Believing God: Part 5 When victory demands my all

Do I believe God or do I merely believe in God? “You are my witnesses, declares the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.” Isaiah 43:10

Believing in God will get you to heaven. Believing God will: 1. Get you through this life in great shape and 2. Will be provide unimaginable rewards for you for all of eternity.

A quick test: 1. How to tell if I, “believe in God:” Do I believe that Jesus Christ was 100% God and 100% man, that he came to earth, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, taught us the truth of God, that suffered and died on the cross as payment for our sins,

that he was buried and rose again on the 3rd day, that he is now seated at the right hand of God making intercession of us and that one day he will come again – with the saints and angels - to establish his kingdom here on earth?

2. How to tell if I am, “believing God:”

1.Am I worried? “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” Mt 6:25

2. Am I afraid? “So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:31

3. Am I bitter or angry? “But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:15

Summary: It is totally possible to believe in God without believing God. Making the transition from “believing in God” to “believing God” requires that I remember that:

1. I will face opposition

“Now it came to pass when Adoni- Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it—as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to Ai and its king—and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them,

that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty. Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to word (to the other 4 kings)…” Joshua 10:1-5

2. My commitments must be honored “And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Do not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us…

for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us.” Joshua 10:6

“Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.” Joshua 9:15

3. God is with me “And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.” Joshua 10:8

“Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal. So the LORD routed them before Israel.”

4. Nothing is to great for God “Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon...

So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.

And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the LORD heeded the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.” Joshua 10:12-14

5. Prayer changes things “And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the LORD heeded the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.” Joshua 10:14b