Believe I was telling my Dad the other day how I can make calls right from my watch, that my phone doesn’t even need to be close by. It reminded him of the Dick Tracy comic strip that began in the 30s. The plain-clothes police detective had a watch that was part of the inspiration for cell phones and smart watches today. Though it has become a common reality today, this gadget was then just a fantasy that few believed would ever exist, let alone be so widely accessible. Now this, along with innumerable other innovations, only requires minimal belief in its abilities, some information, and necessary actions for its benefits to be enjoyed. It exists whether or not we believe in it and we can even receive a collateral blessing from its effective functioning around us. But, to personally experience its many beneficial features, there must be belief and intentional engagement in its operation. Otherwise, its incredible potential just remains dormant and ineffective. There is an abundance of personal blessings and benefits that are already ours in the promises of God. In Christ, they have gone from what might have only been a fantasy and dream to a readily available reality. Salvation, healing, provision, and complete freedom are among the incredible features of new life in Him. In order to benefit from them personally, though, there is a need to go from a perception of some far-away fantasy to a here-and-now reality. Jesus said that all things are possible to those who believe. Where there is true belief, though, information has revealed the truth and operational actions have been taken. Notes Characteristics of belief: Where there is action/inaction there is belief Subject to increase/decrease Is clearly displayed by actions/words It empowers to extraordinary levels of performance Requires information Requires activation Great threat – doubt/fear Is disabled when divided How do you know if someone is a believer? They are believing/activating things. Both they and their surroundings are changed. Why is what is believed important? Our whole existence as followers of Jesus is dependent upon believing in Him. If this is the basis for everything else, then everything else will be challenged through belief. The release of an inner reality of belief activates salvation. Romans 10:9 9 For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord and believe in your own heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. When there is belief, what is spoken is simply a statement of how things are. Mark 11:23 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. What is allowed into the heart determines the choice of belief. Luke 6:45 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Belief is revealed in chosen response statements, not chosen acquiring ones. Luke 24:9-11 9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. There is consequence vs salvation, death vs life in the choice of belief. Psalms 27:13 13 [What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living! Overview: There is already belief in everyone. Choice of information input to the heart is also choice of belief. What is believed produces either life or death, consequence or salvation. The power of belief’s declaration is when it is simply a release of what is already on the inside. Doubt is belief-information that is other than the Word of God. With every threat to belief in God, its power can be starved by occupying the heart with life. Prayer: Father, it is my determined purpose to occupy my heart with only the goodness of You. Forgive me for choices that challenge belief in You and guide me now in the way of truth that produces only salvation in eternal life. Declarations: I receive now the reality of Jesus' resurrection and all the promises it brings to my heart and life with Him as Lord. To every doubt that rises to threaten this truth I have an immediate response from the Word that casts it down and takes it captive. My response to fear is the release of sounds and actions that reflect the abundance of Truth occupying my heart. My salvation and power over every threat in this life is secured in an unshakeable foundation of belief in God’s Word.