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Believing is having confidence and trust in information received to the end that you act upon it.
We have the believing of Old Testament believers listed in chapter 11 as an example. In Chapter 12 we have the greater example of the believing of Jesus Christ who is "the beginner and finisher of believing." He believed God all the way. He always did the Word of God, even when it was difficult (crucifixion), for the joy that was set before him. He looked to the future. He focused on the goal. And he walked with great joy knowing that which would be accomplished by believing God.
Joy is an "inside job." Joy is absolutely not
dependent upon the circumstances that surround us. Jesus Christ was
not "happy" about having to be beaten, crucified, and killed; but
he endured the cross for the joy that was set before him. We walk,
even in great tribulation, by focusing our attention on that which is to
come. Believing has a relationship to hope.
As we act upon God's Word with our eyes on the return of Christ there is
joy
in believing.
Jeremiah 15:16
Thy words were found, and I did
eat them; and thy word was unto me
the joy and rejoicing of mine heart; for I
am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.
There is joy in believing as we receive God's wonderful
Word. Jeremiah was beaten, jailed, and even at one point, placed
in a pit of dung. Yet when he found God's Word he had joy.
He ate the words of God. He lived off the Word. He had joy
and rejoicing in his heart. The outward circumstances were not pleasant
- but on the inside he had joy in believing.
1 John 1:3-4
That which we have seen and heard
declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and
truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus
Christ.
And these things write we unto
you, that your joy may be full.
Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of
life: in thy presence is fulness
of joy; at thy right hand there are
pleasures for evermore.
Philippians 2:2
Fulfil
ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the
same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Acting with believing on the Word of God includes maintaining
fellowship with God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and with other believers.
In the presence of God (walking in fellowship with the Father) is fullness
of joy. Likemindedness includes walking in the love of God, having
unity of purpose, and having the same thoughts (the Word of God.)
There
is joy in likeminded believing.
1 Peter 1:6-8
Wherein
ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season,
if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations;
That the trial of your faith,
being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried
with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing
of Jesus Christ:
Whom having not seen, ye love;
in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing,
ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of
glory:
Joy in believing is absolutely not dependent upon the
outward circumstances. Even though for a time we may go through heaviness
and temptation, as we believe God and walk loving the Lord Jesus Christ
and focusing on his appearing we rejoice with joy unspeakable.
The trial of your faith (believing) is compared to
gold purified by fire. When gold is purified in a furnace that which
is not pure is separated from the gold. The pure Word of God is brought
to the surface as we continue to walk upon it even though the outward circumstances
are negative. There is joy unspeakable in believing.
2 Corinthians 8:1-4
Moreover, brethren, we
do you to with of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
How that in a great trial of
affliction the abundance of their joy and
their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
For to their power, I
bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing
of themselves;
Praying us with much intreaty
that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship
of the ministering to the saints.
The believers in Macedonia were not rich (in fact they
were in great poverty.) They had received the Word of God in much
affliction. Having joy in believing is absolutely not dependent upon
your outward circumstances. Yet, these believers had abundance of
joy in sending financial help to the believers and begged Paul to receive
their gift. There is great joy in believing.
1 Thessalonians 1:5-6
For our gospel came not unto
you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much
assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
And ye became followers of us,
and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with
joy of the Holy Ghost:
Joy is an inside job that comes from believing the Word and manifesting the power of the holy spirit that God has given to us. It is absolutely not dependent upon the outward circumstances. The believers in Thessalonica received God's Word in much affliction yet they received it with joy that comes from the operation of holy spirit. Walking a spiritual walk, believing God's Word and manifesting holy spirit, results in fruit of the spirit which includes joy.
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, . . .
There is joy in believing
as we walk in the spirit.
Philippians 1:3-5
I thank my God upon every remembrance
of you,
Always in every prayer of mine
for you all making request with joy,
For your fellowship in the gospel
from the first day until now;
1 Thessalonians 3:9
For what thanks can we render
to God again for you, for all the joy
wherewith we joy for your sakes before our
God;
There is joy in believing
as we remember the believers in our prayers.
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
For what is our hope,
or joy, or crown
of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord
Jesus Christ at his coming?
For ye
are our glory and joy.
3 John 1:4
I have no
greater joy than to hear that my children
walk in truth.
We believe God and walk with our eyes focused on the
return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Part of our hope is knowing that
those who have believed as a result of our witness will also be present
at his coming. Their presence at the return of Christ and their walk
in the Word of God we have taught them brings great joy to our hearts.
There is joy in believing and there is joy
in the believing of others.
Romans 15:32
That I
may come unto you with joy by the will of
God, and may with you be refreshed.
2 Timothy 1:3-4
I thank God, whom I serve from
my
forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance
of thee in my prayers night and day:
Greatly
desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy
tears, that I may be filled with joy;
2 John 1:12
Having many things to write unto
you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto
you, and speak face to face, that our
joy may be full.
There is joy in being likeminded with other believers
and walking in fellowship with them. There is fullness of joy in
sharing the Word with each other - face to face. Joy
in believing is joy to share!
We believe God by taking action on the Word of God while focused on the hope of Christ's return. We manifest holy spirit and walk in fellowship with God and He fills us with all joy and peace in believing.
Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill
you with all joy and peace in
believing, that ye may abound in hope, through
the power of the Holy Ghost.
Cortright
Fellowship