BELIEVE AGAIN!
Terry R. Baughman

“If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:22-24 NIV).

Things thought impossible in our own thinking, are absolutely possible through Jesus Christ. Miracles defy explanation and are often labeled impossible because of our inability to understand how they could happen. Our capacity to believe is clouded by our practical doubt and rational reasoning.

When the young virgin Mary was faced with the prospect of a miraculous pregnancy, the angel of the Lord reminded her that as easily as Elizabeth could have a child in her old age, she too could supernaturally conceive and give birth to the Christ child. He said, “For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37 NKJ). The NIV says, “For no word from God will ever fail.”

Whatever God speaks will absolutely come to pass. From Creation commands, “Let there be …,” to His prophetic whispers in our moments of intercession, what God speaks will be accomplished. Regardless of the difficulty or seeming impossibility of His utterance we can know that all things are possible through Him.

May our faith leap with the spoken Word of the God of Glory. We can believe His Word, whether spoken or read from the Holy Text, and nothing is impossible. It’s time to believe again!


Theme passage:
“Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again” (Revelation 3:3 NLT).

BELIEVE AGAIN!
Terry R. Baughman

“Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:11-12 NIV).

Faith is dynamic. It is ever changing, growing, expanding to fulfill the purpose of God and the advancement of His Kingdom. Jesus, in His pattern of prayer, established this truth, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 NKJ). Our participation in prayer is to ask for His Will to be accomplished in earth, just as it is in Heaven. There is no limit, no boundaries to the expansion of His Kingdom, when we pray with the revelation of His purpose and in unity with His Will. 

An understanding of His deity and authority is essential to the powerful effect of His Spirit working in us. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things” (John 14:12 NIV). When we believe in His oneness with God, “I am in the Father and the Father is in me,” we have the promise of Jesus, that we can see the works He accomplished, and the expectation of even greater things! 

If we were able to catalog the multitude of miracles that He has done throughout the world through millions of believers, we can easily see how greater things are being accomplished. God is not finished. He is continuing to expand His Kingdom in the earth, “as it is in heaven.” We have the privilege of living in days of incredible technology when we are able to minister to people around the world. Let us believe in the vision of Jesus when He prepared twelve followers to take His Gospel around the world. His Kingdom continues to this day. Let us have faith for greater! 


Theme passage:
“Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again” (Revelation 3:3 NLT).

BELIEVE AGAIN!
Terry R. Baughman

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16 NIV).

Faith is that essential element that leads to salvation. The presence of faith has enormous potential to effect incredible results and eternal consequences. Believing is so vital to the identity of the people of God, that they are referred to as the people of faith. The element of faith is inseparable from those who are committed to following Christ. 

The proclamation of the Gospel is both the seed and the fruit of faith. The writer of Hebrews said, “Anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). Faith is the seed of our spiritual journey, the beginning of all spiritual experience. 

Paul wrote, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17 NIV). That is the fruit of faith flourishing in the heart of a person who has embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who respond to His message act upon faith and in turn find their faith is multiplied exponentially. 

Salvation is promised to those who believe. Faith provides the access to all that God’s Word has established. The reception of the Message, the response to its demands, and the result of its provision are all acts of faith. When we believe the Gospel, repent of our sins, and are baptized in the Name of Jesus, the promise of the Holy Spirit will be given. (See Acts 2:38-39.) 

This Gospel is a message of power. Changed hearts and transformed lives are the normal results of the preached Word of God; “It is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.”


Theme passage:
“Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again” (Revelation 3:3 NLT).

BELIEVE AGAIN!
Terry R. Baughman

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25-26 NIV).

Sorrow prevailed as the sisters mourned the loss of their brother. It happened so suddenly. They sent word for Jesus to come, but He did not come and Lazarus died. According to custom, his body was wrapped and prepared for immediate burial before a day passed. Even after four days the grief was heavy on the home that had previously been a place of laughter, wonderful meals, and frequent visits of Jesus and the disciples. 

When word came to the house that Jesus was coming their way, they were relieved, but wistful, that He hadn’t made it before the death of Lazarus. Martha ran to meet Jesus and lamented, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21 NIV). Jesus assured her that Lazarus would live again. Martha believed in the final resurrection and agreed that some day he would live, but Jesus had a different plan!

Jesus made a point, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25 NIV). The life He had come to give was present and available to those who believe. Whoever finds life through faith in Jesus has a promise of everlasting life! (See John 3:16.)

The life Jesus promised was greater than the grave. Those who believe in Him, “will never die!” That eternal promise reaches beyond the limits of this life and assures every believer a fullness of life eternal. This faith is a living faith, more powerful than death, granting the gift of hope, and life that is everlasting! 



Theme passage:
“Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again” (Revelation 3:3 NLT).