BIBLE CHALLENGE: (as you read the Bible) Don’t read what you believe, instead believe what you read!
I feel like God has been challenging me recently that if I’m not seeing what He has said in His word (the Bible) then that’s my signal that there’s something in me that I need to align with Him about…and It’s usually a faith issue…I can’t tell you I totally understand this yet…but I’m getting there and it’s exciting! Now don’t get me wrong, some promises take a while- like Abraham having Isaac…that took 25 years…that was all on God’s timeline…and it was going to happen because God said it would….But I’m talking about more “basic” things that Jesus told us to do - things like healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead type of things…and I’m talking about the “MORE” things that Jesus said we would do than He did! (John 14:12)
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve experienced and seen God’s moving in many situations in my life. I have experienced his deep down irreplaceable Joy in the midst of deep sorrow and pain…and His “peace that passes understanding” is amazing no matter what circumstance I find myself in…And I’ve experienced His miraculous financial provision and I’ve witnessed some of his healings…along with the comfort of Him speaking to my heart over and over again…But as I read His word, it’s obvious that there is even more and more and more!
And God has so faithfully connected me with several other believers who are deeper in faith than I am and I “see” even more of what He does through their lives. I had to apologize for “grieving the Holy Spirit” by putting him in a box that felt safe to me…but I came to find out that all that box did was limit His power & freedom working through me…and limited my faith that I was meant to have that can move mountains! (Matthew 17:20)
My husband recommended that I read this book - “The Power of Faith” by Smith Wigglesworth. The back of the book says “Laughing at the impossible was a way of life for Smith Wigglesworth. He trusted wholeheartedly in the words of Jesus, ‘Only believe.’ God used a simple faith to restore sight to the blind, heal the sick and even give life to the dead - the same kind of miracle working faith can be yours.”
I want to challenge you that as you read God’s word while oftentimes (if not always) each verse has deeper meaning, he also says exactly what he means.
I’m learning that it’s one thing to have faith in Jesus as Savior- and praise the Lord for this as this is the best gift ever…but that for all different areas we need faith…Just because we have faith in one area, doesn’t mean there are not 1000+ other areas we need to exercise our faith to get God-sized results. Faith is what is required not just for salvation but for more of what God has to give us and it is required for the full freedom He died to give us - not just in heaven, but more and more abundant life & freedom here on earth too!
Don’t believe the enemies lie that we have to wait for heaven to experience full abundant life. Remember even in the Lord’s prayer Jesus prayed that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven…that’s part of aligning our faith with what He says! A way of bringing heaven to earth - it is for now…not just the “new heaven and new earth”. Remember, Stephen- the first person who died for Christ- experienced this as he was being stoned. As he was being stoned and near death he supernaturally had the ability to pray for their forgiveness..the exact example Christ showed us! This is not a normal earthly response- this is a heavenly response showing up on earth!
Remember it was Jesus who said in John 14:12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” (Remember he was going to be with the Father so He could send the Holy Spirit to us? The Holy Spirit is the power to do these same and even greater works!).
Why then, as a majority of the Christian churches in America - no matter what denomination you align with- are we not believing and seeing what Jesus said to be true? The author of this book asserts this: “People do not expect to see signs and wonders today as the disciples saw them…has God changed? Or has our faith diminished so that we are not expecting the greater works that Jesus promised?”
Have we been taught and deceived into not having this type of faith? Will we dare to actually believe the words of Jesus? Isn’t he the one that said in Matthew 10:8 we are to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons? How have we been lulled to sleep to believe these are still not the BASIC things He is doing? Remember He said we will do MORE? As I’m typing this I clearly heard “Wake up oh sleeper!” - I then did a search and found it in Ephesians 5:14: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”. Something interesting about this verse is that it was written to believers! Suggesting that there are many things we need to allow Christ’s light to shine the truth on…not just salvation…but again, don’t get me wrong, and let me be clear SALVATION is the best gift ever…but I am so excited that He is opening up my eyes to see that there’s still More HE has that He wants to give us here on earth! And that’s why I have to share it with you!
Again, have we been taught to not have this type of faith…yes, taught to have faith for salvation…but what about the type of faith that brings others into the kingdom naturally??? The bare basics that Jesus told us to do - to heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead?
Will you dare to believe to have faith in ALL of the words of Jesus?
BIBLE CHALLENGE: Don’t read what you believe, instead believe what you read!
- Heidi
