FAITH

Daily Friendship with God #10 Faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

(Hebrews 11:1)

Below is the same verse but I have added in some of the original Greek language definitions for the words “substance”, “hoped” and “evidence” as faith relates to those who put their faith in Jesus. 

Now faith is the Foundation by which we have steadfastness of mind, to live in courage, resolution, firm trust and assurance of joy filled confidence, it is the proof of our conviction based on the things that have been and are being accomplished by God even though they may be not seen with the human naturel eyes or mind. 

The Bible has much to say about faith. This Daily Friendship with God is only the tip of the iceberg. In reading the bible we hear the words that God is speaking to us and it is what increases our faith. 

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

(Romans 10:17) 

The word in Romans 10:17 for “word” is Rhema in Greek and it means at its core, a thing spoken, speech, discourse what one has said. Or faith is increased as we hear God speak to us personally. There are many ways by which this happens. One way is through people that speak to us on God’s behalf.  The first and most confident way to hear God speak to us is by reading the written word of God known as the Bible. This does not mean you must hear the audible voice of God to hear from God. God can speak to you that way but most commonly He speaks to us in our spirit. The really cool thing about reading the bible is that it is the only book that you can read that every time you read it you can speak with the Author about what He wrote. In doing so your faith increases. For example take a few minutes to ask God about the following Bible verse. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

If you were to ask a Jewish person what the word faith means to them they would tell you it is the whole of their life.  Faith produces the actions we do in our life and those actions of faith prove that we have faith. We are not saved by those actions they are just the proof that we truly have faith and if we have no actions that prove that we have faith then we do not have faith.  This is the idea stated in the verse below. 

My dear brothers and sisters, what good is it if someone claims to have faith but demonstrates no good deeds to prove it? How could this kind of faith save anyone?  For example, if a brother or sister in the faith is poorly clothed and hungry  and you leave them saying, “Good-bye. I hope you stay warm and have plenty to eat,” but you don’t provide them with a coat or even a cup of soup, what good is your faith? So then faith that doesn’t involve action is phony (James 2:14-17) TPT

Faith is tied to believing and in many places in the bible the words are interchangeable. In the Greek original writings the word for faith and  believe is “pisteuō” and it comes in many different forms depending how and where it is used. Jesus tells us in the verse below to Repent and have Faith in the Gospel as was noted in the previous Friendship with God concerning Repentance. 

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

(Mark 1:15)

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) 

This verse ties into the very reason that we were created by God and therefore faith is the foundation of or life on earth. 

“You are worthy, O Lord,

To receive glory and honor and power;

For You created all things,

And for Your pleasure they exist and were created.”

(Revelation 4:11)

A great place to read about faith in the bible is found in the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews. I pray in faith, that your faith will increase as you read and hear God’s voice in the bible as well as from all the other forms by which He communicates with His children. 

Extra insights on how faith is increased by hearing God speak to us.

It is important to understand that in each of these ways of hearing from God the ultimate way to know whether or not what you hear is from God is by testing against what is written in the bible. For example if someone (or anything) tells you, that should hate your enemies then you know that is not from God based upon what Jesus said in the following verse in the bible. 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…(Matthew 5:43-45a) 

Please keep this in mind as you read the follow article I found on the internet as to how we can hear God speaking to us 

Skeptics say God doesn’t speak anymore. Even some Christians claim God only speaks through the Bible. 

Really? Did He get laryngitis and lose His voice? Did He change? Did He cease being God? Malachi 3:6 (NKJV) affirms, “For I am the Lord, I do not change.” That means if God saved in Bible times, He still saves today. If He healed then, He still heals now. If He spoke to people in the past, He still does. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). 

