The struggle with faith
The gospel message preached for the last 2,000 years is of no effect unless accompanied by faith. One of the hardest concepts to grasp is the opposite of seeing is believing, which is not seeing and believing. The ancient Jews struggled with faith throughout history even when they were close to the promised land and in the desert. They spent 40 years roaming in circles around the promised land, but because of their unbelief, God did not allow them to enter therein. Their unbelief caused tensions with God and made him work harder to make them believe. They chose not to believe God and caused him to become grieved (Ps 78:40-41). David in Psalms 78 details 5 times Israel tested God because of their unbelief. 1. He parts the Red Sea. 2. He shows Moses a tree that when cut and cast into Marah’s bitter waters makes the waters sweet. 3. He begins sending them manna each morning. 4. He has Moses strike a certain rock with his staff. 5. He has a tremendous flock of quail blow into Israel’s camp.
Hebrews 4:2-5
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
The same message preached to the people of Israel caused the Son of God to lose his life, and to believe in God has been preached to us. It is a powerful word; the gospel, is sharper than any two-edged sword transcending the soul (Heb 4:12). The word “believe” appears 242 times in the entire bible. It is a strenuous work to cause someone to believe. But once someone believes it becomes a resting point in their lives. For healing and liberation to occur in a person’s life, one has to be in a state of rest; God should not be wrestling with him with belief. Like the man whose child was possessed by a demon struggling with unbelief, after Jesus rebuked the demon he believed (Mk 9:23-25). Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath or the seventh day, the day of rest where good is supposed to happen (Mk3:4). Several verses share a light of the good things that happen when we enter into God’s rest, for example, Jesus says that we will never die (Jh 11:26). In John 7:38 Jesus says that whoever believes in him will have rivers of living waters coming out of him, signifying the movement of the Holy Spirit. Finally, Jesus said that all things are possible to him who believes and that happens while one is in the state of rest.
Psalms 78:40-41
How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
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.
Mark 3:4
And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
John 11:26
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
John 7:38
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.