Faith

Hebrews 11:1-3(NKJV) − Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  ^[2] For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. ^[3] By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

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A Description of Faith (Hebrews 11) 

This is not a definition of faith but a description of what faith does and how it works. True Bible faith is not blind optimism or a manufactured “hope-so” feeling. Neither is it an intellectual assent to a doctrine. It is certainly not believing in spite of evidence! That would be superstition.

True Bible faith is confident obedience to God’s Word

 in spite of circumstances and consequences.

Read that last sentence again and let it soak into your mind and heart.

This faith operates quite simply. — God speaks and we hear His Word.

We trust His Word and act on it no matter what the circumstances are or what the consequences may be. The circumstances may be impossible, and the consequences frightening and unknown; but we obey God’s Word just the same and believe Him to do what is right and what is best.

Those who do not have God in their lives cannot understand true Bible faith. The cynical editor H.L. Mencken defined faith as “illogical belief in the occurrence of the impossible.” The world fails to realize that faith is only as good as its object, and the object of our faith is God. Faith is not some “feeling” that we manufacture. It is our total response to what God has revealed in His Word.

Three words in Hebrews 11:1-3 summarize what true Bible faith is: substance, evidence, and witness.

The word “substance” means literally “to stand under, to support.” Faith is to a Christian what a foundation is to a house: it gives confidence and assurance that he will stand. So you might say, “Faith is the confidence of things hoped for.” When a believer has faith, it is God’s way of giving him confidence and assurance that what is promised will be experienced.

The word evidence simply means “conviction.” This is the inward conviction from God that what He has promised, He will perform. The presence of God-given faith in one’s heart is conviction enough that He will keep His Word.

Witness (kjv, “obtained a good report” − nkjv, “good testimony”) is an important word in Hebrews 11. It occurs not only in verse 2, but twice in verse 4, once in verse 5, and once in verse 39. The summary in Hebrews 12:1 calls this list of men and women “so great a cloud of witnesses.”

They are witnesses to us because God witnessed to them and thru them. In each example cited, God gave witness to that person’s faith. This witness was His divine approval on their lives and ministries.

The writer of Hebrews makes it clear that faith is a very practical thing (Heb. 11:3), in spite of what unbelievers say.

• Faith enables us to understand what God does.
• Faith enables us to see what others cannot see (note Heb. 11:7, 13, 27). As a result,
• Faith enables us to do what others cannot do!

People laughed at these great men and women when they stepped out by faith, but God was with them and enabled them to succeed to His glory.

Dr. J. Oswald Sanders put it perfectly: “Faith enables the believing soul to treat the future as present and the invisible as seen.”

The best way to grow in faith is to walk with the faithful.

The remainder of chapter 11 is devoted to a summary of the lives and labors of great men and women of faith found in the Old Testament. As you read it you will find, in each instance, the same elements of faith:

• God spoke to them through His Word; 
• Their inner selves were stirred in different ways; 
• They obeyed God; 
• He bore witness about them.

God asnwers prayers; He can deliver us from difficult circumstances. We also know that God does not have to in order to prove that we have faith. The writer of Hebrews (11:36-38) records the fact that many unknown men and women of faith were not delivered from difficult circumstances; yet God honored their faith. In fact, it takes more faith to endure than it does to escape.

Like the three Hebrew men, we should trust God and obey Him even if He does not deliver us (Dan 3:16-28). Man’s estimate of these heroes of faith was a low one; so men persecuted them, arrested them, tortured them, and in some cases, killed them. But God’s estimate is entirely different. He said that the world was not worthy of these people!

The Apostle Paul is a good illustration of this truth. Festus said that Paul was out of his mind (Acts 26:24). The Jews said Paul was not fit to live (Acts 22:22). Paul himself said he was treated like “the filth of the world . . . the offscouring of all things” (1 Cor. 4:13). Yet Paul was God’s chosen vessel, and probably one of the greatest Christian who ever lived!

Faith enables us to turn from the approval of the world and seek only the approval of God.

If God is glorified by delivering His people, He will do it. If He sees fit to be glorified by not delivering His people, then He will do that. But we must never conclude that the absence of deliverance means a lack of faith on the part of God’s children.

Faith looks to the future, for that is where the greatest rewards are found.

The people named in this chapter (and those unnamed) did not receive “the promises” (what was promised, Heb. 11:13) but they had God’s witness to their faith that one day they would be rewarded.

God’s purpose involves Old Testament saints as well as New Testament saints!

One day all of us shall share that heavenly city that true saints look for by faith.

We today should give thanks for these saints of old, for they were faithful during difficult times, and yet we are the ones who have received the “better blessing.” They saw some of these blessings afar off (see John 8:56), but we enjoy them today through Jesus Christ.

In Hebrews 11:6 it says:“Without faith it is impossible to please God”. This kind of faith grows as we listen to His Word (Rom. 10:17) and fellowship in worship and prayer.

Faith is possible to all kinds of believers in all kinds of situations. It is not a luxury for a few “elite saints.” It is a necessity for all of God’s people.

Lord, increase our faith!

Have a Blessed Day!