Processing after hearing messages on faith from Charles Capps.
Faith is believing.
Doubt is a reasonable objection.
Unbelief is CHOOSING to NOT believe, even though the facts have been presented.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the words of GOD. Much of what we hear is our own words (spoken and in our thoughts). Who are we listening to? If we repeat what the devil said, we are hearing his words, and our faith will be in that. If we are hearing God’s words, and fill our heart, mind, and MOUTH with God’s words, we will build faith in HIM (the faith we want). The pattern established for speaking things in faith start with Genesis – God SPOKE. He speaks things that were not, as if they were (rom 4:17). After Abram’s faith failure in having a son with Sarai’s servant (Gen 17:5), God renamed Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of many nations), so now Abraham would speak “I am the father of many nations” as his personal name. Talk about changing the way we speak!
Thomas had doubt. He had not seen Jesus at this point, like the others had, and he had a reasonable doubt that Jesus was alive. He did not have the benefit of the New Testament (it had not been written yet). When Jesus appeared, he spoke directly to Thomas’ doubt, and Thomas was immediately cured / healed / freed from his doubt. Jesus spoke to the doubt and allowed FAITH to operate. Consider many of his other miracles, particularly the leper he touched.
Unbelief happened when Jesus went to his home town. They had heard his teaching, seen his miracles, and saw the prophecy in Isaiah that spoke of what the messiah would do. BUT they saw the son of Mary, their neighbor, and put their familiarity and opinion above what the truth was. They CHOSE to not believe. And Jesus could not do any miracles because of their unbelief.
We can have Faith AND doubt. Jesus said “…if you have faith AND do not doubt…” (matt 21:21) you will do much more than he did. Consider Peter walking on the water. His little faith was enough to walk on water, but the doubt took away the miracle. He saw the circumstances and came into agreement with fear. This took the power out of his faith.
When you pray and speak what God speaks (the importance of praying scripture or being in agreement with it), stay in agreement with what you just prayed. Don’t cancel the order before the package arrives. SPEAK WHAT GOD SPEAKS AND STAY YOUR FAITH! CRUSH THE WORDS OF UNBELIEF!
