By Beverly Johnson
The bible tells us that “faith
is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews
11:1). Hope must be present for
faith to work (what a revelation). The
Greek word for hope is elpizo;
It means to expect something, to confide or
trust in someone, to hope for. Faith
is further defined as a “dependence” on the veracity (truthfulness) of
another; firm belief or trust in a person, thing, doctrine, or belief or trust
in a person, thing, doctrine, or statement.”
In other words, things that we have not experienced or seen become real
to us by our dependent
trust on GOD. It is the confident
expectation that He will bring those things to a reality.
Faith sees the “unseen”
as seen. It assumes the place of
substance. It becomes the solid
evidence that whatever is hoped for has already become real.
We learn in Hebrews 11:6 “That
without faith it is impossible to please GOD.”
For when you come to him you must
believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him. As I first read
this passage, I did a double take when I saw the words (that
he is) written twice. As I read this
passage again for clarity, I saw the awesome connection of faith
in those first words.
“that He is.” I was instantly struck with
the image of this Old Testament scene; Moses at the burning bush, asking GOD “What
do I tell the children of Israel, when they ask me your name?”
GOD replied
“Tell them that “I AM” sent you.”
In like manner, in Hebrews
11:6, GOD again uses these simple yet all
encompassing words to define his supreme sovereignty.
“That He Is” the
same GOD that opened the Red sea to deliver the children of Israel out of
Egyptian bondage. He Is the same GOD that won the
battle of Gideon with a mere 300 men, He is the same GOD that fed the
children Israel in the wilderness for 40 years with Manna that rained from
Heaven, and provided them shoes and clothes that never wore out.
In 1 Chronicles 29:11, David gives the most majestic and reverent benediction, describing the GOD
in whom we trust and serve: “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power
and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven
and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom , O LORD, and thou art exalted
as head above all.” Both riches
and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power
and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto
all.”
What an awesome GOD we serve and
a fitting object of our trust. GOD
is our creator and Jesus
our saviour.
We were made in his image that we may worship Him.
As a first condition to faith we must believe in him and make him the
object of our love, devotion, gratitude and trust.
When we do this, we
are only giving back what rightfully belongs to him.
We must have faith to be pleasing
in his sight.
James describes a pleasing
faith as being “unwavering, unmovable, unshakeable.”
James 1:6 . Further
our faith is tested to prove whether it is real or false.
Remember, GOD is working towards an end; to make us complete, perfect and
lacking in nothing. So the tests
will come, they are first to see what we are made of, and secondly, to develop
and strengthen us into that which GOD would have us to become.
Peter describes in 1 Peter 1:7 the trying of our
faith by GOD, who sits as a refiner of gold
and silver .— Malachi 3:3 Gold
starts out as a dull and unattractive metal.
It is brought to it’s bright, brilliant and strengthened state by the
repeated application of the refiner’s fire.
The metal is tempered (though the
gradual increase of heat), as the heat comes to boiling it brings to
the top impurities called dross, this is the scum, this process is repeated
until all the scum is removed. As
the precious metal is brightened and strengthened, it then comes forth as pure
gold, then it is cooled. As we
understand the process of the “refiners fire” we can take heart, knowing
that our trials are there to bring us to that beautiful and complete state of
perfection. It is GOD’S perfect
plan for our lives. One can see that
the refiner does the work and the metal yields.
When the Apostle Paul declared in II Corinthians 12:9, that he
would rather “glory in his
weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ may rest upon
him.” His
faith was greatly strengthened, to the point that he could glory in the process,
knowing that he was resting in the refiner’s hands.
How Does Faith Work.
Most believers understand what
faith is but do we know how it works? First,
faith is known through
the spirit, and we must be in right standing with GOD through salvation, to
receive it. There is an old proverb
that says “you will know what something is, when you know what it does,
hence how it works.
FAITH BELIEVES
Romans 4:20 — Abraham, “Staggered not
at the promise of GOD through disbelief, but was strong in faith giving glory to
GOD.
FAITH OBEYS
John 10:27— “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow
me.”
FAITH TRUSTS
Proverbs 3:5 — “Trust
in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding.”
FAITH WAITS
Isaiah 30:40 — “Wait
upon the Lord and he shall renew thy strength.”
FAITH IS PATIENT
Hebrews 12:1— “We
are to run with patience , the race set before us.”
FAITH ENDURES
Hebrews 12:7— “If
we endure, GOD will deal with you as with sons,”
FAITH ACTIVATES
Genesis 12:4— “So
Abraham departed as the Lord had spoken unto him.”
FAITH HOPES
Jeremiah 32:27— Nothing shall
be impossible with GOD. “Is
there anything to hard for me?”
FAITH HEARS
Romans 10:17— “So
then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of GOD.”
The Faith Hall of Fame
In the faith hall of fame
as written by the Hebrew writer, we find “A cloud of witnesses”
notably, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Joseph, Moses, and
Rahab and a host of faithful prophets.
Time fails me to tell of their
acts, but more importantly their lives come together
to testify of one thing; GOD’S Blessings are upon those
who fear [reverence] Him and keep his commandments.
We can benefit from examining some of the things they did, that set them
apart.
· They
stepped out of their comfort zone.
· They
refused to posses the spirit of fear
· They
choose their allegiance [GOD]
· They
did not care what others thought.
· They
did not look at problems, but looked to the problem solver.
· They
didn’t trust in man, instead they trusted in GOD.
· They
were obedient to GOD.
As we grow to spiritual maturity,
faith is the vehicle that takes us to our final destination
(eternal life with GOD). As
we come to understand faith and its abiding power, and allow her to have her
perfect works, we will one day have our place in GOD’S hall of fame.
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