The Sin That Stops God

Mark 6:1-6

Some people think God’s will is always done but that’s not always true. In this passage of scripture today it becomes very clear that unbelief si the sin that will stop the hand of God from working.

Let’s read the scripture for today and see what unbelief cost.

 Mark 6:1-3 (NLT)
¹ Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown.
² The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?”
³ Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

we see what leads to the sin that stops God from working. Unbelief doubts the wisdom of God and the messenger who proclaims it.

They were astonished (surprised) at Jesus’ wisdom and power, wondering where He got it.

They questioned His abilities to perform miracles and became offended because He was a local ordinary person, a carpenter and not royalty.

People today are still offended when the word of God is preached. They will not believe God’s word and they will ridicule and find fault with the messengers of God’s word. They refuse to believe God’s word and go about trying to establish their own righteousness. Romans 10:3 (NLT) For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with Himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.

Mark 6:4 (NLT)
⁴ Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.”

 states another hindrance to God’s word. There is an old saying that familiarity breeds contempt (dislike-disrespect). We get so familiar with those around us that we begin to take them for granted and sometimes disrespect them thinking God can’t use them, they’re just ordinary people like I am. We think, why would God choose them?

Mark 6:5 (NLT)
⁵ And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.

 says Jesus could do no mighty works there because of their unbelief. This tells us that unbelief can stop God so He will not be able to do any great works.

For God to save or heal without morally directed faith would be to act like the pagan magicians back in Moses day when they duplicated Moses miracle acts.

I pray that we will not be a church that would tie the hands of God and stop Him from doing a great work among us. God works by faith! He can do anything He wants, but He will not work where faith is absent. God doesn’t work like a magician, He works by faith.

God doesn’t show up waving a magic wand, He works when people believe Him. That Jesus couldn’t do any mighty miracles in Nazareth does not mean a restriction on his power. Rather, Jesus could have done greater miracles in Nazareth, but he chose not to because of the people’s unbelief. Jesus’ mighty works were meant to further the Kingdom of God, not to try to convince a group of stubborn people who had already thoroughly rejected him. To do miracles would be of no value because the people did not accept his message or believe that he was from God. Apparently even in Nazareth, a few sick people, humbled by their need, did come to Jesus for healing.

And Jesus, always compassionate, healed them.

Mark 6:6 (NLT)
⁶ And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people.

 says that Jesus marveled at their unbelief. They had His presence, His wisdom, and the testimony of His mighty works. They had His power to help them in all their need, yet they stayed away from His meetings. They would not come to Him for forgiveness. In pride, they refused to trust and believe Him. The situation amazed Jesus. Their unbelief was just incredible, but He had to accept their rejection. He could not force Himself upon them, so He left town and travelled to all the villages surrounding Nazareth. Jesus will not stay where there is no faith because that is what He works by.

Unbelief is shocking. It is an amazing thing to think that any man or woman would ever reject the salvation of Christ and His miracles by which He enriches and enhances life so much in every way. John 10:10b He came that we might have life and that more abundant. It’s equally amazing how Christians will not believe God to do a mighty work today. How many times do we prevent the hand of God from working a mighty work in our midst by the sin of unbelief?

Unbelief has its unforgivable consequences. (Read Numbers 14:36-45)

Hebrews 10:26 (NLT)  Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.

Invitation: Where do you stand? It’s time to examine ourselves to see if we are living our lives in faith of God’s word or if we are living in unbelief.

Have you believed God’s word that says you need Jesus the Savior to forgive your sins?

Have you asked Him to save you?

 If you have done that, have you asked Him to forgive your unbelief?

If we say we don’t need to change, we are living in unbelief of God’s word, because

He tells us in 2 Peter 3:17-18 (NLT) ¹⁷ I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people (unbelievers) and lose your own secure footing. ¹⁸ Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

May the Holy Spirit of God convict each of us that need to change and give us the grace to make that change!

Victory Over Fear

PS.27:1 & 14

Fear is a dark cloud that enshrouds and paralyzes us. Fear prevents us from trying something new or taking a risk. It imprisons us and sometimes causes us to let opportunities pass us by. At times, we have all been victims of our fears—fear of failure, sickness, loneliness, lack of finances, the unknown. David certainly had plenty of reasons to be afraid. His enemies, including King were constantly after him. He faced death on the battlefield. He knew the pain of rejection and loneliness. But David also knew that the remedy for fear was always with him. That remedy was God Himself. Psalms 27:1 (NKJV) The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 

In Ps. 91:15, God says, "I will be with them in trouble." When we are in trouble, God Himself is right there beside us. This is why David could be fearless.

As he says in Psalm 23:4 "Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid." Why? “You are close beside me." Your provisions they comfort me.” You o God are my light and the strength of my life. V:5 You give me victory over my enemies. Romans 8:31 (NKJV)  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? In Psalm 27:1, David again writes, "Why should I be afraid?" David knew that the light of God's salvation would dispel the darkness of fear. God as his stronghold, his Light and his Salvation, would provide him with something to hold on to during difficult times. David could remain confident even when his enemies' armies marched against him, because God was his Strength, Rock and Protector.  David could live with such confidence because he had learned to wait patiently. He waited years for the fulfillment of God's promise that he would be king, while his enemies continued to attack him. It couldn't have been easy, but David never faltered in trusting God or believing that God was with him.

David found peace in his relationship with God, and so can we. According to the apostle John, “Perfect love expels all fear" (1 John 4:18); namely, God’s love in us that has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. According to the bible, there is only one legitimate fear, and that is the "fear of the LORD" —not a fear that makes us run away, but rather a reverence and awe that draws us closer to the One who made us and sustains us. When we fear God, we won’t fear everything else, were’ walking in light.

Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

 But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NKJV)  Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

When we properly fear the Lord, we will cleanse ourselves from all sin of flesh & spirit.

CONCLUSION: What fears are keeping you awake at night? What dark cloud is preventing you from seeing clearly and stepping out in faith? Like David, turn to God as your light and your stronghold. David admonishes us In verse:14 (NKJV) Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

God help us to wait patiently and confidently before him.

 Let Christ’s perfect love cast out all your fears. You will see God's goodness.

If you do not know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, now is a perfect time to confess your sins against God and ask Jesus to forgive you. Then invite Him into your heart and life to take charge of you. You will be so thankful you did. Then you too will have victory over fear.

Remembering Our Savior

The Jewish people have 7 feasts a year they celebrate in remembrance of their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt. As we remember our deliverance from the bondage of Satan and sin, we celebrate who Jesus is, we remember that He is the fulfillment of what these celebrations represent in the Old Testament.

Jesus Christ has already fulfilled 4, and is going to fulfill the other 3 in the future.

 The First Four Feasts that Jesus has already fulfilled are;
1. Pesach or Passover – This Celebrates Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage by the blood of the Passover lamb, and future deliverance from the bondage of sin and Satan that Jesus, the Passover Lamb has provided by His shed blood.

2. Unleavened Bread – They eat bread without yeast which represents purity of Jesus.                                                                    

  3. First-fruits Represents Jesus’ resurrection as the first to rise from the dead.
4. Sha-vawt the Festival of Weeks or Pentecost  Represents coming of Holy Spirit 50 days after His resurrection and the beginning of the church. The three to be fulfilled are;

5. Rosh HaShanah or Feast of Trumpets To be fulfilled when Jesus returns for His church. 6. Yom Kippur or The Day of Atonement  To be fulfilled when Jesus comes to destroy Satan. Revelation 20:1-2 (NKJV) ¹ Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. ² He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
7. Sukkot or The Feast of Tabernacles This feast looks forward to Messiahs Kingdom when all His people have been gathered together under His Leadership and rule. Revelation 19:6 (NKJV) And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!

When we celebrate the Lord, we remember and celebrate the fact that Jesus has already fulfilled the first four feasts of Israel and soon He will fulfill the last three.The next to be fulfilled is “Feats of Trumpets,” when Jesus returns for His church!              

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NKJV) ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

We want to remember who Jesus is, and what He has done for each of us and is going to do for us in the future. 

God’s word tells us more bout Jesus!

Revelation 1:4 (NKJV) John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

We remember that because of Jesus we have grace & peace from Father God and the Holy Spirit, as well as Himself.

Revelation 1:5 (NKJV)  and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

We remember the truth that Jesus is the faithful witness. He is the one Person we can depend upon. We can trust what Jesus Christ tells us. Jesus Christ came from God, out of heaven itself, to reveal the truth to us—the truth about God and man and man's world. He was the first to rise from the dead. Of all the people who have arisen from the dead, Jesus Christ is Supreme. He is ruler over all the earth. All other people arise because He arose. All believers shall arise to live with God eternally because He arose and conquered death for us.

V: 5b We remember Jesus’ love for us and the fact that He has washed us from our sins by His blood.  We remember He is Ruler over the kings of the earth.  Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God's throne. He and He alone has been given the seat of Sovereign rule over the earth. He "loved us and has washed us from our sins in His own blood." The word  love is in the present tense in the Greek. This means that Jesus Christ always loves us. He loves us today just as He has loved us in the past. The word "washed" means to be loosed, set free, and released from penalty of sin. We have been redeemed from the bondage of Satan.

V: 6 Revelation 1:6 (NKJV)  and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

We remember the truth that Jesus has made us kings and priests to His God & Father. By kings is meant a kingdom, a rule, some authority and responsibility that involves management, supervision, and governing. Believers shall rule and reign with Christ. We shall oversee and administer the affairs of the universe for Christ throughout eternity.

By priests means that we have open access into God's presence any time. Believers no longer need human priests or mediators. Believers are themselves made priests before God—all by Jesus Christ. Believers are now to offer their own prayers, praises, worship, thanksgiving, and offerings to God. As we remember these facts we ascribe to Him all the glory (honor, praise) and dominion (supremacy) forever and ever.

Revelation 1:7 (NKJV)  Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

 We also remember the truth that Jesus is coming back to this earth. Every eye shall see Him. The glory of God is so bright and so full of light that it actually shines brighter than the sun. When Jesus Christ returns, there will be a display of His glory that will surround the earth, and the reflection of the Lord's glory will be seen by every eye. Remember also there will be an innumerable host of angels and believers who are accompanying Christ back to earth. The idea is this: there will be so many that they will surround the earth. The nation of Israel and all who have rejected Him will mourn. Israel will repent and turn to Jesus as their Messiah, Savior, and King.

Revelation 1:8 (NKJV)  "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

 We remember the truth that Jesus is the Beginning and the End of all creation.

He has always been, is now and always will be. Jesus Christ is the beginning and the ending of all there is. He began all things and He shall end all things. All things find their purpose, meaning, and significance in Him.  

We remember the truth that He is eternal.  He is, He was, and He is to come.  

 He is the Almighty, there is nothing He can’t do, nothing is impossible with Him.

He is our Savior and Lord. He is present with us right now. 

Invitation: Is Jesus your personal Savior and Lord? Have you asked Jesus to forgive your sins and wash them away? Have you invited Him into your heart?

Will heaven be your home?

If you are not 100% sure, pause and pray asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins against God and others. Invite Him into your life to take charge of you and give you eternal life. Then you can be sure you will be with God when your life on earth is over. 1 John 5:13 (NKJV)  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.