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!