God is all-powerful, but He needs a person through whom He can work to touch lives and bring His kingdom to earth. Have you ever wondered why God at times cannot show His power through you?
There are two things that stop us from allowing God to work through us. One of them is doubt, which is characterised by uncertainty over what God wants to do or can do; the other one is unbelief, which is simply the lack of trust that God will certainly do what He says He will or can do.
In Luke chapter 9 we see a man coming to Jesus and asking for His help. He says that his only child, a son, has been possessed by a demon which causes the poor boy to throw himself into a convulsion. The man added that he already asked Jesus' disciples for help, but they were unable to drive the spirit out and heal the young child.
Jesus responded by rebuking His disciples and driving the demon out of the boy:
"You unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here" (Luke 9:41, NIV).
Jesus successfully and effortlessly drove the spirit out, but his disciples were unable to because they were "unbelieving." Have you ever been in a situation where you knew God was able to do something, but you did not believe that He wants to do it?
Here are some instances where God wants to do something, yet our unbelief stops Him:
1) Healings
In Mark 6 we find that Jesus was hindered from doing any miracles in His hometown because of the synagogue's (or church's) lack of faith.
Jesus said in Mark 16:18 that believers will lay their hands on the sick and heal them. When was the last time you prayed for a person's healing instead of just referring them to a doctor or giving them medicine?
2) Answered Prayers
Most of us pray, but we do not believe that He will actually reply. The Bible even says that we don't have because we do not ask God! (see James 4:2) "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours," Jesus said in Mark 11:24.
3) Salvation
The book of Acts shows that the "Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47). It is God "who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). Clearly, God wants to save all men, and has sent us to bring the gospel "into all the world" (see Mark 16:15).
Jesus commissioned all believers to "go and make disciples." As we obey Him, He will go with us (see Matt. 28:19-20). Are we sharing the gospel to every person we know so that they can be saved?
