February 2024

There is tremendous power in believing. Jesus said in Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled ,and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

God doesn’t just tell us to believe, but His Word explains specifically what and how we are to believe. Mark 9 records the story of a young boy with an evil spirit who was brought to Jesus. After describing his son’s condition, the boy’s father said, “…if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Notice he said, “if” You can do anything. His knowledge of Jesus’ abilities limited his belief. You can’t believe any further than you have knowledge, because you must know about something before you can believe it!

Jesus then answered the man saying, “…If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” We all have the ability to believe. When we are born again, we are called “Believers” and who has ever heard of a believer who couldn’t believe? Jesus’ response  to this man reveals that it was not a question of whether Jesus could anything, but rather, would the man believe? If he would, the child would be delivered.

Then the father cried out, “…Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” The question is, how could ne believe and still have unbelief? He was actually says, “I have believed as far as I can believe with the knowledge that I have.”

This man used his faith to the limit. He brought his son to Jesus to see if He could deliver his son. He was hoping Jesus would heal him. But the Scripture says faith is the substance of things hoped for. Hope is important, because without it, there is nothing to which faith can give substance (Hebrews 11:1). Jesus responded to this man’s faith and delivered his son.

Matthew 8:15-13 records the healing of a centurion’s servant afflicted with palsy. The centurion told Jesus it was not necessary for Him to lay hands on his servant, but to only speak the Word and he could be healed. Jesus responded by saying, “..as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

These two examples give us some insight into the Law of Believing and Receiving, which is emphasized throughout the New Testament. Jesus said in Mark 11:23-24, “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things which he says will be done, he will have whatever he says…whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Then Jesus said in Matthew 21:22, “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” The Bible confirms that both speaking and believing God’s Word changes difficult circumstances. Speaking creates the ability to believe. We are only limited by what we can believe, based on the authority of God’s Word. However, what we believe is affected by our knowledge.

You must know the what the Scriptures says if you are to believe what God has said about healing, finances, deliverance, and other matters that affect your life. Mark 1:40-42 relates the story of a person with leprosy who came to Jesus for healing. He said, “…If you are willing, You can make me clean.” 

The person with leprosy knew Jesus could do it, but he was not sure He would. The person with leprosy used the faith he had, but it stopped at the question mark! When  Jesus said, “..I am willing; be cleansed,” the question mark was removed, and the person with leprosy’s ability to believe was liberated.

I also want to encourage you that if you are in need of physical healing in your body, to spend time each and every day, praying in the Holy Spirit, and believing you have received it. Stay in faith. Stay in the Word. Keep INCREASE ON YOUR MIND, KEEP SPEAKING INCREASE, and the right things and making the right confessions of faith. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; and remember “God loves you; we love you and JESUS IS LORD!”

In the Service of Our King,

Darrell G. Harrelson