You Practice What You Truly Believe

“‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.’” MALACHI 3:10

 

PONDER THIS

Do you know why you don’t obey the Word of God? You don’t believe it. Consider today’s text. There’s not a person in the Church who doesn’t want Heaven opened and God pouring out such blessings that we can’t even contain them all. All of us want that, but not all of us tithe. Why? Because we don’t believe the promise. If you believed the promise, you would tithe. We always show what we believe by our actions. Doesn’t everyone want Heaven opened and doesn’t everyone want a blessing? We simply don’t believe the Word of God.

Where do you recognize that you don’t believe the Word of God?

What evidence does your life give for your belief or lack thereof?

PRACTICE THIS

Ask God to reveal in areas in which you have not shown belief in and obedience to His Word. Take steps toward obedience today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

That You May Believe

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30–31)

I feel so strongly that among those of us who have grown up in church and who can recite the great doctrines of our faith in our sleep, and yet who can yawn through the Apostles’ Creed — that among us something must be done to help us once more feel the awe, the fear, the astonishment, the wonder of the Son of God, begotten by the Father from all eternity, reflecting all the glory of God, being the very image of his person, through whom all things were created, upholding the universe by the word of his power.

You can read every fairy tale that was ever written, every mystery thriller, every ghost story, and you will never find anything so shocking, so strange, so weird and spellbinding as the story of the incarnation of the Son of God.

How dead we are! How callous and unfeeling to your glory and your story, O God! How often have I had to repent and say, “God, I am sorry that the stories men have made up stir my emotions, my awe and wonder and admiration and joy, more than your own true story.”

Perhaps the galactic movie thrillers of our day can do at least this good for us: they can humble us and bring us to repentance, by showing us that we really are capable of some of the wonder and awe and amazement that we so seldom feel when we contemplate the eternal God and the cosmic glory of Christ and a real living contact between them and us in Jesus of Nazareth.

When Jesus said, “For this purpose I have come into the world” (John 18:37), he said something as crazy and weird and strange and eerie as any statement in science fiction that you have ever read.

Oh, how I pray for a breaking forth of the Spirit of God upon me and upon you; for the Holy Spirit to break into my experience in a frightening way, to wake me up to the unimaginable reality of God.

One of these days lightning is going to fill the sky from the rising of the sun to its setting, and there is going to appear in the clouds the Son of Man with his mighty angels in flaming fire. And we will see him clearly. And whether from terror or sheer excitement, we will tremble and we will wonder how we ever lived so long with such a domesticated, harmless Christ.

These things are written — the whole Bible is written — that we might believe — that we might be stunned and awakened to the wonder — that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came into the world.

John Piper 

Do You Know What You Believe?

“Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘Whatever could this mean?’”

ACTS 2:7-12

 

PONDER THIS

Is there something about you that is unexplainable according to human wisdom? Can you explain your story apart from Jesus Christ? Has anybody ever asked you, “What is the reason for your hope?” You are to sanctify the Lord in your heart, and you are to be ready to share the hope that lives inside of you.

I’m appalled at how little the average Christian knows about what to believe. One man asked a woman, “What do you believe?” She said, “I believe what my church believes.” He asked, “Well, what does your church believe?” And she told him, “My church believes what I believe.” Then he wondered, “Well, what do you both believe?” And she responded, “Oh, we believe the same thing.” Are you being changed by the hope of Jesus so that your life looks different than the lives of those around you? Are you ready to share that hope with others?

When has someone asked you about the reason for your faith? How did you respond?

How ready are you to share your faith with others today?

PRACTICE THIS

Share with others your hope in Christ. Ask about their hope and listen to their responses.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Light Refused Increases Darkness

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”

ROMANS 1:20-23

 

PONDER THIS

All people have some light as image bearers of God. But light refused increases darkness. Our decisions about faith and how to live are not neutral. You cannot simply take light or truth and put it on ice. You cannot put truth in your pocket and say, “That’s very interesting; I’ll spend it someday if I need it.” When God gives you light, when creation and conscience speak to your heart, if you don’t glorify God, don’t believe in God, don’t trust God, your life will not remain static. You’ll begin to regress and lose even the light you have. Your heart will be darkened.

