This week, Pastor Chris continued our Hebrews series with a powerful message on the dangers of unbelief. In the Old Testament, we see how unbelief kept the Israelites from entering the Promised Land—and the same can happen to us. Unbelief can gradually take root in our hearts, stealing away the abundant life God has for us. Pastor Chris challenged us to recognize the subtle signs of unbelief, turn back to faith, and become a people who fully walk in the trust and hope God has called us to.

Numbers 14:1–12 (ESV)

1 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” 10 Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? 12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”

Numbers 14:36–38 (ESV)

36 And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land— 37 the men who brought up a bad report of the land—died by plague before the Lord. 38 Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive.

Dangers of Unbelief

  • Unbelief can have eternal consequences.
  • Unbelief breeds hopelessness in our lives as we start to doubt God’s ability to bring transformation.
  • We begin to forget all God has done in our lives.
  • Unbelief causes us to become our own source of deliverance and provision.
  • Unbelief ends up placing us on the throne, usurping God’s place.
  • Unbelief never has enough proof.
  • Unbelief keeps us from receiving the blessings of God.

“Is it not a sin for a creature to doubt the word of its Maker? Is it not a crime and an insult to the Divinity, for me, an atom, a particle of dust, to dare to deny his words? Is it not the very summit of arrogance and extremity of pride for a son of Adam to say, even in his heart, “God I doubt thy grace; God I doubt thy love; God I doubt thy power?” Oh! sirs believe me, could ye roll all sins into one mass,–could you take murder, and blasphemy, and lust, adultery, and fornication, and everything that is vile and unite them all into one vast globe of black corruption, they would not equal even then the sin of unbelief. This is the monarch sin, the quintessence of guilt; the mixture of the venom of all crimes; the dregs of the wine of Gomorrah; it is the A1 sin, the masterpiece of Satan, the chief work of the devil.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

  1. Do Not Harden Your Hearts

Hebrews 3:7–10 (ESV)

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. 10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’

  • Be Alamed Over an Unbelieving Heart

Hebrews 3:11-12 (ESV)

11 As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’ ” 12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

3 distinct Groups of Jews

  • Believers (Knowledge, Agreement, Commitment).
  • Unbelievers who were intellectually convinced of the gospel (Knowledge & Agreement).
  • Unbelievers who were attracted by the gospel with no final conviction about Him (Some Knowledge).

Unbelief causes a turning away from God and His truth.

The Elements of Unbelief

  • Unbelief decides what God can and cannot do, what He will or will not do, and how He operates.
  • Unbelief finds its own methods for accomplishing God’s business, personally and corporately.
  • Unbelief looks inward instead of upward.
  • Rather than seeking the Lord and acting in faith according to His character and promises, we depend on our own understanding, methods, and strength for life and ministry.
  • Unbelief can be masked in religious pride, as in the case of the Pharisees in Jesus’ day.

Fruit of Unbelief

  • It obstructs God’s presence and power in our lives.
  • It opens the door to taking offense, especially toward God, and often toward those living in obedience to God.
  • It nurtures a root of skepticism.
  • It hinders effective prayer.
  • It leads to spiritual and mental instability.
  • It feeds a critical attitude.
  • It desensitizes God’s people to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
  • It brings discouragement to others and dampens their faith.
  • It incurs God’s anger and disfavor.
  • It can hinder the release and activity of the Holy Spirit.
  • Sin Deceives and Hardens

Hebrews 3:13–14 (ESV)

13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

Feed your doubts and your faith will starve—but feed your faith, and your doubts will starve. -Alister McGrath

  • Unbelief Prevents Rest

Hebrews 3:15–19 (ESV)

15 As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” 16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

Application

  1. Guard your heart. 
  2. Exhort one another.

 “For as by nature we are inclined to evil. We have need of various helps to retain us in the fear of God. Unless our faith be now and then raised up it will lie prostrate. Unless our faith be warmed it will be frozen. Unless it be roused it will grow torpid (that means sluggish or dormant). We would have us then to stimulate one another by mutual exhortations so that Satan may not creep into our hearts and by his fallacies draw us away from God.” John Calvin

  • Watch out for the deceitfulness of sin. 
  • Repent and hold fast to Christ. 
  • Believe in Christ and live.

Discussion Question:

  1. The Israelites were so quick to doubt God’s plan after all He had done for them in Egypt. Can you relate to moments when you’ve felt like giving up on God’s promises during tough times? Share an example.
  2. Have you ever noticed how unbelief can distort our view of God’s character? What are some ways we can remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness?
  3. Hebrews 3:15–19 talks about how unbelief prevented Israel from entering God’s rest. How does unbelief rob us of peace and rest in our lives today?

Application Questions:

  1. How can we “exhort one another” daily, as Hebrews 3:13 calls us to do, in a way that strengthens each other’s faith?
  2. The sermon concludes with practical steps: “Guard your heart,” “Exhort one another,” “Watch out for the deceitfulness of sin.” Which of these do you need to focus on the most right now? How can you apply them this week?