Copyright © 1998 Peter Wade. From the book, The Dynamics of Positive Living, now available in our book store.
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How to Receive Your Needs(Part 2) by Peter Wade
Faith and believing are the most talked about words in Christian circles, but the least acted upon. People study faith, talk faith, read about faith, but do not operate their believing faith. Faith and believing are most important words to a Christian; to many they mean the same thing, but this is not so. The two words must be clearly distinguished and understood in the light of their immediate context, and whether they appear in the Gospels or the Epistles. Faith is given to us by God at the time we are saved. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that [faith] not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:16, 20b).
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Believing is operative in the lives of saved and unsaved alike. It is an amazing fact that nowhere in the Epistles are we urged to have faith, whereas all through the Gospels Jesus was encouraging people to believe. Students of the Word who desire a greater spiritual insight into faith and believing should work these words carefully.
The usage of the word "believing" in our current language does not assist us in a true understanding of this vital principle. Today its meaning is so often only what might be termed "mental assent," agreeing instead of acting. You will recall that a verb is a word of doing, a word of action. Believing therefore demands action. Let me illustrate this simply for you before proceeding with this section from Matthew, chapter 8.
When you visit in a home, your host indicates where you will sit. Approaching your seat, you glance quickly at it and then sit down, resting your weight upon the legs of the chair. When you glanced at your seat, it was for the purpose of determining whether you considered it capable of holding your weight. You knew your host would not use a chair that would collapse under you, and since the one you approached seemed to be trustworthy by outward appearance, you sat down. This is believing, because you acted upon what your mind considered was right. If you remained standing after agreeing the seat would hold your weight and there was no accompanying action, this then would be only mental assent.
The key that will unlock the provision of God on your behalf is your believing. Perhaps we could re phrase the statement of a great man of past days and say "More things are wrought by believing than this world dreams of!"
There are two tests given by Jesus to his disciples in Matthew 8:18-27. In the first section (verses 18 22) there is the test of discipleship and in the second section (verses 23-27), the test of believing. Our main aim at this time is to share with you the second section.
The incident of the stilling of the storm was a tremendous test of the disciples' believing. A sudden storm erupted on the Sea of Galilee, on this occasion being the result of an earthquake under the sea. The word "tempest" (verse 24) is seismos, translated elsewhere in the New Testament as "earthquake." The waves ran high and with much force, "insomuch that the ship was covered with waves." We need to remember that a number of these men were expert fishermen, but the fury of the storm was so great that they were unable to keep control of the ship. Can you imagine a worse situation, a small ship in the midst of an unusually fierce sea?
Jesus was in the back of the ship asleep, no doubt tired after a long day of teaching and healing. When all seemed just about lost, "his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish" (verse 25). As far as their natural eyes could determine, and in accordance with their past experience on the water, the statement was true enough. However, they made just one mistake -- they forgot what Jesus had said to them. The same mistake is made by most believers today. Jesus had given "commandment to depart unto the other side" (Matthew 8:18). He had declared they should go over, not go under! If they had remembered His statement, they would have been full of believing instead of full of fear (wrong believing.)
Jesus said to them, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" (verse 26a). Much fear equals little believing. The inference is that if they had only operated their believing, they would not be in a situation where they had to ask the Lord to help them. "Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm" (verse 26b). He had already rebuked the disciples for their lack of believing; then He rebuked the storm. Who caused the storm? It was Satan, for Jesus would not rebuke the work of God, His Father.
Note: "a great tempest" (verse 24) and "a great calm" (verse 26). Believing can make a tremendous difference in your life also, when it is put into operation. Just a quick reading of the Gospels will bring to light the oft-repeated saying of Jesus: "According to your believing be it unto you." By an act of your will, Use the key of believing, unlock the treasure chest of good things, and receive your need from God.
When we speak of retaining your need from God, let us be sure we do not get the impression that God wants or expects us to lose it. God wants you to keep His blessing, but Satan wants to take it from you. Satan will do all he can to trick you into giving up that which God has freely provided for you. God's blessings are permanently yours as far as God is concerned. They are only a "flash in the pan" as far as Satan is concerned. Now the real issue hinges on you -- your attitude, your believing, your conviction to stand on the Word.
The word "retain" has been deliberately used to indicate the continued manifestation of the blessing of God. For example, if we have received healing, continued health would be the manifestation of the effectiveness of the healing from God.
The battle in which you are engaged is a little different from those of this world. In this battle you are sure of victory! "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Romans 8:37). "This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith" (I John 5:4). "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (I John 4:4) .
As we come to the last miracle recorded in Matthew chapter 8, we find the secret of keeping your need from God. It is this: Retain by renewing your mind.
The record states the men in verse 28 were possessed of devils, and notes that they were "exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way" (8:28). Consider this picture for a while to come to an understanding of their state. Let me remind you that Satan has not gone out of business today, he has just become a little more respectable! To be without Christ is to be in bondage to Satan (Ephesians 2:2,3): to have Christ within is to be "delivered... from the power of darkness" (Colossians 1:13).
These men, completely under the control of devil spirits, ran toward Jesus but Jesus stood His ground. You can only do this when you know your sonship rights, that the power of God is in you (Romans 8: 11; Ephesians 1:19). You are now a child of God (I John 3:2), so take your stand. The devils knew Jesus and knew the power of God, but they still followed their leader and used that little word "if": "If you cast us out..." (Matthew 8:31). There was to be no "if" about it. Jesus said simply, but with great authority, "Go." The devils immediately left the men and went into a herd of swine nearby. The "swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters" (verse 32). That there was a great change for the better in the men, no one could deny. However, because of the loss of the animals, the herdsmen "asked him to depart out of their coasts".
At this point we see the secret of success in retaining your need from God. For the finale of this incident we turn to Mark chapter 5, where one man is singled out for our learning. The man "prayed that he might be with him [Jesus]. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but said unto him, Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and has had compassion on you. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel" (Mark 5:18b-20). You must retain your need from God by praise and confession, evidences of a renewing of the mind. If this man had not obeyed Jesus he would not have remained free, but would soon have become worse than he was before (Matthew 12:43-45).
The Greek word used for confession, homologeo, means saying the same thing. Our confession then is saying what God says about our situation or our need. This we find in the Word, specifically in those parts addressed to us, the Church Epistles. Is this confession a lie? No, it is saying what God has said, which is truth, and is in contrast to sense-knowledge facts.
Do you need healing? Confess that with His "stripes ye were healed" (I Peter 2:24). Do you need finances? Confess that "my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). Do you need boldness? Confess that in Him "we have boldness" (Ephesians 3:12). Whatever your need, the praise and confession of your renewing of the mind will retain the blessings of God.
To receive your need from God:
- Establish the will of God,
- Recognise the authority of the Word,
- Know your sonship rights,
- Use the key of believing, and
- Retain by renewing your mind
You now know the secret of receiving your need from God -- do not hesitate any longer. Receive!
This article is Chapter 3 of the book, The Dynamics of Positive Living. Some copies of the paperback are still available.
  
Copyright © 1998 Peter Wade. The Bible text in this publication, except where otherwise indicated, is from the King James Version. This article appears on the site: http://www.peterwade.com/
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