What is Faith?

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

Many people have the impression that their faith is their denomination that they belong to, which is not so. God once put this question before me and I asked myself, “what is faith?” By the help of the Holy Spirit, I answered that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). He then proposed another question, “What is hope?” With the Holy Spirit’s help again, He told me that it is the confident expectation of God’s promises. The Lord then impressed upon me to then put those two definitions together.

Therefore, faith is the substance of things you confidently expect of what God has promised, the evidence of things not seen yet.

Meaning that even though we don’t see anything happening in the natural we need to wait in unwavering, confident expectation, joy and excitement that He’s got it covered, He is in control and is working out everything in our favor and that His promises are true and will come to pass.

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19). For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Prophet Robin Bullock said that faith starts where the will of God is known. He also added that God’s will is His word. Every promise that is in the Bible is for each believer all we must do is receive, believe and it will be done. Even though we may not see the evidence of it right away we still stand firm in the faith and keep thanking Him for it. All the promises of God that are in His word are what He desires for you, they are His will for all of our lives. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). He wants the best for each and every one of His children.

When we know how true and faithful God is and that He will never fail us, we can be filled with this wonderful hope and peace and joyful, confident expectation that He will stay true to His promises to His righteous people.

For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? (Romans 8:24) Therefore, we must first believe before we see, for we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Hebrews 6:12 calls us to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. In our “instant” and “microwave” society we may want things to happen now, but we must trust in God’s perfect timing. His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).

Hebrews 11:7 states that it was by faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family and by faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Noah had no logical reason in the natural to believe, but he believed because God said so, he revered God and was obedient to His word. In the end God’s word came to pass and Noah reaped a good harvest for his obedience.

Hebrews 11:11 tells us that by faith Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. The Amplified translation states that she considered Him who had given her the promise to be reliable and true to His word. Even on Abraham’s part, no unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised (Romans 4:20-21).

Abraham and Sarah were in an impossible situation but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26) and whatever He says it will come to pass, God does not waste words. We serve a God of the impossible who is willing to give us all things. Romans 8:32 states that He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? This is His heart’s desire from a loving Heavenly Father to His beloved children.

How could you get more faith? By believing in Jesus Christ shows that you already have faith. Even with faith as small as a grain of a mustard seed you can do amazing things, and nothing will be impossible for you (Matthew 17:20).

I used to pray almost every day for more trust and faith in God and wondered why it would not automatically come until I found out how we receive faith. Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of God. The scripture says that faith comes, therefore, spending more time hearing the word of God preached through sermons or reading the Bible out loud are ways to increase your faith. Bit by bit the more you hear the preached word, the more your faith will come and grow. It’s all about the journey.

We not only need expectant faith, but we need enduring faith. Hebrews 10:36-39 tells us that we have need of this endurance, so that when we have done the will of God, we may receive what is promised. It also tells us we are to live by this enduring faith and not shrink back so that we preserve our souls, but those who do shrink back are destroyed and the Lord has no pleasure in him.

James 4:2 states one reason that we do not have is because we do not ask of God. When you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). Therefore, in faith, delight in Him and ask God for your heart’s desires knowing whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mark 11:24). He also said in Mark 9:23 that all things are possible for one who believes.

Our blessings are contingent upon our faith, believing and obedience to Christ and in His word. Believing is a choice. The key to your receiving is found in your believing. It is when we believe that we will see the glory of our God (John 11:40). Choose to believe!

James 1: 6-8 tells us that when we ask God for something, do so in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. It continues stating that, that man who doubts would not receive anything from the Lord because he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Also, whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

Faith Through Our Works

Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Diligently in the Webster’s American 1828 Dictionary means: with steady application and care. Therefore, with steady application and care we are to seek Him, and He will reward us for doing so. How do we seek God and be blessed? By simply spending more time with Him and in His word and trying your best to be a doer of the word not a hearer only (James 1:22, 25).

Faith works through love (Galatians 5:6). 1 Corinthians 13:2 states that if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

We show our faith through how we live, by our works and how we love. James 2:18-26 depicts that faith works together with our works, therefore by our works our faith is made perfect. The scriptures tell us man is justified also by works and not by faith only and that faith without works is dead.

This justification is not to be confused with being justified through Jesus Christ for our remission of sins and salvation. For it’s by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). James is simply telling us that because we are saved and under a new covenant of love and grace, we show our love and faith in Jesus Christ by the way we live our lives. As Christians we are called to be ambassadors of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) in our daily lives through our works done in meekness of wisdom (Hebrews 3:13), fixing our eyes on Him who is the author and perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).