Faith is the ability to obey God’s commands and to receive God’s promises. Believing is acting on those abilities. Believing releases God’s ability so that we can act upon His instructions. Believing brings to life the will of God as presented in the Bible. Faith is the approved sanction of a promise in God’s Word. It is also the witness of the will of God to the individual. Believing is receiving that sanction and acting on that witness. Believing is the faithful response to faith that activates the ability within faith. James tells us that faith alone can become dead, but with the appropriate corresponding actions faith becomes living, active, and productive.
Faith is the ability to receive the will of God. Believing is the act of receiving that will. We are to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”, in faith believing in order to receive. The Bible tells us to pray believing. If we are exhorted to pray believing, then it is inferred that it is possible for you to pray not believing. Only believing prayer is guaranteed by God to be received.
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:24
Comments
Excellent teaching!
I have never had such simple and yet introspective explanation of the subject of FAITH in relationship with BELIEVING as this. I will surely use this material to teach at our church. God bless you.