“Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” James 3:1 (NIV, Zondervan).

“THEN HE OPENED THEIR MINDS SO THEY COULD UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES.” Luke 24:45. It is important, paramount, to read, Luke 24:36-53; Acts 2:1-41.

In order to believe God, we must trust Him, and the extent in which we trust God will determine our ability to believe. Psalm 20:7,8; Psalm 33:16-22; 37:3-6; 56:3,4; Proverbs 3:5-8; Isaiah 30:15-18.

BELIEF: Trust, Peace, Rest. DISBELIEF/UNBELIEF: Doubt, Anxiety, No Rest (Unrest). Hebrews 1; 2; 3.

It all started in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 1; 2; 3; Romans 5; 6.

Definitions of the following from, The New Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language:

BELIEVE: To have confidence in the truth, existence, reliability or value of something. To have religious faith (added: for us faith in Jesus who is the Way the Truth and the Life. John 14:6,7).

BELIEF: Confidence in the truth and existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof. confidence, faith, trust.

UNBELIEF: Incredulity or skepticism in matters of religious faith.

DISBELIEF: Inability or refusal to believe or accept something as true.

Matthew 11:26-30; Psalm 100; Hebrews 1; 2; 3; 1 Timothy 6:11-21; Romans 5; Exodus 23:20-26; Galatians 3; 4; 5. (Suggestion: Read Galatians 4:21-5:17 in the Amplified Bible (AMP).

I leave you with with the following. As I have said before these scriptures passages are not just for unbelievers, they are for believers as well if not more so (NIV, Zondervan Edition):

Matthew 13:18-23: “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. this is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Mark 4:13-20: “Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the Word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the Word is sown. As soon as they hear it, satan comes and takes away the Word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the Word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the Word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and desires for other things come in and choke the Word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the Word, accept it and produce a crop-some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Luke 8:11-15: “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the Word of God. Those along the path are one who hear, and the devil comes and takes away the Word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are ones who receive the Word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in time of testing, they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble heart, who hear the Word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”

James 1:5-8: “If any of you who lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” (Read all of James 1).

Philippians 3:1,15,16: ” Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. All of us then, who are mature should take such a view of things. and if on some point you think differently that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”