Why does a person not believe in God? Belief in God means an adjustment in lifestyle. A person’s lifestyle says, “If I admit that, I’m going to have to change this.” We either turn away from the worldly life we love or from the righteousness of Jesus. We are prone to choose that which seems most convenient and comfortable at the time, but that choice comes with baggage and darkness.

What are some of the ways of Christ that feel uncomfortable and inconvenient for you right now?

What parts of your lifestyle do not reflect Christ?

PRACTICE THIS

Talk to an accountability partner about the parts of your life you want to change to reflect Christ. Ask your friend to check in with you about this.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Faith is Belief with Legs on It

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

HEBREWS 11:8-10

 

PONDER THIS

Faith is not rooted in human worth, human will, or human wisdom. True faith comes from the Word of God. Abraham had a word from God. Faith therefore does not rest on a roadmap but in a relationship with Almighty God. Think of Abraham: He’s seventy-five years of age; he’s well established; he’s rich; he has a lovely wife; he’s living in comfort. Then God says, “Get up, let’s go.” He did not know where or why he was going; all he knew was God had spoken.

Faith is believing the Word of God and acting on it. If you simply believe the Word of God, that’s not faith yet: that’s the preamble to faith, the root of faith. Acting on the Word of God is faith. Believing is mental; faith is actual. Faith is belief with legs on it. The difference between belief and faith is the difference between knowing the Word of God and knowing the God of that Word.

When have you acted on your belief in God? What did it feel like to step out into the unknown? What happened?

What are things about God you have learned in Scripture? What would it look like to act in belief on those things?

PRACTICE THIS

Practice acting in faith today. Take one risk of sharing your faith or praying for someone, trusting God to equip you with what you need.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Pray. Believe. Receive.

“So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.’”

MATTHEW 21:21-22

 

PONDER THIS

I’ve heard many say, “You know, Pastor, I’m saved, but I’m struggling in my Christian life. I’ve got worldliness. I’ve got problems. I’ve got temptations. How am I going to overcome?” Trying to live the Christian life is like struggling to get out of quicksand. The more you struggle, the deeper you sink till you come to the place where you say, “I can’t. He never said I could, but He can. He always said He would, and I’m going to trust Him.” That’s more than a play on words. This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. And if you are bound by some problem or some habit, quit trying and start trusting. Believe God for the victory.

This is also true for soul winning. How are you going to be a soul winner? By believing God. Spiritual wealth comes by faith. Salvation comes by faith. Sanctification comes by faith. Soul winning comes by faith. Supplication, our prayers being answered, comes by faith. Pray and believe, you’ll receive; pray and doubt, you do without.

What are some ways you have tried to live the Christian life on your own? How did that go?

Is there a habit of sin in your life that only He can redeem? Are you willing to repent and live in victory through Christ?

PRACTICE THIS

Speak out loud about God’s ability to change you and grow your faith. Remind yourself of His promises and who He is by saying it loud so you can hear it and remember it.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

That You May Believe

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30–31)

I feel so strongly that among those of us who have grown up in church and who can recite the great doctrines of our faith in our sleep, and yet who can yawn through the Apostles’ Creed — that among us something must be done to help us once more feel the awe, the fear, the astonishment, the wonder of the Son of God, begotten by the Father from all eternity, reflecting all the glory of God, being the very image of his person, through whom all things were created, upholding the universe by the word of his power.

You can read every fairy tale that was ever written, every mystery thriller, every ghost story, and you will never find anything so shocking, so strange, so weird and spellbinding as the story of the incarnation of the Son of God.

How dead we are! How callous and unfeeling to your glory and your story, O God! How often have I had to repent and say, “God, I am sorry that the stories men have made up stir my emotions, my awe and wonder and admiration and joy, more than your own true story.”

Perhaps the galactic movie thrillers of our day can do at least this good for us: they can humble us and bring us to repentance, by showing us that we really are capable of some of the wonder and awe and amazement that we so seldom feel when we contemplate the eternal God and the cosmic glory of Christ and a real living contact between them and us in Jesus of Nazareth.

When Jesus said, “For this purpose I have come into the world” (John 18:37), he said something as crazy and weird and strange and eerie as any statement in science fiction that you have ever read.

Oh, how I pray for a breaking forth of the Spirit of God upon me and upon you; for the Holy Spirit to break into my experience in a frightening way, to wake me up to the unimaginable reality of God.

