Knowing in WHOM we Believe!
The closer we get to the Lord, the easier it is to understand why Romans 10:17 says Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. And the ONLY way to truly KNOW and understand the character, nature and ways of God Almighty and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is to seriously study and meditate on the Word. So one of the most exciting things for me personally is to hear that the Bible has begun to come alive for someone as never before; because then I know they will finally understand and KNOW just WHO it is we believe in and thus have the overcoming, victorious, unshakable faith needed to withstand anything and everything that comes their way.
The following passages of scripture are just a few that help us better understand the significance of believing Who Jesus Christ is and some of the benefits and blessings when we REALLY do:
Isaiah 53:1 – Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
Luke 1:45 – Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”
Luke 8:12 – Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
Luke 8:13 – Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.
John 8:31-32 – To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 12:46 – I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
John 20:29 – Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Acts 13:48 – When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
Romans 4:17 – As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.
Ephesians 1:18-23 – I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 – And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
Hebrews 4:2-3 – For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.'” And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world.
Hebrews 10:38-39 – But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Hebrews 11:6 – And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
James 1:5-8 – If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
1 John 5:5 – Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
When we read The Parable of the Sower in Luke 8:1-15, we can see just how important what we DO with the Word of God is to us as Christians; most especially as we stand for marriage restoration or any other kind of miracle. And since one of the most amazing miracles to just about everyone standing for marriage restoration is the resurrection of Lazarus, because we know it will take that same kind of miracle to resurrect our dead marriages, we can learn an awful lot by reading all of John 11 very carefully. There’s so much in this chapter about the ways and nature of God and how He works in very similar circumstances to those we find ourselves in now as we stand on the power and promise of His Word for our marriage restoration miracles. So I urge everyone to ask the Lord for understanding and insight as you read and STUDY this passage of scripture. And reading an earlier SOF post, BELIEVING Jesus is the ONLY Way to Let Go!, might be helpful as well, especially since letting go of our spouses and BELIEVING that the Lord will resurrect our marriages when we do is one of the greatest challenges most of us have to overcome as we learn HOW to stand for our marriages.
Yesterday’s Coffee Break devotion from Lorraine Ezell was so wonderfully encouraging that even though I meant to get this posted yesterday and didn’t, I want to share what she wrote here because BELIEVING that GOD IS OUR PROVIDER is SO VITALLY important as we stand in faith and confidence in that for the restoration of our marriages and families. So read the following devotion from Lorraine and know that when we TRULY understand and BELIEVE that God will see to EVERYTHING that concerns us, we will indeed be blessed and encouraged beyond belief!
“And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.” Genesis 22:14
One of the names that God reveals Himself to us through is Jehovahjireh- God is our provider. It also means that God is the One who sees ahead and makes provision for. But I also heard it means “God will see to it”. As I pondered this meaning this morning, I thought about how that it is God who “sees to it” that the righteous aren’t forsaken. It’s God who “sees to” meeting and supplying all my need. It’s God who “sees to it” that I have rain in due season. It’s God who “sees to it” that when I cast my bread upon the waters it will return to me. When I give, it’s God who “sees to it” that it’s given back to me good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
God will “see to it” that you receive the promise when you have met the condition. God will “see to it” that you are taken care of when you commit yourself into His keeping. When you place your faith and trust in Him, He will “see to it” that you won’t be ashamed. God will “see to it” that you reap the blessing after you have been obedient.
You are God’s business. He loves you and cares about you. Therefore, whatever you need, He will “see to it” that you have it. So put your trust in Him as your Jehovahjireh-your provider- because He will “see to it”.
Have a great day. Isn’t it wonderful to know that God is “seeing to it” that all your need- spirit, soul and body- is met!
Coffee Break is a morning devotional
written by Lorraine Ezell, and available online and sent by email free of charge
for the asking from About the Master’s Business Ministry, Inc.
So please feel free to call Lorraine at (601) 833-5278 or E-mail her at mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
And you can visit her on the web at MastersBusiness.org.