What is Faith? God’s SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) Hebrews 11
Everyday we live by faith – Even non-believers have faith.
Faith is more than religion, it is more than positive thinking, it is more than belief, it is more than a moment of excitement or even a onetime decision, it is SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for God and the people of God. Faith is the way of life for believers.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:17
Context of Hebrews: Written to Jews, Jesus is above all – even the Old Testament priests and prophets.
Substance and Evidence
Title Deed: This is my house because I have this paper, or this is mine because I have this faith.
Faith is not imaginary –it is the substance that holds everything up – like a bridge
Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.
Augustine.
We hope for what we do not see
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Prov. 13:12
We must see beyond the visible
How are great companies formed? Because someone saw something no one else did.
How are diseases cured? Someone sees what no one else does.
Without faith we have nothing. There is more than what we see!
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15:19
The Worlds Were Framed by the Word of God
Faith is not just for us, God operates by faith
Framing has to do with setting things in order
So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17
Faith is God’s “SOP” – Standard Operating Procedure
If we want to have faith, we must have the Word of God.
Know the Word, we will know faith. NO Word, No faith.
God our Father has made all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing. Martin Luther.
God is still operating by faith
God is still framing – he is still making things right, restoring and repairing
He sends His word and heals our diseases
Life began with faith, and it will continue by faith
Faith is our testimony Our testimony is not what has happened, but that we have faith
Our testimony is NOT dependent on immediate outcomes – but long term faith.
Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means, whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is love. There are some things only learned in a fiery furnace.
Oswald Chambers in Run Today's Race.
Things not seen became visible
There are many things we do not see that are real
Even atheist recognize that the universe came into being
What is not being seen right now that could be a reality?
Some examples of Faith (from the beginning)
Faith is Worship: Abel’s faith was an act of worship – God himself testifies and it still speaks, even though he is dead!
Faith is A Testimony: We must believe that He rewards those who diligently seek Him
Faith is Safety: Faith will prepare an ark for your family.
Faith is Righteousness He condemned the world not because of what he said, but because of what he did.
Live in faith and hope, though it be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul. Cast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you. Do not think that He is leaving you alone, for that would be to wrong Him. John of the Cross.
We don’t have to be perfect, or have incredible vision, we just need to have faith, to see beyond today, beyond the problem, beyond the crisis, and see the promise of God who calls things as not as though they were.
He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. Romans 4:17
Conclusion: Faith is Standard Operating Procedure for God and His people
Life began with faith, and will continue with faith
Faith is not about results, but how we live our lives
Faith is seeing what others do not see
There is so much more to life than what we see
