We have been studying faith and this month is more of the same. Our key verse is Heb 11:1 (ALT) “Now faith is [the] assurance [or, substance] of [things] being hoped for [or, being confidently expected], [the] confident assurance [or, proof] of things not seen.” Our working definition is: “Faith chooses to see and believe in what is not seen. It chooses to possess a moral conviction that its subject is true. Faith chooses to believe in, to substantiate, to have confident assurance in, to count as the evidence, demonstration, and convincing proof of what God has promised.”
Now let’s look at New Testament heroes of the faith. Of course, you can find a great list of O.T. heroes in Heb 11, but let’s look at N.T. examples. Acts 6:8 describes Stephen as “full of faith and power” doing great wonders and miracles. Acts 11:24 describes Barnabas as “full of the Holy Spirit and faith.” In 1 Tim4:12, Paul admonishes Timothy to be an example in faith. 2 Tim 4:7 has Paul proclaiming he has “fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Pe 1:1 Opens “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:” More generic examples are 1Tim 6:11; 2:22 which shows the man of God being led by faith, 1 4:6 shows the good minister of Jesus Christ is nourished up in the words of faith and Heb 11 shows us heroes of the faith, Heb12 the great cloud of witnesses, and Jesus as author and finisher of the faith. Wicked men are perceived as men who have not faith (2 Th 3:2,8). 1 Tim 5:8 portrays those who do not provide for their own as having denied the faith. 1Tim 6:10 shows the love of money as having erred from the faith.
Next let’s look at what faith does for us. What happens to us if we are people of faith? God counts as just, righteous, and forgives all those whose faith is in Jesus (Rom 3:26; Rom 5:1-2; Gal 2:16). “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” Eph 2:8. We have confidence in God. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” Heb 10:22-23. He is the source of our faith. “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" 1 Cor 2:5. The we learn that “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” Rom 14:23. We put our faith in God, “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him” Eph 3:12 and He lives in us “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” Eph 3:17. We become His children, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” Gal 3:26. We learn we must “…walk by faith, not by sight” 2 Cor 5:7. Then we come to understand “faith works by love” Gal 5:6 and “if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains but have no love, I am nothing” 1 Cor 13:2. Rom 12:5 tells us to use our spiritual gifts in proportion with our faith because “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” Jam 2:17-18. So let us “ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” Jam 1:6 and “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” Eph 6:16. Finally, “…let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation” 1 Thes 5:8.
Let’s appropriate by faith what God has purchased for us at the cross. Let’s find the promises of God in the Scripture and claim them as our treasures. Let’s call things as not as though they were. Let’s be people of faith. Remember “…without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” Heb 11:6.
Oh Author and Finisher of our faith help us in our unbelief. Help Your love in us to activate our faith and focus our minds on You and having faith for Your Kingdom. Help us to live by faith. Help us to trust in Your awesome character. Help us to call things that are not as though they were and things that are as though they were not - though faith. Reward our diligent seeking of You. Amen!
References
All Scriptures not specified are quoted from Life in the Spirit Study Bible (NIV). Stamps, Donald C., and John Wesley Adams. Life in the Spirit Study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003. Print.
