What is Faith?

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.(KJV)
New American Standard Bible
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

There is something very exciting about this truth!

The substance or assurance of things hoped for!
The evidence or conviction of things not seen!
Believing to the point of action!
To rely upon to trust!

We are saved by Faith

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Christian is to Live a Life of Faith

Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith.

The Christian can not please God without Faith

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him.

All of God´s Blessings come through Faith!

Hebrews 11:6 For he that cometh to god must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

God is bigger than our Faith

Read Hebrews 11:8-10

The call of Abraham

Read Genesis 12:1-3

God promised Abraham these things

A New Land
To be made a Great Nation
He would be blessed
His name made Great
All Nations would be blessed through him

God´s Blessings went beyond Abraham´s Faith

He didn´t know about heroes of faith to follow
He didn´t know his name would appear in the Bible
He didn´t know we would still honor him
God blessed him beyond his expectations

God Still Blesses way Beyond What We Ask or Think!

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

God is Better Than Our Faith

Look at what Sarah accomplished by faith read verse 11
She bore the promised child Isaac
she was well past the child bearing age

Look also at how small her faith was

Read Genesis 18:12

She laughed when she was given the promise

She also laughed about her laughing

Read Genesis 18:15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not, for she was afraid.

But God still honored her small faith and gave her a son!

The disciples small faith in the midst of a storm

read Mark 4:35-41
God also tells us in Matthew 17:20 that if our faith was as much as a mustard seed, what we could do in our lives.

God´s promises to Build Our Faith

Read verses 12-19
God is bigger than our faith
God is better than our faith

By faith Abraham offered up Isaac!

How could Abraham do this?

Look at the Promises

Read Hebrews 11:17-19

Faith grows as we take in God´s Word

Read Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

We read God´s Word and see the examples God has given us to make our faith soar!

These are examples of ones that have walked by faith.
Moses opening the Red Sea
The Walls of Jericho Falling
David defeating Goliath
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo in the firey furnace
Samson
Elijah calling down fire from heaven
Peter walking on water
Lazarus raised from the dead
The lame to walk
The blind to see
Lepers cleansed
Demons cast out

Claiming Bible Promises Increases Our Faith

God will supply all my needs
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
All things are possible through God
The peace of God that passes all understanding
By His stripes we are healed
Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world
No weapon formed against me will prosper
Nothing can separate me from God´s love
I will never leave you, nor forsake you
Ye who are heavy laden, I will give you rest
Read in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words!

In Conclusion, all this means is!

Trust God for the Impossible!

Our Lord will come through for Us!

God is Bigger and Better Than Our Faith!

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
⁹ By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
¹⁰ For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
¹¹ Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
¹² Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
¹⁴ For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
¹⁵ And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
¹⁶ But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city.
¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.
¹⁸ Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
¹⁹ Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead from whence also he received him in a figure.
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Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
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Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
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Hebrews 11:6 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.
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Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
⁹ By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
¹⁰ For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
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Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father´s house, unto a land that I will show thee.
² And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.
³ And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
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Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
²¹ Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
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Hebrews 11:11 Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
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Genesis 18:12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
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Genesis 18:15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
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Mark 4:35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
³⁶ And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
³⁷ And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
³⁸ And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
³⁹ And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
⁴⁰ And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
⁴¹ And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
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Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief, for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
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Hebrews 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
¹⁴ For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
¹⁵ And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
¹⁶ But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city.
¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.
¹⁸ Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
¹⁹ Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead from whence also he received him in a figure.
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Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
¹⁸ But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
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Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.
¹⁸ Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
¹⁹ Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead from whence also he received him in a figure.
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1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
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Last updated on September 15, 2005