8/12/21-BELIEVER IS NOT A TITLE YOU WEAR, IT’S A LIFESTYLE YOU LIVE.

My only explanation for Christians who don’t believe is that they haven’t had a personal intimate encounter with Jesus. It’s almost an oxymoron to use the words Christian and unbelief in the same sentence. I say almost because Jesus had followers who saw Him after His resurrection and still doubted. Matthew 28:17

People believe a lot of different things. They believe in magic, they believe their horoscopes, they believe in miracles or the supernatural, they believe in each other or themselves, they believe the bridge or chair they’re about to cross or sit on will support them, they believe in the doctor’s reports, they believe in the medicines they take, they even believe their doubts. We are free to believe whatever we want, but believing without corresponding actions is faith without works. And this works spiritually as well as naturally. One thing is certain: whatever you believe will become your master or your reality.

How would you describe your relationship with Jesus (if you have one)? I’m not going to assume that everyone reading these messages embraces the truth of the Gospel or that they have a personal relationship with Jesus. Some folks have a different view of Christianity and what it means to be a follower of Christ. To describe or call oneself a Believer in the biblical sense, implies one thing: You believe that God is the Creator and Author of the infallible Word known as the Bible and that everything in it is true. You further believe that Jesus is the only way to God, and that He died and rose from the dead. This isn’t religion, this is biblical Christianity, and what makes us true Believers and followers of Christ. See Isaiah 43:10-12 and Acts 1:8

Knowing about someone isn’t the same as knowing them. Information is not experience, and knowledge is not relationship. We may have a lot of information on someone, we may even learn some intimate things about them, but if it’s purely informational, then even though what we’ve read or heard might be true, if you haven’t met or spent quality time with the person you do not know them nor should you claim to be a believer in that person. Darwinism is based on information one individual claimed as fact and thousands who have read his writings without proving his theory have believed and followed his fallacy and lunacy. People struggle with believing what they cannot see or touch. Yet so many believe Darwin’s theory even though they have never met him personally. Why then do they have a problem believing the God of the Bible and His Word?

Is it easier to believe the created thing? The church better known as Believers or followers of Christ have been complicit in the disbelief that is plaguing the world today. We are supposed to know the God we claim to serve but instead we have more questions than answers. Do you believe that you’re born again simply by what the Word says is the requirement? The first words in that transaction reads this way.

“But what does it say? “The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the Word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach— because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will not be disappointed [in his expectations].” But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:8-11, 14‬a AMP

Believer, do you see how many times the word believe is mentioned in those verses? It’s imperative then, that we understand what we believe and why. We don’t have blind faith, we have living proof that believing in the written Word of God by His Spirit transforms us into Believers. It then becomes more than just a title or badge we wear, it becomes who we are. We have no problem speaking up whenever an unbeliever or someone ignorant of what we have known and experienced as fact, asks us questions like;

How can you believe in a God you’ve never seen? How can you say you’re healed when you’re sick in your body? How can you say God supplies all your needs and you’re broke? How can you say you’re blessed and you have no job? We as Believers can respond with confidence because we have a relationship with this God through His Son and by His Spirit. And not only that our God in whom we believe has a track record unsurpassed by any other of being faithful to His Word. We can also look back on the many times He’s answered our prayers and done the unimaginable on our behalf. Salvation was enough, never thought He would top that, but He did by giving us His Spirit. All the believing we need is wrapped up in receiving God the Holy Spirit. He helps us believe when we cannot see. But if you’re a Believer in name only, those questions will baffle you.

The word believe, and its derivatives, is used 257 times, excluding “believer(s).” I googled it. ( it may be more depending on translations).

Sixty six books, two hundred and fifty-seven times maybe more, it must be important. In the gospel of John alone it is used over ninety times. We find it here first in a pivotal moment of what has come to be known as the most memorized verse in scripture.

“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.”John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Jesus is speaking in the third person of Himself. The next question then would be, who is the Son that was given? Nicodemus knew the Torah. He admits that Jesus had to be associated with God in some way. John 3:1. But Jesus made it clear that to understand or believe spiritual things will require more than book knowledge. I believe that we have overlooked a very crucial point Jesus made before this verse. One that explains why so many Christians are struggling with their beliefs and can’t answer simple questions regarding why they believe what they do. It's actually in the preceding verses. We can’t fully appreciate verse sixteen unless we understand what Jesus was saying to Nicodemus.

“Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.” Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the physical is merely physical], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be surprised that I have told you, ‘You must be born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” I assure you and most solemnly say to you, we speak only of what we [absolutely] know and testify about what we have [actually] seen [as eyewitnesses]; and [still] you [reject our evidence and] do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things [that is, things that happen right here on earth] and you do not believe, how will you believe and trust Me if I tell you heavenly things?”

‭‭John‬ ‭3:3, 5-8, 11-12‬ ‭AMP‬‬

When the jailer asked Paul and Silas what they should do to be saved, this was what he told them;

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.“ ‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Notice it doesn’t say in but on. Why? Because this isn’t an invitation to an event or ideology, he’s being asked to believe on the testimony about Jesus the Person who performed the unbelievable, not in the experience. The prison doors supernaturally opening. Jesus used the words believe (in) because He was present in the moment. He wasn’t introducing or inviting Nicodemus to meet someone else. He is the experience, He is the one to believe in. Everything starts with believing. We cannot speak of what we don’t know or haven’t witnessed. We cannot know or experience heavenly things without believing earthly things. How do you know that you are born again? Because you choose to believe the witness of Christ through the hearing of the written Word by faith and acted upon it. Remember Hebrews 11:6?

“But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:6‬ ‭AMP‬‬

And Hebrews 11:1? If you don’t understand what faith is you will not believe what faith does.

“Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].” Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭AMP‬‬

We’re spiritual beings. Born again not the way Nicodemus posed the question about reentering his mother’s womb, but by a supernatural exchange of natures. The mind must be transformed by the new spirit man and the Word of God. What has taken place on the inside by believing and confessing, must now be maintained by a daily diet of God’s Word. The new man receives the Word in the same way that the natural man (body) receives nourishment from food. The evidence of both (natural and spiritual ) diets will eventually reveal itself physically on the outside. There’s corresponding evidence to what we believe.

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the [Holy] Spirit who is from God, so that we may know and understand the [wonderful] things freely given to us by God. We also speak of these things, not in words taught or supplied by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual thoughts with spiritual words [for those being guided by the Holy Spirit]. But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:12-14‬ ‭AMP‬‬

The next verse says but we, those who live in the spirit can and should be able to discern spiritual matters why? Because we believe. We’re called Believers because we believe! Or do we? That’s why we’re having trouble living up to what we profess. We have the title but we lack the demonstration. If we are identified with Christ Jesus then believing is a lifestyle, it’s our way of living. We have no other recourse. We believe for victory before the battle is over. We believe and speak those things that are not yet manifested as though they were. That’s what Believers do. David saw Goliath defeated before he wound up his slingshot. Jesus saw us healed and whole before we ever got sick. He saw us redeemed before we ever said the prayer. He believed in us before we believed in Him. He’s our perfect example of believing faith. See Romans 5.

If you’re not ready to believe what you’re saying, Please keep it to yourself. But for heaven’s sake, don’t blab, and when things get tough backpedal.

It creates confusion in unbelievers and immature Christians. We believe to see, not see to believe. We wear our believing like a garment. We never take it off. We don’t change positions no matter what’s happening around, or to us. Even if we don’t get the results we want. We believe! We don’t faint in adversity, we don’t faint because we believe that Jesus never fails! Believers believe period! We’re not just informed we’re transformed by the renewing of our minds from doubt and unbelief. To a life of believing every word that proceeds from the mouth (Word) of God. Are you a Believer? Is that your lifestyle or just a title?

Do you know why Jesus told His disciples to take heed or give attention to how they conducted themselves as Believers to a watching world in Matthew 6? Because it draws attention to them and away from Him. Unbelief attracts in a negative way. Believing and acting upon the Word of God attracts in a positive way giving glory to God. We don’t believe to be seen, we believe to make Him known. This is why it’s not a title but a lifestyle. May we be more conscious of the messages we’re sending to the world by how we live and speak. Repent if need be and turn from inauthenticity. No, life isn’t a bed of roses all the time. But Jesus never lied about that either. He said in this life we would have testing, But to be cheerful, He didn’t ask us to deny the circumstances. He said to deny its right to control your response by believing that He has overcome the systems of this world.

“And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in Me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in Me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!” John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭TPT‬‬

The unbelieving world doesn’t know what we know. This is why we must demonstrate to them who we are and what makes us Believers.

Written by permission of the Holy Spirit

W. Tennant

August 12, 2021