December 6, 2024
"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)
What is faith?
Hebrews tells us that Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is a substance.
We know from nature that substances can be tangible or intangible. Faith here, is both. This verse means that for us to have faith at all, there must be hope. Whatever we hope for, the substance of it is faith. If there is no faith, then we can’t get what we are hoping for.
Substances are measurable. Therefore, if faith is a substance, it is measurable. In Mark 4:40, Jesus asked his disciples why they had no faith. The proof that they had no faith was in their fear. Fear can only manifest where there is no faith. When we have faith, fear must go.
In Matthew 6:25-30, Jesus told us not to worry about our life. Worry about the future is a mark of having little or no faith.
In Matthew 15:28, the Syrophoenician woman was credited as having GREAT faith. This was the same with the centurion soldier who so impressed Jesus with his GREAT faith – Matthew 8:5-13.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
In verse 2 of our text, Faith is said to be the way the elders received a good testimony (report). An elder is a person who can use faith to get their testimony. An elder knows how to work faith to produce the results they are looking for. Results determine whether we are elders or not. According to our scripture, it is not our physical age that determines eldership. Are we mature enough to be called elders?
In John 2:4-5, Jesus was telling his mother that it was not yet time. But because she was an elder, she told his disciples to obey him absolutely. Elders have a way of provoking faith into action. Faith and understanding God’s word go hand in hand. The more understanding I have of God’s word, the stronger my faith is. This is what verse 3 of our main text is saying – we understand the word of God by faith.
When God sends us a word, it cannot return to him without being fulfilled – Isaiah 55:11. Even if we are unqualified to receive the word, it still cannot return to God without being fulfilled. Instead, it will hang around until it is fulfilled, whether through us or through our offspring or descendants.
God has given us so many assurances throughout the Bible, we only need to understand this – and we understand and receive this by faith alone. We must build up our faith in order to fully understand God’s word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. We must continue to immerse ourselves fully in the word of God, until we are completely absorbed in it. The deeper our understanding of God’s word, the deeper our faith will be.
Song of Worship
Well hallelujah, hallelujah
(I will walk by faith)
Well hallelujah, hallelujah
(I will walk by faith)
I will walk, I will walk, I will walk by faith
I will, I will, I will walk by faith
Song - Walk by faith by Jeremy Camp
Prayer - Dear Father in heaven, let it be said of us that we have great faith. Let our faith be measurable and when measured, let it meet Your standard in the mighty name of Jesus. Help us to immerse ourselves in Your word so thoroughly that our understanding of Your word puts us in the position of elders, In Jesus Mighty name. Amen.