"He (Jesus) did not many mighty works their because of their unbelief"
Matthew 13:58
The power of Jesus was no different in Nazareth from what it was in Capernaum. The power of Jesus did not change for a healing, or to cast out some bondage. It would be an insult to think such of Him. He did, and still can do all things. But what may have changed is our ability to believe Him. It is here that the Spirit of God would bring His thrust; this I believe, is the unbelief He is wanting to pinpoint.
If you want to realise just how great is the sin of unbelief in our age, contrast it with the moment when the early church went out to face impossibilities. Here are Peter and John and they have to make a defence of their faith before the Sanhedrin....Impossible!....Why?
Peter had failed before a serving maid! What hope had he of standing before these great man, and making his testimony? But they went, and they did.
What about the fierce persecution that came upon the Christian Church after the days of Stephen, and the raging of Saul of Tarsus? Was it possible that they could overcome? But they did. They did not pray "Please Lord take away this persecution from us; keep us safe in these hard times, these days of testing".......
This is what they prayed..."Lord give us grace to speak thy word with boldness...that signs and wonders may be done in the name of thy son Jesus"
They prayed "Lord take the initiative, transform this situation into glory for thy holy name.
Would you dare to pray that prayer in our moral situation today? Is not this what Jesus wants of His own people: that we shall dare to pray, believing that God will give us boldness; that God will not just stem the tide of unbelief, but that He will transform it into a signal victory for His names sake......That is faith.
Matthew 13:58
The power of Jesus was no different in Nazareth from what it was in Capernaum. The power of Jesus did not change for a healing, or to cast out some bondage. It would be an insult to think such of Him. He did, and still can do all things. But what may have changed is our ability to believe Him. It is here that the Spirit of God would bring His thrust; this I believe, is the unbelief He is wanting to pinpoint.
If you want to realise just how great is the sin of unbelief in our age, contrast it with the moment when the early church went out to face impossibilities. Here are Peter and John and they have to make a defence of their faith before the Sanhedrin....Impossible!....Why?
Peter had failed before a serving maid! What hope had he of standing before these great man, and making his testimony? But they went, and they did.
What about the fierce persecution that came upon the Christian Church after the days of Stephen, and the raging of Saul of Tarsus? Was it possible that they could overcome? But they did. They did not pray "Please Lord take away this persecution from us; keep us safe in these hard times, these days of testing".......
This is what they prayed..."Lord give us grace to speak thy word with boldness...that signs and wonders may be done in the name of thy son Jesus"
They prayed "Lord take the initiative, transform this situation into glory for thy holy name.
Would you dare to pray that prayer in our moral situation today? Is not this what Jesus wants of His own people: that we shall dare to pray, believing that God will give us boldness; that God will not just stem the tide of unbelief, but that He will transform it into a signal victory for His names sake......That is faith.
