The Law of Believing

After all Job had been through, the devil was still not done with him. So far, despite killing his children, destroying his business empire, and making him so sick he was at the point of death, he had failed to break Job's integrity. It was time to try another approach.

Job 2:11,12
Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

Job was so sick and diseased, that his closest friends did not even recognise him. He must have been a mess.

Job 2:13
So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

They sat there with him and didn't say a word for a whole week. Now it becomes even more important to remember that Job had done nothing to deserve what happened to him. God has told us three times that Job was perfect and upright, and added that all these events happened to him without a cause. Therefore, Job was perfect and upright, and had not done anything to deserve all this evil. After a week of silence, Job had a little moan to his three mates.

Job 3:1,3
After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.

And so it goes to verse 24, but then we read something intriguing which unlocks the mystery as to how the devil broke through the hedge of protection around Job.

Job 3:25
For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

Could it be any plainer? Not only is it written plainly, but it is written twice so we cannot miss it. Job clearly states that what happened to him he had been afraid of all along. Everything was just too good to be true, and in his heart he feared he was going to lose the lot. A clue to this fear manifested itself earlier in the offerings he made continually for his children.

My goodness, if fear is so powerful it can destroy your life like this, what is it? Perhaps we had better take some time to learn about fear and, more importantly, how to get rid of it if we have it.

Before moving on, let's visit the majestic courts of Pharaoh, the most powerful ruler on earth, who had just dreamed two dreams. Pharaoh then summoned Joseph from prison to interpret them for him.

Genesis 41:25,32
And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.

And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

Here is a biblical truth that stands throughout the entire bible - when God says something twice it is established.

Job 3:25
For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

God records in the first book of the bible ever written why all this stuff happened to Job, and he recorded it twice, encapsulating it in a figure of speech so we couldn't miss it. It was fear that allowed the devil into Job's life. Job was afraid all this was going to happen to him. That is why it happened. That is how the devil got in, and this brings us to perhaps the most important law in life - the law of believing, that what you believe is what you will receive. Believing has two sides, a positive and a negative. The negative side of believing is called fear. What you believe in your heart is what you are going to bring into reality in your life. It's a law embroidered into the fabric of life that's just as real as gravity.

Mark 11:23
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Mark 11:23 is just as true as any other part of the bible. In Mark 5, Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, asked Jesus to come and heal his young daughter who was at the point of death. Jesus agreed, and off they went. On the way, a woman pushed through the jostling crowds and touched the hem of his garment.

Mark 5:25-29
And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

She believed that if she but touched the hem of Jesus' robe she would be healed. She believed that. Note that Jesus did not heal this woman. He didn't do a thing. He was simply walking along the road chatting to Jairus, when this woman pushed through the crowds and stole the healing if you like.           

Mark 5:30-34
And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith (Greek - pistis - believing) hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

The word faith is the Greek word pistis and should be translated believing here. It was her own believing that made her whole. How do we know? Jesus Christ said so. Jesus Christ didn't minister to her, he didn't lay hands on her, he did absolutely nothing. She was healed because of her own believing. Job lost everything because of his own fear. That is how the law of believing works, positively and negatively. Fear is negative believing. Fear is our enemy.

Jairus, whose daughter needed the healing, then received some bad news.

Mark 5:35
While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

Being told his daughter was dead was an opportunity for Jairus to fear. We cannot allow negatives to make us afraid. We have to hold our minds to the truth and not be afraid.

Mark 5:36
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

Read that until you burn it into your mind permanently - be not afraid, only believe...  be not afraid, only believe... be not afraid, only believe. God's will is for us to live fearlessly, full of believing. Fear will defeat us while believing will ensure we live powerful, abundant lives. It is up to us which way we live. If we have fear in our lives, we must get rid of it.

In Mark chapter 9, we see an astonishing record that clearly illustrates the law of believing. Jesus had just come down from a mountain with Peter, James, and John, and he was approaching a crowd milling around his disciples. He could see something was going on.

Mark 9:14,15
And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

Jesus immediately took control of the situation.

Mark 9:16
And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

This father then stepped out of the crowd and explained that his son was possessed. He had taken him to Jesus' disciples to have the devil spirit taken out of him, but they had not been able to do it.

Mark 9:17,18
And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

And wheresoever he [it - the devil spirit] taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

Pineth away means wasted away, like anorexia, just skin and bone. The boy was also an epileptic. The father took his boy to the disciples and was blaming them for the failure.

From what we have just learned about fear and believing, whose job was it to believe for the boy's deliverance? The bleeding woman got deliverance because she believed. This guy didn't get his boy healed, and he was blaming the disciples. Who was responsible to believe here? The problem lay with the father, not with the disciples. Jesus Christ became a little frustrated at this. Watch this develop.

Mark 9:19-21
He answereth him, and saith, O faithless [unbelieving] generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer [endure] you? bring him unto me.

