Faith Is

Hebrews 11:1–6 NIV84

1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. 5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

1. Faith is making things hoped for a reality

You need to manifest His Promises

In faith, things hoped for become reality

Rom 4:17-18 “17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” 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. 18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.””

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for

Manifest

Let the weak say, “I am strong”

Let the redeemed of the Lord say this

Ps 107:1-9 “1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say this— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, 3 those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. 4 Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. 5 They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. 6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. 8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, 9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”

2. Faith is the expectation of the unseen

When you go to work, you have an expectation to receive compensation for work provided

It takes faith to expect the unseen

1 Cor 2:9-14 “9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

When you rent out your home, you have an expectation that the tenants will pay rent on the due date (faith) (expectation) (assurance) (certainty)

God is the Promise Keeper

God will do all that He said He would do

3. Faith is understanding that God created all things out of nothing

God looked into darkness and said, “Let there be light” and there was light

Eph 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” (NKJV)

Faith is what pleases God

Without faith we have nothing

Without faith it is impossible to function

4. Faith is believing that God exists and He is personal

We approach God with belief

God rewards those who earnestly seek Him

God is aware of all our situations

God is There