IN the past few weeks we have been talking on the third of four major hindrances to believers receiving from God which I have identified as unbelief. The first which we have discussed is fear; the second is doubt; while the fourth is strife.
Last week in expounding on the subject of unbelief we landed on a chapter in the book of Psalms. Psalms 78 which is a summarized recounting by the prophet of the children of Israel’s journey through the wilderness and their displays of unbelief against the commands of God even though they were witnesses of His numerous wondrous works and mighty deeds.
So again, Psalms 78:2-5 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
Then Psalms 78:9-13 the children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; And forgot his works, and his wonders that he had showed them. Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap…
As I give this narrative can you begin to think about your own life? Think on all the marvelous works of God in your own life. Psalm 78:14 goes on to say; in the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. If you notice, these verses are in a sense counting the goodness of God and His mercies.
Do you know why? Because if you make it a habit to count the mercies of the Lord and to sing of it every day like the song goes: they are new every morning; it will drive your mind to always remember and be mindful of God’s goodness which in turn will work faith in you and drive out unbelief.
Psalms 78:15-18 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
This is what many people, including myself (God help me) are doing to God every day. In spite of all of His goodness toward us every day, we still walk in unbelief, dishonoring God in our live. But one of the antidotes to a heart of unbelief is to bring to remembrance all of God’s goodness to you.
Some time ago, during our pastors’ prayer meeting in church, I sat down, opened my eyes and began to look round and I began to talk to myself. I said to self, My God! Do you know, we have a wonderful auditorium here? We would indeed like to be having more services in here than we currently do but my God! We do have a good auditorium here.
Then my mind took me back to August 2008 when we were unceremoniously booted out of our former place of worship. Then we had no place to lay our head but God began to move, one step after the other. I remembered how, when we were shown this place, it looked so large and for nearly two weeks, my heart beat was as erratic as a band in a rock concert.
I kept asking God, how? While the People kept looking at me like I was some cool and calm pastor, but they did not know that on the inside, I was a carcass; a walking dead, until God started moving, one step after the other and I saw things begin to happen.
I wish I could say that through all that my faith was unwavering and that money was just coming from everywhere and I never lost any sleep. I indeed cannot say I never doubted for one second but I can for sure say that I fought the good fight of faith and God had mercy on me. Hallelujah!
God has always been good and I remember then that when God started moving, it was remarkable. In those days there was a time when for two weeks while work was going on in our church building; preparing it for us to move in, that anytime I came into the auditorium I would literally sense and see things working out for us in my spirit for which God would say to me ‘this is the effect of your consistent seed sowing’.
The work moved so fast and God just kept paying the bills and because of that I found myself getting bolder and bolder until I got to a place where one would say, we need to purchase this or that or let us do this or that and I’d simply say Yeah, let’s do it! Not considering the cost implication.
You see, after you kill the bear and the lion, then when you see Goliath, all you need to do is punch your memory and recall Gods precedents. That destroys unbelief and causes your faith to work. This is what Psalm 78 is talking about.
In verses 19 & 29 it says, Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
I want you to know brethren that God can furnish a table anywhere. His cheques do not bounce. God’s orders are never refused!
I meditated on these verses for quite some time and I believe I got the answer by the Spirit of God. What angered God was not the fact that they asked the question, but their heart motive behind the question.
There is a way in which a man can ask one question but hide behind it the real question. This is when you ask a question but in your heart there is something else you are trying to get at. When they said, “Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?” They knew he could! They had no doubt about the fact that he could. These are people who saw with their own eyes, signs and wonders – ten plagues that brought them out of Egypt.
When they got to the Red Sea, there they saw with their eyes how God parted the Red Sea. They saw how the thing that Satan had ordained to be the instrument of their destruction become the instrument that destroyed their enemy.
These guys had seen God at work, so God knew the question they were asking was not, “God, can you do it?” They knew God could do it. The question they were asking was, “God, will you do it this time?” They put a question on God’s faithfulness; a question on his character; that was what pained God. God said, “I’ve shown you all of these miracles! You should know by now.”
One time, a leper came to Jesus and said, Master, I know that if you will, you will cleanse me and Jesus looked at him and said, I will! God’s ‘I will’ is forever. I will heal you; I will bless you; your life is not going to end this way. It is an ‘I will’ from heaven. That ‘I will’ was demonstrated at the Cross. It is irreversible and it is set in concrete.
Knowing God’s will and His faithfulness towards you will drive away unbelief in your heart and put you in faith every time. Praise the Lord.
