For over ten years my husband and I have prayed specific promises in the face of several contradicting circumstances. And yes there have been times that I felt like I was hanging onto God's word by a thread, but that thread has never let me go. This week I read chapter 25 in the Life-Study of Hebrews, and it was on the evil heart of unbelief in Hebrews 3:12: Beware, brothers, lest there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief in withdrawing from the living God.
These sentences on page 265 spoke to me strongly why it's so important for us to believe God's word and stand on His promises:
"No heart is more evil than a heart of unbelief. Nothing offends God as much as our unbelief….Every sin breaks God's righteous law, but some sins do not insult God Himself, as does the sin of unbelief. Our God is the living God. Unbelief is so evil because it insults the living, faithful, and Almighty God. If we do not believe in God, in His work, and in His ways, we insult Him. This is why we must beware of unbelief" (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Hebrews. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1975, Print).
Witness Lee points out in this chapter that Hebrews 3:8 shows that the heart becomes evil through being hardened by reasonings. And to understand that he shares the classic example of Joshua and Caleb going with ten others to spy out the land of Canaan. They all saw the same things--the fortified cities, the giants, and the rich produce, but only Joshua and Caleb spoke by faith that God would be with them. "Only do not rebel against Jehovah, nor should you fear the people of the land, for they are our bread. Their protection has been removed from them, and Jehovah is with us; do not fear them." (Numbers 14:9) It's not like God hadn't said He wouldn't do this. Way back in Exodus 3:16-17 God told Moses "…I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt into the land of the Canaanites…unto a land flowing with milk and honey." Surely after seeing all the plagues, and the Red Sea opened, and Pharaoh and his army completely destroyed, they should have all believed that God was able to do this. What was wrong with them?
Sometimes I find myself in the same place as the Israelites. In fact, that's where I am right now And the question before me is what am I going to speak? Will I speak what I see or will I speak what God has spoken in His word?
You can also listen to live excerpts from these messages on Hebrews on The Life-Study of the Bible with Witness Lee. You will enjoy listening to both the excerpts from these spoken messages and the helpful and enlightening commentary of the radio hosts.
Other Posts on the Life-Study of Hebrews You Can Check Out:
Why is the Background of the Book of Hebrews Important?
What Does God's Speaking Shows us In Hebrews 1:1-2?
What Does Hebrews 2:10 Say About Christ?
How Does the Lord Sanctify Us In Hebrews 2:11?
The High Priest in Hebrews 2:17 Makes Me Think of the Poem Footprints
Why is the Sabbath Rest Mentioned in Hebrews 4:9?
Why Unbelief in Hebrews 3:12 is the Biggest Offense to God
How Do We Come Forward in Hebrews 4:16?
What Hebrews 6:1 Says About Christian Maturity
What Does Hebrews 8 Tell Us About the Differences Between the Old & New Testaments?
What Does It Mean to Gain our Soul in Hebrews 10:39?
Have You Seen God's Silence in Hebrews 11?
How Do You Run the Christian Race in Hebrews 12?
What is the Birthright About in Hebrews 12:16?
From the Life-Study of Hebrews - What is the Central Concept of the Bible?
What's the Focus of the Book of Hebrews?
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