Believe and don’t doubt…

In Exodus 14:13-18 The Israelites had been given permission to leave Egypt and they are coming to the Red Sea. The Egyptians have set out after them seeking to destroy them out of anger and vengeance. The Israelites look to Moses whom the Lord has sent to deliver them out of Egypt. Moses tells them, "Do not be afraid! Take your stand [be firm and confident and undismayed] and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for those Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm." Exodus 14:13-14 amp. Moses builds up the Israelites in his confidence and faith in the Lord, but then that is immediately followed by "The LORD said to Moses, why do you cry to me? Tell the sons of Israel to move forward [toward the sea]." He is telling them I have equipped you with everything you need and you have seen my power and authority. The Lord empowered Moses with the authority to bring the Israelites out of Egypt and given him the staff he used to called forth signs and miracles for all to see as a testimony to God being the one true God, the Great I Am! The Lord was saying to Moses: GO and DO what I have called you to do! He wanted Moses to move in faith and he wanted the Israelites to learn to believe and not doubt that the Lord had given them the ability to walk in His will no matter what sign or miracle is required. He is faithful to show up and make it happen. Once Moses was given his calling he did not need to wait on the Lord to act before he could step, the Lord sent Moses for that very reason, to act on His will. Be very careful to not confuse acting in the area you are called with taking it upon yourself to "strike the rock" and condemn others over what you believe they are or are not doing for the Lord. Trust that He is not dependent on other's actions to see His will fulfilled. You only need to be faithful to do your part and move and operate in your calling to be a witness to what the Lord has done and let him deal with the hearts of his children as He sees fit. He doesn't need your opinion on that. He needs you to do your part and focus on making sure you are showing up in faith. You're simply walking in obedience and taking action according to your calling can be exactly what others need to believe and act in their own calling.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

This theme of the Lord wanting to see His chosen people, beloved sons and daughters, believing and acting according to His calling, will, and character is seen from the very beginning.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. John 1:1-4

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters... Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground. Genesis 1:1-2,26:28

HE MADE US IN HIS IMAGE. God created us to be fruitful and subdue/rule over all the creatures on earth that He had created. He gave us dominion and authority in the very beginning, yet we found a way to mess it up, but God had a plan for that as well.

In Genesis 21:8-13, Abraham and Sarah had been given a promise to be the father and mother of nations, but they grew weary and doubtful and tried to do it their way, but they didn't lose the promise. God was gracious and promised Abraham to also care for Ishmael. The covenant promise that would create the chosen people of God would still be carried out through Sarah's first born child and Isaac was born.

In Judges 4:6-9 the Lord gives a word to Deborah, a prophet who was leading the Israelites at the time, concerning Barak. She told him he would lead the Israelites to victory against Jabin, King of Canaan, but he was afraid and did not act according to what he was called to do without Deborah going with him. The victory was still given to the Israelites, but it was taken from Barak. The Lord set out to deliver Israel and wanted to do it through Barak, making him a champion, but Barak was afraid. The Lord's will was done regardless of any one individual's actions. Once His word was released through His servant, according to what He actually said, it was going to come to pass.

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:10-11‬

In the New Testament we learn Jesus came for our salvation because we could never be righteous or sanctified enough to do it ourselves. Jesus fulfilled every prophecy about the anointed one in the Old Testament. He lived a perfect life, fully God and fully man, and died for our sins knowing that once he did he would enter hell and reclaim the keys of dominion and authority we surrendered in the beginning. He was resurrected on the third day and after ascending to heaven to sit at the Father's right hand He sent Holy Spirit to all who believe in Him and are redeemed. He has once again empowered us with His authority and power; the ability to do signs and wonders, heal the sick, set the captives free, and bring light to the darkness. Spreading the gospel that none should perish but all shoud have everlasting life.

"This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." Luke 24:46-49

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will by my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:4-8

When we are saved and brought into the body of Christ we have a purpose and calling in the Kingdom. We are given power and authority and the Lord gives us Holy Spirit to guide us and comfort us, and help us. Holy Spirit equips us with gifts to accomplish our task. We need only to listen, to GO and DO what He has called us to do, and fear not. It doesn't serve the Kingdom of God to ignore or not receive Holy Spirit, and it is even worse to receive Holy Spirit and ignore what He is telling you. Serve where you have been placed. Speak life in to the hurting and healing over the broken. Preach the gospel and share the good news that there is hope and redemption in Christ. Do not expect it to be easy or without challenge, but know that you have been equipped and are capable so long as you operate under Truth and Light.

"Believe me; I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can't believe that, believe what you see- these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my wat to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it. That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I'll do." John 14:12-14 msg

The apostles knew what they had been given because Jesus told them to expect to be able to do what they saw and even more. This is the belief, faith, and truth we should be carrying inside us still today and others should be expecting when we call ourselves Christians.

The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even thought they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. Acts 5:12-16

We should be showing up and performing miracles in the name of the Jesus because we believe what He has told us and has given us. We should be releasing faith, hope, and love. Especially love.

The burden in my heart is to see the Church (Body of Christ) restored to the power, and confidence, and knowledge in the Lord it once held. I pray each of you go out confidently, but alert. Boldly declare healing over all illness and infirmities. Release breakthrough, move mountains, take dominion over every high thing that stands against the Lord. Share the gospel and make disciples of nations. Show the world you are the Father's child and through you, let them see Him.

"When the advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father-the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father-he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning." John 15:26-27

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13

"All of this I have told you so that you will not fall away." John 16:1

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus will be with you.

Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith-to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. Romans 16:17-20, 25-27