Anytime somebody tells you something amazing, it can be difficult to believe at first. I remember where I was standing in the hallway in high school at Raytown South High School when I found out President Kennedy had been shot. I remember my reaction.
The first time I heard it, I didn’t believe the person. The second time I heard it, I thought, “There must be something to this.” But when enough people told me the same thing, I started believing it and then I had enough confidence after a while to start speaking what I believed to other people.
That’s the way the Word of faith is. When someone is bound in a bad situation in their life and someone speaks the Word of God and tells them they can be set free, they may not believe it at first. When you’ve lived with an ailment or bondage all your life, and all of a sudden you hear somebody say, that you can be free, it may be difficult to believe at first.
That’s why Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” What we need is to hear the Word again and again and again. It may take several hearings before we start believing. It’s a continual thing.
In Acts chapter two the Spirit of God fell and people were filled with the Holy Spirit. It says, “They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘Whatever could this mean?'” (Acts 2:12).
That’s the condition of people who don’t understand what God is doing. They say, “What’s going on? What does this mean?”
I remember the first time I ever heard somebody speak in tongues. I thought, “What does this mean? What is going on?” I remember the first time I heard somebody prophesy. I thought to myself, “What’s going on?”
At that point in my life, I had a decision to make. Would I continue to expose myself to the Word and allow my belief, understanding and faith to grow or would I ignore and avoid what I didn’t understand. Every Spirit filled Christian has made this choice and the result is they are Spirit-filled.
Those who chose to ignore and avoid the truth of God are now in a dry place. So when you hear someone speak and what they say seems amazing, check it out with the Word of God. If it doesn’t align with the Word, reject it. If the Word of God backs it up, then meditate on that Word and your amazement will change to confidence and faith will develop.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of eight books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.