Jethro Bodine
Does simply knowing something is true automatically mean I also trust in that which I now know to be true?
Mar 4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
Mar 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
These folks received the truth, even to the point of having gladness. God will supply all my needs, by his stripes I am healed, God will deliver you from wicked and unreasonable men, Nothing can any means hurt you, and so on. They heard something that caused them to believe it and have faith.
They heard, then they believed.
Act 14:8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
Act 14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
Paul must not have been preaching on the suffering for Jesus this day, or teaching that you just never know what God might do. God might want you healed, He might not. God is so mysterious in all his ways.
Paul was preaching the Gospel of Christ of How Jesus came anointed with Yoke destroying power and at the name of Jesus every sickness must bow and that anointing will destroy every yoke in your life.
It's a good thing Paul was not preaching how Mysterious God is that day, because that man heard something Paul said that caused him to have faith to be healed. Most today preach something far different than what Paul preached, so the people hear something different that does not cause faith for much anything.
So what happens if I have to stand with my armor on? My sword out? I am told to just stand, resist the devil by faith.
This standing goes as far as your foundation or root of understanding goes. You have your armor on because you believed what you heard was true. Can Satan throw some fiery darts at an angle that makes natural sense and you don't have covered? How strong is that foundation? How far does your root go?
What can the devil show you, that will make you become offended at the Word, saying that the Word did not work, and what God said was not true?
The point you receive the Word with Gladness, means the devil could not just take it from you. Now the devil has to show you something physically that proves what you heard is not true.
Joseph is a good example. The word of the Lord came saying that he would be ruler over his brothers and many things. Soon, he was sold as a slave, and when things were looking better, he got thrown into prison. The word of the Lord tried him. It certainly did not look like Joseph was going to rule anything at many points. Joseph did not ever stop believing though, he never became offended or gave up. Because he never stopped believing it qualified him for that promotion.
Abraham is another good example. He waited about 25 years before Isaac shows up. His faith was counted unto righteousness when it looked like it would not be physically possible to have Isaac.
I believe it's the will of God to heal, and not just when God feels like it. I have many scripture. All that came to the test when My own son had gotten cancer at 8 years old. Now, do I really believe, or don't believe. It's easy to preach it to others, but what do I really believe?
Someone offered to pay for all the funeral and tombstone. I turned them down, Someone asked if I will still trust God if my son dies, I told them if my sons dies, then there is no God. I was set and not going to move. When asked how my son was, I told them he was going to be just fine. I never moved, or sided with anything else but that.
Even on day 8 when I got the call that my son would not live through the night. I did not move, I am not moved by what I see, hear or feel, but what I believe. My son did not respond at all to the Chemo, they could do nothing for him.
So hearing and believing is good. Do you have the root to hold onto it though if tested? If it's just head knowledge of being true and not as true as the sun comes up everyday, then at some point Satan will find a spot to bring it all down.
Mike.