Why Unbelief is Dangerous

By Thomas Denegre

When it comes to our spiritual lives, ignorance is not bliss; it can be dangerous; like unbelief 

Unbelief may appear benign, but like electricity, if you touch it, catastrophic events can occur. As they say, forewarned is forearmed, as unbelief is like a virus that can spread a horrible disease to the community. 

Unbelief is rebellion produced out of fear, pride, distrust, and reasoning upon your own authority; not Gods’. Like a virus, unbelief will spread through an unsuspecting population turning themselves against God. The scriptures makes it clear that God counts unbelief as a grave sin, and He deals with it forcefully. 

On the other hand, large faith is the answer to unbelief. Large faith has complete trust, confidence, obedience, and intimacy with the Lord.  Large faith moves mountains, heals the sick, and delivers people and nations from ruin. So, how do we acquire this large faith? Like planting a crop, we must first clear the land of unbelief and then it will be ready for the seeds of God’s Word. 

In the Book of Exodus, the Hebrews were delivered by God from their Egyptian slave masters, they saw miraculous signs from Him, such as; the Passover of death, God’s pillar of smoke and flame that led their procession out Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the destruction of Pharaoh’s pursuit army.  God offered them the Promised Land, but out of distrust Moses’ leaders wanted to send spies as a scouting party. (Deu. 1:21-22) 

Twelve spies were sent out and they returned with different news.  Ten spies gave an “evil” report filled with their own reasoning, not God's, which led to fear, doubt, and rebellion.  They spread the news to the Hebrew population griping them in fear and rebellion too.  (Deu. 1:34-46) The people wanted to return to Egyptian slavery versus taking possession of their Promised Land.  Seeing their disobedience and insurrection, God denied them the Promise Land and consequentially, they endured the hardships of the wilderness for forty years and died. Ignorance of unbelief is not bliss as it can destroy the person and the affected community. 

Clearly, we see that unbelief was a grave sin that led into rebellion and unnecessary hardship. Here are a few warning signs of unbelief. 

• Based on my own reasoning, I will decide what God can and cannot do 
• I am filled with fear, doubt, anxiety and have no trust in the Lord 
• I give credibility to my physical senses than the written Word of God, the spoken words of faith, or the character of God. 

Conversely, the two spies who gave an excellent report saw the Promise Land as a grand opportunity. We witness how God saved his people who maintained their faith in him.  They will see the Lord fill the earth with his glory (see Hebrews 3:7-19; Psalm 103:8-14). In your struggle against sin and evil, where do you encounter unbelief or rebellion? Ask the Lord for strength to overcome them and to win victory in him. 

Like any loving and good character parent, our Father God desires to have a loving relationship that produces an outcome of blessings and abundant life.  Jesus provides his instructions in the Book of John, “If you live in life-union with me and if my words live powerfully within you—then you can ask whatever you desire, and it will be done. When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father!” (John 15:7-8 TPT) 

From my own personal experience of developing a large faith, I had to first repent of my unbelief, fear, and prideful reasoning.  Out of humility, I opened my heart to let God love me and did the love pour in. I gave Him all my trust, confidence, and obedience. Like the Passover that saved the Hebrews, my baptism was the beginning of my true faith journey that lead to more battles and more growth.  Growth occurred as I depended on God, and not myself, to get through the battles and tests in my life. 

I learned that faith was about trusting God, not only in his sovereignty and power, but also in his goodness, mercy, kindness, faithfulness, wisdom, miracles, and unfailing love. The foundation of faith was not built on my own ability to create it, but upon my willingness to receive and act on it.  I realized that great faith produced great obedience.  

My good friend, who is a Catholic priest, once led a group of people to Lourdes France as healing miracles occurred when people entered the natural springs. In his group was an elderly lady with a withered arm.  She had expectant faith and as she entered the springs, my friend witnessed her arm being restored to perfect use.  Since the supernatural was natural in Lourdes, the local staff took her to the next-door medical clinic for x-rays and a doctor’s examination.  The doctor officially claimed the healing a miracle.  Next came a five-year boy with severe bowed legs.  He too came out of the spring with perfect legs.  Again, the doctor claimed a healing miracle.  The Catholic church is very serious about these miracles and uses all due diligence to ensure their veracity.  Since 1858 there have been 70 verified miracles. 

While many people will be skeptical of these miracles because of their unbelief, believers with a large faith know God is always faithful and good to His children.  I have found a good place to start your large faith is to memorize Psalm 18 and Psalm 91 as it contains many promises, protections, and love from God.  By allowing the Word of God to live powerfully in your mind and heart, you’ll come to know Him intimately and faithfully. 

For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. 

For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. 

For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. 

