Substance part 1
I want to take the next few days and talk about faith. Because I think we have a very big misconception about it. And the way we throw the word around... we really ought to know what we're talking about. It seems to me that we think faith and hope are the same thing. Like... faith is wishing really hard in order to make something happen. "If I have enough faith I'll get what I hope for." But. According to Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Did you catch that? Faith doesn't make what you hope for happen. Faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for. And that word substance is number 5287 in Strong's Greek Concordance. It means, "a setting under (support), that is, (figuratively) concretely essence, or astractly assurance: - confidence, confident, person, substance." See, faith doesn't MAKE something happen. Faith is the assurance that it HAS happened! It is the foundation that supports everything else. Faith... hope... and love, right? It's the EVIDENCE of things not seen. Evidence isn't what makes something happen. Evidence is what proves something HAS happened. And just for the record, the hope we're really speaking of--the thing that is not seen until faith is mixed with it--is found in Colossians 1:27. "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Faith isn't, "Someday Jesus will live in me if I blah blah blah." Faith is knowing and believing that He lives in me right now! Knowing and believing the love of Christ! Because, remember, "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6). Faith works by love. Love is the thing hoped for. The thing not seen. And faith is the evidence and substance of love! Faith is not trying to force yourself to believe that you are loved. Faith is God showing you that He loves you. He gave us all THE measure of faith when He went to the cross and died both for us and as us. He gave us THE measure of faith by proving Himself faithful. We can put our trust in Him because He has proven Himself trustworthy. We can cast our cares on Him because He cares for us. Faith is not a blind leap in the dark. Faith is not even a blind leap in the light. Faith isn't blind at all. Seeing is believing. The evidence of things not seen. Faith is trusting your heavenly Father to take care of you because you know He swore He would never leave you nor forsake you. And by the way (and for the record), the word "faith" in Hebrews 11:1 is 4102 in Strong's Greek Concordance. It means, "persuasion, especially reliance upon Christ for salvation." When you've been persuaded of something you believe it. Because you've experienced it. A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument. Heart knowledge trumps head knowledge every single time. Truth is higher than fact. The fact of the matter is what you can see. But the truth of the matter is the evidence of what you CAN'T see. It's Christ IN you coming OUT of you as you fill yourself to overflowing with what you've been filled with. Faith isn't about getting anything. It's about knowing what you've already got. Receiving the gift you've been given and releasing it to all those people you come into contact with!