Getting a Grip on Faith

Hebrews 11: 1-4 (NKJV), Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3 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.

Do you consider yourself a person of faith?  Truth is we all exercise faith everyday.  We exercise faith when we pull up to an intersection and trust that the crossing traffic will follow the laws.  We exercise faith when the doctor says, “Take these pills and you will feel better in a couple of days.”   We exercise faith in multiple ways every day.  However, Faith in faith will never satisfy our soul, nor create opportunities for us to experience the power of God in our lives. We don’t need faith in faith, we need faith in Jesus!

The Bible dedicates an entire chapter in the book of Hebrews to the stories of men and women who experienced the mighty power of God in their lives. Hebrews chapter 11 gives us short snapshots of their testimonies.   Think about Abel who brought an offering to God as an act of worship.  His act of devotion stirred such jealousy that his brother Cain would murder him in the field.  Think about Enoch.  A man who was here on planet earth one minute and then gone the next.  He was the first man raptured (taken up) in the Bible.  Why?  Because he walked with God.  Or think about Moses and the children of Israel walking across the seabed of the Red Sea after God divided the waters allowing 2 million Jews to safely distance themselves from Pharoah’s approaching army. Who doesn’t feel the hair rise on the back of their necks when they read of Daniel being thrown into the den of lions only to find that an angel had shut their mouths.  I’m sure Daniel slept like a baby that night listening to the lions purr.

Their stories amaze us but their message is not about the mighty act or miracle they experienced.  Don’t lose the message in their miracle.  The message of Abel is not about his offering.  The message of Enoch is not the fact that he was raptured to heaven without seeing death.  The message of Moses is not that he walked across a dry sea bed.  The message of Daniel is not that the lions couldn’t touch him.  Their stories aren’t about the miracles, their stories are about their faith in God.  

Abel believed God and that is why he brought his offering.  Enoch believed God and that is why he walked in a personal relationship with Him.  Moses believed God and that is why he wasn’t shocked when God parted the waters.  Daniel believed God and that is why he could use a lion for a pillow. Verse after verse begins with these words, “By faith…”

What is faith?  Faith is not simply belief. Biblical faith is deeper than that.  Dr. Adrian Rogers used to say, “Faith is belief with legs on it.”

Faith is assurance based on the character of God.  The deeper you walk in relationship with God, the more assurance you will experience.  The more assurance you have in God, the more conviction you will have to believe and live out the Word of God. Faith is assurance that leads to conviction and action.

Pray:

God deepen my faith to trust you no matter what circumstances I am in.  Fill me with your peace and the assurance that the impossible is always possible with you.  Empower me by your Holy Spirit to stand on what you say and to keep my focus on you.  Let me never take the credit for your mighty work in my life, but let me always point the attention of others to you.  In the Name of Christ my Lord, Amen.”