B is for Believe

In the second of the alphabet series ‘The A-Z of Christian Faith’, we looked at ‘B is for Believe’. To believe, the dictionary says, is ‘to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so.’  Heb 11:1 reminds us that ‘faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see,’ ‘the fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.’

Believing is a personal response to what God says to us. Abraham, our father in faith, trusted God even when God’s promises to Him seemed incredible, even when he had no idea where God was sending him (see Rom 4:1-18). We need to grow in faith and keep on believing God, otherwise we are warned that we may end our days in futility, as those who failed to believe during the wilderness wanderings discovered (see Ps 78:32-33, Heb 3:19). Believing will always involve fear and risk, for God chooses not to give us the total assurance we often desire in order to stretch our faith, but victory comes to those who believe. It takes courage to believe. ‘Only the brave will go where You go/ Into the fire, but never alone.’ (Tim Hughes, ‘Only The Brave’)

We need to believe for many things, including:

1. salvation (see Acts 16:25-34, where God’s intervention opened the door – literally! – for Paul and Silas to witness to the Philippian jailer, giving him the message of salvation: ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.’ We need to believe that God is working in the lives of individuals to bring them to the place of response and that He will use us to witness to them. We also need to believe for those family members who are not yet saved.
2. healing (see Matt 8:5-15, where the centurion’s faith is praised by Jesus: he did not need Jesus to go to his house to believe that his servant would be healed! Healing is not only for us, but for all, a witness to God’s power, a testimony which brings people to faith. Jesus often asked people ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ (Matt 9:28) when they came for healing; faith is clearly an important ingredient in healing.)
3. deliverance (see Mark 9:14-29, where a boy’s father comes to Jesus for the deliverance of his son, saying,  ‘if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.’ (Mark 9:21) Jesus says, “‘If you can’? Everything is possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23) This challenge to faith causes the response: ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’ (Mark 9:24) We need to be firmly convinced that nothing is too hard for God (Jer 32:17), that ‘with God all things are possible’ (Matt 19:26) and ‘what is impossible with man is possible with God.’ (Luke 18:27) So often, we limit God because we cannot really imagine or believe that He is able to do the impossible, but here, Jesus shows us a key to the miraculous: our faith.)
4. the infilling of the Holy Spirit (see Eph 5:18, Luke 11:13, where we not only see God’s ability to give us the gift of His Spirit but His willingness. So often, we don’t have things because we don’t actually ask God for them! (see James 4:2) We need to see the gifts of the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit and the power of the Spirit in our lives, for we are leaky vessels and need that spring of living water to refresh us and fill us anew. God’s Spirit gives us power to witness, power to live the life Christ wants us to live, power to be the people God wants us to be. We can’t live the Christian life in our own strength, but need God’s Holy Spirit daily.)
5. guidance (see Neh 9:19, Is 58:11, Is 35:21. God has good plans for us, but we need His guidance into right paths and all truth – see Ps 23:3, Jn 16:13. We need His guidance if we are to enter the abundant life He has for us rather than being content simply to ‘get by’!)
6. answers to prayer (see Matt 21:22, Mark 11:24. The disciples were surprised when they saw that the fig tree Jesus had cursed withered so quickly. Jesus reminded them ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matt 21:21-22) We need to understand that believing will often mean acting in faith before we see the fulfilment in order to see the fulfilment! Faith involves us believing that God exists AND that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Heb 11:6) – in other words, that He answers prayer, that He is not a fickle, malicious, capricious God, but a loving heavenly Father who delights to give us the desires of our hearts. (Ps 37:4) Heb 11:6 also reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please God. If we want to please God, we have to believe. Believing is the number one way we please God. As we learn to bring all our petitions, supplications, requests and desires to God in prayer, we have to believe He is both willing and able to answer those prayers.)