Only Believe

Our title today is also the name of one of the greatest and simplest faith hymns of all time. It just so happens that it was the favorite hymn of Smith Wigglesworth and William Branham, the two greatest men of God of the twentieth century, in my estimation. Not only that, but the angel who often visited and communed with William Branham, told him that he loved the song as well. I think that puts it in seriously elite status and company. So what was it that was so good about this hymn, that it even found favor with an angel of the Lord? who when he first appeared to Bro. Branham, told him: “Fear not, I am sent from the presence of Almighty God.” No doubt it is the simplicity of truth that is conveyed in the hymn. The main chorus goes like this: “Only believe, only believe; all things are possible, only believe.” When it comes down to it, that is what everything is about. Everything!! You see, God is who he is. He never changes, and he never thinks about changing anything of what he has always been (Mal. 3:6; Jas. 1:17). The scripture plainly states that “God is love,” and that he is all power, and that he is absolutely and positively good! (I Jn. 4:8; Rom. 13:1; Mat. 19:17) Period. Wow! What a combination! Now let’s consider that this is the same God who sent his Son from heaven to take on humanity, to be tempted in all points as we are, to suffer untold persecution, and to ultimately lay down his life for us! (Heb. 2:14; Heb. 4:15; Jn. 10:18) When the angels appeared to the shepherds on the night Jesus was born, they carried a simplistic but powerful message that came from the throne of God: “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord… Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Lk. 2:10,11,14). Oh my, good tidings indeed my friend! As they said, God wants peace for you and I, and has only "good will toward men.” And him sending his most beloved here to suffer and die for us to have that peace, is absolutely sufficient for us to believe these things. So here it is: Anything that you could feel, or that could possibly come to your mind, that would suggest that God is not for your peace, and for your good and well being; is absolutely and positively A LIE!! So reject all such thoughts and feelings as lies, because they are perpetrated by the devil and his wicked hoard, from which all lies proceed (Jn. 8:44).

Let go of anything and everything that is not in compliance with God’s holiness and love, and let God love you into his peace. Whatever you are not able to let go of, that you know is wrong; ask God with faith, willingness, humility, and honesty, to HELP you let it go. This is what Jesus died and rose for, “to destroy the works of the devil,” meaning sin and unbelief (I Jn. 3:8). You cannot have the peace that Jesus was sent to make a way for you to have, as long as sin and unbelief are present in your life. Think you can’t get rid of all sin out of your life? That is the biggest, and deadliest lie that you could believe. The scripture says that those who will be saved will be holy, which means they will have purified their hearts from all sin (Heb. 12:14; I Jn. 3:3; Rev. 20:6). So how is that done, you might ask? Only by one means, and that is the sanctifying and purifying power of the holy Ghost, which makes us a new creature upon receiving it, and renews and regenerates our hearts and minds, literally (I Cor. 6:11; II Cor. 5:17; Tit. 3:5). As long as sin is present with us, we will have a conscience of sin, and thereby feel the condemnation that goes with sin (Heb. 10:2; I Jn. 3:20). But if we receive the Spirit, and continue to follow after the Spirit, then sin has no choice but to die; and we therefore have confidence, or faith toward God; because our heart is not condemning us for having sin (Rom. 8:1,13; I Jn. 3:21,22). Jesus said that those who truly believe on him, and obey him, will receive his Spirit (Jn. 7:37-39; Acts 5:32). Receiving the holy Ghost is the same thing as being baptized with the holy Ghost with the Spirit’s witness of speaking with other tongues; which is the only way to be in the one body of Christ here on earth (Acts 1:4,5; Acts 10:44-46; I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:4,5). This also is the only experience that imparts the reality of the love of God into one’s heart and soul (Rom. 5:5). Friend, once you experience the glorious power of God’s love, you need never doubt it again. If you keep yourself pure, you will be able to believe the truth, that “all things [must] work together for [your] good;” and since God is for you, nothing will be able to truly work against you (Rom. 8:28,31). That includes pain, sorrow, loss, hardship, and adversity; which are also ‘things’ (Rom. 8:35-39). And how is that? Because he never changes, and he has promised to “never leave you, nor forsake you" (Heb. 13:5). So it’s win-win, when we "Only Believe.” Amen.