The Character of Genuine Faith

Hebrews 11:1–39 (NKJV)

1 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.

Faith is the substance of true Hope.

When our hope is based on Faith, based on what we don’t see that is true Hope, that is hope that will bring salvation

Romans 8:24-25 “24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”

The evidence of what is not seen is faith.

It is Faith that proves what is not seen to be real because it is faith that bring what is not seen into the realm of reality or the realm of what is seen.

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.

Faith understands what is not seen( what is invisibel) spiritual things.

We can undertstand and comprehend the thing of God, what is not seen, through faith.

The natural human mind cannot comprehend nor understand the things of God.

4 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.

The deeds of Faith is righteousness

The sacrifice that we offer to God in faith is acceptable to God.

Romans 14:23 “23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”

5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Faith is pleasing to God

Enoch walked by faith and not by sight and therefore he pleased God.

The people of israel were ovethrown in the wilderness because they walked by sight and not by faith

God rewarded Enochs faith by not allowing to see death.

God rewarded those who walked by faith in the wilderness the promise land .

The Just shall life by faith

Faith is diligent or persistent.

Faith is diligent in that it seeks God persistantly.

Luke 11< the faith that receives is the faith that asks persistantly.

7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Faith produces Godly fear

If someone says he has faith but does not have godly fear, he does not have the true faith.

Faith produces godly fear by which one turns from evil.

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Faith is obedient to the words of God.

Faith does not reuquire a tangible proof to obey the Word of God.

Abraham obeyed eventhough he did not not where he was going nor did God show him the place where he was leading him

9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;

10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Faith is patient and waits of the promise of God

Faith will cause you to dwell in God’s promise waiting its fullfillment.

If our faith comes today and goes tommorrow that is not true faith. Faith is patient

11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

Faith stregthens so that the promise could be fulffilled in us.

It is through the strength that comes from faith that Sarah was able to conceive and bring forth the promise of God into the world.

Romans 4:19-21 “19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”

We lose strength to go on, becuase our lack of faith.

Faith stregthens us. When we chose to believe the promise of God, we have strength in the innerman to perservere .

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Faith is assurance of what is not seen

Faith causes you to embrace what you don’t see

14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.

15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.

Faith does not look back

Hebrews 10:38-39 “38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”

16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Faith desires heavenly things

True Faith produces desires of things of the Spirit, heavenly things.

Colossians 3:1-3 “1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”

19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Faith ednures

Genuine faith will endure God’s test.

Our faith will be tested if it is Genuine by God. If it is it will pass the test of God.

1 Peter 1:6-7 “6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,”

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

Genuine Faith passes from one generation to another

The faith that was once in Abraham did not die with Abraham it went to Isaac, and then Jacob and then Joseph.

2 Timothy 1:5 “5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.

Faith is not fearfull

Faith is bold.

Jesus rebuked the lack of faith of his desciples because they were fearful

24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,

26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

Faith denies worldiness and overcome the world.

Faith gave Moses a completely different persepctive of the world

He saw the futility of the pleasures and glamour of Egypt, it became contemptable in his sight

He saw the reporaches of Christ, what seemed to foolish in the sight of the world, greater and more glorious that what Egypt could offer.

This is why when you were in the world, things that you so valued so highly and esteemed so highly become contemptable when you come to faith.That enables to give it all up for the sake of Christ.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

Faith sees what is invisible

28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.

31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

Faith moves mountains (what is imposible)

Faith makes possible what is impossible.

The People of Israel overcame the Red Sea and the Walls of Jericho by Faith.

32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:

33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

This type of Faith accomplishes such greats things.

We also if we have such great faith we will acomplish great things for God in our life.

36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.

37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—

38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,

Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Let us follow the faith of those whoe went before us. Whose life is a witness of what one can do for God if one has faith.