The Greek word pistos means:
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trusty, faithful
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of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties
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one who kept his plighted faith, worthy of trust
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that can be relied on
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easily persuaded
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believing, confiding, trusting
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in the NT one who trusts in God’s promises
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one who is convinced that Jesus has been raised from the dead
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one who has become convinced that Jesus is the Messiah and author of salvation
Are you faithful to your word? Can people rely on you in a business transaction? Can people be confident of you fulfilling your obligations? We expect FATHER to be faithful to HIS Word yet I have run across so many people who look for ways from keeping their word. My father-in-law had a carpet cleaning business and he once told me that he hated doing business with attorneys, doctors, and preachers. They tended to “stiff” him on the payment when the work was completed. You would think that those who are working in the areas of law, healing, and spreading the Gospel would be the most reliable when it came to paying their obligations. Not so.
A believer is one who trusts in FATHER’S promises and acts accordingly. He or she fully relies on FATHER’S Word and is a willing vessel for FATHER to act through. They have no claim of power themselves but give FATHER the glory for the results. A believer walks in faith that FATHER will perform HIS Word and doubts not in his heart. These writings are to encourage people toward the fullness of this reality.
In James chapter 1 it is written:
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
When you respond to HIS Word you are a believer. Action differentiates a believer from everyone else. Many people talk about doing something for the Kingdom but only a small percentage take consistent action in response to hearing the Word. Generally, people are afraid to fail so they steer clear of making a commitment to take action. They seek out a reason to compromise the Word in order to justify their path. They tend to be untrustworthy and wonder why people don’t respond to them.
The fear of loss and failure are two of the greatest deterrents to acting on HIS Word. The loss might be your reputation which tends to be an illusion anyway. The loss might be financial which means you don’t trust FATHER to replace it if you lose it. We are told to “fear not” hundreds of times in Scripture and the believer takes that command to heart. The ego does not want the illusion of success to tainted in any manner.
FATHER’S power is what I believe in, not my own. It is HIM who parted the Red Sea, not Moses. It is HIM who defeated the enemies of Israel in each instance. Jesus encouraged us to be believers in John chapter 5 when He spoke:
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
30 “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
Jesus pointed to FATHER’S power to bring forth life, restoration, and healing. When we are told to lay hands on the sick we should believe the Truth that FATHER is still in the healing business. If we ourselves are sick, we should believe that HIS Word will heal us. In order to be HIS witness on earth, we must believe that HE will express HIS power as we respond to HIS Word.
We must quit being deceived by the world’s methods. We must not be hearers only but doers of the Word. We must get to the point where we are fully persuaded that HIS Word applies to each and every situation that arises before us. Paul speaks of Abraham in Romans chapter 4:
19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
20 He 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.”
Let us also be fully persuaded as Believers in HIS Word so that we too can and will fulfill all aspects of our purpose for being on earth at this time.