“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, KJV)

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Without FAITH it’s impossible to what? To do, receive, hear, speak, or discern ANYTHING: to go or be sent in JESUS’ name ANYWHERE: or to minister effectively to ANYONE! In whom or what should I have FAITH; in GOD and His WORD.

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Living a “without FAITH” life as a Christian is to make oneself an unbeliever! Those professing to be Christians who pride themselves on being self-reliant, independent movers and shakers, and never ask GOD for counsel are functioning as unbelievers. Having unbelief in your heart nullifies your Christian profession; it’s like multiplying with zero. What does 4,238,395 x 0 equal? That’s right, zero. Unbelief “cancels us out” in the realm of the spirit. The term “unbelieving Christian” is a horrendous contradiction! Do you remember the following incident in the book of Acts?

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“Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD JESUS, saying, ‘We adjure you by JESUS Whom Paul preacheth.’ And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘JESUS I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?’ And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of the house naked and wounded.” (Acts 19:13-16, KJV)

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WOW! It is extremely rare, but sometimes demons tell the truth. The demon told the poser exorcists that they had no presence…no weight…no substance in the spirit realm like the LORD JESUS or His servant Paul! And, they were enraged that these fakers had the nerve to command them to do anything! Do you know why they were judged by the demon as unauthorized to give orders; because they were unbelievers? They wanted to perform deliverance by faith proxy!

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“How can that be if I…I mean someone said the sinner’s prayer, signed the church register, got baptized, and went to a new converts’ class?” Because heart knowledge of GOD registers differently than head knowledge of GOD in the realm of the spirit!  

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“…But what saith it (*Scripture)? ‘The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart:’ that is the word of FAITH, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation…for whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Romans 10:8-10, and 13, KJV)

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The person into whose heart GOD has planted the seed of SAVING FAITH is the one who’s able to receive JESUS as their personal LORD and SAVIOR! An intellectual belief in JESUS won’t cut it in the realm of the spirit. Sorry, but it is passed time that ministers of the WORD make things clear. That’s why there are so many filled with unbelief in church; because they NEVER were believers in the first place! This knowledge is in itself a bitter pill to swallow. BUT THERE IS HOPE! Anyone reading this word who questions their own salvation status can correct the situation right now by praying:

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“LORD JESUS, I think this writer is describing me. I feel it in my spirit (the uneasy feeling in your mid-section). I believe in my heart and NOT my head, that You died for my sins and that GOD the Father raised You from the dead. I receive You as my LORD and SAVIOR. Please fill me right now with Your HOLY SPIRIT and make my calling and election sure! Thank You, amen.”

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Hallelujah! Let me officially welcome you to the family. You will notice that you now have a living FAITH pulsating with resurrection life; go ahead and use it! Declare in JESUS’ name that you receive something the LORD lays on your heart and watch it become a reality.

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Unbelief is an offense to GOD. Unbelief stops the move of GOD. Unbelief suggests that all the LORD says that He is and can do is a lie; that GOD is in fact a liar. In the Gospels the apostles testified by the SPIRIT that the LORD could do no miracles because of the unbelief of the people in a region (Matthew 13:53-58). Sometimes the unbelief coupled with fear was so great, the residents asked JESUS to leave the area (Luke 8:27-39)!

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To swallow the bitter pill of unbelief and allow it to distort one’s relationship with GOD is an act of rebellion because the Bible teaches in the Old and New Testaments:

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“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4, KJV)

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“…For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7, KJV)  

                   

Unbelief is a symptom of being doubleminded and unstable in the realm of the spirit: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of GOD, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not: and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the LORD. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8, KJV) This verse teaches that unbelief will stop someone from receiving ANYTHING from GOD! Please note that doubleminded and unstable are words that suggest mental illness.

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As the person that professes to be a Christian continues to live in unbelief, their life walk will unravel. Their prayer life diminishes. They will spend less time studying Scripture. Anything they’ve received because of FAITH (probably someone else’s) will gradually be lost. For example, if they’re going to school and their grandmother who was praying them through dies, they might drop out and never finish. If the unbelieving Christian no longer has FAITH to believe that GOD provided them with their spouse, they may begin to consider getting a divorce. When a pastor is afflicted by unbelief, the ministry he or she oversees will eventually die. UNBELIEF IS A KILLER!

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The Christian afflicted by unbelief will become increasingly carnal operating according to what they think, desire, or feel instead of living according to the directives of the SPIRIT. If this person’s decline fueled by unbelief goes uninterrupted, apostasy will be the result! Second Thessalonians 2:3 prophesies that before the LORD’S return there will be a great falling away of those who once professed to be Christians; unbelief is at its core.

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There are different kinds of FAITH: saving, miracle working, mountain moving, and yoke destroying faith, to name a few. At the moment of conversion, saving faith in JESUS CHRIST is activated by hearing GOD’S WORD (Romans 10:17). This is the foundational faith all Christians possess. However, this type of FAITH isn’t enough if the believer desires to grow and mature. Pointing back at what you’ve done in 1969 using the measure of FAITH you had then will not suffice for challenges you face now!

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Stunted FAITH and a reluctance to grow in FAITH can result in unbelief. The negative effects of stunted FAITH in one area of life can spread to other areas. FAITH must be exercised and strengthened. FAITH must be used and applied to everyday situations and problems. FAITH must be put to the test. FAITH and that which has been received because of it must be contended for. A greater measure of FAITH must be developed in order to do the greater works the LORD JESUS has predestined for us. Embracing this understanding will help us to accept why the LORD allows us to go through trials and tests. The LORD periodically invites us to; “Come up higher…” because the higher walk with Him requires greater FAITH.

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All Christians (especially those in spiritual authority) must continually grow in and live by FAITH. Stunted FAITH isn’t NOW FAITH that is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen (Hebrews 11:1). Stunted FAITH is unbelief and its ultimate destination is apostasy!

 

If you have ingested the bitter pill of unbelief, you need ministry. Reach out; we’re here to help.

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DECLARE: “LORD JESUS I renounce a wicked heart and spirit of unbelief! I receive instead the knowledge that You are the Author and Finisher of my FAITH. Please begin now to develop the small faith I have into GREAT FAITH. Amen.”