Believe Isn't the End, Believe is Only the Beginning
Scripture
Exodus 19:1-6; 1 Peter 2:8b-12
Digging Deeper
The Bible underscores the theme of beginnings, emphasizing creation, new life in Christ, wisdom, and God’s plans for the future.
Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
The Bible encourages self-reflection and examination to grow in belief and align our lives with God’s will. It underscores the importance of introspection and aligning actions with faith. Regular self-examination enables us to believe, remain steadfast, and grow spiritually.
2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?”
Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
The Bible emphasizes the importance of connection both with God and among others. This is important so that a strong connection fosters harmonious relationships that reflect unity and love and remain central to our faith.
John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
1 John 1:3: “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
The Bible speaks to the importance of purpose, emphasizing that God has intentional plans for each of us as we are called to live according to His design. Aligning with His will leads to a fulfilling and meaningful life that brings glory to God.
Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Finally, the Bible addresses the concept of endings in various contexts, offering insights into the conclusion of life, the culmination of God’s plans, and the importance of perseverance and finishing well in our life journey. God places great significance on endings, emphasizing His sovereignty, fulfilling His purposes, and the importance of steadfastness in belief and faith.
2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Philippians 1:6: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
The Bible encourages believers to remain steadfast, continue their efforts in belief and faith, and trust that God will bring their life to a faithful conclusion that will glorify King Jesus and serve and benefit others.
What Not To Miss
The culmination of the Vision Series: BELIEVE.
After years of transition, we believe Northland is ready to dream again and believe God for greater things.
But before we embrace the future, we must understand what it means to truly BELIEVE.
Review of the Series:
Perceiving the Need to BELIEVE (Redemption, Peace, Purpose)
Challenges to Heed BELIEVE (Forces against belief, God’s seeking of belief, God works for people to believe through signs and support)
Sustaining BELIEF (Belief must take root and bear fruit)
Main Points:
Believe isn’t the end; belief is only the beginning.
Believe frees you to pursue the prize you’ve been given and live out the purpose you were made for.
BELIEVE is meant to shape who we are and how we live.
The Lesson from Israel’s Journey:
Many left Egypt but died in the wilderness due to unbelief.
BELIEVE didn’t take root. It must move beyond a moment to a lifelong pursuit.
Exodus 19:1-6 – God’s Call to Israel
Three months after redemption, Israel arrives at Mount Sinai.
God reminds them of His grace: “I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”
BELIEVE isn’t about working for redemption. It’s about receiving it and living in response.
Five Truths: What Believe is the Beginning Of?
1. Believe is the beginning of a relationship with God. (Exodus 19:5 – “If you obey me fully and keep my covenant.”)
Obedience is the fruit of an existing relationship, not the requirement for one.
True belief leads to deep fellowship and trust in God.
2. Believe is the beginning of pursuing the prized possession of which you’ve been given. (Exodus 19:5 – “You will be my treasured possession.”)
Israel was chosen not because of their greatness but because of God’s grace. (Deut. 7:6-8)
Being God’s treasured possession means:
God is their greatest treasure.
They have access to all God’s promises, including victory over enemies, peace, rest, abundance, health, well-being, and long life in the land.
3. Believe is the beginning of living out God’s global purpose. (Exodus 19:6 – “You will be for me a kingdom of priests.”)
Israel was called to mediate between God and the nations. (Isaiah 49:6)
A priestly role meant:
Living in God’s presence and reflecting His glory.
Serving both God and the world.
Learning and teaching God’s truth and glory to the nations.
The Promised Land was strategically placed so Israel could be a light to the world.
4. Believe is the beginning of embodying the distinctives of God’s Kingdom among the kingdoms of man. (Exodus 19:6 – “You will be a holy nation.”)
God gave Israel laws to shape them as a distinct people:
Moral Law (10 Commandments) – Ethical living.
Civil Law – Justice, relationships, work, care for the poor.
Ceremonial Law – Worship, sacrifices, offerings, festivals.
By obeying God’s laws, they would:
Stand out as a unique, distinctive community.
Reflect God’s character and holiness to the world.
5. Believe is the beginning of feasting on and living off the Word of God. (Exodus 19:6 – “These are the words you are to speak…”)
BELIEVE must be grounded in God’s truth, not just emotions or experiences.
They believed in YHWH and, therefore, were supposed to behave like YHWH.
1 Peter 2:9-12 echoes this call for the Church:
Chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.
Living counterculturally in how we interact with sex, money, power, relationships, and justice.
With the foundation of believe, what greater things and greater days are we BELIEVING GOD for?
Being the Church isn’t just about getting people to worship together on the weekend. It is about being the sign of the Kingdom. It is about demonstrating the Kingdom of God in all realms of life.
Living out Northland’s Mission, Vision, Value, and Beliefs.
2050 Roadmap
Missional Communities and Micro-Churches.
Mercy Road Initiatives.
Commerce Entities
A Call to Prayer and Commitment
BELIEVE is not just about today, It’s about where we are going.
BELIEVE isn’t the destination. It’s the launching point for greater things.
God birthed and preserved Northland for such a time as this.
An Invitation
Join in prayer and ask God how He wants you to step into Northland’s vision.
Partner in prayer, mission, and vision.
Promote what God is doing in and through Northland by inviting people to church and telling others about Northland’s initiatives and entities.
Let’s BELIEVE together for greater things and greater days ahead He is calling us to!
Life Application
Map out a spiritual timeline of your journey of faith to the present time. Take some time to pray. Let the Holy Spirit reveal and guide you as you think about and project where you would like to be on your walk with Jesus for the next year, five years, ten years, etc. Set a goal for yourself that will uplift and encourage you as you deepen your relationship with Jesus. Put a quarterly reminder on your calendar to see how you are doing, thanking God for all He is accomplishing in your life, realizing that believing today isn’t the end of God’s work and call in your life, but only the beginning.
Small Group Discussion Questions
What do you enjoy doing most at the beginning and end of the day?
What barriers prevent us from fully believing and trusting in God today?
What does it mean to treasure God as He treasures us, and how do we make God our greatest treasure in everyday life?
How can we move from just believing God’s promises to actively living them out?
In what ways do you think Northland is being called to believe God for greater things and greater days?
Daily Devotional Bible Passages
Day 1: Beginning-2 Corinthians 5:17; Isaiah 65:17; Psalm 111:10
Day 2: Reflection-2 Corinthians 13:9; Psalm 139:23-24; James 1:22-24
Day 3: Connection-John 15:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12; 1 John 1:3
Day 4: Purpose-Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28; Proverbs 19:21
Day 5: Ending-2 Timothy 4:7; Hebrews 2:1; Galatians 6:9
Prayer
Dear Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of faith and for calling me to believe in You. Help me to remember that belief is not the end of my journey but just the beginning. Strengthen my heart to walk in trust, to seek You daily, and to grow deeper in my relationship with You as I progress in strengthening my belief and faith in You.
When doubts arise, remind me that faith is a journey, one step at a time, guided by Your Holy Spirit through love and grace. Teach me to lean on You, ask questions, seek wisdom, and embrace the process of becoming more like King Jesus.
I don’t want my faith to be passive; I want it to be active and healthy, shaping my choices, actions, and love for You and others. Let me walk forward with determination and courage, knowing that You are with me every step, today and in the future. In the days and years ahead, let me faithfully live out Northland’s mission, vision, and beliefs, seeking and treasuring the greater things and the greater days you have in store for me and for Northland Church.
