Acts 11:26 (NLT) It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.
The title is actually only used 3 times in scripture (Acts 11:26 ; Acts 26:28 ; 1 Peter 4:16) But in the New Testament other terms were more commonly used, followers, disciples and BELIEVERS.
Acts 5:12 All the BELIEVERS used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.
What does the title ‘Christian’ mean today anyway?
It’s not difficult to refer to ourselves as BELIEVERS because we know that belief is at the core of the life we live.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
BELIEVING is more than simply saying the right things. BELIEVING is the way we receive all the benefits of God’s eternal plan.
• BELIEVING is how we receive salvation – John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
• BELIEVING is how we are justified – Acts 13:39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
• BELIEVING is how we are made righteous – Romans 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
BELIEVING is how we find assurance – 1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
What we believe is vitally important. It determines….
• How we think
• How we feel
• How we live
Romans 10:9-10 …..If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
BELIEVING is an activity of the soul . It’s as simple as ABC.
A – acknowledge (the activity of the mind)
B – believe (the activity of the heart/emotions)
C – confess (the activity of the will)
This response from the soul unlocks our spirit’s to receive God’s gift of eternal life.
This kind of BELIEVING is incredibly powerful. BELIEVING God unlocks such amazing dimensions of miraculous intervention.
Mark 9:20-23 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “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.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
What does this kind of BELIEF look like?
• It is a belief that is not shaken by distressing circumstances
• It is a belief that is not injured by unanswered questions
• It is a belief that is not surrendered for selfish pursuits
• It is a belief that is not destroyed by public criticism
1. BELIEF is invisible to the human eye
1 Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.
We need to be reminded that BELIEVING IS SEEING – and not the other way around.
Two blind men were brought to Jesus and the Saviour asked them a question.
Matthew 9:28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes Lord” they replied.
The men’s response meant that he could see in faith even though they could not see Jesus’ face.
True BELIEVING can see in the dark!
2. BELIEVING is more than a creed
It is more than simply agreeing with a set of truths that are universally acceptable.
Belief is an immovable conviction and confidence in the person of God, the character of God and the will of God. Declaring what we believe is never as important as declaring who we believe.
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
Believing is being convinced by the person that God is.
3. BELIEVING is a verb
It is not merely an agreement it is an activity
The Greek verb (pisteuo) means ‘to adhere to, trust, rely on’
The level or nature of our believing is often portrayed in our activity or response.
Its like the kids TV programme of many years ago – RUNAROUND (Mike Reid).
Which answer will you run to when the question is asked?
Belief always runs toward Christ, it turns in his direction.
1 John 5:5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
BELIEVING is measured by what we do.
4. BELIEVING is something that grows
I am convinced that my capacity to BELIEVE God deepens as my encounter of him deepens.
Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Jesus did not chastise this man for his honesty. He healed both the son and the father. He healed the father’s unbelief by healing the son’s awful condition.
We do not have to hide our unbelief from God we present it to him and ask him to help us grow in faith and confidence in Him. It is as we exercise belief it grows. We were not saved to be crippled by doubt but to grow in faith.
Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
It is as we learn to BELIEVE God in the small things that our faith grows to BELIEVE him in the larger things of life.
Matthew 17:20 I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you
I am asking the Lord to continue to make us a BELIEVING Church and so ………..I want to be a BELIEVER
• I want eyes of faith
• I want an immovable confidence in God
• I want to turn instinctively to God in faith
• I want to grow in faith daily……
