## Unbelief

## Hebrews 3:7-19

We do not understand the devastating effects of unbelief on our lives. People talk about terrible sins, and the unforgivable sin, and we may not even speak of them around our children. But it will not be the sin of stealing that will send us to Hell, nor murder, nor fornication or adultery.

If we took a poll in our congregation today, one of these might be voted as the "worst" sin. But if I ask how many have trouble with the sin of unbelief, probably all of us would have to come down the aisle. Vs. 9 says "They could not . ." because of unbelief.

Whether in the spiritual or secular realm, most people cannot do the things they want because of unbelief. In these verses, four things are either directly or indirectly indicated about this sin.

I. Unbelief Never has Enough Proof. 3:9-10

A. Basically we all have the same information from which to draw.

1. The same promises, the same Word of God, the same people to look at for examples, etc.

2. But some people have gotten a hold of it, and others haven't, even though they have the same proof.

3. Are you waiting for one more thing?

4. What will make you a believer?

B. Note the example of the Children of Israel:

1. They found themselves in slavery for 400 years.

2. They cried out to God, Moses delivered them and then two million people witnessed all kinds of miracles--the plagues, lice, all the water turned to blood, the angel of death. . .they saw it all.

3. They watched the Egyptians let them go, the water roll back in great walls, and they watched it close behind them.

4. They still didn't believe.

5. Unbelief never has enough proof.

6. Forty years in the wilderness of seeing God's mighty works was still not enough.

7. And if God had done more, it still would not have been enough.

C. Note the example of the Rich Man and Lazarus. (Luke 16:19- 31)

1. The rich man begged the Lord to send someone to speak to his five brothers still living, but the Lord said even if one were raised from the dead, they would still not believe.

2. Unbelief is never filled, but continually must feed--must see something bigger, better.

II. Unbelief Robs Us of Opportunities. 3:11-16

A. Children of Israel and the Promised Land

1. God smiled at them and called them into partnership with Himself.

2. After they crossed the Red Sea, they saw the coastline littered with bodies of Egyptian soldiers, turned around and saw the pillar of fire or cloud-- they had everything going for them.

3. Except they still had unbelief and wandered in the wilderness with it for forty years.

B. Judas Iscariot

1. He had the opportunity to walk and talk with the Lord, but one word describes the life of Judas... wasted!

2. When we don't believe God will take care of us, then we take things into our own hands...

3. And that brings us no closer to Him than we were when we started.

C. Americans:

1. One reason we don't believe is because maybe we see too many miracles.

2. Maybe we have it too good.

3. While tending the flocks on the western side of Mount Horeb, Moses turned aside to look at a burning bush.

4. Because of the sun's spontaneous combustion of the dry desert bushes, the sight was quite common.

5. No one paid any attention to what seemed a common, insignificant event, until Moses turned aside to look, and it was then that God spoke to him, gave him opportunity.

6. Pay attention to the small straws that it takes to make up a broom; little things add up.

III. Unbelief Brings God Grief. 3:17

A. It is likened to the grief we feel at the sight of a loved one in pain.

1. The generation of Israel saw God's works for forty years and still had unbelief.

2. This grief affects God.

3. God has always meant only good for us, but still we disbelieve, we balk and question, "But, but. . ."

4. We are actually suspicious of God.

B. God feels as if He is actually losing us, like we grieve when we see our loved ones just before they pass on.

1. Unbelief is the only sin that limits God and draws a perimeter around what He can do.

2. "Because of their unbelief..." cf Mt. 13:58

3. "Because of your unbelief..." cf Mt. 17:20

IV. Unbelief Brings Destruction. 3:17-18

A. Children of Israel:

1. Only two out of 600,000 remained.

2. That means there was an average of 41 deaths per day.

3. There was wailing, weeping, crying for days on end, for forty years.

4. The young people finally said "This is no good!" and believed God.

B. Tribulation Period:

1. During this time there will be many calamities.

2. One out of every three people on earth will die, and yet the remainder will still not repent!

"And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." (Rev 9:20-21)

C. America:

1. We are on the decline because of unbelief.

2. Destruction will eventually follow.

Belief is a limited offer. If there is a real bargain in town, a genuine good offer, there will be a limit on it. That's how it is with salvation. God said His spirit will not always strive with man. But don't make the mistake that unbelief deals only with salvation. It goes much farther than that. Don't let the last verse be our epitaph "We could Not" because of unbelief.

What we must do with our unbelief is repent, say we're sorry to the Lord, turn our trust back to Him. Unbelief has a higher price than anyone can pay. We would be deeply hurt if our children said, "I’m not going to obey you because I don’t believe you." God is looking for our trust and belief, which is manifested in our obedience to Him.