I noticed a difference between the angels and the typical disciple.

Well, at least Jesus’ twelve.

The angels believe what Jesus said.

Check it out

“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. – Matthew 28:6 (emphasis is mine)

Every one of the disciples heard Jesus say over and over that He would die, and he’d be back in three days. Sometimes He used metaphors and prophetic language, but often He came right out and said it, like these three times in Mark,

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. – Mark 8:31

For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.” – Mark 9:31

“They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.” – Mark 10:34

And yet, when He was in the tomb they were gone, scattered, like sheep after the shepherd has been murdered.

But the angels believed Him.

He said it.

He meant it.

All they needed to know is “Did Jesus say it? Then you can count on it.”

What about today? How much of what Jesus said do we question, do we water down, do we flat our deny?

What if we, His disciples take up the faith of the angels?

What if His word was enough, and we start showing up based on what He said.

He said, I’ll rise on the third day, so the angel came to roll away the stone.

What has He said that begs action from us?

How many of His promises do we read with a wink, as if it’s poetry and not plain speech?

Ben, what are you talking about?

Oh–here’s one of those–wink-wink–verses,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. – John 14:12

And there’s more to this one – check out the next two verses:

“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. – John 14:13-14

If we had the faith of an angel, we’d be asking and receiving, because–well–He said it. But instead, we build theologies to explain that it’s not that simple. We tar and feather anyone who even read these verses in context as one of those “name it and claim it” prosperity preacher.

Jesus said it, not me. And the angels are wondering when we’re going to believe what Jesus said.

Did you know you could hear the voice of Jesus in your devotional time?

No, Ben. You have to be careful. You need to have learned men tell you what the scriptures mean. You can’t expect to hear from the Lord yourself. If you do, you can’t trust it. You might need some counseling if you think you’re hearing from the Lord.

But Jesus said

“To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. … “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd…. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; – John 10:3, 16, 27

He said it three times. My sheep hear my voice.

I guess I can hear the voice of the Lord – Just as He said!

I’m not going to drone on about this, but we’re messing it up. We’re missing the simple words of Jesus, and in so doing we’re missing Spirit and Life that comes through His Words, and faith in those words.

Oh Church, we need to get back to the simplicity of the Words of Jesus.

Thanks for coming by,

Walk in light!

Ben