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What is Faith?<\/h2>\n
The Biblical definition of faith is found in Hebrews 11:1<\/a> which says: \u201cNow faith is the\u00a0substance of things hoped for, the\u00a0evidence\u00a0of things not seen<\/em>.\u201d According to this verse in Hebrews, faith is having the sense that there is evidence of a spiritual world that goes beyond our five senses. In other words, we may not be able to see it, but we know and believe it\u2019s there.<\/p>\n Faith surpasses what our eyes can see, or what our ears can hear. It is what enables us to know that even though we cannot see God, He is there. Faith is what\u2019s needed in order to experience the things we can\u2019t see or touch. Furthermore, it is the willingness to rely on and trust in God, no matter what.<\/p>\n Increasing our faith doesn\u2019t happen overnight. It is a process that occurs over time and develops as we put our trust in the Lord. In fact, faith builds each and every day. However, sometimes our faith can waver depending on what we are going through.<\/p>\n Faith gives us the ability to see what could be<\/em><\/strong> when trusting in the Lord and then taking that vision and applying it to our lives in the present time. The author of Hebrews gives examples of ten heroes of faith in Hebrews chapter eleven. The faith of each of these heroes gives us a picture of what true faith looks like and what God considers true faith to be.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to read the stories of the heroes of faith, click here<\/a><\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n The stories of these ten people are examples of what true faith looks like, especially in God\u2019s eyes. In this article, we will look at five of these heroes. Each story is an example of faith that hopefully resonates with each of us and in turn allow us to apply the lessons to our lives.<\/p>\n (To Read Part Two of \u201cWhat Does it Really Meant to Have Faith\u201d Click here)<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n In Hebrews 11:4<\/a> we read the story of Abel\u2019s faith. Abel was the son of Adam and Eve.<\/p>\n \u201cBy faith\u00a0Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still\u00a0speaks.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Abel offered God a sacrifice that was pleasing to Him <\/em><\/strong>(God); he didn\u2019t do it his way or how he thought would be best. He presented God a sacrifice that Able knew would please God.<\/p>\n True faith desires to please God on HIS terms, the way HE wants, not the way we think it should be.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Enoch was a prophet of the Lord who served Him humbly all of his life. He trusted in God and was obedient. In fact, Genesis 5:24<\/a> tells us that \u201cEnoch walked with God\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n In Hebrews 11:5-6<\/a> we read this about Enoch: \u201cBy faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death,\u00a0\u201cand was not found, because God had taken him\u201d; for before he was taken, he had this testimony, that he pleased God.\u00a0But without faith\u00a0it is\u00a0impossible to please\u00a0Him,\u00a0for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and\u00a0that\u00a0He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Enoch pleased God. How? Through his enormous faith. He trusted in God and obeyed Him. He sought the Lord with all of his heart.<\/p>\n In these verses we read how Enoch was pleasing to the Lord and verse six tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith. That means that through faith we believe God is who He says He is. And did you notice that there is a blessing attached to this as well? If we diligently seek the Lord, He will reward us.<\/p>\n Sincere faith believes that God exists and expects that He will bestow blessings upon us. BUT\u2026 we must seek Him diligently (every single day).<\/p>\n The story of Noah is much more than a man building an ark. It is a story of a strong man of faith who obeyed God even when he didn\u2019t understand God\u2019s instructions. In Hebrews 11:7<\/a> we read concerning Noah: \u201c<\/sup><\/strong>By faith\u00a0Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear,\u00a0prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of\u00a0the righteousness which is according to faith.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n At the time of Noah, it had never rained on the earth. Yet, God instructed him to build the ark, and Noah didn\u2019t even understand why. Although the Bible doesn\u2019t directly say so, Noah was most likely mocked and ridiculed by others as he built the ark. However, none of these things stopped Noah from building the ark. Noah believed, obeyed and remained faithful to the Lord.<\/p>\n True faith cares more about what God wants us to do than what others think about what we are doing. This kind of faith allows us to continue in obedience even when we don\u2019t know what the end result is going to be. This faith is basically believing without seeing and trusting God no matter what.<\/p>\n (Does Your Prayer Life Need a Boost? Click here)<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n God promised Abraham an inheritance. In Genesis 12:1<\/a> God tells Abraham to \u201cGet\u00a0out of your country, from your family and from your father\u2019s house to a land that I will show you.\u201d <\/em>Abraham did not ask questions; he packed up his family and he followed the Lord. He displayed great faith and trust knowing that the Lord would take care of him and deliver on His promises.<\/p>\n To have faith means that no matter where God is leading us, we follow without hesitation. We may have no idea what God\u2019s plans are, but we believe in Him despite not knowing.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Abraham is mentioned twice in the list of heroes of the faith. In Hebrews 11:17<\/a> we read this about Abraham: \u201cBy faith Abraham,\u00a0when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten\u00a0son, of whom it was said,\u00a0\u201cIn Isaac your seed shall be called,\u201d\u00a0concluding that God\u00a0was\u00a0able to raise\u00a0him\u00a0up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n For those of you who are parents, can you imagine receiving instructions like this from God? Sacrifice your own child? I cannot fathom worse instructions. However, Abraham did not stop to ask questions, he didn\u2019t ask God to chose something else for him to do, he obeyed God\u2019s command.<\/p>\n How was Abraham able to obey?\u00a0 His great faith enabled him to follow the Lord\u2019s instructions. Abraham knew that God had made a promise and that one way or another, God would keep that promise.<\/p>\n God sometimes tests our faith. When He does, it\u2019s not time to allow doubt to set in or to start questioning everything we know to be true about God. If we believe in Him and His promises, we know that He will see us through.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Sarah was Abraham\u2019s wife and was unable to bear children her entire life. When Sarah was around 90 years old (way past the age of childbearing) and Abraham was around 100, God promised them a child. In Genesis 18:11-15<\/a> we read the account where Sarah finds out that God is going to give her a child. Sarah\u2019s response is to laugh. She could not imagine becoming pregnant at her age. However, despite her initial response, Sarah believed.<\/p>\nHeroes of Faith<\/h2>\n
ABEL<\/h3>\n
Takeaway<\/h4>\n
ENOCH<\/h3>\n
Takeaway<\/h4>\n
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NOAH<\/h3>\n
Takeaway<\/h4>\n
ABRAHAM \u2013 #1<\/h3>\n
Takeaway<\/h4>\n
ABRAHAM \u2013 #2<\/h3>\n
Takeaway<\/h4>\n
SARAH<\/h3>\n
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