Faith

Unbelief

Posted on June 25, 2021 by christianliving4young

Imagine that, a stranger in shabby and worn out clothes approaches you and tells you, “I am the richest person in this area”. How will you react to this? Will you believe it? If you are a sane individual, you will not believe it unless the person provides you with solid proof that validates his statement. We humans are logical and rational in nature and so we cannot believe theories that are illogical. The concept of spiritual world and even GOD seems illogical to a lot of people. They consider it foolishness as they do not consider any of the proofs around them. The mere existence of humanity and the beautiful creations around us is the greatest proof of God’s existence. Unbelief in God and specially in Jesus can cause us serious trouble. Let us look into the treasure book to find out clues.

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK

Unbelief in God

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;
Hebrews 3:12

We already learned in ” Who are fools?” that a person who do not believe in GOD is called a fool. A heart that believes in God is WISE before Him, but an unbelieving heart is foolish before Him. No matter how learned they are or how vast their worldly wisdom is or how marvelous their worldly accomplishments are, they are still considered FOOLS by God if they do not believe in Him. Your education or your wealth or your achievements does not indicate wisdom before God, only a BELIEVING HEART does.

Moreover, not believing in the true living God is considered EVIL. An unbelieving heart is an evil heart that does not acknowledge the existence of God. Each day of our life on this Earth is a gracious gift from our heavenly Father. Not recognizing the existence of our creator nor His plans for our life is the most pathetic state we could be in. No wonder He calls such unbelievers FOOLS.

He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:18 – 19

Jesus is the Son of God who was sent by God the Father, as a savior for the whole of humanity to redeem them from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God. Whoever believes in Jesus as Son of God and accepts Him as their Savior will be saved. But not everybody believes this. What about the unbelieving lot? Not believing in the son of God results in condemnation – meaning they are declared guilty and sentenced for punishment. They are declared guilty because they loved to continue in their evil ways rather than turning themselves to the light – Jesus. And their punishment is eternal doom. Jesus is the only way to eternal life.

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1 Timothy 1:12

If you have been living your life without believing in the true living God or His son Jesus, now is the time for you to return back to him. Repent and accept Jesus as your savior. God will forgive and forget your past considering it as ignorance and will enable you to carry out the plans of your Creator, the purposes for which He sent you.

Not believing in God and His son Jesus is FOOLISH and EVIL before God and results in Eternal Condemnation and Eternal Doom.

Surrounded by Unbelief

Mark 6:1‭-‬6

Jesus after beginning His ministry went to His hometown with His disciples. And on the Sabbath, He began to teach in the synagogue. Many heard Him and were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man learn these things? And what wisdom is this, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” They were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now He could not do any mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went to villages, teaching.

His own people could not believe the fact that a normal person like them is doing such great works for God. To them, He was too familiar as an ordinary person and because of this they would not believe. They saw Him as a carpenter and not a child of God sent to accomplish God’s purposes. Jesus could not do any mighty works because of the unbelief of people who surrounded Him.

So with unbelief lingering, the mighty works of God does not takes place. And do not surround yourself with people who do not believe in you or the mission for which God sent you – even if they are the people in your closer circle. They will definitely discourage you and blow out the passion in you. As much as He would love to stay in His hometown, Jesus moved away from them because, if He stayed among these people who could not believe in God’s plan for His life, He wouldn’t be able to carry out His mission.

Separate yourself from people who do not believe in God’s plan and purpose for you, because they will definitely discourage you and could bring you out of God’s mission and purposes for your life.

Consequences of Unbelief

Mark 9:14‭-‬27

During Jesus’s ministry, a man brought his son who was mute, to the disciples. From time to time an evil spirit would seize him and throw him down. When this happens, the boy foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. Jesus’s disciples could not cast the evil spirit out. When Jesus came to them, this boy was brought to Him. When the boy saw Jesus, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. The father told Him that this has been happening from his childhood and that he was often thrown into fire & water by the evil spirit. The father said, “But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as dead. But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

Here, the boy was brought to the disciples and they could not heal him. Jesus called his disciples “O faithless generation“. Their unbelief is the reason why they could not carry out the healing. Now the boys father, even though he brought the child to Jesus, did not believe that the boy will be healed. Probably seeing the disciples not able to heal would have disheartened him. So when Jesus came he said – if you can do anything, please help us. He did not say – I believe in you and know you can help. Jesus could not heal the boy in the midst of these unbelieving hearts. So He addressed it one by one. First the disciples and then the boy’s father. As soon as it was addressed to the father, he cried out and prayed – I believe, help my unbelief. When the unbelieving heart turned into a believing one, Jesus casted out the evil spirit.

So with an unbelieving heart you cannot receive healing or miracles – Jesus could cast out the evil spirit only after the father believed. Also at the same time you also cannot perform the works of God for the glory of God if you have an unbelieving heart – the disciples could not cast the evil spirit out because of their unbelieving hearts.

You cannot receive miracles and healings if you have an unbelieving heart. Also you won’t be able to carry out the works of God if you have an unbelieving heart.

Treasures uncovered

Not believing in God and His son Jesus is FOOLISH and EVIL before God and results in Eternal Condemnation and Eternal Doom.

Separate yourself from people who do not believe in God’s plan and purpose for you, because they will definitely discourage you and could bring you out of God’s mission and purposes for your life.

You cannot receive miracles and healings if you have an unbelieving heart. Also you won’t be able to carry out the works of God if you have an unbelieving heart.

