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Hebrews 11
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the proof of things not seen.
For by this the people of old received their commendation.
Faith is the “substance”
Greek: hupostasis = underlying reality
Heb 1:3 “the Son is the exact representation of God’s hupostasis (underlying reality)”
The underlying reality is the invisible eternal kingdom of God
Living faithfully brings the kingdom into this world
Faith is the “proof” or “conviction” of things not seen.
Faith is the proof or conviction that:
if we are faithful in the events of the present,
God will be faithful in looking after the events of the future, the events that have not yet happened.
Genesis 5
So Enoch’s life lasted 365 years. 24Enoch walked with God;
then he was not there because God took him.
Hebrews 11
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him.
Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him
The curse of our self-centred culture
Reduces faith to name it and claim it
If we don’t get more of what this world has to offer, we think our faith has failed us.
Faith: continual sowing into God’s purposes
to raise our children a different way and with different values than those around us.
to conduct our financial affairs differently
to walk faithfully in the marriage covenant
to walk in integrity, to be people who do not walk out on one another.
to be men and women of honour whose word is their bond, and who remain faithful to it even at their cost.
to suffer, even die, and in the midst to remain faithful is the highest victory of faith than can be won
Like a farmer sowing seed, faith does not require instant results. It perseveres, without wavering, days, years or decades.
Hebrews 12
Therefore... let us lay aside every hindrance... And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us
Faith makes ordinary people extraordinary
Faith takes spiritual pygmies and turns them into giants.
Transforms ordinary folk into people who change the world.
Exercising faith is not an option.
It doesn’t matter how or where we begin, but it does matter that we begin.
Small steps now will turn into mighty strides later.