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(John 14:11 NIV) Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to teach on “Minimizing Your Humanity and Maximizing Your Divinity.” Yesterday we looked at a passage in John 14 where Jesus plainly said that the Father gave Him the words He spoke and performed the works He did. As we pick up where we left off yesterday Jesus said, “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.” Jesus was saying that if they could not believe that He and the Father were one (because that required faith they could not verify with their senses), then they should at least believe on Him because of the works they saw Him perform with their own eyes. Jesus was basically appealing to the lowest form of faith. Let me explain.
Levels of faith:
1. Faith in the works (what you see). This is the lowest form of faith. There are some people who will only believe when they see something. Most of the time, for believers, God will require you to believe it before you see it. But for unbelievers, God will allow them to see it in order to believe it. This is, once again, an act of God’s unmerited grace.
2. Faith in the Word (what you read). The Father expects you to read His Word with a believing heart. When you read what God said, and you believe it in your heart, you are then able to exercise faith to experience it.
3. Faith in the rhema Word (what you hear). Rhema is a Greek word that means an “utterance” or “a thing said.” When you read the Word of God you get to believe what God said. But when you hear a Word from God you get to believe what He is saying. Living off of what God said is great, but living off of what He is saying is greater.
4. Faith in God Himself (whom you believe). This is the highest form of faith. When you get to this point you live the life of faith. You believe what you see God do, you believe what you read in His Word, and you believe what He says to you, but even when you don’t see, read or hear, you still live your life in faith, based upon the relationship you have with the Father. Even when you don’t know what God is going to do, you still have faith in the person of God.
So what does this mean to you today? A few quick things.
1. God loves you enough to meet you at your level of faith.
2. If you can’t believe without seeing it first, God loves you enough to perform the supernatural in front of you, so you can see it with your own eyes, in order for you to believe.
3. If you can believe God for the supernatural, He will perform the humanly impossible through you, so others who are not at your level can believe.
4. When God does the impossible through you, it’s really not even about you, it is about reaching the world. So stop thinking small. God will perform the supernatural through you, by His undeserved grace, so that people would know that there is a God, that He sent a Savior, and that His name is Jesus!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for loving me enough to reach me where I am. There was a time when I did not believe without seeing it first. When I was at that level, You graciously allowed me to see things, with my own eyes, that caused me to believe. I then read Your Word. I am now able to believe what You said. I read Your Word with a believing heart and I have the faith to take You at Your Word. I then get to hear what You are saying to me daily. Living by what You said (in Your Word) is great, but living by what You are saying to me today is even greater. You speak to me, I hear Your voice, and I am able to live by faith by what You lead me to do. Like Jesus, You give me the words and You perform the work. And lastly Father, I declare that I have faith in You, in Your person, in Your character, and in Your commitment towards me. Even when I do not see something, or read something, or hear something, I still have faith in You. My faith in You is unwavering. I trust You, even when I do not know what You are going to do. You bless me by Grace and I serve You by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
