Faith
Notes
Transcript
What is faith?
What is faith?
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. 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.
23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 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.
“faith is the substance of things hoped for”
Faith is the substance of Hope.
Without faith, hope does not exist.
We have hope that one day our bodies will be changed to be like his glorius body, the substance of this hope is our faith.
Our hope is not based on evidence that is tangible. it is purely based on faith. Hence hoping for something that is seen (tangible) is not true hope.
“the evidence of things not seen”
“what is the evidence that we have, that gives us confidence that what we don’t see is real” it is faith.
we believe that angels are real, demons are real, God is real, because of faith. Faith is the evidence of things not seen.
“by faith we understand the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible”
The way we understand how God created the heavens and the Earth in 6 days, how the light was formed by the Word of his mouth is by faith.
One cannot understand the things of God and the things of the Spirit without faith.
understanding the works of God is not based on intelect. Infact it is God wisdom that made it impossible for people to know God through the wisdom and intelect of the world
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
If could understand God through the intelect or wisdom of thsi World. then only the wise, the genious of this world could understand God.
It puts us all in the same level playing field. It does not take intelegence to know how God works, it just takes faith.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
The natural mind operates through the intelect that comes through the senses. The mind understands and percieves and makes judgement and forms opinion based on the senses.
However the spiritual mindset, or the mind of Christ oprates through faith. it observes, understand, percives and makes judgements and conclusion based faith alone.
Short summery
Faith is the substance of hope on what is not seen. it is through faith hope in what we do not see
Faith is the evidence of things not seen. That is, faith is the confidecne that what we do not see is real.
by faith we understand, the world around us.
Where does Faith come from?
Where does Faith come from?
15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Biblical faith is based on purely the word of God.
You can have faith in someone but that faith is not biblical faith because it is not based on the Word of God but rather you perception of that individual, whether it be character or proven experience of that person.
The word of God is what creates faith in our heart. The faith that comes through God’s Word is powerfull.
We believe that Christ rose from the dead, even tough we did not see him rise, nor were we there when it happen. We don’t have any tangible eveidence, yet we believe why, because our faith is based on the word of God. This faith has changed our life. It is so powerfull that it has changed the course of our whole life.
Abraham’s faith is taught of, we always admire Abraham for his tremedous faith in leaving his country and relatives to go the the promise land. However, we neglect the power of the Word spoken to Abraham by God. It is that Word which produced such great faith in his heart that caused him to forsake all and follow him.
This is why God’s word is more powerfull that visions or dreams. It is by which faith is produced in the hearts of men.
13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. 28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
Jesus did not rebuke them for their slowness to believe the word of Mary or Peter and John but rather to beleive the His word spoken through the prophets.
After he expounded the scriptures, those who were formaly full of doubt, were burning with faith.
They went and spoke to the others that trully what Simon and the others had reported about Christ was true because of the scriptures.
The Characteristic of Faith
The Characteristic of Faith
Faith is Persistant.
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.
The key word here is “diligent”. Faith that is diligent or persistant, that does not Just ask once but continually comes by faith until he gets what he needs
We have an often wrong view of Faith. We think faith is instant, that if we have enough faith in God for something, we would recieve it instantly.
Faith is not instant it is persistant.
1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
5 And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. 9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Abraham Faith was persistant faith. He persistantly asked and believed God for a Child for 25 years. This is the true Faith.
2. Faith is contrary to the reality of the senses.
The reality of the natural man is based on what you see, feel, smell and hear.
Faith goes agianst the senses.
16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 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. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Abraham igonere the reality of his senses. His senses told him that his reality is burreness, he is going to die childless because his wife womb was dead and he was drawing nigh the year of his death. Yet faith said you will be father of many nations, your seed will be as the stars of heaven and the sand of the sea shores, all nation will be blessed by you. His faith overcame his reality.
The true reality is the reality of faith and not the
reality of the senses
22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. 25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” 29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” 31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” 32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
This woman faith enbled her to go agianst the reality of her senses. Her faith brought healing to her body.
Faith is is the true reality. The reality of your senses is not final. the reality of faith is what is final.
reality say this man is dead, faith says this man is sleaping
reality says, you are terminally ill with cancer and you are going to die, Faith says i am healed and i am going to live.
If you have this kind of Faith, you will experience the reality of Jesus words., “all things are possible to him who believes.”
The if faith,
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
the if Faith, is faith mixed with doubt. it says “if you can do anything”, true faith says “you can do something”
May the lord give us the true faith, may he increase that faith in our life.
Let us pray for faith. let God today empower us and fill hearts with his faith.
