Choose to Believe

Many have said, “If only I see a miracle, I will believe God can heal me!” This is actually not scriptural. The world operates by the slogan, “Seeing is Believing.” However, according to the Word of God, it’s just the opposite. The Bible teaches that “Believing is Seeing.”

You can actually see a miracle, and still choose not to believe. It happens all the time. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day saw great signs and wonders and still refused to believe. According to the Bible, faith does not come by seeing a miracle. Romans 10:17 tells us, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” When words of faith are spoken, faith always comes. However, after faith comes, each person must still choose whether or not they will believe. Believing is actually a choice. We see examples of this repeatedly in the gospels.

Let’s look at one place in particular:

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”  And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.

John 11:40-48 NKJV

This was perhaps one of the greatest miracles recorded in Jesus’ ministry. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, this passage tells us that many Jews believed. They heard Jesus speak words, and they witnessed a miracle. But there were also those who heard and saw, yet went away to the Pharisees to have Jesus judged. Even after one was raised from the dead, they refused to believe. I can’t even imagine witnessing such a tremendous miracle, and still being indifferent toward it.

Do you remember the story of another man named Lazarus and the rich man? Luke chapter sixteen records this account. Both the rich man and Lazarus died. The rich man was in hell, and Lazarus was in Abraham’s bosom. The rich man begged Abraham to let Lazarus dip his finger in the water and cool his tongue to bring a small amount of relief. Abraham responded by saying there was no way to pass from where they were to where he was.

Then the rich man went on to say in verse 27 of Luke 16:

“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”

Jesus made it clear that even a great miracle like being raised from the dead would not convince everyone. We could call this hardness of heart, or refusing to believe! In contrast, the woman with the issue of blood believed what she heard before ever seeing a miracle.

When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

Mark 5:27-29 NKJV

Some of you may be thinking, “I really want to believe. I just need more faith!” You are not the first ones to think or make such a statement.

In Luke 17:5-6, it says:

And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

A lot of people think that all they need is more faith. But the real issue is that they need to start using the faith they already have! Once a person hears what the Word of God says about healing, faith comes. Then a choice must be made to use the faith that has come.

How is this done? BY SAYING!! We release our faith by saying what God says! A mustard seed is the one of the smallest of all seeds. Jesus is saying that even if you have a very small amount of faith, you would say something. This is what the woman with the issue of blood did.

There are several places in the Gospels where it tells us that many of the Jews believed, but would not confess Jesus openly for fear. Their lack of open confession, or saying something, became their demise. Faith always has to be in two places in order to produce results, the heart and the mouth. (Romans 10:9-10) We choose to believe by saying what the Word of God says.

One great place to start saying what God says is 1 Peter 2:24:

by whose stripes you were healed.

Like the woman with the issue of blood, if you will make the decision today to consistently say what God says, choose to believe, and refuse to doubt, you will see your miracle too!

If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church. As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!