Faith
Now Faith the Present Application
The Apostle Paul taught us the topic of FAITH in all 14 Letters in the New Testament. In my previous articles we shared a lot of Scripture from the Book of Romans. Today, we are going to study the Book of Hebrews chapter 11, that everyone calls the FAITH chapter. Paul did an amazing job defining what FAITH is and then shared many Old Testament examples of men and women of God that applied the WORD OF FAITH in their lives and experienced Powerful results.
Defining FAITH
Paul wrote, Now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1 KJV)
* Now FAITH—means Present FAITH. In other words, THE WORD OF FAITH that was preached or taught to us and we accepted it as WORDS OF GOD and it began to bring us to the point of BELIEVING GOD for the very thing that was shared with us.
* The Substance—means the assurance or conviction that the message had and greatly impacted our hearts when we heard it. And we are entertaining the thoughts and ideas of obeying GOD’S Word.
* The Things Hoped For—is the Divine expectation that what God Promised HE is able to bring it about in our lives.
* The Evidence of things not seen—means despite the circumstances and situations that we are in whether it’s sickness, financial problems, relational issues, disasters, hardships, set-backs, and lack. We have the evidence in Scripture with many testimonies and presently with current testimonies that God will fulfill HIS PROMISE found in HIS WORD immediately or in a process of time.
Now FAITH is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb.11:1 NAS)
Now FAITH is being sure of what we hoped for and certain of what we do not see (Heb. 11:1 NIV)
Paul continued to present the topic of FAITH by sharing some Biblical Facts
For by it (FAITH) the elders obtained a good testimony (Heb. 11:2 NKJV)
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. (Heb. 11:3 NKJV)
Pausing here for a moment, Paul was attempting to get our attention on Old Testament Scripture Genesis chapter 1; where God spoke the earth into existence. By FAITH if we read Genesis chapter 1, and sincerely Pray for Divine Revelation of those verses the HOLY SPIRIT will affirm and confirm that the Genesis account is accurate and True. In fact, Jesus spoke about the Garden of Eden and the Genesis account quite often in HIS earthly Ministry. (See Matthew 19:4-6 NKJV)
What Paul was trying to imply is that the invisible created the visible (the things we currently see.) So the Supernatural created the Natural. Not the other way around—so then FAITH is just a belief in an invisible God who promised us something, yet, there’s a process of BELIEVING for it to materialize and become real in our lives on the earth.
By FAITH
After Paul defined FAITH for us in Hebrews 11:1-3 NKJV, Paul begins to outline briefly several servants of God that applied their FAITH and in a process of time God brought about HIS Blessing in their lives.
By FAITH Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. (Heb. 11:4 NKJV)
This Old Testament story of Abel and Cain can easily turn into a 10 page teaching. But to outline and simplify the verse, Paul explain this example to show us several things;
1. Obeying God means doing exactly what HE said.
2. God said to sacrifice a lamb unblemished without spot.
3. Abel did it all the time because he was a shepherd.
4. Cain was a farmer and produced crops, so Cain sacrificed to God fruit and vegetables. Not what God had said to do.
5. Cain did not want to humble himself and ask his little brother for a lamb from his flock. So Cain’s sacrifice was rejected and Abel’s accepted.
This story has several messages;
1. We must worship God HIS way not what we think HE will accept.
2. We must humble ourselves constantly Paul says, submit to one another (Eph. 5:21 NKJV)
3. We must give God our best.
4. We must by FAITH believe that God’s plan is far better and more powerful than our plans and ideas.
5. This story is a type of Religion vs. Righteousness by FAITH topic. Religion is simply man’s way of serving God oppose to God’s way that HE desires us to serve HIM by FAITH and GRACE.
God Honors FAITH
I’m purposely skipping verse 5, the story of Enoch and how he was raptured out of here. The Bible says, God took Enoch Supernaturally to heaven without him dying physically. However, we must BY FAITH BELIEVE in the Rapture of the Church. (See article, “Who is taken and who is left” written 11-12-13)
Paul wrote in verse 6, but without FAITH it is impossible to please HIM, for he who comes to God must BELIEVE that HE is (GOD), and that HE is a rewarder of those who diligently seek HIM. (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)
We will only be rewarded when we begin to really seek God constantly. Why is that? God is not Santa Claus or an occasional GOD we need when everything goes bad. God is not mad at you for living an ungodly lifestyle. God desires for us to seek HIM every day so we may learn about HIS GRACE that can save us and empower us to live a holy lifestyle by the Power of the Holy Spirit. God desires for us to seek HIM diligently so we may grow from FAITH to FAITH after we are Born-again. So instead of handling matters and situations our way that may get us killed or incarcerated for a long time or into more trouble and heartache. God wants us to learn HIS way of doing things.
When I think back to my first step of FAITH with God in the area of Protection I shared in my previous article, “from FAITH TO FAITH” written 7-11-14. If I would have handled the situation my way, I’ve probably would be in a jail cell today with 25 years or more to life. I was determined to kill my enemies in the past. I’m no stranger to underworld violence. I use to be a real thug or gangster. Now I’m Saved.
Cain killed Abel because he did not seek God diligently BY FAITH—BY BELIEVING what God initially said about worship and sacrifices. Mind you, God even went out of HIS way to tell Cain, if you do what is right would you not be accepted. God warned Cain and said be careful sin lies at the door of his heart about plotting to kill Abel. It could have been avoided. (Genesis 4:1-8 NKJV)
Today, Theologians and Bible Scholars are assassinating other Believers who are worshipping GOD and helping people be Saved, Healed and Baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in unknown tongues. They speak evil of Ministers who operate in Signs, Wonders and Miracles. If these Theologians would just humble themselves God can begin using them powerfully like the Apostles and Stephen and Philip. But we must diligently seek God in that area of Ministry and invest some time with God in Prayer and Fasting and reading the Gospels and the Book of Acts in that scope of Ministry.
How do you think I have these testimonies by hanging out in the bar, lounge or country club with the social elite all the time? By being lazy and preaching and teaching a sermon from another man of God, instead praying, fasting and seeking God myself and asking the TEACHER THE HOLY SPIRIT to help me put together a Powerful Message!? Or by wasting time with Church politics and having endless board meetings with no results? Hey, I’m trying to wake someone up out there!!!
Listen, I had to seek God diligently everyday to teach like this. I live a fasted lifestyle like Daniel, I don’t eat meat, I eat one meal a day and meditate and read the Word and fellowship (speak with God) almost all day. I drink my nutria-bullet fruit and vegetable smoothie and supplement my diet.
If we desire to Preach and Teach, to be smarter than your co-workers and supervisors, to experience the Power of God in a Greater Capacity, to get a powerful idea to start a business, to be a better parents, ball-players, CPA, Lawyer, Actor, Producer, Law Enforcement Personnel and whatever else God called you to be. We must diligently seek GOD and we must bring the right sacrifices to God--BY FAITH. Amen
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