BUILDING BELIEVING

Mark chapter eleven holds the greatest law, next to Mark 12:30. in the Bible. It is the law of believing.
Mark 11:22-24 (KJV)
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou
cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall
come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them,
and ye shall have them.
It is, as I said the greatest law in the Bible, but, this ability is far beyond most people. The reason that it
is beyond most peoples’ ability is that this ability takes time to develop and it takes work. So, now that
you know that you can either stop reading and go back to the television or you can read on and find out
HOW you can get the desires of your heart according to God’s Word.
You see, there are two steps that you have to climb before you get to the lofty plateau of believing. The
steps are confidence and trust. I have written down the definition for each, below. These are according
to Webster’s Dictionary of 1828.
Confidence – an assurance of mind or firm belief in the integrity, stability or veracity of another.
Trust – to rely on.
Believe – To have a firm persuasion of anything. In some cases to have full persuasion, approaching to
certainty.
Since we are talking about believing God then it is axiomatic that our confidence and trust, also, have to
be in God. So, how do we start building confidence. Let me ask you something. How do you get to place
of having confidence in anything or anyone? You get to know them. What if were a train company and
you never rode a train, but, now you moved to where you have to take the train. The first day you ride
the train you are there early because you are uncertain of what time the train arrives or what time it
departs. However, after two months you know the conductors name, that the train runs by a clock that
is five minutes slower than yours, so, you can sleep in later and you know they have great coffee for sale
on the train. You are no longer concerned about missing the train. Why? Because you have built
confidence in knowing the train company’s track record for being on time.
What about people? To get to know someone what do you do? You talk to them you spend time with
them. You find out after a few times of making appointments that they keep their word and show up on
time. So, that builds confidence.
Building your confidence in God is the same thing. You have to spend time with God and that comes in
two forms. The first is not just reading, but, studying God’s Word. The Bible, even King James, is not the
original God breathed Word. It takes studying to understand God’s Word. It takes time to start getting
an appreciation of God’s Word. That it is accurate and has integrity, stability and veracity.The other part of this is prayer. Talk to God. As a matter of fact God tells us to lay all of our cares and
concerns on Him.
1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Once you have an accurate knowledge of God and know for a certainty that He is a loving God, a God of
grace, mercy and peace, once you know some of the things that you can pray for and, in fact, see your
prayers answered then you not only have confidence. You start having trust.
Trust is deeper than confidence. How many people are you comfortable leaving in your car for ten
minutes, alone? How many people are you comfortable leaving alone in your car for ten minutes with
your bank bag with a thousand dollars in cash on the console? How many people are you comfortable
leaving in your house, by themselves, for four hours? I bet the list got shorter each time because it takes
time and it takes being with those people and getting to know them to build confidence and then trust.
God is the same way. You have to build you relationship with Him. And, the only way to do that is by
study and by prayer.
Psalm 12:6 (KJV)
6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psalm 138:2 (KJV)
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for
thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
When you get past the point of having confidence in God and you start trusting God and seeing that He
backs up His Word then it is only a matter of time and continuance in God’s Word and prayer until you
start to believe, being fully persuaded, that what God promised He will perform.