Perseverance: Part II

It seems like a belief would absolutely have to precede faith, but I see the two as working simultaneously; hand-in-hand. I hope to provide some instances, scripturally which can lay the foundation for my point. Faith requires belief; and belief, faith.

Luke, the physician, who wrote 1 of the 4 accounts of the Synoptic Gospels; a story of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is also the author of the Book of Acts. Prior to writing about Paul beginning in Acts 9, we see the following passage in Acts 6:7, bringing together the ideas of faith and belief. "So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of the priests became obedient to the faith."

Barnabas was with Paul at the beginning following his transformation and his immediate call to action to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Luke writes of Barnabas in Acts 11:24, "He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord."

Continuing, he recounts in Acts 11:25-27, "The Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, (Paul) and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

How can we, and how do we, put faith and belief together to become effective on our mission?

If you have never seen "the look" from one of your parents, you may not have an understanding of what I am about to write. My guess is; however, that most of us have, even if it was not from a parent in "discipline-mode."

Remember the man from Lystra? He was lame, but Paul healed him as God allowed a miracle to work through him. In Acts 14:8-10 we read, "In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk."

This man had faith and belief. Paul could see it in him; and he in Paul.

I have noticed something uniquely special; almost supernatural, about the eyes of the pastor at my church. Several times I have had questions about one piece of the sermon or another. Sometimes they have been about the reference to, and meaning of, the underlying foundational for the Hebrew definitions for an English word in the Bible. But each time I get my answer, what I notice most about him is the gaze that comes from his eyes as he answers my question.

These are no normal eyes. It is said that "the eyes are the window to the soul." I find this to be an excellent definitive for what I see in Pastor Bruce.

They are not eyes of discipline. While he embodies a great deal of humility, it is not that. It is not stern, not impatient, not quiet. The strength in his gaze; however, is unparalleled. There is a river that flows, directly from the soul, and that "window to the soul" can only be defined as something coming from God himself. This is incredibly hard to explain, and would have to be experienced. God's river flows through him to the parishioners with whom he speaks. Perhaps you have experienced this in another; but I promise you if you have, it was from a man that was deeply and personally connected to God.

Let's travel back to belief and faith.

Acts 26:18, as written by Luke reads "to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."

God wants us to have faith in Him. And he wants us to Believe!

Paul refers to Abraham in Romans 4. Recently my pastor completed a series explaining and sharing how the Gospel story really began in Genesis. Romans 4:3 says, "What does scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Abraham was told by God that he would be the "father of many nations, in verse 18." The next 2 verses as we read in Romans 4:19-21 says, "Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead - since he was about a hundred years old - and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waiver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he promised.

We who believe in God, can have faith in Him, and in His promises. For us to believe in this, one only needs to turn back to the beginning of the Bible to Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 31:6 promises, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

When we have an unshakeable belief in Christ, others will have no choice to see that in us. And they in turn will believe.

Try it today. Believe that the eyes are the "window to the soul." Take on the eyes of God. He is ready to make believers in others, from your belief in Him.