’ [2 Corinthians 1:20]

'He Who did not spare his own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will he not also with Him freely give us all things?' [Romans 8:32]

'...through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.' [Acts 13:39]

'But thanks be to God, Who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.' [2 Corinthians 2:14]

'...God, Who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.' [1 Timothy 6:17]

'Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ [Messiah] is born of God...For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. [1 John 5:1,4]

'Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.' [3 John 2]

'And Jesus answered saying to them, "Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you."' [Mark 11:22-24]

"Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." [John 14:13,14]

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." [John 15:7]

"In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full." [John 16:23,24]

'In Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge' [Colossians 2;3]

'For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete [full]...' [Colossians 2:9,10]

'...heirs of God and fellow [joint] heirs with Christ...’ [Romans 8:17

'...heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him.' [James 2:5]

'...all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.' [1 Corinthians 3:22,23]

I’ve got news for you…the answer is NEVER no, because God cannot withhold from Himself, and we are One with Him!

We’re just asking the wrong questions! Why don’t I have enough faith, why isn’t it working for me, why is God letting this happen, woof woof woof!

It’s unbelief, pure and simple. And God sees it as disobedience because He knows who we are…He knows He is in us to do the greater works.

So What’s the Answer?
The answer is plain:

‘And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, so that you may PROVE what the will of God is, that which is GOOD and ACCEPTABLE and PERFECT.’ [Romans 12:2]

‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.’ [Philippians 4:6-9]

Not teenagers dying in car wrecks or babies dying of birth defects or people losing their homes or churches destroyed by tornados or fill-in-the-tragedy!

God is a God of beauty and peace—shalom—nothing missing or broken! He has decreed health, wealth, blessings for us and for our children and angelic protection. But we must unite it with faith to see it in the earth!

Folks, it’s all about free will. We choose to believe God or to believe the circumstances. We have the faith of God inside of our re-born spirits because we are one spirit with Him. We choose His Word or the deceptions of the enemy, and He sees that as disobedience because He knows exactly what we’re capable of.

‘For as he thinks within himself, so he is.’ [Proverbs 23:7]

We are the deciding factor, the second witness. God has already decreed it and has rested from His works. [Hebrews 4:3,4,10]

It’s time to unite His Word with faith.

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Sunday, January 15, 2012

Unbelief Equals Disobedience