FAITH

Hebrews 11:1-6  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.  (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.  (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.  (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.

INTRODUCTION:           Within our Holy King James Bible, we find many stories of patriarchs whose lives show us the faith they lived with.  These stories of both men and women have shown us the detail of their faithful lives.  They have shown us our Father in Heaven through their lives.

              Yet, in all the stories, and all the words, the chapters, the books that make up our King James Bible, we have only one verse which spells out to us FAITH.  

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

              There are a few words within this verse we probably need to define.  The first word is Substance = the essence of assurance, confidence, confident.  The second word is evidence = proof, conviction.

              Now we can see what Paul was teaching us, essentially that our faith is our confidence in the proofs we see in life.       

              Faith is many things we see and know in our life.  Faith is, trusting, believing, having the confidence, and hoping to have all that God is, all because we confidently know He exists.

              Faith isn’t “I think so”   “I hope so” ‘It maybe so” “He might exist.”  Faith is I know so; period.

              Our faith is more of an experience with God.  The more you experience Him, the stronger your Faith grows.  The more we use the knowledge of the Holy Spirit the stronger our faith is.

              We know when we see the result of the wind, yet we cannot see where it really is, or where it came from, or where it is going, but we know it is there.  Just as we know when God blesses us, and answer a specific prayer, we know who did it we just cannot see or touch Him.  My God is real and my experience with Him is greater today than last month.  Experience Him in faith.

I.            THE REWARD OF FAITH                                                      (v 2) 

              A.           The Patriarchs Believed

              1.           They pleased God

                                           i.            Through their Faith

Ephesians 1:6-7  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  (7)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

2.               His Grace was extended to us

i.                Through Jesus on the Cross

              a.           God’s only begotten Son

B.              The Patriarch Turned From The World

1.               They followed God

Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2.               Their reasonable service

                                           i.            We are to follow as they did

                             3.           They received a good report

                                           i.            If we follow, we will also

2 Corinthians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

                                           ii.           Good or bad; a report before Jesus

II.           GOD IS THE CREATOR                                                         (v 3)

              A.           He formed it all

John 1:1-5  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  (4)  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  (5)  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

                             1.           He is the Word

                                           i.            ALL things were made by Him

              B.           Only Because Of Him Is There Life

                             1.           Life is His light

John 1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

i.                He is the Christ, Jesus

C.              The World [Darkness] Cannot Comprehend The Light

1.               The World Will Accept Any God; except

              i.            They will not tolerate Jesus

              ii.           When God, the Father of Jesus is mentioned, we have violated                    

                            the darkness

                             a.           A crack of light is not acceptable

Matthew Henry, Bible Commentator of the past, stated “By faith we understand much more of the formation of the world than ever could be understood by the naked eye of natural reason.  Faith is not a force upon understanding, but a friend and a help to it…”

Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2.               “In the beginning”

              i.            Our universal “beginning”

              ii.           Not God’s “beginning”

                             a.           God has always been eternally

III.         THE POWER OF FAITH                                                    (vv 4-5)  

              A.           A Twofold Power

                             1.           To be counted righteous

Genesis 15:6  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

                                           i.            Abraham was saved because he believed

                                           ii.           Abraham wasn’t

a.               Baptized

b.               A faithful church goer

c.               A faithful reader of his Bible

d.               A follower of Mosaic law

iii.          He was a believer

a.               Now in Heaven

2.           To be delivered fro death

              i.            A glorious death

                             a.           Eternal life in Heaven

              ii.           Enoch believed

                             a.           He was translated

IV.         WITHOUT FAITH                                                                  (v  6) 

              A.           It Is Impossible To Please God

                             1.           To please God

                                           i.            Our Faith must be an active Faith

                                                          a.           It is not an occasional prayer

                                                          b.           It is not being in church intermittently

                                                                        (A CEO Baptist / Christmas and Easter Only)

                                                          c.            It is not tithing on some occasion

              B.           A Person Who Accepts Jesus

                             1.           Must believe a few things

                                           i.            That Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of God

                                           ii.           That we believe in the Father, in Heaven

                                           iii.          That God is a rewarder

                                                          a.           To those who seek Him

Romans 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

CONCLUSION:               Where is your faith?  Spend time in church, in your King James Bible, in prayer, to increase your faith.  If you have great faithfulness, it still isn’t great enough, it can be greater.  If you seem to lack faith, listen to the preacher, read your Bible, Pray.  It is the only way.