One of these days lightning is going to fill the sky from the rising of the sun to its setting, and there is going to appear in the clouds the Son of Man with his mighty angels in flaming fire. And we will see him clearly. And whether from terror or sheer excitement, we will tremble and we will wonder how we ever lived so long with such a domesticated, harmless Christ.

These things are written — the whole Bible is written — that we might believe — that we might be stunned and awakened to the wonder — that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came into the world.

John Piper 

What Does it Mean to Believe ON Jesus?

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’”

ROMANS 10:9-11

 

PONDER THIS

When I was a pastor in Florida, I had a deacon friend who was a very wealthy man, but he wouldn’t fly on an airplane. This man had enough money he could buy a ticket anywhere in the world and never miss the money. He loved to travel, but he always drove. One day I said to him, “Brother, you should fly.” He said, “Intellectually, I know a plane can fly, but emotionally I just can’t get on it. I just can’t do it.” So, he drove everywhere he traveled.

But one day, he said, “I’m a grown man. Everybody else is flying. I am going to fly.” And he bought a ticket, got on an airplane, and buckled himself in. He made it, and now he flies everywhere. What was the difference? Before, he believed about an airplane; when he got on, he believed on the airplane. What does it mean to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? It means commit yourself to Jesus Christ. Commit yourself to Him, by faith, and you’ll be saved. You supply the sinner; He supplies the Savior.

Who are some people you are seeking to share Jesus with?

What are some fears about faith you hear from others?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray for a person with whom you have been trying to share your faith. Ask God to help that person believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

You Don’t Have to Worry While You Wait

PRAY OVER THIS

“Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, ‘Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.’ So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, ‘Your son lives.’ And he himself believed, and his whole household.” John 4:52-53

 

PONDER THIS

The man in this account lived in Capernaum. Where did he meet Jesus? In Cana. The distance between the two was about twenty miles. Following the words of Jesus, the man would have had about a day’s journey of travel to return home and see the evidence of what Jesus had proclaimed. This would have been twenty-four hours of anticipation, anxiety, and concern along the way.

But like this man learned: you can rest in the Word of God. You don’t have to worry; you can wait on the Lord. Psalm 37:7 says, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Why didn’t Jesus go with that man and heal his son? Because His word was enough. This is still true for us today. His Word is enough for us. When I need a blessing, when I need an answer to prayer, do I need Jesus here with me physically to receive it? No. No distance is too far for the powerful word of Jesus.

What does it look like to rest in God’s power over our own?

What are things that make it challenging to rest in God’s promises for you?

PRACTICE THIS

Step outside and sit or take a walk. Ask God to help you rest in His Word.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Will You Respond to the Light?

PRAY OVER THIS

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

Romans 1:16

 

PONDER THIS

All men have some light, but light refused increases darkness. The thing about light is that it is not tangible, something you can hold. You cannot take light or truth and put it on ice. You cannot put truth in your pocket and say, “That’s very interesting, I’ll spend it someday if I need it.” No, when God gives us light, when creation and conscience speak to the heart of any individual—if we do not glorify God, believe in God, and trust God, then we do not remain static. Instead, we begin to regress, and we lose even the light we have. Our foolish hearts will be darkened. We refuse truth because of the sin that is in our hearts.

Why do we not believe in God? Because belief in God means we must adjust our lifestyle. Our lifestyle, on one hand, is our unrighteousness, but on the other hand, there is creation and conscience. And so, creation and conscience tell us there’s a God. Our lifestyle says, “If I admit that, I’m going to have to change this.” So, we’re in disagreement between the two. This is the struggle that goes back and forth. We may get the lifestyle we want, but it is a terrible trade-off to miss a relationship with the living God!

Do you know people who are wrestling with their faith? What questions are they wrestling with? How might you support them?

What are things that had to change in your life when you started following Jesus?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray for people who are wrestling with the decision to follow Jesus today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Do You Have a Small View of God?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” Romans 4:18-21

 

PONDER THIS

People with weak faith often have a small view of God. If your faith is weak, you need to get to know God. The Bible says, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You” (Psalm 9:10). Glance at your problem, but gaze at your God. Verse 18 says of Abraham, “Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed.” Do you think you’re hopeless? Do you think God is finished with you or never got started with you? Do you think other people can know God but not you? God sent me here to tell you that God has hope for you.

