In the book of Matthew Jesus was confronted by unbelief in His hometown of Nazareth. Unbelief is a powerful tool of the enemy, and one which many believers have started to use openly. They have spoken against God’s Word, His promises, and His very Person when they declare they do not believe His Word. These people reject God openly in the square, aka social media, and in the church itself.
Matthew 14:54 When Jesus arrived in His hometown of Nazareth, He began teaching the people in the synagogue. Everyone was dazed, overwhelmed with astonishment over the depth of revelation they were hearing. They said to one another, “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?”
Matthew 14:57-58 And the people became offended and began to turn against Him. Jesus said, “There’s only one place a prophet isn’t honored—his own hometown!” And their unbelief kept Him from doing many nighty miracles in Nazareth.
God has spoken very clearly to us in these days through His prophets. His voice is loud and clear to all who have an ear to hear, and a heart to know and understand. A heart that knows and understands does so through a spirit of discernment by the Holy Spirit. This means that we will recognize when the voice we hear is that of our Father in heaven, or not! All those that walk in close relationship with God will not be offended, nor will we be lead astray. We will not be counted amongst the sheep who do not know the voice of the true Shepherd. A false and deceiving voice we will not follow.
The dead weight are those that refuse to believe God. Refuse to believe that His Word is the absolute truth, and have decided to judge things of this world with what looks good in their own eyes. An extremely dangerous place to be living.
The Israelites that refused to believe the promises that God had spoken to them never made it out of the desert. They all died without experiencing the Promised Land, choosing instead to believe that the giants were bigger than God’s promises.
The people of God must be clear about who they believe, and they must not remain silent! Who is able? This question has to be answered for many before they can take another step.
Matthew 10:26-28 Don’t be afraid or intimidated by others, for God will bring everything out in the open and every secret will be told. What I say to you in the dark, repeat in broad daylight, and what you hear as a whisper, announce it publicly. Don’t be in fear of those who can kill only the body but not your soul. Fear only God, who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.