Unbelief: Crime Against God
By Trevor Davis
1-17-2019

Faith or no faith? That is the question. It has to be one of the most important questions that can be asked and addressed accordingly. Why? Because without faith, it is impossible to please God. Without faith, you are lost. Without faith, you can not have any benefit from the Lord. So, it is vital to consider this. In fact, Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ urged, “test yourselves and examine yourself whether you be in the faith”. Take an honest look and see. Is there fruit or evidence?

Many say they believe but exhibit out of their words and actions they indeed do not have faith. James another apostle of Jesus exhorted on this subject. If one says they have faith, where are the works of faith that justify the talk of faith? Faith without works is dead he said.

Faith is an integral element of being a redeemed person by Jesus. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews wrote a great amount about faith and those who did not have faith. There was a group of people that had obtained a testimony from God Himself because of their example of faith. They are likened to a cloud of witnesses that encircle the believers on the journey of faith. We can read the story and have the Spirit of God show us what faith looks and sounds like.

Sadly, we have people that teach on faith as a means of making money. They twist these truths in order to seduce people into using faith as a vehicle to get the things they want. Having lusts for wealth, fame and pleasure, which are the sins of the world, they mistakenly think they can use principles of faith to amass great treasures of wealth and personal belongings all as a false sense of spirituality. The most grandiose examples boast of being a billionaire and that they had “appropriated” their wealth status by their 'super faith'. The erring crowds coo after their teacher that they embraced according to the vanities they seek.

Today, I am exhorting along the lines of a biblical faith. First in Jesus Christ as the sole salvation for the world that is by faith. And then faith towards God in all matters of such a person's life. For we walk by faith and not by sight it is written. God even tries our faith to perfect it and establish it. That process is more precious than gold which perishes. Faith however, endures for ever. So, why do people pursue gold rather than faith that endures forever?

When Jesus went about doing His ministry in the earth he would often marvel at the unbelief. In those cases, He could do not mighty deed it says in scripture. The same is true for so called believers today. I want to ask, can a person be a believer and have no faith? Hmmm. Can the Lord do things in your life if you do not believe? Like the basics of provision, healing, miracles, or any of His benefits?

The Word of God says that unbelief comes from an evil heart. Unbelief is an English word. The Greek word is 'no-faith'. A person who prays and speaks the very opposite of their prayer is double minded and unbelieving. That person will not receive anything from the Lord. They are unstable in all their ways and like the sea tossed to and fro. We are to pray, ask, believe, and we shall have what we rightly ask. Even speaking to such a thing as a mountain or fig tree as Jesus said. It will do as you say if you are abiding in the Lord through faith! But not to have faith, you are just wasting your time. And that is why we see so much powerless Christian people that rarely see God do anything. No faith.

Its an important study to review the texts of those who had faith. Letting the Holy Spirit teach us these most basic things is imperative. God works by foundation. He lays a foundation that is perfect, then builds upon it accordingly. If a person does not have the true foundation that comes from God, they will stymie God's activity in their life. Because, God is not going to build upon a corrupt or tilted foundation. He will not build upon sand either. Jesus taught us these things on obedience and faith. Hearing and obeying is likened to a man that digs deep, lays a foundation, and builds the house. The storm and winds come and can not destroy what is built. But the fool, he hears and does not obey, but likened to building a house on sand. The winds come and the seas roar and beat against the sand castle of the foolish disobedient person. And, great is the destruction. A total waste.

We see that Abel offered to God a pleasing sacrifice while Cain did not. We see Noah was warned by God of things that had never happened before, a catastrophic flood of rain. By faith, Noah being warned by God, built the ark according to God's instructions. That is a lesson of obedience and deliverance ladies and gentlemen.

There is a list of people that obtained such a honorable testimony from God in scripture. Hebrews 11 cites many and how this world is not worthy of them. They sought a city which builder and maker was God. They were not of this world as the disciples of Jesus are called out of the world too. Many of them experienced great hardship of trials of their faith. Some received deliverance while others did not. Abraham became the friend of God because he believed God. God actually said, “he is My friend”. He was persuaded what God promised He was able to perform. He did not stagger or waver from unbelief but was strong in faith! His faith gives glory to God as disciples follow suit in his example.

Jesus tells us to pray. He tells us that the Father in heaven knows what things we need. The needs are basic to all men of every nation. In fact, all the people of earth seek food, clothing and shelter. But Jesus said the Father knows you need these things. He commanded, “Do not give thought what you shall eat, or how you shall be clothed”. He commanded, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you”. So, what do you seek first?

Unfortunately, the spiritual climate of our day in the churches is one of apostasy. With men going about establishing great monolith structures both of buildings and institutions, seek to have large crowds of religious people to pay for their dreams of grandeur. Because of this, it is rare to find the truth of the Word of God in its entirety. There is a censorship of the Word and Spirit of God. That is not new. For even in the ancient times of Israel the people went through religious motions while they were steeped in sin against God. Singing songs, offering sacrifice, and giving God lip service along the way. But God withdraws from this hypocrisy and the people generally do not realize it or care. God is not the pursuit, nor His Kingdom, nor His righteousness. But they pursue the things of the world that are not of the Father, and in this way, become His enemies.

The agenda to create large religious centers that influence large portions of the population is in operation. There are certain men that have set themselves up. They teach the people like the false prophets a silly frivolous word, smooth talk, with lies that God accepts their lukewarm hearts. They rarely reprove, rebuke or exhort with long-suffering and doctrine as the Word of God commands. Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Isaiah all spoke of this aspect in apostate Israel and Judah. Nothing is new under the sun.

In addressing faith and the lack thereof, these things must be acknowledged. When people profess faith in God, and even experience His goodness, and then they turn back to the ways of the world and its bondage, it is like a dog that eats its vomit. Or, even a pig after it is washed, will wallow in the mire thinking nothing about it. Peter declared that if such a person does this, after they were once delivered and returns from whence they came, going back to corruption and are overcome, the last state is worse than the first. The writer of Hebrews speaks of those who draw back from God not holding fast during trials. God says His soul will have no pleasure in such a one. They are those who drawback to destruction.

We are speaking of the faith. Are you in the faith? Where is your faith? What are you saying? What are you doing? Do you obey the Lord's voice? Do you embrace all His teaching as commandments? Do you even have the first steps of the faith, repentance from dead works, and, faith towards God?

I'm challenging you today. Examine yourself whether you are really in the faith. Don't deceive yourself. Be honest and ask God to validate your assessment. He will tell you the truth. You might recall that when Jesus had 7 letters written to the assemblies in Asia, He corrected, rebuked, and chastened them as He knew was necessary. He gave them instruction too. That is the way of Jesus. He called 5 out of the 7 to repent and implement His commandments of instruction. It was written, “If any man hear, hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies”. Jesus said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in and sup with him and he with Me”. He stands at the door knocking now. This is an individual thing. We all have to give account before God.

A tragic truth is that there will be many who profess to Jesus, 'Lord Lord'. They think they are in His kingdom because of various things they have done. But to many of those He will profess, “I do not know you. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.” There will be weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth as people find themselves unaccepted by the Lord. Their “work” was iniquitous, not wrought in God. Not of faith. Natural, sensual and devilish. Works of Cain. Works of death and disobedience.

So, today you are hearing a strong exhortation to consider your own self. Is God pleased with you? Are you really in the faith? What does He say?