Published by admin on 11 Apr 2014 at 01:00 pm
BELIEVE NOW, RECEIVE NOW
“I will believe it when I see it.” We have all heard that one before, haven’t we? But do you know that conflicts with the Bible?
The first reference I see to that in the New Testament is from the words of Thomas, who was called “Didymus”, which means “of two minds”. We can read about it in John 20:19-29:
Joh 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Joh 20:20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Joh 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Joh 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Joh 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
Joh 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Joh 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Joh 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
The Lord Jesus obviously loved Thomas, yet Jesus clearly rebuked him because of his unbelief. And when we disbelieve what is written in the scriptures, we are acting just like Thomas. God still loves us, but our unbelief does not please Him. I don’t see where Jesus disowned Thomas, yet you see in verse 29 to whom His blessing goes. That serves to teach me that I’d better believe every word of the Bible and live by it, if I want God’s blessing upon my life.
Our carnal nature wants to see something before we believe it. The Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day were no different. Jesus had already done many miracles in their presence, yet they would still not believe. They wanted a sign. Jesus was clearly NOT happy with them. Today, we have the Word, and yet unbelief persists. Hello? Are YOU looking for a sign? Let’s look at Matthew 12:35-42:
Mat 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Mat 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Mat 12:41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
Mat 12:42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
Jesus revealed the Kingdom of God to people in plain language, using parables from everyday life. We can read about it in Matthew 13:34-35:
Mat 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
Mat 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
One day the Lord Jesus revealed the very secrets to the creation of the universe, and though many of us have read it several times, most have overlooked it, like a treasure hidden in plain sight, only it isn’t HIDDEN, Jesus clearly told us how to receive from God, in Mark 11:22-24:
Mar 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Mar 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Many have told me, “I tried that faith stuff, and it didn’t work for me.” Well actually it DID work exactly as Jesus said it would, for the scriptures cannot be broken. Read verse 23 a few times then examine your heart. Whatsoever that mountain is in YOUR life WILL move, IF you shall not doubt in your heart, and IF you believe that what you say against that mountain will come to pass. Maybe that mountain is cancer. Maybe it is financial problems. Whatsoever that mountain is, Jesus said it WILL move IF you follow His directions. He said you will have whatsoever you say.
Are you speaking TO the problem, or ABOUT the problem? You know what I mean….One day you’re telling your lack of finances (for example) to be gone, and you believe in your heart that God does not want you broke, but you’re calling all your prayer partners and saying to them, “I’m so broke I can’t pay attention”? Well guess what? You believe in your heart you’re broke, you’re saying it with your words, and you’re getting EXACTLY what you believe and say, just like the Lord Jesus said you would. And you’re saying to me,” I tried that stuff and it didn’t work”? Yes it DID work! Only you believed wrong and spoke wrong! Believe and speak according to Mark 11:23, and keep watch over your heart and mouth, knowing you WILL reap accordingly.
When do you believe? go back and read verse 24….notice the word “believe” is before “receive”, which means you believe FIRST, then you receive. So simple, yet we insist upon saying, “I’ll believe it when I see it”. And we wonder why God isn’t pleased? We’re acting just like Thomas did when the disciples said they saw the risen Jesus, and he replied, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
You can have what you say, or you can keep having what you have kept saying, the choice is yours. As for me, I’m taking seriously what the Lord Jesus said. All He told us is for our good, and if we’re wise, we will use it, not only so we can live a better life, but also for the purpose of our being in position to help and instruct others. Remember: Believe now, receive now. It’s not “I’ll believe it when I see it.” God really DOES have a better way for us. Why? Because He loves us so very much, so much in fact, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. When do you believe that? After you see His face in the judgment? No, NOW, so He will be pleased to see you! AND…so YOU will be pleased to see HIM when the time comes.
lorie leahy on 11 Apr 2014 at 6:00 pm #
Hi Jerry, Jenny,
Thank you for the reminder to watch our words.
sheron on 16 May 2014 at 11:50 pm #
Thank you for yours words and I will watch my words. By his stripes I am healed
I believe and I received.