The question is not, is God still speaking? The question is, are we listening? Jesus implored all seven churches of Asia, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:7). Consider 12 ways God still speaks today:

• Audible Voice: Though seemingly rare, God has and still can speak audibly. Adam and Eve heard God’s voice in the Garden of Eden (Geneses 3:8). God spoke audibly to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:4-6) and to all Israel from Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1-22). In the New Testament, the Father endorsed Jesus at His baptism and His transfiguration with a literal voice. Saul and his posse saw Christ in a blinding light and heard His voice (Acts. 9:3-7). God is sovereign, and He can speak however and whenever He wants.

• Angelic Visitation: Angels are agents on assignment—God’s messengers sent to minister to heirs of salvation. There are numerous instances in Scripture where angels informed, warned or conveyed divine messages to individuals. They are still on the job. 

• Visions and Dreams: “I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh . . . your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17). A vision is an inspired appearance (something you see literally with your eyes or in your mind or spirit). A dream is something seen in your sleep or something you imagine doing—a goal or an aspiration. God can insert images and ideas into our minds whether we are conscious or not.  

• Signs: Is it wrong to ask God for a sign? It depends on our motive. People who asked Jesus for a miracle just for show or to prove His divinity were denied, but those who asked God for a sign to ascertain or confirm His will were often rewarded. Gideon put a fleece out sincerely seeking confirmation of God’s will and was obliged (Judges 6:36-40). We serve a supernatural God of signs and wonders.

• Coincidences: Albert Einstein noted, “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” When I was praying about printing my first book, the estimated cost was $3,000 in the late 1980’s. I was in a meeting when a woman I had never met before nor seen since gave me an envelope and said, “God told me to give this to you.” It contained a diamond ring which appraised for . . . you guessed it, $3,000. You can call that a coincidence; I call it providence—God confirming and providing for His will. 

• The Written Word: The logos (the Bible) is a main way God speaks today but it is not the only way. The logos is God’s general Word for everyone. God speaks to us when we read the Bible on nearly every issue that applies to modern living. Jesus, the Bread of Life, taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). God has fresh spiritual manna to share with us every day if we’ll take the time to read His Word. 

• The Living Word: Jesus said, “The words [Greek: rhema] that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John. 6:63). The rhema Word is a specific message the Holy Spirit inspires to you personally. It’s a specific word for a specific time and for a specific need. It occurs when the written or spoken Word comes alive with special meaning in your situation.  

• Through People: “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). An “oracle” is an “utterance, a spokesman or mouthpiece.” God speaks through preachers and teachers, but He can also speak through our spouse, kids, friends and even enemies. God uses human channels to speak words of prophecy, tongues and interpretation and words of wisdom and knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). God also expresses Himself through human vessels to distribute His message in anointed sermons, songs and writings.

• Mass Media: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations” (Matthew 24:14). Due to technology, this Scripture is literally being fulfilled as the Gospel proliferates the globe. While Satan manipulates the media to spread his vile message like a virus, God also utilizes the media to disseminate His truth via satellite TV, radio, internet, websites, social media, books, podcasts, movies and music. 

 • Through Creation and Nature: Psalms 19:1 proclaims, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” The vastness of space and the complexity of nature testify to God’s intelligent design. You can hear the Creator’s voice in a bubbling brook, in the song of a bird, in the wind whistling through the trees and in a baby’s cry.

• Through Our Conscience: God hardwired us with an inner awareness of what is right and wrong with an inclination to do right. George Washington said, “Labor to keep alive within your breast (heart) that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.” 

• His Still Small Voice: Elijah was camping in a cave on Mount Sinai when God manifested Himself. Elijah saw a powerful wind, a mighty earthquake and a fierce fire, but God wasn’t in any of them. Instead, God spoke to him in a “still small voice,” also translated “a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:9-12). God often speaks to us by the inner witness of the Holy Spirit to our spirit (Romans 8:14-16). 

God will speak to us more often as we learn to recognize His voice. We expect to hear from Him at church, but God doesn’t just speak on Sundays. He wants to speak to us all through the week. Jesus indicated, “My sheep hear My voice” (John 10:27). God is still speaking and we get the privilege to listen by Faith!