Hi Leaf,
Since you and I are pretty much on the same page I would suspect it means close to the same thing to both of us.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is substance...something that is not there in the natural but is there by faith. OF THINGS HOPED FOR. I suppose if my wife had cancer and I was operating in this type of faith I would be acting like she never even had cancer, thanking God for her healing although the doctors are saying differently.Brings a lady in my memory of last year. Patty was 45 and was diagnosed with a rare cancer. She read faith books/and the BIble non-stop. When folks such as I visited her to minister....we would be the ones to get prayed for and ministered to. She confessed her healing and thanked Him hourly for her healing. She glowed with the joy of the Lord.
She was practicing Hebrew 11:1. She went to every church service. However; the evidence was not seen.She only grew worse and went to be with the Lord.Through it all her husband got saved. Yes I love the stories tha tcome out where the evidence was a healing but in this case it wasn't .She was a devout /non-compromising women.I was surprised she wasn't healed. We have to trust that God knows what he is doing.
Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
I guess I must be different. I can conclude nothing else. It is not that I am wrong or right. It is not that others are wrong or right. But I see this differently, I guess.
I am a citizen of heaven. I am not there yet, but I KNOW that I am a citizen. If I am not safe and secure in that, then God is a liar. His Word tells me that those in the faith will never perish. I believe it!
I am not going to spend my time on this earth worrying about such things as sickness and potential healings of my flesh. It matters little what happens to this flesh of ours. Every single one of us will be dead in a few years. Our years are like a milli-second in God's sight. I will certainly pray and seek the face of god in such instances. But I am content to believe that His perfect will ---will be done. However, our souls will live eternally. And that is why the choice of faith is so important. We will live with God or apart from god. The choice is ours. Yes, we have that free will. I've been called names like "calvinist" on this message board. Don't really care. Calvin was right about some things and wrong about some things. What matters is what God says---not what some man says. Jesus Christ died for every human being on this planet. Atonement is not limited. Calvin wouldn't like me for saying that, but God's Bible says it.
As you fellows well know, I do not seek any signs. I don't need them. My faith is a done deal and a settled matter. It will not change because my Savior is always persevering toward me. Yes, I believe that Christians are eternally secure----and safe in the arms of Jesus. Most people have a poor understanding of that doctrine. It is not that I hold to my Savior with my feeble faith. Rather, He holds to me. Chuck, as you go through John's gospel, you will encounter John 10:27-29. I anxiously await your thoughts on those verses.
Faith is a beautiful subject---A beautiful concept.---A beautiful reality for those of us who have thrust all that we hope for, all that we are, and all that we will be in eternity upon the Christ who covers us in the blood of His righteousness. The Christ who gives His Holy Spirit to every believer the very moment he believes. God in us!
Clint,
I honestly love reading your replys. I say that with no strings attached. I wrote my reply because that is the way I was taught it.I am learning so many new things as I 've been going through John. I've learned the reason I'm learning new things is because I'm pressured now to look up every verse where in the past I could skip over the ones that might take a little effort. I'm glad you shared.Many of my thoughts are only sedimentary.They are not metamorphic yet. LOL I still have a little bit of a teachable spirit left.LOL
Thanks Chuck, I have also seen folk that I was sure would be healed go on to be with the Father. I thought it would be interesting and maybe informative to hear what others have to say about this verse.
Clint, thanks for posting, I'm not sure if you replied to the verse or not. It's funny that you went in the direction of "signs", because signs were'nt on my mind. There's a lot more to faith than "faith in healing". LOL, If I'm "gun shy", then your sitting on a hair trigger.
So, I can gather from your post that "faith" is believing that your saved and that you will go to heaven?. . .anything more?
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Thanks Chuck, I have also seen folk that I was sure would be healed go on to be with the Father. I thought it would be interesting and maybe informative to hear what others have to say about this verse.
Clint, thanks for posting, I'm not sure if you replied to the verse or not. It's funny that you went in the direction of "signs", because signs were'nt even on my mind. There's a lot more to faith than "faith in healing". LOL, If I'm "gun shy", then your sitting on a hair trigger.
So, I can gather from your post that "faith" is believing that your saved and that you will go to heaven?. . .anything more?
