The Power of Unbelief

As stated before, words and belief go hand in hand. But the Bible teaches that unbelief has power as well- the power to negate God’s promises. That’s a pretty big statement. Some people may not like to hear that, but it is true. God has granted his creation dominion over this earth and the choice is ours on whether or not we partner with the Lord Almighty. Here is the Son of God, Creator of all things (Colossians 1) and yet he is unable to do any mighty work in his home town. Is it because he did not have the power? Of course not. However, they did not know him in this way, they did not believe that he was anyone other than Jesus, a human, a son of Joseph and Mary. Thus, no signs and wonders were experienced by the “home town crowd.”

We must remember, “It is by grace you have been saved through faith…” (Ephesians 2). Jesus Christ came into the world to save the entire world from the wrath of God but that doesn’t mean the entire world will be saved. We have a part, a responsibility, and that part is to believe him who died for us and rose again. That is how we receive our salvation, which is one of the greatest displays of God’s power. Recall Paul’s statement in Romans 1:16. If that is how we are transformed to transfer from death over to life, why would it be any different to see the Power of God displayed in another way?

I talk to many fellow Christian brothers about all sorts of things and we do not always see eye to eye. In fact, on occasion when we gather together we can have discussions that bring about disputes. My first response is to go to God’s Word. One time a brother told me that he did not agree with this idea that our unbelief affects the power of God and that God can do anything, but he chooses to not always heal a person. I brought forth the scripture from above along with the fact that Jesus healed everyone who came to him-he never turned anyone away. In fact, Jesus replies many times throughout the gospels that a person’s faith healed them or that they should “just believe” and they would see the glory of God.

“Well, I am a skeptic.” My brother replied.

I’ll never forget those words that came out of his mouth. It is as though the Lord highlighted them for me to hear and take in. I now understood how Jesus felt when trying to share the truth with his family, his brothers, his disciples, and yet they struggled to perceive what he was saying. Here is my brother, struggling with one health problem after another, and he holds the key to experiencing the freedom of supernatural healing from Jesus but is blinded from understanding his part. His self-professed unbelief from his mouth exclaimed a major barrier that was preventing him from experiencing something beautiful. Thus his results, or lack there of, were the outcome.

We continued to meet over time, sharing, worshiping and fellowshipping together. Testimonies would be shared and the greatness of the power of Jesus would be discussed. Disputes became less and inquiries of how God did something miraculous occurred more often. We would pray and ask the Lord for more revelation of the truth.

Then one evening, he came and half of his face was paralyzed. He had Bell’s Palsy. We spent time listening to his story and offered prayer for him. Laying hands on him we cast out paralysis and commanded healing in the Name of Jesus. Sure enough, the side of his face that was paralyzed began to produce tears. By the end of our worship session that night he was able to smile.

God’s mercy and grace, fellowship with one another, and meditating on the word can build our faith and belief to experience his mighty power. Don’t allow unbelief to be an obstacle from receiving all that Jesus has in store for you. Let us be like Abram and believe God at his word (Genesis 15:6) instead of siding with the “home town crowd.” Our belief in Jesus and the power of his Name can change everything.