Major Blessings Follow Right Believing

 

MAJOR BLESSINGS FOLLOW RIGHT BELIEVING!

 

Scripture:  Mark 9:23-24

….Jesus said: “Everything is possible for one who believes.”  Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

This is the story of a man who was feeling pain and frustration for the terrible situation his son was in. He obviously had heard about all the wonderful things Jesus was doing for the people around him, but the situation was so big in his own eyes that he was not convinced Jesus had the power or would even have compassion to help him out.

Jesus quickly let the man know it was not about His power or willingness to do something for him and his son, but the man’s faith!

Immediately after hearing Jesus’ words, the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief or help my weak faith!”

Just like the situations many of us go through and things we see going on around us, this man’s faith was shaken by what he saw, and he became conscious of his own inability to believe beyond what he was seeing happen to his son. But, praise the Lord, he got into faith that Jesus was willing and able and even had the boldness to ask Jesus to remove his doubt!

Jesus obviously honored that man’s prayer because when his believing got straightened out, immediately his son was set free! Jesus was happy to work with this man’s limited faith so that He could give him the miracle he needed!

Hebrews 11:6 says: “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!”

That is a powerful promise for us today that the Lord absolutely rewards faith and Jesus took time to help straighten the man’s thinking out so he could receive what Jesus wanted for him all the time!

Jesus loved performing miracles and answering prayers and today is still looking for those that believe He will do what the Scriptures say He will do!

Following is another beautiful example of how important right believing is so that the blessings God has for His people can be received and enjoyed as opposed to being forfeited!

“Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home. He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.”  Mark 6: 4 & 5

Look at that! We are talking about the Son of God, the living Word, walking among them, but people in his everyday sphere of influence forfeited miracles and blessings because of familiarity or judging things in natural ways. They were saying, “Oh, this is just the carpenter’s son, and we know all of his family; He is just like us!”

Often, we, as believers, can have similar experiences with family, friends, business associates, etc., because they do not understand that as born-again Christians, God, through the finished work of Jesus, now lives inside of us and has delegated to us the power and authority to use Jesus’ Name in prayers and declarations to help people. We know in Heaven there is no sickness, no confusion or strife or lack in any form! Jesus taught his disciples to pray that very prayer: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!”

It is very interesting that when Jesus’ family heard that he was going around healing people that were sick, casting out devils and also going throughout the countryside choosing His disciples, the Scripture says, “they went to take charge of Him saying, “He is out of his mind!” Mark 3: 10-21

The Apostle Paul said it like this in 1 Corinthians 2:14: “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”

It is, of course, also very interesting that after Jesus’ ascension to Heaven, His family, who originally thought He was out of His mind became believers in Him and His mission from God and followers of Christ!

In a similar way, just because people we are praying for or are sent to help, who don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior yet, may think we are a “little off the wall” at times by things we say and do, we must keep on keeping on because when they do become believers they, more than likely, will be doing the same things we are doing!

The exciting news for us today is, as faith-filled believers in God’s promises, we can have assurance God watches over His Word to perform it! One important aspect of our faith is that while we are waiting for the answers to show up, we must purpose in our heart, ahead of time, not to let situations or circumstances steal our joy or our faith but keep a spirit of expectancy!

Always keep in mind, as well, “Delay is not Denial!”

Jesus came to proclaim and demonstrate His Father’s Will on earth and the Bible says, “He went about doing good and healing ALL that were oppressed by the devil because God was with Him!”   

He has now commissioned us to do the same:

Mark 16:15 … And then He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to EVERYONE….”

With all the bad news and confusion going on around the world, that we mostly learn about through media, focusing on the Gospel, the Good News, continues to be the way we release faith for God’s will, not man’s will, to be done in every area of life!

Luke 18:8 Jesus asked, “…. but when the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth?

Isn’t that incredible? Jesus is looking for faith, our faith!

In Matthew 24:12. Jesus stated that right before his return, “because lawlessness, (wickedness and iniquity) would multiply and abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

With that in mind, have you noticed how easy it is to get caught up in negative conversations which inflame emotions, steal your joy, etc.,  and before you realize it, you are agreeing with others about how bad things or people are when Jesus said: “IF YOU can believe (have faith) ALL things are possible!” 

The Apostle Paul said: “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel for IT IS THE POWER OF GOD for salvation to everyone who BELIEVES…”

Romans 1:16

When we speak His Word in faith like the Apostle Paul did, God’s power goes to work to change situations! Paul was saying not to be ashamed to speak about the Gospel because he knew it had power to bring people to salvation through accepting Jesus as their Savior not only giving them everlasting life, but it would also cause faith to come for healing of their bodies and also it would build their faith for circumstances in their lives to change for the better if they would believe it and receive it!

Jesus was not ashamed when some did not believe! He just kept on doing what His Father had sent Him to do and those that believed received the blessings!

Putting It into Practice:

Remember the man in our lead Scripture who was totally honest with Jesus about the unbelief issue he was having but who did not want to stay in unbelief? Jesus quickly turned it around and boldly told him: “If YOU can believe, ALL things are possible to those who will believe.”

He then focused his faith on Jesus’ words and received the blessing he desperately needed for himself and his son!

Let us make a determination that so far as it depends on us, we will not allow unbelief to rob us of the major blessings we are believing God for!

Perhaps you might find it helpful to take yellow sticky sheets and write the most pressing prayer needs you have, together with Scriptures relating to God’s promises to meet those needs and put them where you can see them daily. This will help you build your faith because God is faithful to keep His Word!

Then, praise and thank God for the answers that are surely on the way!

Diana