Faith Assurance

Scripture

Hebrews 11:1–3 (KJV 1900)

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 report.

3 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.

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV 1900)

6 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.

Psalm 46:1–3 (KJV 1900)

1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Psalm 46:8–11 KJV 1900

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, What desolations he hath made in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Intro

Our society values observable evidence as the primary criterion for belief. As science becomes more precise in its discoveries, humanity becomes more dependent or empirical evidence—that which can be observed and tested through experimentation—for ascertaining truth. For example, DNA evidence has set free many criminals who were convicted decades earlier because it provides observable and reliable evidence for whether a person was involved in a crime. However, the author in our text shows that faith values and believes in what is not seen and that it is superior to evidence which relies on observable phenomena alone.

A pastor’s wife told her 5-year old son to wash his hands before he ate, because germs lived in the dirt. He got mad and said, “Jesus and germs! That’s all I ever hear about in this house, and I can’t see either one!”

Furthermore, faith is more than mental assent or cognitive belief. It extends to our actions. I have faith that a chair will support my weight only if I sit down on it. Therefore, we show that we have faith in God when we trust in Him as our strength and refuge.

Listen to this story of faith

A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokies built a new sanctuary on a piece of land willed to them by a church member.

Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the building.

Until the church doubled the size of the parking lot, they would not be able to use the new sanctuary. Unfortunately, the church with its undersized lot had used every inch of their land except for the mountain against which it had been built.

In order to build more parking spaces, they would have to move the mountain out of the back yard.

Undaunted, the pastor announced the next Sunday morning that he would meet that evening with all members who had "mountain moving faith." They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the mountain from the back yard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted before the scheduled opening dedication service the following week.

At the appointed time, 24 of the congregation’s 300 members assembled for prayer. They prayed for nearly three hours. At ten o’clock the pastor said the final "Amen".

"We’ll open next Sunday as scheduled," he assured everyone. "God has never let us down before, and I believe He will be faithful this time too."

The next morning as he was working in his study there came a loud knock at his door. When he called "come in", a rough looking construction foreman appeared, removing his hard hat as he entered.

"Excuse me, Reverend. I’m from Acme Construction Company over in the next county. We’re building a huge shopping mall. We need some fill dirt. Would you be willing to sell us a chunk of that mountain behind the church? We’ll pay you for the dirt we remove and pave all the exposed area free of charge, if we can have it right away. We can’t do anything else until we get the dirt in and allow it to settle properly."

Message Point 1:

FAITH BELIEVES IN THE UNSEEN (HEBREWS 11:1-3,6)

Hebrews 11:1–3 (KJV 1900)

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 report.

3 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.

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV 1900)

6 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.

There are spiritual realities that cannot be seen with the natural eye including God Himself, Satan, Heaven, and Hell. The only reliable access that we have to this spiritual domain is through the Word of God. We did not see Jesus rise from the dead, but because the Word of God testifies that He rose, we believe it. We have not yet experienced the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, but because the Word of God promises it, we believe it. We have assurance and confidence that what the Lord promises us through His Word has happened, is happening, and will happen. Just like DNA is the evidence to convict or acquit a criminal, faith is our evidence that the things that we cannot see exist in the way that God describes them. Even what we see, the physical world, was made from that which is unseen, the Word of God. If God’s Word is sufficient to create the world, then we can trust in Him wholeheartedly.

Without this faith in God, we cannot please Him. It is not through our intelligence, ability, or accomplishments that we ultimately please the Lord, be we please Hime by believing that He exists and having confidence in His loving and forgiving nature. He rewards us with the gifts of salvation when we humble cry out for mercy and repentance through faith.

Message Point 2:

FAITH TRUSTS GOD IN TIMES OF TROUBLE (PSALM 46:1-3)

Psalm 46:1–3 (KJV 1900)

1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Trials and tribulations are endemic to human existence. It is not a matter of if we will experience them but simply a matter of when. The psalmist reminds us that in the midst of turmoil and chaos, our faith should cause us to depend on God as our strength and refuge. Other people do not have the last word, but God is ultimately in control of our lives and the circumstances surrounding them. In spite of sickness and disease, natural disasters, economic recessions and downturns, family problems, or whatever woes we may encounter, God will protect us, hide us from the storm, and give us strength to stand in the midst of adversity.

Message Point 3:

FAITH KNOWS THAT GOD IS ABLE (PSALM 46:8-11)

Psalm 46:8–11 KJV 1900

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, What desolations he hath made in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

We have faith in God because He has proven His trustworthiness through His mighty acts. Isreal had faith in God, and He delivered them from the Egyptians and brought them into the Promised Land. This formative experience enabled them to be continually reminded of God’s might and strength when they faced their enemies. In the same way, God has done mighty acts in our lives that should remind us that we can trust Him. While faith believes in the unseen, faith also trusts that God’s nature is consistent and that He who delivered us before will also deliver us again. The Lord of Hosts dwells with us and empowers us to overcome whatever obstacles the enemy places in our path. God is our stronghold, and having faith in Him, we cannot be shaken.

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” As we move onwards and upwards in this journey of life, we may feel stuck on a step because we do not know what is coming next. We are unsure if the job, house, or relationship we desire will come to fruition. And based on what we see on the news and experience in our daily lives, it seems like society is taking steps backwards in terms of justice and equality. But by faith, we can take that next step because we trust in the One who built the staircase.

Closing

Although society tries to exalt reason and opinion above faith, we know through our texts that faith is the highest for of knowing. The philosopher Soren Kierkergaard refuted other philosophers who felt that faith was the beginning of knowledge, and he asserted that faith constitutes ultimate knowledge. We do not adequately know anything until we know God through faith. In Christ, everything finds its fullest meaning Colossians 1:15-17

Colossians 1:15–17 KJV 1900

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

and by trusting in Christ alone, we come to know and experience the power of God.

As Christians, we should never feel that faith is subservient to science, technology, or human ingenuity. We must trust in God because only He has the power to sustain us through the trials that will inevitably make an impact on our lives.