One Thing… Do You Know What it is?
November 3rd, 2009 | Michael Q. Pink
A crowd came after Jesus across the sea to find Him. They weren’t looking for fellowship, wisdom or even His miracles. Jesus said they had come for one reason only… provision. Having been the recipients of the miracle of the loaves and fishes, they wanted more and went to considerable effort to row and/or sail across the sea to get it. The instruction Jesus gave them applies to us today. He said, “Labor not for the food which perishes, but for that food which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for on Him has God the Father set His seal.”
They were game for that idea and wanted to find out how they could get provision without working hard for it. They said, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” They knew how to grow and harvest wheat. They knew how to make flour and bake bread. What they didn’t know was how to do what Jesus did. They wanted to know what they had to do so they would be able to do what He did.
This is what Jesus told them… “This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent.” Did you get that? The one thing Jesus gave them to do was to believe on Him. The same is true today. But we would rather earn our way somehow by Bible reading, prayer, tithing, etc. Those are all good things, but there are no performance based metrics that Jesus is monitoring to see if He will release something you need.
Jesus has sat down at the right hand of the Father. He has done His work. He has conquered sickness and lack. There is no shortage of provision. Our work that He has given us is to believe Him, to take Him at His word. He said, all things are possible to Him that believes. I believe Him. Today, I will make that one simple thing, my work for the day… to believe Him. I will as the writer of Hebrews put it, labor to enter His rest. How about you?
November 4th, 2009 at 7:15 am
Learning to just believe the word of God and running with it sounds to simple yet its quite a challenge.
November 4th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Years ago I wrote a devotional about belief (unpublished). I related to sitting in a room and discovering the roof was about to fall in on someone’s head. If I TRULY believe this, there is a responsive action. This is where the proverbial rubber hits the road. If I believe, then there is a response coinciding with this belief! Praise GOD! Blessings MP! k
November 4th, 2009 at 9:48 am
I believe that when John Wimber started down the road that eventually produced Vineyard Christian Fellowship he started preaching through Luke and doing it. He struggled with taking God at His word and practicing the things that were there. Thank God he labored to believe God.
Your post has reminded me that I need to take God at His word without reservation.
God bless you
November 4th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Amen!! I cannot control the circumstances of my life, or how His work in me plays out, but I choose to believe!!!
November 4th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Can you force true belief?
I declare, I claim, I voice that I truly believe.
I pray in faith believing, yet what I desire does not come.
I have been out of work now 4 times in 5 years and needless to say we are in a mess financially and I find faith rising up many times as I pray for God’s work for me to do to care for the family He has blessed me with. I know He is with me and I receive His witness by His Spirit and His word in numerous encouragements, however… this area of career seems to elude me regularly!
(Having one of those struggling kind of days where I desire for God to open some interviews from all the MANY applications submitted…) But nothing as yet.
Any thoughts?
November 4th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
The Lord has been taking me through just what you are talking about.. as a very task orientated compliance person (my business is compliance).. I have had difficulty letting go so to speak.. awhile back the Lord told me taking scripture and banging the Lord with it amounted to Moses hitting the Rock in the wilderness with his rod .. instead of speaking to it.. no faith was required.. just the facts please.. I looked something up that the Spirit laid on my heart.. the word test.. when Jesus in the wilderness said do not test the Lord.. I looked it up.. and I think it gives me an answer to why I keep returning to the same hills.. and valleys.. Deuteronomy 6:16 “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah…what happened at Massah….. the word “WHY” why Lord.. when Lord.. I did this Lord why didn’t it work.. what did I do wrong.. I need to stop asking “why”… trust.. just what Michael said here.. “This is what Jesus told them… “This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent.” Did you get that? The one thing Jesus gave them to do was to believe on Him. The same is true today. But we would rather earn our way somehow by Bible reading, prayer, tithing, etc. Those are all good things, but there are no performance based metrics that Jesus is monitoring to see if He will release something you need.
Jesus has sat down at the right hand of the Father. He has done His work. He has conquered sickness and lack. There is no shortage of provision. Our work that He has given us is to believe Him, to take Him at His word. He said, all things are possible to Him that believes. I believe Him. Today, I will make that one simple thing, my work for the day… to believe Him. I will as the writer of Hebrews put it, labor to enter His rest”
I never would have thought.. testing God was not resting in what He had already done and said.. my oh yes moment.. we live by trust trust in what was… trust in what will be.. ot on our merits.. but His word.. and His word is sitting on His right hand
November 4th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Michael, I agree with you. Even now at the ending of the day, I need Him and His presence…with me and I state I believe In Him…He is Good all the time..like the Father.
November 5th, 2009 at 6:17 am
David White
Just like you I have gone through situations speaking claiming and seeing no response.Analysed myself to see what I could possibly be doing wrong because there is no way it can be God. My conclusion i am going to believe me even if unlike shadrech misheck and abednego I burn. I am going to believe and stand on Gods word even if it hurts. See the word of God says hope in God does not disappoint. Therefore each time I do not see a specific answer I will take it as an opportunity to exercise my faith muscles. I am not trying to be like the fly hitting against the glass trying to get out….all I know is what I know which is what the word of God says that If I ask for anything believing I will recieve. So if i did not get something the last time I asked or thought God had not answered I will not faint or give up. God is faithful he is faithful he is faithful . His word is sharper than a two edged sword . I am going to believe and where my believe was non existent before my God will help me because he is the author and finisher of my faith. My God is able.
thank you Micheal for reminding me to look into the mirror…..
November 5th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Martha,
Thanks for your response and encouragement.
I was reminded the other week that we are in a battle and there will be opposition!
But, as you reminded me, God is Faithful and He will accomplish the work He started in me.
Saw a billboard today… quote by Winston Churchill… Never, Never, Never give up!
Let’s keep fighting the good fight and pray for each other. I know in my spirit when I am being prayed for. Many times it is like the fog lifts a little and I can get a glimpse of the Majesty of our King!
God Bless.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Awe our God is an awesome God. Just this week I was mediating on how to be a part of the Father’s work as Jesus was…..He said I do only what I see my Father doing. And how that is my one desire. Especially as the manifestation of a Pharaoh spirit has risen up in my workplace. Thanks Michael for this reminder and eye opener…… to do the work of Lord is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. I needed this word. Indeed God is being very precise. Thank you O Lord for your goodness and grace towards us, your children.