And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. (Matt 13:58)
Unbelief (Apistia) - Withholding belief in divine power
Withhold-Refuse to give (something that is due to or is desired by another)
I
used to wonder why the Most High was so angry when people were in
unbelief and why Y'shua (Jesus) was also annoyed with the people of his
day when they were acting in unbelief, now I know why, because their
unbelief was something they were in complete control of. They were
according to these definitions deliberately refusing
to give Yah the faith (belief) that he expected and was
due him. Unbelief is in essence saying. "I know you want me to believe
you Yah, but I refuse to give you what you want." OUCH!! Defiance at
it's worst. In the book of revelation when Yah through John started
listing off the people that will have their part in the lake of fire the
fearful and unbelieving
were at the TOP of the list. The sexually immoral and sorcerers were a
little furthter down the list. So while someone is looking side-eyed at
the person worshipping buddha, their unbelief is just as much of an
abomination and is further up the list!!
In
my humble opinion (and I stand corrected, if I am wrong) I do not see
doubt as harshly judged (though Yah is not pleased with doubt either)
because it seems in that attitude there genuine uncertainty and a need
for some confirmation. A good case was "Doubting" Thomas, he said he
would
not accept the disciples testimony of Y'shua's resurrection unless he
can feel his hands and side (John 20:26-29). Y'shua appeared and allowed
Thomas to feel his hands and touch his side, Thomas immediately
believed Y'shua gently rebuked him for his lack of faith.Because upon
being granted tangible evidence he BELIEVED, he dis not say "OK Y'shua I
still don't believe it." he did not withhold his belief, he quickly
gave it! It was already there, he just needed some proof.
Abraham is called the father of faith because when Yah told him something, he did not withhold belief, he gave it.
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:3)
So the 4 rewards of Unbelief (none of which I want) are as follows
1. Lack of Miracles (Matt 13:53, Matt 17:19-20)
2. Not
being able to enter into his rest (Hebrews 3:19, Hebrews 4:6)
3. Being cut off from Yah (Romans 11:20)
4. The Lake of Fire (Rev 21:8)
It
is not enough to keep ourselves out of the sin of unbelief, we must
not listen to or allow people who operate in it (by choice) to be
around us. The consequences are:
1.Strife ( Acts 14:2)
2. Being cut off from the promised land and perishing in the wilderness ( Numbers 13:25-33,Numbers 14:1-30)
3. Being shut out from witnessing Y'shua's miracle working power. (Mark 5:38-43)
Unbelief
is the refusal to give Yah what he requires, faith (belief, trust,
confidence) without which it is impossible to please him.
But without faith [it is] impossible to please
[him]: for he that cometh
to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
Shalom
