“This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.  But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:8-9

Unbelief is a sin.  One of the sins of the Israelites in the wilderness was unbelief.  Their are too many Believers who don’t realize their own unbelief in God’s Providence.

“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.  ¹⁵ Then answered Peter and said unto Him, Declare unto us this parable.¹⁶ And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? ¹⁷ Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? ¹⁸ But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.” Matthew 15:14-18.

I want you to understand so I am going to say it again.  Unbelief in God’s promises through the Blood of His Everlasting Covenant, Jesus Christ, to be a Father unto us and for us to be His children IS A SIN.  So often what proceeds out of the Believer’s mouth is unbelief from the heart and it defiles them…it is a sin.

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant,  Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21.

I can’t tell you the number of Believer’s I have spoken to that declare their trust in God but by their fruit you can see their heart is far from Him.  They are saved by the Blood of Jesus through their belief in His work on Calvary’s Cross BUT they will quickly tell you there is more to “Christianity” than the Cross.  According to their beliefs we must follow every new “revelation” that comes out of the mouth every “prophet” for our victory.   Again, what proceeds out of their mouth is unbelief in God’s plan for our victory over sin and they quickly turn to man made schemes for their victory.  Such is spiritual adultery.  We believe in Jesus’ finished work for our Salvation, rightfully and thankfully so but we don’t quite trust Him for our victory in the here and now.  In reality, it is easier to believe what we don’t yet see but we don’t believe what we could see if we just believed. Try wrapping your head around that one….I’m not quite sure I have yet.

I remember when I first accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour I was amazed at all of the different programs offered and rituals required for my “sanctification”.  A certain prayer for a certain python to overcome a particular bondage.  The extra biblical revelation of shemitah’s and harbingers for today.  Then the 40 days of purpose was evidently suppose to consecrate us.  Let us also not forget the soul ties and family curses that many believe remain after our Salvation.

Understand this, when we were saved by the precious Blood of Jesus, all of the family curses and soul ties were shattered.  Every curse against us was broken.  Now, if we picked it back up that’s on us, we gave in to the temptation that exalted itself above the Lord.  The answer to that sin is the same as it was before – JESUS, not some ritual that places the responsibility of our failure on every demon in hell. Demons will be demons, that’s what they do. We as a Believer in Jesus Christ now have the ability to choose because we are spiritually alive unto God.  Please understand, I’m not speaking of oppression.  A Believer can be oppressed but the answer to oppression remains the same – JESUS.  I’m speaking of a Believer failing the Lord, which regrettably we will all do at one time or another.  The point I’m trying to make, albeit poorly, is when we do fail we turn back to Jesus for forgiveness of our sin, not some ritual or ceremony to cleanse us of our soul ties or family curses…THAT is unbelief in Jesus’ cleansing Blood.

Unbelief in God’s promises and ability to take care of His children is a sin.  Any, and I do mean ANY, scheme of man that manipulates our faith away from Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our faith is of the devil.  I’ll say it another way, any scheme of man that causes our faith to be in anything we do to overcome that python, break that curse or have victory over our sin nature is of the devil.  Yes, we have authority in the name of Jesus but that is only when we are abiding and dwelling in Him.  When our faith is in our works (declaring, proclaiming, rituals and ceremonies) we are not abiding in Jesus.  We are not called to be a creator and call things into existence according to our will.  We are called to be a follower of Jesus Christ and HE will create in us a new heart.  He will place in our heart His will.  HE will use us as vessels to make us “perfect in every good work to do His Will” (Hebrews 13:21).

Unbelief is a sin.  Recognize the schemes of man that turn you away from Jesus for that circumcision of the heart and point you to works of the flesh.  The works of the flesh is the fruit of unbelief.

“Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2.

It is because of Jesus’ work on Calvary’s Cross that we are reconciled to God.  It is also because of Jesus’ work on Calvary’s Cross that we are alive unto God and no longer dead in our sins and trespasses.  Every blessing we receive is by the way of the Cross of Jesus.  Stop looking to schemes of man which directs our faith to our own abilities and efforts and look again the Jesus.

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Mark 9:23-24. 

Jesus will author and finish your faith; precept upon precept, line upon line Jesus will strengthen you…He will help your unbelief.  Ask Him to help your unbelief.

-Donna Clark Warren