Clint, I'm sorry but your mis-reading me. You usually have pretty good posts and I simply thought you could possibly have more to offer on the subject. Not only do I not want to argue, . . .I'm not going to argue. If I have offended you in some way , you have my apologies.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Leaf,
After I went to bed I thought more on this verse. Actually I practice this verse quite a bit. The Lord brought to my mind many verses that go with this verse. Clint ,I don't run and seek after signs.This verse to me is a valuable tool.Kind of like the jack in my truck. If I have a flat I'm not going to say ,oh well ,that must be God's will. I'm going to read the directions and try to change the wheel. Same as Hebrews 11:1.
Let's look at Hebrews11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. "
To me taking God at His word pleases Him. I actually practice this verse everyday. Here are some different ways I am practicing that verse now.
1. When someone needs healed on this forum....I thank God in advance for what He's doing.Matthew21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. I have put this into practise many times. God wants His children to walk in faith.Do all get healed? No.Should all Christians walk in faith anyway?Yes.
2. I believe God can make me a great teacher,dad ,fishermen, hunter, soul-winner.I believe He can give me self-control over lust ,over eatting and help me desire healthy food and not junk.I believe and am currently experiencing victory. Actually Clint...this verse is a LARGE part of the Christian life. For we gentiles are "justified by faith." To live by faith gets into the everyday life.Leaf ,I could just give you a holy kiss for bringing this up.Faith gets me excited. Faith is ...as Leaf brought up."Calling those things that are not as though they are."
This topic stirs my soul.
"The just shall live by faith. " The sad thing is Clint..most of the false teachers on TV use this same topic and verses to decieve people. I say though..'Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."I don't watch any TV and I don't go to any 'faith churches.' Why? Because I hate what I see preached in the name of faith. It seems that the sermon is always about sowing what's in your wallet into the pastor's wallet.That's not faith, that is manipulation. These kind are fleecing the flock. I stay miles away from them. I love God first. this is just a fruit of the Spirit. The Spirit produces faith in my life. Leaf,I do better in the morning brother. God bless you for bringing up such an awesome topic.
Glad your enjoying the verse Chuck. I was hoping to get more replies on this verse, the study of faith is exampled thru out the bible. I don't believe that there is a right or a wrong answer for those that are truley trusting God.
To me the "hope" mentioned in this verse is not a "wish". It is really expecting a change in the reality of a situation that is not of God. Clint brought up some good points. We hope for the ressurection from the dead because we know that it is not His will that we should remain in the grave. We know from His word that he ressurected Himself. We are not simply denying reality and only hopng, there is evidence and reasons for our faith. We are not wishing for His promises to come true . . .we're waiting for them.
I don't believe that faith is some mental game, or even something that we have to make all complicated if we are asked to have childlike faith. We are often let down tho if we are applying what we cinsider faith to "our" self serving and selfish desires. Thinking that putting Jesus name at the end of a prayer that is geared to what we want for ourselves (selfishness or more than what we need), is to me highly unscriptural.
If I read bible faith right, it is trusting in God with our hearts and our actions. I don't tell God what I want and then believe hard enouh until I get it. I believe in His word, and in His will and in all things trusting that He will do what is best for me and others. I remind myself not to tell God what path I want to walk down, but trust Him to lead me down the path I need to go down.
All the big ones in the bible tusted God to do what He said He would do. They acted on His word. I'm at work today, my time is limited on this box. I will try to put more down here that I am thinking of for you guys "critique" lol
Isn't faith in it's rightful perspective responding to God, rather than trying to bend Him to our own agenda?
Clint brought up a good point, . .our time here on earth is but a breath in the eternity that the Lord has in store for us. I believe His will for us will be carried out not only in this realm but in the world to come. I was just thinking of the woman that Chuck mentioned . . .she did recieve her healing you know.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Thanks Leaf,
I needed to hear everything that you said.It was very timely. I'm going through a sad time right now.I was hoping a friend of mine would be healed and it doesn't appear that way. Your words were a great encouragement.
"If I read bible faith right, it is trusting in God with our hearts and our actions. I don't tell God what I want and then believe hard enouh until I get it. I believe in His word, and in His will and in all things trusting that He will do what is best for me and others. I remind myself not to tell God what path I want to walk down, but trust Him to lead me down the path I need to go down. "
Faith Is
