Romans 11:19-21, “Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.”

Hey OTP Family! The topic of unbelief has been in my spirit for a few days now and I felt a pull in the spirit to dive into this topic today. In Matthew 13:58, Jesus said he could not do many miracles in his home time because of their unbelief. He noted their familiarity with his upbringing stopped them from receiving from him. But this was just an excuse to hold on to the things they were not yet ready to let go of. Look at your life – is there any unbelief lurking around? If so, deal with it because unbelief will block God from moving in your life. It is not that God is powerless in your situation. Rather your unbelief makes you unreceptive to his ministry. It blocks you from receiving from God. The end result? Just as Jesus left his home town because of unbelief and went to the places where he could work miracles. Your unbelief will also turn him away from you.

What is Unbelief?

Spiritual unbelief is a rejection, distrust, or lack of conviction in spiritual truths, God, or religious principles, often manifesting as stubborn resistance to faith, reliance on worldly evidence over divine promises, or prioritizing personal emotions/pride over spiritual understanding. It’s seen as more than just doubt, involving a determined turning away from spiritual connection, which leading to negative consequences or separation from God.

Key aspects of spiritual unbelief:

• Refusal to trust: It’s an active refusal to believe what God has revealed, rather than just a questioning mind, and can stem from pride or self-reliance.
• Distrust and disobedience: Often linked to distrust (Greek: apistia), it can become disobedience (Greek: apeitheia) when one ignores God’s commands or promises.
• Reliance on senses: Trusting feelings, worldly evidence, or logic above God’s Word is a common source of spiritual unbelief.
• Spiritual blindness: It’s characterized by a spiritual blindness that prevents recognition of divine reality, even when presented with clear signs.
• Varying degrees: It’s not always a total absence of faith but can be a significant struggle within a believer, as seen in the “unbelieving generation” Jesus addressed, where parents cried out, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!

When unbelief is left unchecked it does lead to separation from God. Our unbelief will sever the connection we have to God. It is like a cancer that will impact the healthy cells around it until the cancer spreads throughout the body. The end result – you will no longer find yourself attached to a body of believers as you find excuses to stay away from God and his people.

The Danger of Spiritual Unbelief:

It acts as a barrier to God’s promises, leading to separation from Him, spiritual ruin, condemnation, and a failure to experience God’s blessings. It can stem from doubt, fear, or a focus on earthly problems over faith, causing individuals to drift from God, lose courage, and turn away from divine guidance, potentially resulting in eternal consequences for the soul.

How it Manifests:

• Wavering & Doubt: Fluctuating with conventional opinions instead of holding to God’s word.
• Focusing on Obstacles: Overemphasizing problems (like giants in the land) rather than God’s ability to overcome them.
• Unwillingness to Trust: More and unwillingness to trust than an inability to understand, often fueled by fear or discontent. 

Overcoming Unbelief:

Today, the morning message was on the topic of “Close the Gap” (Apostle Aaron B. McNair, Sr.). We don’t want to leave space for the enemy to come in and wreak havoc. But we are instructed not to give place to the enemy. So we must examine ourselves and close any gaps to prevent the subtle strategic infiltration of the enemy. The same concept should be applied to unbelief.

We must examine ourselves, detect the gaps where unbelief has crept in and close them through prayer (communion and fellowship with God), worship and praise. Through Bible study (faith comes by hearing the word of God), and fellowship with other believers. We are our brother’s keeper and we need one another. The scriptures say we over come by the word of our testimony. When we share our testimony with one another we are working to strengthen and encourage each other.

Once you recognize unbelief in your life – you must call it out, repent (ask God for forgiveness). Then you must be prepared to perform spiritual surgery to cut it out. Just as a surgeon must cut out the cancerous tumor, we must spiritually do the same to unbelief. Then apply ongoing treatment to keep you free of this cancer is as follows.

Spiritual Practices (aka Spiritual Warfare)

• Study Scripture: Faith grows by hearing God’s Word; read, listen, and meditate on it daily to renew your mind. 
• Pray Honestly: Bring your doubts and struggles to God in prayer, asking for help, rather than hiding them. 
• Remember God’s Faithfulness: Keep a journal of answered prayers and past blessings to see His track record. 
• Act in Faith: Take small, obedient steps based on what you already know;obedience strengthens faith. 

Mindset Shifts (change your perspective)

• Stop Overthinking: Don’t rely solely on your limited understanding; trust God’s higher plans. 
• Block Negativity: Actively counter negative thoughts and voices. 
• Embrace Humility: Admit your need for God and surrender your self-reliance. 

Community & Action (add works to your faith)

• Fellowship: Connect with other believers who build you up in faith. 
• Take Risks: Do hard things and step out of your comfort zone to build discipline and faith. 
• Live Transparently: Be honest about your feelings, even when struggling

Along with this ongoing treatment it is also necessary to make changes to those people who influence you (or have influence in your life). Unbelief is contagious. If you constantly hang around those who refuse to believe God, eventually their words of doubt can find their way into your heart. It is necessary to protect (guard) your heart, mind, and peace. Once God has delivered you, please be selective with those you spend time with. Most of the time spiritual victories are hard fought battles. It does not make any sense to willingly subject yourselves to the same influences that initially lead to your bondage.

Once you expose your struggles to God and ask for help, I guarantee you – your help is on the way. It is a faith battle, and you must spiritually dig in to survive and come out victorious. This is not the time to stop coming to church. This is the exact time to come out and gain strength from one another. It’s the perfect time to lean into God, not lean or pull away.

Prayer Time:

If this lesson has found you, let’s pray the prayer of faith together:

Heavenly Father, I confess my doubt and unbelief. Please forgive me for not fully trusting you. The scripture says “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief! Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. Help me believe that you are real and that you reward those who earnestly seek you. Strengthen my faith, help me believe your word above all else, and replace my fear with hope in Jesus’ name, Amen.

God bless and have a great day!

2 Timothy 1:12’ “for which cause I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed. For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”

Hey OTP Family! I just wanted to share some encouraging words to help you make it successfully through this week.

Understand that the same God who promised to never leave or forsake you truly has your back!

We just need to be fully convinced and confident of this fact, and to trust him with our cares. If we trust him then we can cast our cares upon him knowing he can (and will) work every thing out for our good.

Have a blessed Monday everyone! ❤️