Cars run on gasoline. Flat screen TV’s run on electricity. Barbecue grills run on propane. The fake fireplace in my house runs on natural gas. And, of course the Energizer Bunny runs on a very durable battery.
Yet, the kingdom runs on belief.
According to John 6:28-29 an argumentative crowd gathered around Jesus, and they mockingly asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Just believe? That’s it? Isn’t there more? We just believe and STOP there?
Yes, that’s all we do – believe. No, of course we don’t stop there. We keep going!
Once we believe and make an internal shift towards Him (Hebrew: Teshuva or Greek: Metanoia), our hearts are changed. We are given a heart just like His, and a right Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27). We become a new creation in Him powered and compelled by His love (2 Corinthians 5:14-18).
Strengthened by Him (Philippians 4:13), and moved by the new nature dwelling inside us, we can’t help but keep going! Belief. That was it. That was the starting point. The rest of the walk is fruit.
Look, Jairus’ daughter had just DIED – there was good reason to panic – and Jesus tells him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” That was it. Just believe. In fact, when Jesus got to Jairus’ house to raise his daughter from death … Jesus put all the unbelievers OUTSIDE the house. They didn’t believe, and missed out on the spectacular!
We believe and get to see the spectacular – in us, through us, and around us!
At it’s core, everything runs on belief.
Our belief fuels great faith. Faith is the living, breathing daily application of belief. Faith is belief in action, and the “walking out” part of our believing. Jairus certainly believed Jesus, but in being a long way from home, he had to literally walk out that faith as they headed back to his house.
But, the best part is that faith is something that God FREELY GIVES you because you first believed (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12:1-31)! Your faith isn’t yours, it’s HIS!
We don’t faith harder, we believe DEEPER!
* Believe deeply that YOU are loved.
* Believe deeply that YOU are already free from sin.
* Believe deeply that YOU have already been forgiven.
* Believe deeply that YOU have already been chosen.
* Believe deeply that YOU are already made whole.
* Believe deeply that YOU walk in His authority.
* Believe deeply that YOU hold His power within you.
Yes, out of the belly of your belief, HE will fuel your walk. Yes, HE gives you what you need to keep moving. Yes, HE is the durable battery keeping you going! Yes, HE gives you the faith of JESUS who lives and dwells inside you.
Yes, Jesus who dwells in you IS your measure of faith for each and every circumstance. You don’t strengthen you, HE in you strengthens you! You don’t guard your heart and mind against the negative influx of the world, HIS PERFECT PEACE JESUS does (Phil 4:7).
Yes, YOU already have the faith for whatever comes you way … because HE is the way.
Believe. Pray. Listen. Believe deeper within you. Walk.
Keep going.
Philippians 4:7 (NIV)
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.