Hebrews 11:1<\/a> defines biblical faith as, \u201cthe substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.<\/em>\u201d\u00a0 Peter saw faith as from God \u201cwho through faith are shielded by God\u2019s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (1 Pet 1:5). Actually, \u201cBy faith we understand that the universe was formed at God\u2019s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (Heb 11:2). We all have faith in one way or another.\u00a0 You know by faith that the bridge you drive over in the fog will hold you up because it has been tested by time.\u00a0 You know by faith that the sun will rise in the morning because you have seen it time and again but faith in God is somewhat different.<\/p>\n In Hebrews 11, in what is called the Hall of Faith it says, \u201cAbel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (Heb 11:4).\u00a0\u00a0 And it was \u201cBy faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, \u201cIt is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.\u201d\u00a0Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (Heb 11:17-19).\u00a0 Abraham\u2019s faith was so strong that he understood that if the promised seed, Isaac, was killed Abraham knew that God could raise him from the dead. That is faith.\u00a0 It believes without seeing. Paul understood that \u201cwe live by faith, not by sight<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (2 Cor 5:7).<\/p>\n You can not earn faith.\u00a0 You can not work yourself up into having faith and it is not wishful thinking.\u00a0 Paul wrote, \u201cFor it is by grace you have been saved, through faith\u2013and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God<\/em>\u201c<\/span>(Eph 2:8). You are not the source of this faith because saving faith is a gift.\u00a0 If you have to earn it, it\u2019s not a gift.\u00a0 People take our money at the stores by faith.\u00a0 They see the money and their faith is in the legal tender and know that its backed by the government.\u00a0 Faith is tested over time and when we have answers to prayers, we know that God is faithful and our faith increases when God responds to our needs.<\/p>\n James wrote \u201cIf any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; \u00a0he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (James 1:5-8).\u00a0 Praying to God is having faith because we know He hears us.\u00a0 That is why James said we should \u201cask in faith, with no doubting<\/em>.\u201c<\/span>\u00a0 Faith is having no doubts.\u00a0 Faith is knowing that God will not only hear us but will answer our prayer, even if it\u2018s no.\u00a0 Moses once asked God to let him see His face but God told Moses no.\u00a0 He did allow him to see a small portion of His backside.\u00a0 If God had answered Moses prayer to see God\u2019s face, Moses would have died for no one can see God and live (Ex 33:20).\u00a0 That is why God told Moses no and sometimes why He tells us no. He knows what is best for us and sometimes it takes greater faith when we are told no.\u00a0 We show trust in God when He says know because He knows better than we do what is best for us.\u00a0 On the other hand, we can\u2019t doubt that God won\u2019t give us good things when we ask for them for it is our Father\u2019s good pleasure to give good things to His children (Luke 12:32).<\/p>\n The disciples once asked Jesus \u201cIncrease our faith!<\/em>\u201c<\/span> (Luke 17:5) and what did Jesus say?\u00a0 \u201cHe replied, \u201cIf you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, \u2018Be uprooted and planted in the sea,\u2019 and it will obey you<\/span><\/em>\u201d<\/span> (Luke 17:8).\u00a0 When a desperate father came to Jesus to help him with his son who was possessed with an unclean spirit the father said, \u201cIf you can\u2019?<\/em>\u201d (which showed that the father had doubts) but Jesus said, \u201c<\/span>Everything is possible for one who believes.\u201d<\/span> \u00a0Immediately the boy\u2019s father exclaimed, \u201cI do believe; help me overcome my unbelief<\/span><\/em>\u201d<\/span> (Mark 9:22-23)!\u00a0 Here the father asked for help to overcome his disbelief.\u00a0 God will answer that prayer just as Jesus did. The father said \u201cI do believe<\/em>\u201d<\/span> so he likely had faith only the size of a mustard seed and so that is why he said, \u201chelp me overcome my unbelief<\/em>\u201d<\/span> or it could be read, help my lack of faith.\u00a0 God will help us to increase our faith but faith will also come by hearing the word the Word of God in Sunday school and church and by reading the Word of God.\u00a0 Paul wrote that \u201cfaith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (Rom 10:17).\u00a0 People<\/a> who regularly read their Bible have greater faith because they see it lived out in the stories of the Bible.<\/p>\n It is not so much the size of the faith you have as the Object of the One you have faith it in.\u00a0 When that faith is in Jesus Christ, it is so great that it is enough to sustain you, to uphold you, and to save you.\u00a0 Even faith the size of a mustard seed is gigantic if it\u2019s in God.\u00a0 We can move mountains with faith.\u00a0 The mountains may be the giant obstacles in our path but I once told my children when I was working in a very labor-intensive job that I could move 5 tons!\u00a0 It was unloading skids or pallets for a company but I moved 5 tons of it; one box at a time.\u00a0 Its like moving mountains\u2026you can do it if you have even a tiny bit of faith\u2026even if you have to move it one teaspoon at a time.<\/p>\n We must have faith for God says that \u201cwithout 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<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (Heb 11:6).\u00a0 If you don\u2019t have faith in God it is like telling Him you don\u2019t trust Him.\u00a0 Jesus was not pleased with Thomas who didn\u2019t believe the disciples when they had said that Jesus was alive after His crucifixion. \u201cJesus told him, \u201cBecause you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed<\/em>\u201c<\/span> (John 20:29).\u00a0 Yes, seeing is believing but believing without seeing is faith!\u00a0 Jesus says to us who have not yet seen Him, \u201cblessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed<\/em>.\u201d<\/span> \u201cBy faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (Heb 11:7) and \u201cBy faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (Heb 11:8).<\/p>\n If you are not sure He can provide for you or pull you through a trial, ask Him to help your unbelief.\u00a0 The faith that comes from God and the faith that is in God is not a hope-so but a know-so faith.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t have faith in Jesus Christ, then your human faith is in vain.\u00a0 It will take you to hell for there is no other saving faith than that which is in Christ Jesus.\u00a0 Put your trust in Him and He will save you.\u00a0 That kind of saving faith is sure and certain or as Hebrews 11:1 says, it is \u201cthe substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Sources: photo credit: Lel4nd<\/a> via photopin<\/a> cc,<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Having a lack of faith has always been an issue for many Christians?\u00a0 Are there ways to increase our faith?\u00a0 How can we grow our faith?\u00a0 What does the Bible say are ways to increase or grow our faith? What is Faith? Hebrews 11:1 defines biblical faith as, \u201cthe substance of things hoped for, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1485,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[13,15,14],"class_list":["post-51","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-answers","tag-faith","tag-gifts","tag-growth"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/h2>\n
![\"Faith](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/348\/2013\/04\/medium_3985490626.jpg\" "\\"medium_3985490626\\"")
<\/a>Faith is a Gift<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
How to Grow Your Faith<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Article by Pastor Jack Wellman<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/348\/2013\/03\/Jack-Wellman.jpeg\" "\\"Jack")
<\/a>Jack Wellman is Senior Writer at What Christians Want to Know<\/a>\u00a0whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer\u2019s daily walk with God and the Bible.<\/p>\n