This article follows last week’s. Jesus told the disciples that it was because of their unbelief that they were not able to cast the demon out of the epileptic child and stop his suffering. This means that He accused them for not believing. They must have been very surprised, or even shocked, to hear this; just as we would, if such a reproach was made to us. We are all convinced to have a certain degree of faith which we believe to be bigger than a sesame or millet seed. Indeed, unbelief is usually very subtle amongst Christians. Here are some of the masks behind which it can hide.
Fear – Some people do not engage in spiritual warfare because they are afraid of demons. They are afraid to disturb or anger them; afraid that they will turn against them afterwards. So, they avoid the confrontation. Let’s then remember that He has given us authority over serpents, scorpions, and ALL the power of the enemy and NOTHING can harm us.
Pride – Others do not dare because they are too mindful of their reputation. They are more concerned about the shame which will be theirs if it fails, than the glory which the LORD will get if it works. Those who really have faith do not even think for one second that it may not work. Therefore, shame is never their problem. A king prepared a feast to celebrate his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to invite specific guests; but they refused to come and turned the invitation down (Mat 22). Whose shame was it? Certainly not the servants’; it was the king’s. We tend to forget that it’s not US, but GOD, who does the miracle and who is therefore responsible for it. We are only serving the King of kings. Our duty is simply to execute His orders and pass His message. If nothing happens after we have faithfully done our part, it is HIS problem.
Ignorance – My people are destroyed from/for lack of knowledge – i.e. by ignorance -, says the LORD in Hosea 4:6. There are two types of knowledge: the intellectual and the spiritual one. The first does not necessarily imply the second. We can know everything that Jesus has done intellectually, without fully realising it in our spirit. When it finally clicks in our spirit, we gain in assurance and confidence immediately. We need to know in the spirit. However, since spiritual knowledge usually comes on top of, or grafts itself on, intellectual knowledge, we must first expose ourselves to the WORD as much as possible, in order to discover all that the Bible says GOD can do through us – faith comes from what we hear, and what we hear from the Word of Christ (Rom 10:17). The second thing to do is to pray for the Holy Spirit to light up the Scriptures while we read: it is the illumination.
Inexperience – even when we know, sometimes, the lack of experience in the domain can make us lack the required confidence needed to dare. Let’s not forget that we are not alone and, for any art which is mastered, there was a first, second, third and nth ‘failed’ attempts. The LORD has promised to be with us till the end of times. We are the trainees, He is the Master. He will perfect our technique with time, but we must first try.
Hesitation and procrastination. “If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen” (Mat 21.21). The French versions say, “If you have faith and do not hesitate.” Elements, demons and even death, all obeyed to the LORD’s orders instantly. Why then are we taking our time? If we keep on dragging our feet all the time, GOD will end up not doing anything when we will eventually decide to do what He initially requested from us. He called Peter and Peter followed Him at once. He told someone, who legitimately wanted to go and bury his dad first, to go with Him immediately and let the (spiritually) dead bury the (physically) dead! The window of opportunity and favour which was opened in heaven can easily be closed while we hesitate or procrastinate. There is a time for everything under the sun, and a time for the miracle. Let us seize it.
Once again, let’s pray: “LORD, I understand that I am your limbs, your eyes and your mouth. I will not fear. I will study the Scriptures and learn. I will develop my gifts and faith through exercise and I will not hesitate or procrastinate. Use me, LORD.”
Have an exploits-filled week in Jesus’ Name!
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