Abraham looked at God who can bring life out of death and make something out of nothing, and said, “I am going to believe in that God!” Don’t look at yourself or your problems and say you’re hopeless. You are not! God can bring life to you, and God will make something out of you. The only thing God makes something out of is nothing, and so if you’ll become nothing, He’ll make something out of you. It’s time you stop relying on yourself and hope in God.

When have you felt hopeless? How do you respond in these moments?

What would it look like to turn to God in your hopeless moment?

PRACTICE THIS

Tell God about the areas in which you feel hopeless and discouraged. Submit to Him and trust Him with those things.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Do You Struggle to Believe God?

PRAY OVER THIS

“For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.”

Romans 4:3-4

 

PONDER THIS

Grace is the unmerited favor and kindness of God shown to one who does not deserve it and can never earn it. You will be saved by grace, or you won’t be saved at all.

Sometimes when I speak, people introduce me and say nice things about me. But suppose someone said, “There’s one thing about Adrian—you just can’t believe him.” No matter how many nice things you might say about me, if you say, “You can’t believe him,” you’ve just cut off the root of my character. The greatest thing you can do to glorify God is believe God. Faith pleases God because it glorifies God, and because faith pleases God, God rewards faith.

What is faith? Faith is not saying, “God prove it to me, and then I’ll believe it.” No, faith is a response to the nature and character of God. Faith believes God, not for what God has done, but for who God is. When my eye is right, my eye responds to light. When my ear is right, my ear responds to sound. When my heart is right, my heart responds to God. That response is faith, and that faith glorifies God. If a man could be saved by works, God would not get the glory. But when a man is justified by faith, God gets the glory.

When do you struggle most to believe God?

When have you been happy that you believed God? What happened when you trusted Him?

PRACTICE THIS

Take a step of faith and believe God in an area in which you have been struggling.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Unwilling to Believe God?

PRAY OVER THIS

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call on the Lord? There they are in great fear, for God is with the generation of the righteous. You shame the counsel of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge.” Psalm 14:1-6

 

PONDER THIS

Years back there was a young man, an atheist, at one of the local universities, who wrote about how the world would be better without Christians. He was very arrogant, but he came to a church where I was ministering in Florida. He really came to show off, to argue, and to make fun. But the finger of God touched him, he came under conviction, and he got saved. I called him into my office. I wanted to talk to him because I wanted to know what happened in his life and how a man like him could be so poisoned against the things of God. And so, I talked to him about his faith. Then I said to him, “George, tell me why you were an atheist.” He said, “Mr. Rogers, before I came to this church, before I heard the Gospel, and before I gave my heart to Jesus Christ, I was so sure there is no God.” He said, “And now, I can’t even remember the arguments.” The problem was not in his head; it was in his heart. It wasn’t that he could not believe, it was that he would not believe. There is a willful self-determination when people hold back and suppress the truth.

What are some of the things of God that are hard for you to believe?

Why do we struggle to let the truth of God penetrate our hearts?

PRACTICE THIS

Lift up in prayer the truth of God from His Word and allow it to penetrate your heart.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Relying on Yourself?

PRAY OVER THIS

“For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’” Romans 10:11-13

 

PONDER THIS

When Jesus spoke of some forsaking him, Simon Peter said “Lord, I’ll go with you to prison and to death” (Matthew 26:35, author’s paraphrase). And then Peter cursed and swore and denied that he even knew the Lord Jesus. Why? Because it was a boast of the flesh. Do you want to maintain your victory? You’d better realize that as you have reverence and resolve you also need a reliance that says, “God, I can’t do it. But God, you can do it in me, and I’m going to let you.” In the truest sense of the word, victory is not your responsibility; it is your response to His ability.

I have wonderful news for you. The Bible says it clearly and plainly, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). To be saved means every sin is forgiven. To be saved means Jesus Christ lives in your heart to give you peace, power, and purpose. And to be saved means you go to Heaven when you die or when Jesus comes. The word believes means more than intellectual belief. It means trust—reliance and commitment. Trust Him. Rely on Him. Commit your life to Him, and you will be saved.

What are some things you feel like God is leading you toward in the year to come?

