Just Believe

It is impossible for one to come to Jesus and pray with faith, if one does not believe in Him.

• Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 NIV

³⁵While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” ³⁶Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” ³⁷He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. ³⁸When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. ³⁹He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” ⁴⁰But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. ⁴¹He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). ⁴²Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. ⁴³He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. Mark 5:35-43 NIV

In this passage, there were unbelievers, there were believers (His disciples), and there were those ready and willing to believe (the parents). Notice how only those who believe saw the miracle right before their eyes. Those who did not believe Jesus' Word and those who laughed were sent outside.

If you desire unprecedented breakthrough, miracles, or even answered prayers, just believe.

Only those who believe enjoy what they witness.

• And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Matthew 13:58 NIV

 

Although the term, Believe might mean different to different people, the Bible got us covered.

 

Believe now.

“Believe now” is for unbelievers.

• Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God John 1:12 NIV (emphasis added)
• ⁹If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:9-10 NIV (emphasis added)
• ²²“It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” ²³“ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” ²⁴Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” ²⁵When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” ²⁶The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. Mark 9:22-27 NIV (emphasis added)

The father immediately turned around and believed that Jesus can after Jesus pointed him to the right direction. In a way, Jesus told him to “believe now.”

Unprecedented breakthrough is possible to those who believe. To God, everyone has an equal opportunity to decide.

 

Believe still. 

Believe still is for believers who sometimes still doubt. It is for those who just simply accepted that maybe it is not God's will for them to receive what they prayed for. It is for those who thought they already know it all and there is no need to keep on growing in the knowledge of God.

⁵When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁷Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” John 6:5, 7 NIV

• Jesus taught Philip and His disciples to always come to Him for all things. In a way, He reminded them to “believe still” even on (or specially on) things that seem impossible, such as feeding five thousand with 5 loaves of bread and two fish.

 

⁸Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” ⁹Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. John 14:8-11 NIV

• Jesus reminded Philip of the things He already taught him and all His disciples – that He and the Father are one. He reminded him that it does not change, that he must believe still.

 

On second coming of Jesus

• "I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matthew 26:29 NIV

Jesus reminds His disciples to keep on believing that He will come back the second time.

¹⁴When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” ¹⁶Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. Matthew 16:13-17 NIV (emphasis added)

• He led them to professing His divinity. We need this as believers – to never stop believing that Jesus is God.

Few moments later, He is calling Peter, Satan!

• ²¹From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. ²²Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” ²³Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” ²⁴Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:21-24 NIV (emphasis mine)

Even us, believers must be reminded to believe. To trust that no matter what the situation is, if it is part of God’s plan, we must hold on and believe that He is at work. We must trust God above our own instinct, wisdom, knowledge and capability. Acting otherwise makes us more like Satan, not Christ.

This is why we read the Bible even if we have read it before.

• If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7 NIV

We must make sure we strengthen our faith through God’s Word. We must make sure we remain in Jesus and that He remains in us.

 

Believe again.

Believe again is for backsliders, for those who stopped believing God because of other Christians, and for those who slipped away without even noticing it.

• “Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.” “Yes, we will come to you, for you are the Lord our God." Jeremiah 3:22 NIV

The prodigal son had to experience what it is like living without the covering of his father. This led him to go back. To be clear, the parable is a picture of what God does when one of His people backslides – He waits for their return.

• ¹⁷“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:17-20 NIV

He ran towards him, so that the son did not have to say the lines he rehearsed. He was accepted back without questions. What a great picture of what God desires when His child/ren backslides!

 

To those who may have lost hope.

• ⁴When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” ⁵Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” ⁶When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. Luke 5:4-6 NIV

Peter and his companion had to try again, but this time, at the word of Jesus (the creator and owner of the sea and the fish), and they did have the catch. All they did was try again at His Word.

 

God does not change.

• Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NIV

His calling for us remains.

• for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 NIV 

Whether we believe Him or not, He remains who He is.

If we cease to believe, He is who He is.

If we choose to go back to Him, He is still who He is.

 

Believe again.

Experience Him again.

 

To receive unprecedented breakthrough, one must believe.

 

“ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes. Mark 9:23 NIV