WHAT IS FAITH?

Hebrews 11:1-3

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by is, the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the thing  which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Hebrews 11:1-3, NKJV

These all-encompassing verses explain both what faith in Jesus Christ is and what faith does. The heart of faith develops its own eyes, which see spiritual things coming that can't yet be seen by the physical eye.

When the author, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes, "Faith is the substance," he uses a single Greek word upossaris meaning "to stay under, a foundation." So faith is the foundation on which all our hopes for the future are built. Faith doesn't make imaginary things come true, but rather it enables God's people to live with certainty and confidence in the realities that are true, though not yet physically visible.

Mature believers who have trusted God through years of great trials, sorrow, and pain will tell us that Jesus has become so real and precious to them that they are absolutely confident of His promises. When we choose to look with eyes of faith, we become more and more confident of the reality of God and what awaits us in eternity. And as we are commanded to love others, we are compelled to share the truth we have found in Jesus with those around us.

Many will not appreciate our responsibility to tell others and will complain of our freedom to express it openly. But love leaves us no other recourse than to care about others enough to share the truth of Jesus Christ's dying so they might live.

Do you want a stronger faith, a better faith, a more alive faith, a more active faith? Guess what you have to do? You need to spend time with the Word. You need to be in the Word. You need to read the Word and study the Word and meditate on the Word. You need to absorb the Word. It needs to permeate your thoughts, your feelings, your emotions, your will, your life. Do this over and over again. Because faith comes by hearing!!!

Father, thank You for this day and the measure of faith You have given us. Lord, pour our Your abundant blessings from the storehouses of heaven upon us and our family today. Lord, we thank You for the gift of faith. Lord, we thank You for raising us to spiritual life and giving us the ability to receive what You have said through Your Word. Lord, we thank You that faith is not based on nonsense but on facts, history, eyewitnesses, and good evidence. Lord, help us to present Your gospel and all things in Your Word with reasons to all those who ask today.

Father, we love You. Amen.