What FAITH is:

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." HEBREWS 11:1

Zack: The Webster’s (or any other) dictionary couldn’t have come up with a better definition of faith than what the word of God just says in Hebrews 11:1. Simply put that definition is the whole epitome of faith. In this, the Spirit of God, through Paul, is telling us that faith is laying hold of the unrealities of hope and bringing them into the realm of reality.

Shiran: Zack, speaking of the Webster’s dictionary, I would just like to mention that to my knowledge, no book has been able to define anything as impeccably as the Bible does.

Zack: It is "the evidence of things not seen”, for instance if you hope for finances to meet an obligation; faith gives you the assurance that you’ll have the money when you need it. You hope for physical strength to do a job; faith says, “The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” – Psalm 27:1.

Shiran: That phrase, “the evidence of things not seen,” blessed me immensely one day, when I realized its meaning. It continues to bless even today. This is what happened. I looked up the definition of “evidence”. One of the definitions is, something indicative; an outward sign (American Heritage Dictionary). How can it be an outward sign, if it cannot be seen? Quite the oxymoron there! I think that is the essence of faith. You can’t see it, but it’s there. It is evident, although not seen.

Zack: Faith, the Bible tells us, grows out of the word of God. Romans 10:17, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Shiran: Allow me to interject, Zack. Faith comes by hearing. Further, hearing comes by the Word of God. Most people misread that verse, as "by hearing the word of God," instead of, "hearing by the word of God." It’s like a chain. The word of God -> Hearing -> Faith. The more we study the Bible, the more our faith is built. We see things that God did for people, and we realize that He does not change (Malachi 3:6) and can do the same for us, and we begin to believe Him for the impossible. Joshua, our example from the previous entry, prayed that the sun would not set, and it didn’t! The Bible says, the sun stood still in the midst of heaven… and there was no day like that before it or after it… for the LORD fought for Israel (Joshua 10:13-14). Things like that, and the promises that God makes us in His word, build our faith.

Zack: We must remember (always) that faith says the same thing the Word of God says.

Shiran: True! Faith is also a part of our armour, Zack. We know that this is a war. No soldier goes to war half-dressed. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that it is the most important! Above all, he says, take the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. The greater your faith, the more effective your shield. Going by Romans 10:17, we can conclude that the more we study the word, the easier it will be for us to resist the devil, that he may flee (James 4:7).

Zack: One of the best ways in the world to find out what something is, is to find out what it is not. Firstly, faith is NOT hope. A lot of times when it comes to receiving an answer to prayer, healing or the Holy Spirit, folk are just hoping they will receive. But you see, it is not hoping that gets the job done. It is believing. When we take sides against the word of God (some times unknowingly too), that is unbelief. And one sad thing is that there are so many believing folk who talk ‘unbelief’ and taking sides against the Word of God and they wonder why God’s Word doesn’t work for them. It won’t work because they are taking sides against it. If you want God’s Word to work for you, then you side with it.

Shiran: Amen! Someone said, fear is faith that something bad is going to happen. And doubt is faith that nothing good will happen. So really, we all knowingly or unknowingly exercise faith, just that sometimes, it’s faith in the wrong things. Like you say, God loves to come through for those who believe He will.

Zack: The Word states, Now faith is… –that is the present tense. If it’s not now, it’s not faith. When we say we’ll believe for our answer to prayer sometime, that’s not faith – it’s hope. Hope is always futuristic. But faith is now. Faith says, “I’ll receive right now. I have it now”. If somebody offered you some money, would you say, “Well I don’t know whether to receive it or not, so I can’t be sure to say I am”. Nay, you would receive it right there and then. In like manner, God has already given to us, but we must receive, of faith. Mark 11:24, Jesus said, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them… He did not say, hope that ye receive them, but “believe”. Not hoping but believing.

Shiran: Amen!

Zack: If you’re seeking healing, it’s not in the future you want to be healed. It’s right now. If you’re seeking the Holy Spirit, it’s not in the future you want to be filled, it’s now – as long as you keep putting it in the future, that’s where it will be and that’s where it’s gonna stay at.

A lot of folk are on about how God is going to do something for them. Faith says that He has done it and is doing it. Take for an example, when it comes to healing, a lot of people say God has promised to heal them in His Word. An incorrect statement. God has not promised to heal you at all. 1 Peter 2:24: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Read that last verse quote again.

Shiran: By whose stripes ye were healed. Past tense - already done.

Zack: When you’re done, does that translate into a promise? Nay, it’s a statement of fact which tells us that something has already happened. That verse doesn’t promise anyone healing. It tells you what belongs to you.

Shiran: It tells what’s been done, already! Zack, this is why constant, prayerful reading of scripture builds our faith. The Bible has a way of dispelling theories and opinions people have built in their own human knowledge. God lovingly shows us that His way is the best way, and that it is done. It is finished. All that we need, we can find in Him. He has supplied and continues to supply our every need (Phil 4:19). Oh, how I pray that rather than hope, I will believe! That my armour, and yours, and that of every soldier, is complete, and that our shields of faith are built up and strengthened in Christ!

Zack: One thing I can guarantee you, once folk quit hoping and seek and start to believe, they begin to receive what they seek almost immediately. That’s faith in God for you. Substance of things hoped for. Evidence of things not seen. Oh, how I love Jesus!