Do You Believe God Tells the Truth?

Sharon JaynesConfidence in Christ, Expectant Living, Identity in Christ, Knowing God, Living Fully, Take Hold of the Faith You Long For 21 Comments

God speaks to me in the comics. I know. That’s weird. But He does.

Pickles comic strip features an older couple named Earl and Pearl Pickles. Take a look at this one.

Pickles 1Pickles 2Pickles 3Pickles 4

And there you have it! In the wise words of Earl Pickles, our problem is that we don’t really believe everything we know.

We go to Bible studies year after year, hear sermons Sunday after Sunday, and read books page after page.

But until we move from knowing to believing, we’re going to be stuck in the mediocre, mundane, milquetoast faith that expects little and receives even less.

Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

The Greeks had many words for our one word know. The Greek word used here is ginosko. In the New Testament it frequently indicates a relationship between the person “knowing” and the object known.

It is more than head knowledge of the truth, but believing the truth and applying it to your life in action. There is a sense in which true knowledge (of God) leads to action in keeping with obedience.

My blogs lately have focused on our true identity in Christ.

Those accumulated verses about my identity in Christ were not new to me when I made my initial list. Perhaps they were not new to you either.

I had read them scattered through Scripture before, and had even memorized a few.

But I didn’t truly believe them. Not really.

I would have never admitted that to anyone—not even to myself. I’d smile and say amen with the best of them. But when the rubber of the truth hit the road of adversity, I moved those verses into the category of nice gestures on God’s part, rather than the truth that could set me free and give me victory to overcome.

Jesus said this about the Pharisees: “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:39–40).

These guys studied the Scriptures in minute detail. They knew the Scriptures inside and out, every jot and tittle, dot and dash. However they did not believe the truth that would have set them free and given eternal life—the Truth that was standing right in front of them.

Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms . . .” (Eph. 1:18–20, emphasis added).

You were saved when you believed—past tense. You have great power when you believe—present tense. Believe what? When you believe that God is Who He says He is, and that you are who God says you are. When you believe the promises of God, the power of God, and the provision of God in your life. When you not only know the Truth, but believe the Truth.

The Greek word for believe used in Ephesians 1:18 is a present active participle. Don’t let that little English lesson make you nervous. It just means it is a continuous action verb. It is applied to those who are presently, actively, and yes, continually believing God.

If you feel your walk has become a crawl, your faith has faltered, your fire for God is smoldering, perhaps what will reignite your passion is a decision to believe what God said is true for you and about you.

Just because God spoke a promise does not mean you automatically posses the promise. You must let go of unbelief and take hold of the promise with the grip of belief to make it yours.

If you’re ready to TAKE HOLD and believe that you are who God says you are, leave a comment and say, “I’m taking hold!”

Take Hold of the Faith You Long For: Let Go, Move Forward and Live Bold will be out in just a few days. TakeHoldOfTheFaithYouLongForI am so excited about the message of this book! (Did I mention excited?) If you order before May 5, you will receive special bonuses. Click on www.takeholdthebook.com to learn more. Here are just a few.

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Comments 21

  1. I’m taking hold!
    God has transformed my life in the past year and I am excited to see what He is planning on doing next. I came back to knowing my salvation, rather than running from Him and my marriage has been restored after many years of pain. God is good.

    Reply

  10. Sharon,
    I have been in a fight for a very long time and I have gone through it all holding witn faith. I am to a point where I wonder if God really promised me what I am believing for or if I made it up in my head ?

    Reply

  16. I am taking hold but I feel no change I know feelings are not facts but I feel so very Jaded with so much that has transpired the last little while I really need a heart and head alignment.

    Reply

  19. As Katrina S stated….
    “I’m taking Hold to that promise and fighting the fight to see it fulfilled in JESUS NAME!”

    Amen!!! In Jesus name!! Fighting the fight to see it fulfilled! Yes!! I am taking hold!!

    Reply

  20. Taking hold…because though the journey has been arduous (because of my needing to grow)…GOD CANNOT LIE>>ITS IMPOSSIBLE! What a comfort to know that…even on the days when my feelings are askew…Thanks for the reminder!

    Reply

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