Faith is (1)
“NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR.” HEBREWS
11:1 NKJV
Notice two important
things about faith (1) Faith is a substance. In the U.S., people
trade in dollars; in Europe they trade in Euros. But in God’s
Kingdom, faith is “the coin of the realm!” It’s what’s required
to do business with God (See Hebrews 11:6). And it grows only by
feeding on His Word (See Romans 10:17). (2) Faith must be
connected to hope. If you’re not hoping for anything, you don’t
need faith. But your hope must be based on what God’s Word says.
When God promised to make Abraham the father of many nations,
Abraham spent the next twenty years looking for a son, even
though the situation seemed impossible. How did he do it?
(a) “He believed – God, who…calls those things which do not
exist as though they did” (Romans 4:17 NKJV). God “sees” it,
then He reveals it to you. And His willingness to bless you with
it, rests on your willingness to believe Him for it. (b) “Who,
contrary to hope…believed…according to what was spoken” (Romans
4:18 NKJV). What has God said? That’s what your hope should be
built on. (c) “He did not consider his own body, already dead
(since he was about a hundred years old)” (Romans 4:19 NKJV).
You say, “But considering the circumstances…!” No, believe God;
He’s bigger than the circumstances! (d) “He did not
waver…through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving
glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had
promised He was also able to perform” (Romans 4:20-21 NKJV).
So, strengthen your faith through the Scriptures. Keep giving
glory to God for what He’s promised you. Be resolute. Such faith
honors God, and God honors such faith!