Lesson 8: God isn’t limited by our inability, but by our unbelief.
Hebrews recalls the story of the Israelites and their wandering in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land. It says of the people who died in the wilderness and didn’t get to enter, “So we see that they were unable to enter because of their unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19).
In Numbers, God told Moses, “ Send men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel…” Ten of the twelve spies when they went to explore the land that God already told them that He was giving to them – not that they had to conquer themselves – were so focused on and consumed by fear of the strong inhabitants in the land and their inability to inhabit the land, that they no longer believed God could or would bring them into the land.
The Lord then says to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.” Moses pleads with God and calls on His steadfast love and forgiveness, and the Lord doesn’t do that. However, the Lord doesn’t let those that didn’t believe Him enter the land and inherit the promise of God. God tells them that their bodies will fall dead in the wilderness and that their kids will know the land that they rejected because of their unbelief.
Don’t reject your inheritance because of your unbelief!
The Holy Spirit is preaching this to me even as I am writing this right now!
Our salvation isn’t about our ability, but our belief. “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, then you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
Our sanctification isn’t about our ability, but our belief. Our process of sanctification = our belief in the Truth, in the Word, and the Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:3-4, Romans 12:2, John 8:31-32).
Our freedom isn’t about our ability, but our belief. “So Jesus said to the Jews who believed him, ‘If you abide [believe and obey] in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’” (John 8:32).
Our healing isn’t about our ability, but our belief. Many times throughout the gospels, when people came to Jesus to be healed, he healed them and said, “Your faith has made you well,” or, “according to your faith, you are healed.” (Mark 5:34, Mark 10:52, Matthew 9:29). Jesus could not heal many in his own hometown because of their unbelief in him!!!! It says he marveled at their unbelief and left, only healing a few! (Mark 6:1-6) Don’t let Jesus leave you untouched because of your unbelief!
Believe in Him. Believe in His Word. Believe in His character. Believe in His promises to you. Believe what He says of you. Believe what Jesus says, even when you don’t see such things to be true today. God is not limited in you and through you by your inability, but by your unbelief.
“And without faith, it is impossible to please Him, and for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Repent for you unbelief. Ask God to change your unbelief. He cares more about your beliefs than your abilities.
“God I believe, help my unbelief.” See the story in Mark 9:14-29.
Father, I cry out to you on behalf of a nation of unbelieving “believers.” God, I repent of letting our beliefs stop at the cross, at our salvation. God, I want to believe EVERYTHING you say, EVERYTHING you promise, EVERYTHING that is true of you, Jesus, Holy Spirit, myself, other people, and this whole world. Increase our faith. Thank you for how you have revealed yourself to us in undeniable ways in the past. Thank you for the beliefs we do have in you because of your goodness to humanity. Holy Spirit, would you continue reminding us of truth, and would you burrow it deep down in our spirits. Don’t let us be content with not believe your words, character, and promise both from the past and today. Thanks, God! In Jesus’ name!
