It's Unbelievable How Some Don't Believe

Its Unbelievable How Some Don't Believe"
Lawrence Murray Ph.D.
Mark 6:1-6


We can start with this soul-searching question, Do you really believe that Jesus is the Son of God? The Lord's own family should at least gave Him the benefit of doubt. however they persisted in their unbelief...

ILLUSTRATION:
Little boy coming out of Sunday school, asked by the minister, "Johnny, if you can tell me something God CAN do, I'll give you an apple."  Johnny said, "Preacher, if you can tell me something God CAN'T do, I'll give you a whole bushel of apples!"

1.  Knowing who God is, and knowing what God can do, I find it unbelievable that people could still suffer from unbelief.  However, unbelief is the root of all of our troubles.

Unbelief results in:
the sinner's doom
the Christian's defeat/discouragement/dullness

1 John 5: 4
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

2.  Unbelief is simply a refusal to LET GOD BE GOD!  When we suffer from unbelief we are simply holding, and hanging on to some aspect of a situation, refusing to turn it completely over to God, and let Him do what we cannot do.  

Faith:  a TOTAL release
Unbelief:  a PARTIAL release
Matt. 17: 20  "Faith of a Mustard Seed"
"mountains removed:"  a common phrase that the Jews knew well.  Whenever a great teacher who could expound the scripture and could explain difficulties, he was said to be an "uprooter, or remover" mountains."  

Jesus was saying:
"If you have enough faith, the size of the smallest seed known to man, every difficulty can be removed!"

1.   Unbelief is characterized by unusual Timing

1.  The time of these people's unbelief is amazing.  In fact, their timing could not have been any worse.  In the previous chapter, Mark 5, what has been referred to as the "Mercy Hospital Chapter," Jesus has just solved the problem of:
**a possessed man**
**a perplexed woman**
**a pitiful child**

2. Unbelief is countered by uncompromising Teaching

1.  Notice verse 2-3.  The first response of Jesus, in regards to their unbelief, was that He began to teach them.  Why?  Because "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God!"  His teaching:

A.  CONFRONTED their DOUBT!

1.  vs. 2  They were confused as to who He really was.  The Jews had no problem believing in God, but, to them, Jesus was an impostor.

B.  CREATED their DISCUSSION!


1.  v. 3  They began to discuss, and try to determine who Jesus really was.  Why?  Simply because, they could not bring themselves to believe in the man who had cast out demons, healed a blood disease, and raised a dead girl back to life.

3.  Unbelief is concluded by an unfortunate Tragedy


A.  What it CREATED!


1.  Their unbelief created confusion among the people.  Yet, these were HIS people.  These were his "kin" (v. 4).  They had no excuse to disbelieve Him, but every reason to believe Him.

B.  What it COST!

1.  Notice verses 5-6.  Their unbelief carried a hefty price tag.  It cost them His person, His presence and His power.  Because they failed to believe, they were cheated from being a part of His mighty work.

2.  I wonder how much our unbelief has cost us?  How much has cost our communities, our country, even our church?  God will do what we cannot do, but He only has one requirement, "ONLY BELIEVE;" "HAVE FAITH IN GOD!"

ILLUSTRATION:
    Elderly woman would pray every day with her windows open.  Her neighbor was an old infidel, God-hater, who made fun of her prayers.  One day, she was in need of groceries.  She had no money, and no way to get them, so she got down in her living room floor and began to pray.  Her neighbor heard her prayer, and decided that he would teach the old woman a lesson.  He went and bought groceries and set them on her front porch.  She went to the door, saw the groceries, and began to praise God for supplying her need.  Her neighbor shouted, "Old woman, you are a fool, God didn't send those groceries, I went and bought them."  She said, "Oh, I beg to differ.  God did answer my prayer and sent those groceries; and, He even used the devil to do it!"

Put your whole trust in the Lord....I didn't see him, nor touch him, but I still believe Him.

Dr LMurray's Mind!!!!!