Moving On Faith Series

Moving On Faith

Pastors: Elder Arthur L. Mason

and Marie Mason

Hebrews 11:1; Matthew 17:20-21; I John 5:9

What is Faith?

I saw an automobile with a license plate that read: “Moving on Faith.” I was both impressed and inspired. What does Moving on Faith mean? Before we can fully embrace its meaning, we must first understand the word faith.

What is faith? First, let‘s look at what faith is not. (1). We must realize that faith is not based on our feelings or attitudes.

(2) Faith is not merely wishing for something to happen, at least this is not biblical faith.

So, what is faith? How does the author of Hebrews define the word “faith?” Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” KJV

Let’s digest this for just a moment. What does the word “evidence” mean? Webster’s Dictionary defines evidence as: “The means of proving or disproving an alleged fact; testimony, exhibits, etc., offered as proof; an indication of proof. 2. The state of being clear or certain.

Therefore, it is absolutely clear that faith is the evidence of things that we do not see. You may be praying and believing God for healing, yet the pain is still there. Although, the manifestation of healing is not there, you must have faith enough to believe that you are already healed. Begin speaking and believing God through faith that your body is already healed.

You may be financially bound, destitute, and don’t know where to turn. Listen: Pray and believe God for your deliverance, for a breakthrough. The Bible says:

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily

I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,

ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder

place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20).

Jesus continues, “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17: 21).

I’m absolutely certain that if God promises something, we can rest in the fact that He will do what He says. Our faith is in itself the evidence of things not fully seen.

When we sit on a chair, we have faith that the chair will not fall. We have faith in the furniture maker who built it, don’t we? If we go to a restaurant for dinner, we have faith in the chef who cooked it, in the servers who keep it at the correct temperature and in the health inspectors who guarantee it is safe to eat.... although we don’t know them. When we purchase a new automobile, we have faith in the person who designed it, in the people who built it, in the inspectors who tested it for safety. In fact, we have faith. that everything will work safely and completely. In other words, we trust people without a thought or moment of hesitation. In order to understand this more clearly, let’s go to I John 5:9.

“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater:

for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son”(I John 5:9). KJV

Perhaps, there is somebody or something we put our trust in on a daily basis, yet nothing is trustworthy but Jesus! Shouldn’t we have faith and trust in God who is completely and absolutely trustworthy? This is what I believe John is referring to in I John 5:9.

Faith is Trust and Commitment

It is only when we come to the realization that trusting in ourselves won’t work, and begin trusting God completely, and committing everything to Him, it is then that we can begin moving on faith.

I went through years of heartache, depression, sleepless nights, and loneliness before learning this very important lesson. I would go to bed at night, and wake up in the morning trying to figure things out. Would there be enough overtime to pay the utilities? Would there be enough money to buy clothing for my children? What was I doing? Trusting myself, wasn’t I? What should I have done? I should have trusted God to work it out.

The Bible tells us to: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs: 3:5,6).

We must put complete trust in God, and not in ourselves, believing that He is not only able but capable of doing what is best. Trusting in our own understanding and ourselves will surely fail. We should rest in the promise that He shall direct thy paths.

Abraham Moved on Faith

When I was preparing this sermon, one of the Patriots in the Old Testament came to mind. Abraham was not only obedient but also committed. Let’s go to Hebrews 11:8: By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” KJV