Believe to Receive

There is a pattern of faith in the Word of God which if you have the guts to follow will make you soar like an eagle over every area of your life. The pattern follows this order: believe first then receive. Most people want to receive before they believe. Oh no, it does not work like that.

The process of believing is likened to cultivating and sowing whilst receiving is like harvesting. Just like cultivating and sowing takes much longer than harvesting so also believing takes much longer that receiving. Actually, when you have really believed it takes only an instant to receive.

How Abraham believed for Isaac

Abraham was promised a child by God when he was 75 years old, (Genesis 12:4) but he bore the child when he was 100 years old. From 75 years to 99 years Abraham was cultivating and sowing in his belief.

You see, believing makes one righteous. Abraham believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:6 KJVR). In other words, believing qualifies you for receiving. When you believe an account is opened for you where what you believe for is deposited.

However, just as a Bank Cheque has to mature before it can be drawn against, your believing too has to mature before you are able to receive. In order for Abraham’s faith to mature God deliberately used two allegories of his descendants that Abraham visualised 24/7. In chapter 13 of Genesis God shows him the dust of the earth and Chapter 15 he shows him the stars of heaven. Hence the picture of the promise was before Abraham day and night until his belief matured.

By meditating and hearing and hearing the word of God you are able to mature your belief in the word of God.

How Abraham received Isaac

When Abrahams belief had fully matured at the age of 99 years God visited Abraham again but this time with a different technique. (Genesis 17:1-5). This time God changes Abraham’s confession.
“Your name shall be no more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee”. (Genesis 17:5).

Notice that Abraham’s confession changed at 99 and at 100 years his wife Sarah bore Isaac. This means that as soon as he started confessing, Sarah became pregnant. Hence, the receiving took place almost immediately.

Now let’s sum up with reference to the following scripture.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10 KJVR)

It takes the heart to believe and the mouth to receive. That is, what you have cultivated and planted in your heart will soon be evidenced through what you speak. And what you speak will soon be evidenced by what receive.

MATTHEW RECOMMENDS

Only Believe: Experience God’s Miracles Every Day By Whitaker House Publishers

Smith Wigglesworth On Faith By Smith Wigglesworth / Whitaker House Publishers

Believing God: Leader Kit DVD By Lifeway

Eyewitness: The Life of Christ Told In One Story MP3 By Frank Ball / Winepress Publishing