Faith

Faith

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

Faith is the hand that grips eternal treasures—treasures that are just as visible to the eye of faith as natural treasures are to the natural eye. Faith overcomes the world and the things of the world. Faith grasps God’s thoughts and puts no confidence in human reasoning. Faith draws visible things forth from the invisible.

By faith we can bear scorn and mockery from those who judge in a human way. Faith does not find rest in things that are created. It only finds rest in the One who is the author and finisher of faith, Jesus Christ. Faith carries us beyond death and the grave, as it is written: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off [on the other side of death] were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Heb. 11:13. By faith Abraham went out to the place he would receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. Although he possessed the land by faith, he lived in it as a pilgrim and stranger.

Heavenly faith leads us to a heavenly home, and everyone who has this faith will inevitably become a stranger on earth. Faith sets us free from all earthly bonds, but it draws the eternal bonds even more tightly. Faith does not value anything it has forsaken. It has nothing to look back to, as Lot’s wife did. Only the Creator Himself can fully satisfy faith. This is the evidence that we are children of God. Faith leaves Egypt (the world) and Pharaoh (Satan) without fearing his wrath. Faith chooses to suffer affliction together with the people of God rather than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. Faith regards the reproach of Christ as the greatest riches. Faith not only overcomes the world, it also overcomes the lusts in the body and the body itself, which becomes a sacrifice in the obedience of faith. Faith holds firmly to the anchor of hope that has been cast inside the veil—beyond the flesh, beyond human reasoning, beyond everything that the senses can perceive. Only the Holy Spirit can nourish faith—man cannot accomplish this. Faith hears what the Spirit says to the church; it has anointed eyes, and it lays hold of gold refined in the fire.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, but by faith we, in the Spirit, search out the deeper things of God. In response to faith God opens His own heart, even His mysteries. God’s Word must be believed—every single word. Only then will it become living and effective in us. Put aside the things you do not believe or understand until you can lay hold of them by faith, because we go from faith to faith.

This is the word of faith that we preach.