In this chapter we will explore the relationship between unbelief and faith and the lack of a relationship between unbelief and faith.

The lack of faith is an in-built system that we have fully operational once we come to adulthood. It is caused by what we have seen and the many times we have gone through being let down by others and it is not a product of our times because many people we look upon in the bible had the same problem. Therefore this distrust of promises must be overcome and is part of the wooing that God does on our part. This wooing is part of the learning process that must happen in order for our rebirth and subsequent ministry to be born. How far would a minister get if he had no faith in what he was preaching? Does this happen? Of course it does, over and over again and he is then raising up generations of kids unknowingly imparting his lack of faith to them unless God intervenes and begins to personally teach this man, be he male or female.

This lack of faith can also be called lack of knowledge and it most certainly is lack of intimacy in their relationship with God. If you have the name of God and you have rejected the persona of God then I lay the fault at your feet. Let me explain what God has shown me and you judge the correlation between the two.

When you meet your future mate there is a time of getting to know one another and love grows with this knowledge of each other. When there is sufficient love there is a marriage and then intimacy and I don't mean just physical intimacy. There is a setting down within each other's life and a merging of spirits that birth's dreams, hopes and usually a spiritual child grows out of this union called love.

This is the mirror image of the physical in the spiritual that God wants us to see.

When you meet Christ, the Savior, the Friend, the Healer, and you begin to learn His nature and love grows until you know you desire him above all else and then the marriage takes place. Now comes intimacy, when you begin to feel as the Father feels and then to think as the Creator thinks then you can know you are more married to him then you ever were in the flesh because this intimacy is soul changing.

Until you have knowledge, love and intimacy then trust cannot fully be birthed. Faith and hope is another word for trust. A knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt, a solid foundation based on love that cannot ever be shaken.

From this sure seat you have full promise that His word is true and what He has told you will happen and whatever He decrees through you will happen.

First let's take apart a happening that came about with Jesus and see if you can relate this to what's happening to you. Matthew 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

They had to come up with something to discredit him lest they learn of him and be undone. Matthew 13:55-58 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? (56) And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? (57) And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. (58) And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Jesus did not diminish His power, but He emphasized this for us so we will understand that although we believe that ALL things can be done in the name of Jesus that if we go into an assembly of people that hunt for fault to discredit us that He will not show forth His power because of their motives. We have a tendency to think that it's something we did or did not do that caused a service to be staid. I have set in service and talked to God in service and been bathed in His love and the people around me be totally unaffected and I'd be willing to bet you have too. Matthew 17:19-20 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? (20) And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

You are given a measure of faith when you come to Jesus and this faith will grow as the mustard seed grows. The mustard seed is not a tender seed. It will endure drought and cold and heat and at every favorable season it will flourish so faith given a little opportunity will grow. If you watch it doesn't seem to do much but let trouble surround you and that cry that comes from the soul goes to the throne and lo and behold your faith got exercised. Mark 9:23-25 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (24) And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. (25) When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

This man asked for help in his unbelief and God granted the miracle. Are you not capable of this same situation? If we were all walking in total faith then we would turn this nation upside down because nothing would be impossible to those who believe. Ask for an increase in faith and do this daily because it is also a bridge for you to walk on into the Father.

Matthew 15:36-38 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. (37) And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. (38) And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

Matthew 16:8-10 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? (9) Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? (10) Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

Now is there a difference here between unbelief and lack of faith? No, but the apostles asked for an increase in faith and they could touch Him and witness firsthand His miracles and if they being there asked for an increase then let us have the humility to ask God for an increase and then for a multiplication of that increase. Can you have too much? No, you have thirsty people all around you so give freely and rejoice for the light has come.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Faith comes by hearing and not by the outer ear but the inner man listens and grows. If you cannot go to church then read what God has lead you to read or listen to the television or radio. I am not inviting you to stay home from church but if you survive from Sunday to Sunday for your weekly touch from God then you do not need to miss any chance available to you while He is teaching you to walk by faith.

To walk in unbelief is to walk in sin and your glorified soul cannot sustain this sin covering so if you allow unbelief to stay in your soul then it will effectually push God out and you will be lost. It is your place to keep evidences of God's influence in your mind and dwell on what He has done for you to help build your faith because how deep can you be without a solid foundation? If you look back over your walk with God, has He ever left you? When you look forward, do you see anything but Him in your path? We walk together, you and I and it sure is an interesting walk through life. Arise!

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