Have you ever thought about what we would do if Jesus walked as a man on the earth today and He performed the miracles that we read about in the Bible? Many of Jesus’ followers were eye witnesses to the amazing miracles Jesus worked in His life while he was here on the earth. They watched firsthand as Jesus turned water into wine, restored sight to the blind, healed infirmities, and brought the dead back to life.
I believe that most of us today would probably doubt just as most of them did.
Today Twitter would be full of tweets, blogs would be over run with accusations, and the TV news shows would continue to sow seeds of doubt and discord and tell of the lies and tricks of this man named Jesus. However, in the face of our doubts, no matter how strong or cynical, Jesus is still the miracle worker today as He was then. He is still the one who today heals, frees, and even raises those from the dead!
The question is:
Do we trust that He can do anything in our lives today?
Do we trust that He can and will provide our every need?
Do we trust He can open blinded eyes in the spirit realm and in the natural?
Do we trust He can and will do the miraculous?
In John chapter 11 we read the story of Martha and Lazarus. Martha had spent a lot of time with Jesus; He had been at her home on many occasions and yet she doubted that He could bring back her brother Lazarus once he was dead and in the grave. She had no confidence in this man Jesus whom she knew well she had doubt that she would see Lazarus rise up from the dead and walk out of the tomb he had been in for 4 days. In v. 24 Martha says to Jesus “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” She first believed if Jesus was there her brother would not have died, but now he had, and even though she believed Jesus was the son of God, it never occurs to her that he can raise Lazarus from the dead. Or if it did occur to her she did not believe it could happen. It had been 4 whole days that he was lying dead in the tomb. How could Jesus bring him back now?
She allowed her grief and her five sense realm to dictate to her what her belief should be.
What is your situation and your five senses telling you or leading you to believe about a situation you are in?
Martha knew in the natural that Lazarus had been dead too long; too long she thought for even Jesus to do anything about it. A little side note to notice; even though Jesus knew she had doubts, Jesus still called to Lazarus to come forth and right before Martha’s doubting eyes she watched Lazarus walked out of the tomb alive and well! I love that- he had compassion on them all – he has compassion on us too. Martha, Mary, and all those who were there mourning with them all saw the power of Jesus. Many of them had heard or seen his power before, yet they did not believe he could do the impossible. We are like this, we see God do many miraculous things in our lives, yet when we face our hardest trial we do not think he can come through Martha and Mary both told Jesus if he had been there Lazarus would not have died – they had faith for that, however, they did not ever once believe he could just return life back to Lazarus very dead body. And we do the same thing, we can believe God can do one thing but not another.
Doubt according to the dictionary means:
to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe.
to distrust to fear; be apprehensive about.
Jesus instructed us over an over in his word to believe, only believe.
Mark 11:24 What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
All throughout the old and new testament we hear story after story of those who believed God gave them what they believed for. Jesus asked us to only believe he could, when we believe He can, he honors that belief is a key element to victory over your situation. When we choose to believe and not doubt we will see a breakthrough. We cannot let our doubts keep us from experiencing Jesus’ life changing power. We must trust Him and stand back and watch him work in our lives and in the lives of those around us. We are to only trust Him. That’s what He wants to know do we trust Him? Do we believe he is the same Jesus who walked the earth and raised Lazarus from the dead? Is he the same? Yes! Hebrews 13:8 says
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” What he did then, he can and will do now but we have a part to play we must believe and not doubt!
Sandra Hersey is a minister, author, Bible College instructor, mentor, wife, and mother of four. Sandra is considered a "Woman of Faith" by others she has ministered to over the past 14 years. A particular emphasis of Sandra’s ministry is empowering others to stand on the Word of God and get victorious results in their lives. She is passionate about helping God's children know who they are in Christ, as well, as what they are entitled to because of Christ Jesus. Sandra resides in Florida with her husband Rick.