Immune to fear
Day 26: Do Not Be Afraid; Only Believe
The Lord moves in action on our behalf when we pray and believe!
“So, Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:22-24)
It is the Lord’s good pleasure to do for us what we ask when we step out in faith! Faith is pleasing to God and it gets His attention. When our attention is on Him, His attention is on us. When we seek to please Him, He seeks to please us, and grant us what we ask.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Our faith in Christ identifies us as being those on the winning team! He has overcome the world, so that all those who have been won into the Kingdom have, in the same token, won victory over the world! “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4). Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Mark, chapter five, gives an account of two people who acted in faith despite the devastating circumstances they were experiencing. Jairus had just implored the Lord to come heal his daughter, who was at the point of death, when the woman with the issue of blood reached out and touched the Lord. The Bible says that she believed that even if she could only touch the garment Jesus was wearing, she would be healed! What incredible faith! Jesus immediately stopped and asked who had touched Him. When he learned of her story, He told her, “Your faith has made you well...” “While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not be afraid; only believe.’” (Mark 5:35-36)
Jairus had a choice in that moment to believe the Lord or believe the messenger who had just been sent by the eyewitnesses who were with his daughter. Which word would carry more weight? Jesus immediately spoke to Jairus— “Do not be afraid; only believe.” In essence, He was saying, “I know what you’ve seen Jairus, I know what you just heard from the messenger, but I need you to keep your eyes on Me. I need you to trust my word over every other word right now. Don’t let that report bring any doubt into your mind, because I’m still headed to your house! I haven’t changed My mind. I’m not swayed by this news, and I’m not too late. Just trust Me!”
“Preserve me, O God, for in You, I put my trust.” (Psalm 16:1)
When we hear reports that seem impossible to overcome, we must not rely on our own understanding. The power of God defies all human reason. He is capable of doing more than we can ask, think or imagine! “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). We must continue being grounded in this faith, standing steadfast in our hope in Christ, because He who has promised is faithful!
Source: (God’s Promises for Healing and Hope pg. 25-27)
Episode 59
Believing in HIM
Paul Maurer shares an experience he made at a CfaN Gospel Campaign in Bujumbura, Burundi and he goes in depth into the meaning of “believe”.
Bible study by Reinhard Bonnke:
Was Jesus Afraid?
This thought-provoking Bible study deals with our Lord’s final hours before the cross. You will find that Jesus never became defensive or reacted out…
