Faith

Faith

Heb 11:1-3

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. 2 God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith.

3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. NLT

Faith is not a feeling or emotion. Faith is the foundation of our relationship with God.

Def… Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.

Gen 1:1-3…In the beginning God created the heavens (Shamayim; stretched out space) and the earth. (Erets: dirt or matter) The earth was without form, and void and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.

Space, Matter and Energy the three creating components of all physical reality were accounted for in the first three verses of Genesis.

Col 1:16-17… For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Def… Consist = held together

Faith is understanding that God did everything described in His word and will do everything described in His word.

Quote… Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin… “I see so many Christians who are struggling to believe and struggling to have faith. Their focus is all wrong. They’re focusing on their ability or inability to believe God, or "trying" to have faith. They should simply start acting like God’s word is true. It will make all the difference in their lives! It is when we know God’s Word is true and act like it’s true that is becomes a reality to us. Faith is not something we have, as much as something we do.”

There are five Greek words of Faith. The Main faith-word is "pistis", used 244 times in NT

= faithful trusting, believing

The New Testament describes four facets of faith.

1. Saving Faith… Where it all begins. – Believing

The grace of Faith is available to whomsoever.

Eph 2:8-9… For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Rom 10:9… that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

2. Action Faith… Putting feet to our faith.

ILL… There was a little boy who was caught in a fire at home. He could not get out of the burning house. He climbed up out onto the roof of the burning home, and began to cry for his father’s help. The father looked up at his son from the ground, and told him to jump. “I can’t see you though daddy, how will you catch me?” said the son. The father said, “I can see you”. Without further hesitation the boy jumped into his father’s arms.

Sometimes we need to have that same type of pure faith that a child has in their parents in our Heavenly father.

Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

1 Thess 1:2-3… As we talk to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and your continual anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. NLT

James 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

3. Keeping Faith… Trust… A continuous trust in God’s promises

ILL… Continuous trust… There is a story told of three little girls who are enjoying an evening of play. They started playing the

game of counting their money; the object was to see who

had the most and the winner would be crowned queen for

the day.

The first little girl counted thirteen

pennies, the second counted fourteen pennies. The last

little girl began to count, she had only fourteen

pennies like the second, however she counted fifteen. The other two girls argued with her over the count and they counted again, there were only fourteen, but the last girl insisted on having fifteen.

Finally, they asked, "How can you say fifteen when you only have fourteen", she replied, "My father promised me another penny when he comes home from work today". Whatever my father promises me, it’s mine at the moment of the promise.