I Am A Believer

Mark 16:17-18 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Sign: Strong’s # NT:4592 semeion (say-mi'-on); an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally: miracle, sign, token, wonder.

The term “believe” and “faith” are practically synonymous. Faith being the noun and believe being the verb or action word. We could have titled this message, “I Am A Faither!” Are you a believer? God wants to show His Kingdom power through you! 2 Cor 5:7 “We walk by faith, not by sight.”

Heb 11:6 But 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 diligently seek Him.

Rom 10:9-11 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Mark 16:15-16 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

*Believe; Strong’s # 4100, pisteuo (pist-yoo-oh): The verb from of pistis “faith”.
It means to trust in, (Jesus)
have faith in, (Jesus)
be fully convinced of, (Jesus)
acknowledge, (Jesus)
rely on, (Jesus)
Pisteuo is more than credence in church doctrines or articles of faith. It expresses reliance upon and a personal trust that produces obedience. It includes submission and a positive confession of the lordship of Jesus. *SFL Bible Word Wealth

*Trust: Strong’s #2620 chasah (chah-sah); verb, to hope, to make someone a refuge. King David nestled under God’s wings for refuge Ps 57:1, Ps 91:4, 2 Sam 22:3 *SFL Bible, Word Wealth Zeph 3:12. Ps 118:8 is the middle verse in the Bible (the centerpiece); “It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.”

Success: being obedient to our Lord Jesus Christ and trusting in Him whatever the outcome.

Ps 57:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.

Faith: Strong’s # 4102; pistis (pis-tis): Conviction, confidence, trust, belief, reliance, and persuasion. It is a trust in God and all that He says. Faith is the ability to believe and trust in God. Faith brings hope and peace to our heart.

Rom 4:20-22 He (Abraham) did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."

Fully Convinced: NT:4135 plerophoreo (play-rof-or-eh'-o); to carry out fully (in evidence), i.e. completely assure (or convince), entirely accomplish, most surely believe, fully know (persuade), make full proof of.

Matt 10:32-34 "Therefore whoever confesses (acknowledges) Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Rely On: to depend on with full trust or confidence.

Matt 9:27-30 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" 28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you." 30 And their eyes were opened.

Matt 21:21-22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

Mark 9:23-24 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

Luke 10:18-20 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

UNBELIEF

Mark 6:4-6 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

Mark 16:14-15 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

Heb 3:12-15 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."

Babylon is a sinful culture in rebellion against God and His Word.

Heb 3:16-19 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

1 Tim 1:12-16 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Before we were saved, we were ignorant and in unbelief about how devastating sin is. If we call ourselves a “believer” and willingly, in full knowledge sin against God and His Word, are you trampling God’s grace underfoot? Are we using God’s grace to justify our sin? If so, you are in a dangerous place.