Why is there an entire chapter on faith? In the previous chapter, we learned that our confidence comes from believing in Jesus. Now the writer wants us to know that faith alone pleases God. At that time, do not shrink back from your faith.
What is biblical faith? Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith stands as a hidden principle of the believer’s life, upholding him in times of affliction and life itself. The evidence is in the conviction. How do you know God is real? The evidence is in the faith of his believers. Faith is the organ which enables people to see the invisible. Biblical faith is not natural faith, presumptuous faith, faith in faith, mental faith or superstitious faith. You cannot base faith on our five senses. Or base it on the assumption of what you’ve heard is possible. You do not generate your own faith (which has nothing to do with God). And simply believing in God does not mean that you have a faith that pleases God. For even the devil believes in God.
James 2:17
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Superstition is based on fear and not theory. A faith that pleases God is no based on theory and not conceptual. You can declare and confess your faith all you want, but only acted out faith can please God.
Hebrews 11:6
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.
What caused Abraham, Abel, Noah and all the other heroes of faith to act out that way? The underlining substance was that they believed that God would honor what he said he would do.
Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
You must hear God’s word. Stephen Hawking is a man who has clearly not read his Bible. Hence he has no faith. If we are to have faith that is acted out we need to hear the word and hear his voice through it. We may ask ourselves if God exists. If he can be trusted, and if he is all sufficient for us. These questions are normal, but you will never obey a leader whom you can’t trust. Even though Abraham didn’t know where he was going, he went because he knew who he was following.
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,
He offered his son Issac as a sacrifice even though he knew child sacrifice at the time was a practice that belonged to other religions. It was perplexing situation, and he must have wondered to himself, “Why does God want me to do this?” Yet he obeyed because he understood: God will not show you every detail (ie how he can raise someone from the dead) but rational faith is based on an intimate relationship. He moved because God had spoken and he considered Him faithful to his promise. He reasoned that God could raise the dead.
In God’s heart that is not even a hint of evil. All the plans he has for us are good. From Genesis 22 we hear for the first time about Love. God is love and he is able and powerful. Abraham admitted that there must be something he did not understand. We may not be able, but God is able. You must know what kind of God you have. Establish who he is. It is not something dreamy thing, you must ask questions to build your faith.
In the jungles of Borneo, in the interior is an overwhelming atmosphere of people worshipping God. This was made possible by missionaries who had left their homeland (Australia) and traveled by foot, into the depths of the jungle to reach the tribes that lived there. There were many dangers, and yet they knew God had spoken. 60% of Christians in Malaysia are in Sabah and Sarawak. What if the missionaries had never made in there? If only the same could be done in places like Afghanistan.
As we act out in faith, He will reward us. When Noah acted out in faith and built the ark, when the floods came up, everyone knew that God existed. They knew that there must be a God. If missionaries had never gone into the interiors, there would be no SIB church today. If our Pastors had considered their own ideas about what they should do, and what they wanted, we would have never had them. But heroes of faith focus on a better country, in God. They know that his destiny is better and that the rewards of faith are what enable us to understand what the mind does not. Faith enables us to stay true to him, even in death. Keeps us believing and keeps us saved.
Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Fix your eyes on Jesus and focus on the God of your prayer, not just the answer to your prayer.
19 September 2010
Special Thanks to Pastor Lew Lee Choo
Thank you