Prayer:

Thank you Father for sending your Son and bringing us into your kingdom. Thank you for counting us faithful to carry out your work. Help our unbelief and enable us to fulfill the plan and purpose for which you have sent us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Ages 11 & above, God & Me

Pleasing God

Posted on May 7, 2021 by christianliving4young

Our parents have the highest authority over our lives as long as we remain under their care and protection. If we are disobedient with them, we will be punished for sure. However, if we put on our best behavior by being obedient and carrying out the things that are expected of us, our parents will be happy and pleased with us. For instance, if we obey and respect our parents, do all our chores with perfection, get good grades at our school, etc., our parents will be very pleased with us. This will make sure we have an edge over our siblings in everything. The same at schools and colleges too. Our teachers too will be very pleased with us, if we do what is expected of us – respect them and be obedient to them, complete our assignments on time, score good grades, etc. We will also see them favoring us over others.

If pleasing parents and teachers brings us benefits, how will it be if we pleased God, the supreme authority over all creations. Can we please God by any chance? Let us look into the treasure book to hunt out clues.

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK

Is it possible to please God?

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
Luke 3:21-22

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
Matthew 17:5

In the first passage from Luke, Jesus is getting baptized. When He prayed, the heaven opened and Father God confirmed that He is well pleased with Jesus, His son. In the second passage from Matthew, Jesus took Peter, James, and John on a high mountain and He transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. There they heard the voice of God from heaven confirming to them that Jesus is His son and that He is well pleased in Him.

Jesus during His life time on earth, pleased God so very well.

By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Hebrews 11:5

Enoch walked with God all his days (Genesis 5: 21-24). He too pleased God.

We saw that Jesus and Enoch pleased God. So it is possible to please God. If they could, definitely we too can.

How to please God?

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6

Faith pleases God. Faith is a thorough belief without seeing or having any solid proof. We do not see God, but definitely believe in the existence of God. Believing in the all powerful God and having faith that He rewards those who diligently seek Him pleases Him. We see many people with extraordinary faith in the Bible. During the ministry of Jesus, many were healed because of their faith. The woman with the issue of blood is one such example. Jesus tells her – “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace” (Luke 8:40-48). There were even times when Jesus Himself marveled at the faith of certain people like the centurion who is mentioned in Matthew 8. So faith pleases God and brings about deliverances.

Faith pleases God

Doing what is expected of us

Doing what God expects from us pleases Him. So we should get to know what He expects from us.

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deuteronomy 10:12

God expects us to love Him and serve Him with all of our being. As Jesus taught, the first and greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind” (“Give it all”). Keeping the greatest commandment pleases Him. We also have to serve Him with all our heart and soul. Only if we love Him with all our being, we will be able to serve Him with all of our being. And this pleases God.

To Fear the Lord is to hate wickedness and all evil ways as we already learned in “The Fear of the Lord”. So God expects us to hate all evil and wicked ways.

We are also expected to walk in all His ways. We saw Jesus and Enoch walked with God and in all His ways, no wonder God was pleased with them! Walking in His ways is to keep His commands. How do we get to know His ways?

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
John 14:26

The word of God teaches us about God, His likes & dislikes, His commands and everything else about Him. By reading and meditating the word of God, we get to know His ways and commands. As we know, Holy Spirit lives inside of us from the time we accept Jesus as our savior. Holy Spirit is the one who reveals to us the word and teaches us His ways. Doing good, loving, sharing, obedience, humility, gentleness, kindness, forgiveness, faithfulness, etc., are few of His ways. As you read and meditate on the word, more of His ways will be revealed to you. Walking in all His ways also pleases Him.

So we, His children, are expected to love and serve Him with all our being, walk in His ways and hate evil & wicked ways.

If we do what is expected of us, God will definitely be pleased with us!!!

Example of Solomon I Kings 3:4-‬13

After King David, his son Solomon became the king of Israel. We will look into an instance from Solomon’s life that pleased God and see how it benefited him.

After Solomon offered sacrifices, the Lord appeared to him in a dream by night and said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to David my father. Now, O Lord my God, You have made me king, but I am a little child in the midst of Your people who are too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give me an understanding heart to judge Your people rightly.” This pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked for wisdom. Then God said to him: “Because you have not asked long life nor riches for yourself, nor the life of your enemies, but asked for understanding to discern justice, I have done according to your words. I have given you a wise and understanding heart. There has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.

Israel was the chosen people of God and had become a big nation by now. David had many sons besides Solomon, but he was chosen as king of Israel after David. Handling the affairs of God’s chosen people and serving them is serving God. Solomon knew, he had to take care of the nations affairs in justice as this is God’s way. He needed divine wisdom to serve the people. When God appeared, Solomon asked only for a wise heart to judge His people, when he had the opportunity to ask for riches, long life, or anything else he desired. But he put God first. Serving God & His ways were a priority over his own desires. This pleased God. God not only gave him the wisdom he asked for, but also riches and honor which he did not ask. God made him the wisest of wise amongst all generation. Fame, Riches and Honor followed Him. The one instance that pleased God changed Solomon’s life forever.

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
1 John 3:22

As we established before, Walking in His ways and keeping His commandments pleases Him. If we please Him, we will receive whatever we ask for. From Solomon’s life we see that we will receive more than what we ask for.

Treasures uncovered

Faith pleases God.

Doing what is expected of us pleases God. God expects us to love and serve Him with all our being, walk in His ways and hate evil & wicked ways.

If we please Him, we will receive whatever we ask for and even more.

Prayer:

Father, we thank you for teaching us what is expected of us. Help us to walk in all your ways, love you & serve you with all our being and hate all evil & wicked ways. Holy Spirit, teach us the ways of God and help us to have faith in God. Help us to live a life pleasing in your eyes. In Jesus name, Amen.