Now Faith Is Confidence In What We hope For And Assurance About What We Do Not See
By Faith Alone
HEBREWS 11:1-3)
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 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.
”Hebrews 11:1-3 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.11.1-3.NKJ
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The starting point of faith is believing in God's character-that we believe He is who He says He is.
The end point is believing in God's Word, His promises, and that God will fulfil all His promises even when we don't see those promises materialising, and yet continue to demonstrate true faith (see JOHN 20:24-31.
As we go through our days we will face many trials and challenges that will bring many temptations to us to lie, cheat, or steal, or even worse.
We may be tempted to call in sick when we need a day off from work, or steal, by telling ourselves, "I have to feed my children;” or to tell that “little white lie” to keep the peace; or “it must be God’s plan, or I wouldn’t of met the woman in the pub after rowing with my wife.” It’s all to easy to justify sin-our deceitful hearts, and we all have one, if allowed, will take us that way (JEREMIAH 17:9).
But by trusting God in those difficult situations, we maintain our reputation, the reputation of the church, and strengthen our relationship with God.
We have peace in the fact that we have nothing to hide.
If we believers are to expect anything from God we must be right with Him through repentance (JAMES 4:7-10; 2 PETER 3:9), faith and forgiveness (JAMES 1:5-8; MARK 11:22-26).
All sin separates us from God and opens doors to the devil to enter in and take possession of our very souls (LUKE 19:10; EZEKIEL 18:4), our mind, will, and emotions and hold us in bondage.
James said, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
James 4:7-10 NKJV
God created the universe out of nothing with just a single verse, hence the “uni-verse”, one verse from God. “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.”
Psalms 33:6-9 NKJV
Our faith is in the Almighty God who created the entire universe by His Word which has awesome power and abilities that nothing can stop (HEBREWS 4:12). Furthermore, He knows your needs and what will make you happy; He knows you more than you know yourself.
He created you with a wonderful plan and purpose (PROVERBS 19:21) and His love for His people is so powerful that God came Himself in human form to undo the works of the devil and pay our debt of sin with His own blood (PHILIPPIANS 2:5-8) so that everyone regardless of their place of origin, skin colour, or sin has opportunity of life, and that they may have it more abundantly (JOHN 10:10). Not by works, but by faith alone.
“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:4-6 NKJV
My beloved, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:31-39 NKJV
My brethren, put your trust in God. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