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

The boy had an epileptic fit right there in front of Jesus Christ. So there he was, foaming and jerking on the ground, but instead of ministering to the boy, Jesus turned to the father. Jesus did not immediately minister to the boy. Why not? Simply because he knew it would be a waste of time. Jesus asked questions, working with the father. He knew what the problem was, and searched for a solution. The problem lay not with his disciples, he knew that. The father was responsible to believe for his boy's deliverance. The father continued.

Mark 9:22
And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

It is remarkable this boy was still alive. The devil spirit had tried many times to drown him by making him jump into deep water, and to burn him to death by throwing him into fires. The father was obviously doing his best, that's for sure. Remember, the bleeding woman was healed because she believed, not because Jesus Christ waved a magic wand. There is no magic in this. Healing is available today, just as it was then, but it requires believing. Without believing, Jesus Christ knew he could do nothing. Jesus Christ could not heal people unless they believed. He was not some wizard who went around casting magic spells. Magic is for the lazy and the gullible.

Mark 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

If thou canst believe, he said, jabbing his figurative finger onto the man's chest, all things are possible to him that believeth. He pointed at the father and told him straight - this is up to you.

Mark 9:24
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Jesus Christ nailed the problem. When he was happy the man was believing, he then ministered to the boy, not before.

Mark 9:25,26
When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

'You've really done it now Jesus,' some of them whispered, 'you've killed the boy.'

Mark 9:27
But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

It was believing that was required, just as with the bleeding woman. A record in the gospel of John should help to establish this truth.

John 5:2,3
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

How many is a great multitude? We do not know. The word does not tell us, and if the word does not tell us, then we do not know. However, a multitude is many people, we know that much. There were many sick, lame, and blind people lying around this pool.

John 5:5,6
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

Jesus Christ asked the guy a question. Why? To find out if he was believing. When he was sure the man was believing, he ministered to him.

John 5:8,9
Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

More remarkable perhaps than this healing is that no one else around that pool was healed. Why didn't Jesus just heal everyone else who was down there? Why didn't he wave his magic wand and magic everyone's problems away? Obviously, no one else down there believed to be healed. It's that simple. Without believing, nothing happens. If we believe, we get the results. This is again illustrated in Acts 3.

Acts 3:1,2
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

This man was laid at the gate of the temple every day. Chapter 4 even tells us how old he was.

Acts 4:22
For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

How many times do you think Jesus went into the temple during his life? Hundreds of times? Thousands? The point is, how many times do you think Jesus Christ walked past this guy and didn't heal him? Why did Jesus not heal him? Well, now you know why. The man obviously had not believed to be healed. However, I will bet Jesus stopped and taught him the word on a number of occasions to help him build his believing, and I will also bet that's why the man was now believing at this point, and that was why the door opened for Peter and John to heal him. How do we build our believing then?

Romans 10:17
So then faith [believing] cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

So there was the lame man, ready to be healed because he was believing.

Act 3:3-8
Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us

And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them [he was believing].

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

There is no magic in believing or in healing. Believing comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, as it says in Romans 10:17. If you need healing but need to build your believing, get your head into God's word. Healing is available if you believe for it, and I don't care what your problem is. God can take care of anything if we believe. God can even make blind people see.

Mark 10:46-47
And they came to Jericho: and as he [Jesus] went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

As Jesus wandered around Jericho, this blind guy at the side of the road heard the commotion and asked what was going on. When he heard it was Jesus, he started bawling for him to come heal him.

Mark 10:48
And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

Look at these people. What was their response? Shut it mate, you're making a noise. Bartimaeus ignored them, and bawled even louder.

Mark 10:49,50
And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

So Barty chucked his robe away and stumbled forward, helped no doubt by a few who were telling him to shut up moments earlier. We must not allow popular opinion and the fleeting social fads of the day to squelch our believing.

Mark 10:51,52
And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith [believing] hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Jesus did not wave a magic wand here either. The guy was believing, and that's why he got his sight back. The word is simple and beautiful. Look at this record of Paul healing a cripple in the book of Acts.

Acts 14:8-10
And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith [believing] to be healed,

Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Paul was able to heal him because he was believing. Perhaps you think your illness or incapacity is too big for God to sort out. Well, there is a record in the bible where a man who had no hand received a hand. God gave him a hand. God can do anything if we believe.

Mark 3:1-5
And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

And they [the church leaders] watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.

And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

And he saith unto them [the church leaders], Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Back to Job.

Job 3:25,26
For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

Job was afraid he was going to lose his business. He was afraid he was going to lose his children. He was afraid he was going to lose his health. Life was just too good, and in his heart he was afraid he was going to lose it all. It happened just as he believed for it to happen. That was the break in the hedge that allowed the devil in. What we believe today is where we will be tomorrow. We will be tomorrow where our believing will take us. The law of believing is an integral part of life just like gravity. If you're afraid, God's word can replace that fear with believing. Put your fear building televisions away, pick up a bible and try it.

Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Job was perfect and upright, yes, but he was afraid. Now we can understand why all this happened to him. It is time to go back and catch up with our friend Job.

Chapter 5 - Spiritual Integrity pt 2