Believe and you will see the glory of God!

Have you ever noticed how important believing is in the Bible? Great things happened when people believed what God said. The opposite occurred with unbelief.

Abraham believed God when He told him at the age of ninety-nine that his wife Sarah, who was passed childbearing age, would have a son. His belief in the Word of God resulted in the birth of Isaac (Genesis 17; 18:1-10; 21:1-7). Mary was told by angel of the Lord, that she would be pregnant with the Son of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit. She believed God saying, “Let it be done to me according to Your word” (Luke 1:26-38). Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ. Jairus was informed that his daughter was dead. But Jesus upon hearing this news told to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; only believe” (Mark 5:36). At Jesus’ command the young girl immediately arose from death (Mark 5:36-40). Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, was dead for four days. Jesus finally arrived, and being informed of his condition, said, “Didn’t I tell you if you only believe, you will see the glory of God?” Jesus commanded Lazarus to come forth and he arose from death (John 11:38-44).

Believing what God said is not dependent upon circumstances. When Jesus called Peter to come and walk on the water in the midst of the storm, His command was not limited by wind and waves. However, when Peter began to walk on the water, but got distracted by the storm, he faltered (Matthew 14:22-32). Each Biblical truth noted above, confirms the presence of challenging situations, which if considered by leaning to their own understanding, would override what was told to them by the Lord (Proverbs 3:5). But we are warned not to do that. We are instructed to know God, to recognize Him, consider what He has said (Proverbs 3:6); to not be distracted from Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). In fact, Hebrews 3:12 says, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief”; the Amplified version says, “a wicked unbelieving heart”. Unbelief “leads us to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God” (Amplified: Hebrews 3:12). Believing, what God has said, there will be a fulfillment of these things (Luke 1:45).

Unbelief has consequences. God told the Israelites that He was giving them the land of Canaan. Moses responded to God’s command to by sending men who were heads of the children of Israel, to spy out the land that God was giving to them. Upon seeing it they reported that it was filled with milk and honey, and great fruit. But they also reported that the people who dwelled there were strong and large, and the cities fortified. “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” “The land to which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants, the descendants of Anak, and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:1-33). These men leaned to their own understanding. They rebelled against what God had said and were unable to receive the blessing of the promised land; unbelief had shut them out (Amplified: Hebrews 3:15-19). Despite what they saw with their eyes and experienced with their senses, God’s word to them had not changed, but they doubted what God said.

When circumstances persist that are contrary to God’s Word, we must stand firm on the foundation of His truth. We must believe what He says, before we experience what He has said. Hebrews 11:1 instructs us on this matter: Faith is confirmation of things that we hope for, being the proof of things, we do not see and the conviction of their reality (faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses)” (Amplified version). We hope based on the Word of God and this kind of hope does not disappoint us (Romans 5:5). We hope, and allow God’s Word to paint a picture for us. The fact is that you are a dearly loved child of God and He has given you the Spirit of His Son Jesus, to confirm His love for you (Galatians 4:6; Romans 5:5; Ephesians 1:4,5). He has blessed you and wants you to receive His blessing (Ephesians 1:3).

How are you able to continue to believe when the circumstances tell you otherwise? Romans 4 tells us that because Abraham believed what God said, he gave praise and glory to God knowing that He was mighty and able to keep His Word; this caused Abraham to grow in faith (vs. 20,21). Abraham exercised his faith like a muscle is exercised and becomes strong. You are able to do all things through Christ Who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13); you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of God’s glory, to exercise every kind of endurance and patience with joy (Amplified: Colossians 1:11). You are equipped with everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Your spirit right now is fully equipped with patience and joy and self-control, all things that are needed to persist in believing what God has said!

Put more value on the Word of God then upon what you see or hear, or experience with your senses!