BELIEVING FAITH
Do you believe in God? A very often
used question by Christians who are hopeful of leading a lost person to the
saving knowledge of God. The question is most times answered in the affirmative
with a further comment in line with, “I talk with Him every morning.”, or “I’m
a member at such and such church.” This may satisfy some of our witnesses, but
the more discerning will see that there is more to the faith than believing,
more especially, what one believes. Although some say they believe the Bible,
cover to cover, it is evidenced by their lack of Spiritual fruit that they
don’t know what is between the covers. When we remember that the devils also
believe, it makes our believing of less significance, “Thou believest that
there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But
wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:19-20
KJV) What then is the significant aspect of “believing”?
First, let’s look at some of the
things Christians are expected to believe. Ask yourself, “do I believe that
whatever I ask of the Lord, believing, it shall be given me? ”Therefore I
say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye
receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:24 KJV) Also, ask yourself,
“Do I believe that if I lay my hands on the sick in the name of Jesus, they
shall recover?” “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name
shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take
up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they
shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17-18 KJV) Consider
also the promise that calling upon the Church elders for the fervent prayer and
the anointing with oil of a righteous man will provide not only healing, but
the forgiveness of any sins committed. “Is any sick among you? let him call
for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with
oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and
the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be
forgiven him. (James 5:14-15 KJV). Do you believe that we are doing greater
works than Jesus did? “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on
me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he
do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12 KJV) Jesus has gone to the
Father, so the works we do are greater than those He did. Hard to believe?
Jesus does not lie.
These are some of the hard words of
the Bible that must not be neglected by any of those with the true faith of
Christ, since it is He who lives in us to work His purposes, seeing we have
given Him our lives, and we are not our own, but His to work His will to His
glory. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians
2:20 KJV) From this we see where our believing faith comes from; Jesus
Christ and the Holy Ghost, who lives in us, having made us to be new creatures
in Him, empowered for service and to bear fruit for His Kingdom.
If you have not yet come to this
believing faith, you are in need of rebirth as Jesus told Nicodemus when he
came to Him by night and was told by our Lord, “Jesus answered and said unto
him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see
the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3 KJV) Without sight of the Kingdom of God,
there is no possible way to enter in, and without this Kingdom within us we
have no access to the King. “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when
the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God
cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there!
for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21 KJV) Your
determination to die to yourself in order that God may make of you a new
person, born again, free from sin, will be your hope for Heaven, and that He
will know you in that final day, ”And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23 KJV)
So believing the Bible, cover to
cover, involves God knowing you, cover to cover. Knowing God is having a
personal relationship with Him on His terms and for His glory. His terms are
simple, your surrender. God’s glory is His on your terms; keep them for yourself
and lose them; give them to Him and be blessed eternally. Without Christ, the
Bible is a mystery; with Him it is your source of believing victoriously. Give
your life to Him today, forever. In prayer, admit that you are a sinner and in
that condition you are on your way to Hell forever. Confess this and ask God to
save your soul and that you are sorry for your sins and wish to turn away from
them. Tell Him that you know that Jesus has paid for your sins by His shed
blood on the cross, and accept this free gift of cleansing of your sins and
invite Jesus to enter your heart as your Savior. Tell Him also that you wish to
give Him your life to use for His glory and you desire that He be your Lord.
This provides a two-way covenant with God. He gave His life for you, and you
give your life for Him. Then where He is you also shall be forever with Him.
The following is a prayer that you might use if you are sincere in mind and
heart. “Dear God, I am not worthy to come into your presence because I am a
sinner. But I wish to have a new life that is not sinful. I am sorry for my
sins and pray that you will save me from the power of them as I wish to turn
away from them. I pray for Jesus to enter into my life as I accept Him as my
Savior. I wish also to give my life to Jesus to serve Him so that He will be my
Lord and friend. I thank you for hearing my prayer.”
If
you prayed this prayer from your heart sincerely and are ready to step into
this new life, be assured that you are now a child of God through Jesus Christ,
and that Jesus is now you Savior. Seek out an old-time Bible believing church,
share your salvation with the Pastor. He will direct you concerning water
baptism and Bible study, both of which are most important. God will bless you,
we know because He blessed us in the same manner that you will experience. We
don’t know you, but we love you in the Lord.
WTL Ministry 3/28/03 www.wtlministry.org Help us link: www.wtlministry.org/invitationtohelp.htm