Genuine Believing

In our home we have several items that produce heat. There is the furnace, the stove, the fireplace, lightbulbs, matches, my computer cord are just a few. In the middle of winter with temperatures as low as 5 or 10 below, it would be not the best choice to choose matches or lightbulbs as a source of heat. To really do the job with the greatest impact would be to choose the right source of heat. In life there are a lot of ways to believe, but only one way releases the power of God. It is by way of the faith of Jesus Christ. We should not be content with lightbulbs or matches, they can’t even warm a piece of pie! I’ve sat in a few pews that were chilly, but thankfully things of God are by free-will choice! When it comes to spiritual heat, I like nuclear!

In the Old Testament men and women of God could believe God. Abraham was called the father of believing. Old Testament believers such as Nehemiah, Joshua and Deborah could believe by taking action to stand for God. Today we can too by making a decision to love God and act accordingly. In addition we live in the grace administration today whereby it is available to have the inner spiritual development of the faith of Jesus Christ. On the Day of Pentecost God made it available for believing people to receive His power within. Faith was made available through Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:22-26, 22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

It is important to distinguish between these two words ‘faith’ and ‘believing’ even though they are both translated from the same Greek word ‘pistis’. It takes looking at the context to distinguish what is meant. If we examine the word ‘belief’ in various contexts, it can several different things.  It could mean tenet, doctrine, persuasion, opinion, thought, confidence, view as well as many other things. Context is important.

Faith of Jesus Christ involves his death, resurrection, ascension to the right hand of God bringing on the outpouring of holy spirit to each individual believer. Believing involves accepting God"s power and applying it in life’s situations helping others as well as ourselves as God energizes.

I can believe to light a match, turn on the stove or flip the switch on the furnace if I feel chilly. It's my choice. The results will be contingent on what I choose. I prefer the furnace cause it keeps me warm  everyday of the week 24/7. God is a 24/7 God.  His love is constant and meets every need and keeps the fires burning everyday with purpose.