Faith...

Faith...it is a subject that has been on my mind a lot today.  Maybe it is because my daughter has been talking about her friend "Faith" a lot lately, whom she misses dearly since we got back from New Mexico.  But I my thoughts have been along the line of just what faith can accomplish.  In Hebrews 11, it gives many examples of faith.  Verse 4, "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh."   Verse 5, "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found , because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony , that he pleased God."  Verse 7, "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear , prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith."  Verse 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 ."  Verse 9-10, "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."  Verse 17-19, "By faith Abraham, when he was tried , offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said , That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:  Accounting that God was able to raise him up , even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure."  Verse 23, "By faith Moses, when he was born , was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment."  Verses 24-29, "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured , as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.  By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned."    Verse 30, "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down , after they were compassed about seven days."  And, throughout the New Testament, we read of account where the great faith of those stricken with disease and troubles were delivered because of their faith.  So, I am convinced that faith is an important part of living a victorious life, especially in the day and time we live in today.

Do we really need have faith?  In a simple answer, Yes.  Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is , and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."  The Message says, "It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him."

Faith helps us understand things.  Hebrews 11:3 (KJV) says, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."  The Message says it this way, "By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see."  Go take a look out your window.  What do you see?  Trees, plants, grass, mountains, sand or even rocks?  Do see birds, squirrels, bees or hummingbirds?  All of it was spoken into existence just by words that came from the mouth of God Almighty.  If He can make things like that just with His spoken word, just think of what He could do with the things we do not see?  We don't see depression, oppression, anger, lust, etc.  We see the effects of they have on people.  

But what exactly is faith?  Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for , the evidence of things not seen."  I really like what The Messages says in this verse, "The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see."  Want to get a handle on life?  Grab a hold of faith.  

Well, how do you get faith?  Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  Whether you are listening to the preacher at church, listening to cd's or tapes or listening to preaching online, faith comes when the Word of God is preached. 

Some things we need to know about faith is:

1 Corinthians 2:5, "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."  The Message says, "which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else."

2 Corinthians 5:7, "For we walk by faith, not by sight."  The trust we have in Him, along with the knowledge and understanding that His power will work great things in our lives, should be what leads us from day to day.  The things we see from day to day dull in comparison to the great & mighty power of God.

Romans 4:20-22 says this about Abraham,  " He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised , he was able also to perform .  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness."  Titus 1:2 states that God cannot lie.  So, if God has promised you something, you can be assured that He WILL do it!  Abraham's faith drove him forward.  There was not a doubt in his mind that if God said, it was going to happen.  Abraham's faith was imputed to him for righteousness or his faith was accredited to his rightness with God.  A strong, great faith will draw you closer to God than you have ever been before.

I want to have a strong, great faith.  I want to see the miracles, signs and wonders that He has promised us in these last days.  And, by faith, some day I will walk on streets of Gold with Him.  ♥