Have you ever prayed with a resolve to serve God and a reliance on Him? What impact did this have on you?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray with a resolve to rely on God and serve Him in the year to come.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

That You May Believe

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30–31)

I feel so strongly that among those of us who have grown up in church and who can recite the great doctrines of our faith in our sleep, and yet who can yawn through the Apostles’ Creed — that among us something must be done to help us once more feel the awe, the fear, the astonishment, the wonder of the Son of God, begotten by the Father from all eternity, reflecting all the glory of God, being the very image of his person, through whom all things were created, upholding the universe by the word of his power.

You can read every fairy tale that was ever written, every mystery thriller, every ghost story, and you will never find anything so shocking, so strange, so weird and spellbinding as the story of the incarnation of the Son of God.

How dead we are! How callous and unfeeling to your glory and your story, O God! How often have I had to repent and say, “God, I am sorry that the stories men have made up stir my emotions, my awe and wonder and admiration and joy, more than your own true story.”

Perhaps the galactic movie thrillers of our day can do at least this good for us: they can humble us and bring us to repentance, by showing us that we really are capable of some of the wonder and awe and amazement that we so seldom feel when we contemplate the eternal God and the cosmic glory of Christ and a real living contact between them and us in Jesus of Nazareth.

When Jesus said, “For this purpose I have come into the world” (John 18:37), he said something as crazy and weird and strange and eerie as any statement in science fiction that you have ever read.

Oh, how I pray for a breaking forth of the Spirit of God upon me and upon you; for the Holy Spirit to break into my experience in a frightening way, to wake me up to the unimaginable reality of God.

One of these days lightning is going to fill the sky from the rising of the sun to its setting, and there is going to appear in the clouds the Son of Man with his mighty angels in flaming fire. And we will see him clearly. And whether from terror or sheer excitement, we will tremble and we will wonder how we ever lived so long with such a domesticated, harmless Christ.

These things are written — the whole Bible is written — that we might believe — that we might be stunned and awakened to the wonder — that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came into the world.

John Piper 

Believing God When We Don’t Understand

PRAY OVER THIS

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?’ ‘Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?’ For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:33-36

 

PONDER THIS

There are many things about faith and the ways of God that we do not understand. None of us will ever fully understand everything about God. How do I know this? The Apostle Paul didn’t know. He essentially said, “Who can understand this? Who has been God’s counselor? His ways are past finding out.” We should quit trying to fully understand His ways and begin to live by the Word of God and what God has revealed to us.

It’s not up to you to synthesize these things; it’s not up to you to put these things together. You just simply believe. When the Bible says, “Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17), believe it. And when the Bible says, “God wants everyone to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4), believe it. And when the Bible says, Christ died for the whole world, (See 1 John 2:2.) believe it.

What matters of faith have you struggled to wrap your brain around?

When have you taken God at His Word?

PRACTICE THIS

Write down some of the things of faith that you don’t understand. Ask God to help you trust Him with those things.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

God Enables Us to Believe

PRAY OVER THIS

“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29

 

PONDER THIS

You can have natural faith in the natural realm; we all live by natural faith. You’re putting faith in the chair that you’re sitting in right now. When you go to a restaurant, you’re putting faith in the cook.

But biblical faith is in the supernatural realm. You don’t generate that. God gives it, so you don’t work it up; it comes down. In 2 Peter 1:1, Peter talks about those who have obtained precious faith. People cannot believe in God unless God enables them to believe.

The only way you can believe in God is to hear from God, and God must enable you to believe. The instrument God uses to enable you to believe is His Word. Faith is not a leap in the dark; it’s a step in the light. You hear from God. But without a word from God, you have no basis for faith. There are some people today who say, “You name it and claim it.” But here is the fact of the matter: you can’t claim it unless God names it. He is the Author of our faith.

Where do you turn when you have doubts in your faith?

Have you ever asked God to help you grow in your faith? What was that like?

PRACTICE THIS

Share with a friend some areas of faith you struggle with. Ask that friend to share about how God has grown his or her faith in Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Do You Have a Heart That Believes?

PRAY OVER THIS

“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:3

 

PONDER THIS

Did you know in the Bible the existence of God is never explained; the existence of God is never argued? God is simply presented. The Bible just says to believe.