This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; 

he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. Psalm 18: 28-31 (NIV) 

Tell us how you faced and overcome unbelief? Leave Comment

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The Power of the Normal Life

By Thomas Denegre

Matthew 6:9-14

I was talking to a Latino gang leader named Carlos during a Kairos Prison Ministry weekend event at a State of Ohio Correctional Facility. By looking at his face I can tell he was in a state of wonder and puzzlement.  God will do that to a sinner who is searching for the truth.

He explained to me how he spent most of his young life in a variety of prisons. Not long-ago Carlos was released from prison and paid a visit to his girlfriend.  They got into an argument and she called the police.  When they arrived, they found a concealed gun on him.  Back to prison he went.    Now he was spending a long Kairos weekend tasting God with the most powerful men in the prison; the Kairos team. So we had this conversation

“What is going on?” Carlos asked. “I’ve never been treated like this in my life. I’m being treated so well.  What’s the deal?”

“This is called normal,” I explained.  “All your life you lived in fear and violence thinking it was normal.  Yet this is the normal life and it’s called the Kingdom of God.  It’s why we do it.  It’s why we’re here. Do you want know more about normal Carlos?”

“Yes, I do,” exclaimed Carlos.

“Do you know the Our Father’s prayer?”

“Vaguely,  I remember my mother use to pray it over me when I was little.”

“Mind, if I give you the expanded version,” I asked. He nodded his head and I proceeded with the expanded version.

As you know it starts with “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” We have a magnificent and awesome Dad.  Everything seen and unseen has been made by Him. Before you were born every day of your life was ordained in his book as written in Psalm 139:16. Like the father of the prodigal son, our Dad has been watching you with a keen eye. He dreamed of you before you were born.   He’s less concerned about your sin than about you.  He’s waiting for you to cross the line into his kingdom.  Because when you do, he’s going to smother you with hugs and kisses. Instead of life filled with death and destruction, he’s waiting to give you an abundant life. (John 10:10)  You’re his dearest child and he created the universe so we can have a home to live in.  His greatness and love deserve our awe, respect, and love in return.

The next part says, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  So, what is the kingdom?  It’s his spiritual Kingdom coming into our lives on earth.  Just as water permeates a sponge, so does God’s spirit permeate our spirit. We are one in his glory. (John 17:22) The normal comes alive.  By living in life union with Jesus and having his words living powerfully within you (John 15:7) then his streams of love, joy, mercy, kindness, friendship, and long-suffering enter into your life.  No longer will you be imposing your will on others which results in fights and divisions, but like gravity, you’ll enter a mass of power called God’s love that will heal all your heart wounds and put you into a peace the world will never understand. This is the kingdom of God we bring to this world.

The prayer goes on to say, “Give us this day our daily bread.”  Let me tell you about the bread.  Jesus is called the bread of life for he’s is the great I am. (John 6:33) When I receive the consecrated bread, I know Jesus is feeding me with his spirit.  As you know, living in the world can drain the life out of you.  But Jesus has a plan. His daily bread refreshes us.  Jesus will say to you, “If you are in despair, I’m your encourager. If you are hungry for truth, I am your food. If you are weak, I am your strength. I am the way, the truth, and the life.  I am your life.  I am your love. I am your joy and peace.  I am your patience and long suffering in all things.  I am your battery charger of life.  I am your streams of love, tenderness, kindness, and mercy.  I am the great I am.  I am your source of life and let me charge you up.  Taste and eat me for I will refresh you!” Indeed, he does!

The next line in the prayer says, “And forgive our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Or, in other words, Jesus is saying, “I care more about you than what you have done.”  Do not let the poison of retaliation, hatred, and unforgiveness produce bitterness and self-destruction. Through experience I know that by living in life union with Jesus I can see you as Jesus does.  I can see the goodness and gold in you. Through repentance of your sins, and belief in Jesus as your savior, Jesus is ready to make you perfect and complete.  Through your humility and open heart, Jesus will craft you into your original design as mentioned in Psalm 139:16 and be made into His image.  Forgiveness is everything because it stops all the violence and destruction.  It allows a person to draw in the peace that heals the heart. Don’t we all want mercy? God will not give you what you deserve, but what you need. That’s why he’s such a great dad. He’s waiting for you to cross the border into his kingdom so he can bless you.

Lastly, the prayer says, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Jesus knew that in this fallen world we will still face temptations and tribulations.  We are still flesh, and sometimes the old desires coming creeping up to tempt us.  But mark my words.  And it’s all about words.  Let God’s word always be in your mind and heart, because when events come your way, so will his word come to save you. 

“So, this is the normal life Carlos. It’s called the Kingdom of God.   Do you want it?” I asked Carlos.  He took it and became a new saint.

Like the father of the prodigal son, Jesus is always scanning the border to spot his child who wants to return home, waiting to make a mad dash to his child so he can smother him with kisses and to welcome him home. Jesus is always more concerned about the person than the sin.  Shouldn’t we?