Sermon: Absolutely!!
by Chris Cumming
Just seven days ago [30 June 2012] I was on the road to do a
wedding in Idaho. Being a long trip, I spent the first night in
Yakima. While at the home of Irene Sparks I took notice of a wood
carving she owns. Someone had carved one word out of a single piece of
wood. That word was, “believe.”
I was intrigued. What a wonderful word. Even better, what a wonderful
admonition.
The King James Bible uses the word “believe” 143 times. You will find
the word in 10 books of the Old Testament. It is found in 19 of the 27
books of the New Testament. Almost fifty percent of its uses are in the
four Gospels. The word, “believe” is used 46 times in the book of John
alone.
The word, “believeth” is used 45 times with all but four of those uses
in the New Testament.
As we will see, there are other words and phrases speaking to believing,
such as “hold fast”, “conclude”, “truth”, “believing” and “belief”.
My purpose today is to explore this word and concept of believe and to
encourage all of us to believe absolutely.
Let us begin with the American Heritage Dictionary:
1.To accept as true or real.
2. To credit with veracity [conformity to truth or fact].
3. To expect or suppose.
4. To have firm faith, especially religious faith.
5. To have faith, confidence, or trust.
6. To have confidence in the truth or value of something.
From one Bible dictionary I referenced I found the following:
1. This is the verb form of faith.
2. In that sense, it is more than just believing, but also it is trust.
3. The ability to believe comes from God.
The Bible talks about belief and believing. It shows us what to believe
and what not to believe. It speaks to what is the reward of those who
believe and what happens to those refusing to believe.
Christ said in Mark that all things are possible for us. How?
Mark 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to
him that believeth.
In Mark 11, for which I did a whole sermon, Jesus states that we
could remove mountains into the sea. How did Christ describe these
people? Just who can remove insurmountable objects?
Mark 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.
Does God show us in the Bible a king and a nation who overcame an
insurmountable object?
2 Chronicles 20:1-24
1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children
of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to
battle.
2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,
9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;
11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;
15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.
19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper [emphasis mine].
21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.
22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked
unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and
none escaped.
If God removed insurmountable obstacles for Judah then, why not you now?
Is it possible to please God if we do not believe Him? If we go to God, must
we believe Him? Who does God reward?
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Since we are in this Faith Chapter of Hebrews 11, does it speak to the
faithful as being believers?
Hebrews 11:13
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them
afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they
were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
The book of Hebrews also talks about drawing close to God. How?
Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
What does this Hebrews 10 say about "holding fast"? Notice the next verse...
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is
faithful that promised;)
What does it mean in this verse 23, "the profession of our faith." Notice the
commentary...
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering - Either in the
grace or doctrine of faith, or in the profession of both. ~John Gill
Notice Hebrews 4:14
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Notice the commentary on "holding fast our profession":
let us hold fast our profession: of faith - of the grace and doctrine of faith,
and of Christ, and salvation by him, and of the hope of eternal life and
happiness; which being made both by words and deeds, publicly and sincerely,
should be held fast; which supposes something valuable in it, and that there is
danger of dropping it; and that it requires strength, courage, and greatness of
mind, and an use of all proper means; and it should be held without wavering;
for it is good and profitable, it recommends the Gospel; and it has been made
publicly before witnesses; and not to hold it fast is displeasing to God, and
resented by him: and the priesthood of Christ is an argument to enforce this
duty, for he is the high priest of our profession; he has espoused our cause,
and abode by it; he has bore witness to the truth of the Gospel himself; he
prays for the support of our faith; he pities and succours; and he is passed
into the heavens, where he appears for us, owns us, and will own us. ~John
Gill
Did Paul teach church members to believe?
Acts 20:16-21
16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the
time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the
day of Pentecost.
17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God,
and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
We must believe in Jesus Christ, meaning Him, His mission, His example, His
sacrifice and resurrection and His work in and through our lives.
Are we to acknowledge the truth? Paul did.
Titus 1:1
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith
of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
Let us go to the commentary for the last part of this verse:
And the acknowledging of the truth - by which is meant the Gospel, often called
the truth, and the word of truth; in distinction from that which was shadowy,
the ceremonies of the law; and in opposition to that which is false, it being
from the God of truth, concerning Christ, who is the truth; and containing
nothing but truth, and what is led into by the Spirit of truth. Now to preach,
spread, and defend this, was the apostle constituted in his office as such; and
which he did preach with all clearness and faithfulness, to bring souls to a
spiritual and experimental knowledge of it, and so to an acknowledgment, a
public owning and professing of it:
which is after godliness - the Gospel is a doctrine according to godliness; the
truths of it have an influence, both on internal and external godliness; they
direct to, and promote the worship and fear of God, and a religious, righteous,
sober, and godly life and conversation. ~John Gill
Is belief in the truth going to get us through the end time?
2 Thessalonians 2:1-14
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by
our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
When we pray to God for certain things, is our believing involved?
Matthew 21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
In John 20, we read of "doubting Thomas" who ended up believing when he
thrust his hand into the wound of Jesus. What did Jesus say about us at that
time?
John 20:29-31
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.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which
are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
According to Romans 15, by what power do we believe?
Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may
abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Are we to stand fast in our beliefs?
1 Corinthians 16:13
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be
not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Philippians 1:27
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether
I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand
fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Philippians 4:1
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand
fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
1 Thessalonians 3:8
For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been
taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
What does the Word of God say about you not believing falsehoods or false
doctrines?
Deuteronomy 11:16
Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and
serve other gods, and worship them;
Job 15:31
Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his
recompence.
Luke 21:8
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name,
saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
1 Corinthians 6:9
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not
deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate,
nor abusers of themselves with mankind.
1 Corinthians 15:33
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap.
What does the Word of God say about our relationships with unbelievers?
2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Do the unbelieving get their mind and conscience defiled?
Titus 1:15
Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and
unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Do unbelievers end up in the lake of fire?
Revelation 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part
in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
What is one major way of believing? In other words, what does God command us
to do that results in believing
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Are we to believe sound words?
2 Timothy 1:13
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and
love which is in Christ Jesus.
Are we of the house of Christ if we believe unto the end?
Hebrews 3:6
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the
confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Are we to hold fast to truth and be repentant? What happens if we don't?
Revelation 3:3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.
If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou
shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
We know that Christ is returning quickly and that our admonition from Him is
to allow no one to take our crown. How do we do this?
Revelation 3:11
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy
crown.
What does Romans 10 say about believing?
Romans 10:5-13
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which
doeth those things shall live by them.
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Does believing including taking action?
Deuteronomy 27:9-10
9 And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take
heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy
God.
10 Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his
commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.
When we decide to believe in God, we must also decide to follow His ways. What
we do shows what we really believe.
Let me end by giving you some quotes about believing in God.
“Belief begins where the will of God is known.”
“Belief is like a seed; plant it in your heart. God gives the harvest at the
appointed time”
“Faith is believing that God is going to take you places before you even get
there.”
“You believe by studying the Word of God. Study that Word until something in
you ‘knows that you know’ and that you do not just hope that you know.”
“The world says, ‘Seeing is believing’ – Faith says, ‘Believing is seeing’.”
So the next time someone asks you if you are a believer, respond by saying…
“ABSOLUTELY.”