2013 University Lecture, Believing Truth is a Choice

Hebrews 11:6…Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him

Faith is the biblical response to the truth, and believing truth is a choice. Faith is something you decide to do, not something you feel like doing. Believing the truth doesn't make it true; it's true, so we believe it. The New Age Movement and the "name it and claim it" adherents are distorting the truth by saying that we create reality through what we believe. We can't create reality; we can only respond to reality.

Faith must have an object. It's not the idea that you merely "believe" that counts; it's what or who you believe in that counts. Everybody believes in something (see your own belief system), and everybody walks by faith according to what he or she believes. It all comes down to what you believe being true or false. If what you believe isn't true, then how you live won't be right. Thus, we come to where it is true…the Bible "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ" (Romans 10:17).

Your faith is only as great as your knowledge of the object of your faith. If you have little knowledge of God and His Word, you will have little faith. That's why faith can't be pumped up. Any attempt to live by faith beyond what you absolutely know to be true is presumption. If you only believe what you feel, you will be led through life by one emotional impulse after another. The path of truth begins with the truth of God's Word. Believe the truth and walk by faith according what you believe, and then your feelings will line up with what you think and how you behave.

We can't decide for ourselves what we would like to believe and then believe it, expecting God to respond to our faith. God is under no obligation to man. There is no way we can cleverly word a prayer in such a way that God must answer it. He is under obligation only to Himself. He will always stay true to Himself and keep His Word and His covenants with mankind. It is not our place to determine what is true or try to persuade God to capitulate to our will. He is the truth. We are to ask according to His will and desire His will above all else. He has given us the power to do that and it is He who freely gives it if we call on His name. Psalm 119 verse 2 says…”Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with a whole heart!” and vs 11 says…”Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Whatever you believe are the answers to these statements. These answers generally constitute your present belief system.

Assuming our basic needs (food, shelter, safety, etc.) are met, you will be motivated in life by what you believe will bring your success, significance, fulfillment, satisfaction, happiness, fun, security and peace. If what you believe about these six values does not line up with what God says about them, your walk of faith will be off to the same degree that your belief is off.

Class Handout

How can I know what I really believe?" Take a few minutes to complete the following statements as concisely and truthfully as possible. Once you complete this handout, we"ll take a look at this from a Biblical and Spiritual perspective.

 

I would be more significant if . . . 

If He were more significant 

John 3:30…He must increase, but I must decrease

I would be more fulfilled if . . . 

If I would acknowledge who fills me

Acts 4:31…And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.  

Act 13:52…And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

I would be more satisfied if . . .

He becomes my satisfaction 

Psalm 17:15…As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.  

Psalm 22:26…The poor shall eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever! 

I would be happier if . . .

I find my happiness through Him 

Psalm 144:15…Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!  

Psalm 146:5…Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God,  

Proverbs 3:13…Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; 

I would be more secure if . . . 

I placed my entire trust in Him

Proverbs 3:5,6…Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding and in all ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.

I would have more peace if . . .

If I walk in His peace 

Romans 8:1…There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14;33…For God is not [the author] of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.