Have you ever had anybody come up and ask you, “Can you prove there’s a God?” When they ask me, I say, “No.” Then I say, “Can you prove He doesn’t exist?” And if they are honest, they will have to say no. We can neither prove nor disprove God. So the skeptic says, “You just live by faith. You’re just believers.” I say, “You live by faith also. You’re a believer also. I believe there is a God; you believe there is no God.” I accept by faith that God exists. They accept by faith that God does not exist. To take this world apart looking for God would be like taking a piano apart looking for a song. You can’t do it.

Unbelief in God is not really a matter of the mind, it is a matter of the heart. Now that doesn’t mean there’s not any evidence on our side. If you have seen creation, you are pointed to a Creator. That’s evidence, but not proof. Our faith is rooted in evidence and goes beyond the evidence. Faith is necessary for spiritual wisdom. By faith we understand.

How has your life changed through growing in faith in Jesus?

In what areas of your life do you struggle to believe in God?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray and be honest with God about the areas you struggle to have faith. Ask Him to grow your faith in those areas.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

That You May Believe

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30–31)

I feel so strongly that among those of us who have grown up in church and who can recite the great doctrines of our faith in our sleep, and yet who can yawn through the Apostles’ Creed — that among us something must be done to help us once more feel the awe, the fear, the astonishment, the wonder of the Son of God, begotten by the Father from all eternity, reflecting all the glory of God, being the very image of his person, through whom all things were created, upholding the universe by the word of his power.

You can read every fairy tale that was ever written, every mystery thriller, every ghost story, and you will never find anything so shocking, so strange, so weird and spellbinding as the story of the incarnation of the Son of God.

How dead we are! How callous and unfeeling to your glory and your story, O God! How often have I had to repent and say, “God, I am sorry that the stories men have made up stir my emotions, my awe and wonder and admiration and joy, more than your own true story.”

Perhaps the galactic movie thrillers of our day can do at least this good for us: they can humble us and bring us to repentance, by showing us that we really are capable of some of the wonder and awe and amazement that we so seldom feel when we contemplate the eternal God and the cosmic glory of Christ and a real living contact between them and us in Jesus of Nazareth.

When Jesus said, “For this purpose I have come into the world” (John 18:37), he said something as crazy and weird and strange and eerie as any statement in science fiction that you have ever read.

Oh, how I pray for a breaking forth of the Spirit of God upon me and upon you; for the Holy Spirit to break into my experience in a frightening way, to wake me up to the unimaginable reality of God.

One of these days lightning is going to fill the sky from the rising of the sun to its setting, and there is going to appear in the clouds the Son of Man with his mighty angels in flaming fire. And we will see him clearly. And whether from terror or sheer excitement, we will tremble and we will wonder how we ever lived so long with such a domesticated, harmless Christ.

These things are written — the whole Bible is written — that we might believe — that we might be stunned and awakened to the wonder — that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came into the world.

John Piper 

Trust and Believe in Jesus

PRAY OVER THIS

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

 

PONDER THIS

One time I was praying with a woman in the hospital, and I heard somebody down the hall call, “Come see me too.” So, I went there, and there in that hospital bed was a precious lady. Pain was on her face. Despair was in her heart. I could tell that she had very little time to live. She said, “I’m not ready to meet God. Can you help me?” I said I could, and I told her about Jesus. I told her, “If you’ll trust Him, He’ll save you.” She asked for my help, so I asked her to pray with me, repeating my words, “Dear God, I know You love me. I know You want to save me. Jesus, I believe God raised you from the dead. I open my heart, and I receive You now as my Lord and Savior. Amen.”

She repeated every word and when I opened my eyes, I expected to see peace on her face, but I saw a tortured look. She asked, “How can just saying that do any good?” And I said, “You’re right. It is more than words. It is believing and truly trusting in Jesus that saves you. Now, let’s pray it again and this time, put your faith in Jesus.” We prayed it again and she said, “Lord, I really trust you.” And I saw the peace of God come over that precious woman’s face.

That’s what miracles are about. Believe in miracles, but trust in Jesus.

When was a time you received encouragement that didn’t feel sincere? What was that like?

Have you ever read a promise in Scripture and just agreed without absorbing the full meaning? Have you found the Word of God to penetrate more when you reread a passage, giving it your full attention?

PRACTICE THIS

Ask a friend to speak to an area of your life where you may be saying the right words but not trusting God with a sincere heart.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers