RETURN TO SYLLABUS
HEBREWS 11:1-3
LESSON #25
THE FAITH PRINCIPLE DEFINED
- HEBREWS 11 IS CALLED THE "FAITH CHAPTER". IT DEFINES FAITH FOR US AND GIVES US
MANY EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE WHAT FAITH IS.
- MANY CHRISTIANS ARE CONFUSED AS TO WHAT FAITH IS AND HOW IT WORKS. THERE IS ALSO SOME
FALSE CHRISTIAN TEACHING ABOUT FAITH.
- THEREFORE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO PAY SERIOUS ATTENTION TO HEBREWS 11 TO DISCOVER WHAT IS
THE BIBLE DEFINITION OF FAITH.
- HEB 11:6 SAYS WE CAN'T PLEASE GOD WITHOUT FAITH. TO PLEASE GOD WE MUST LIVE A LIFE OF
FAITH. HOW DO WE DO THAT? HEB 11 TELLS US.
- READ HEB 11:1-3 THE DEFINITION OF FAITH
- THE AMPLIFIED VERSION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT SAYS:
- "NOW FAITH IS THE ASSURANCE (THE CONFIRMATION, THE TITLE-DEED) OF THE THINGS [WE]
HOPE FOR, BEING THE PROOF OF THINGS [WE] DO NOT SEE AND THE CONVICTION OF THEIR REALITY --
FAITH PERCEIVING AS REAL FACT WHAT IS NOT REVEALED TO THE SENSES. FOR BY [FAITH], AND
TRUST AND HOLY FERVOR BORN OF FAITH, THE MEN OF OLD HAD DIVINE TESTIMONY BORNE TO THEM AND
OBTAINED A GOOD REPORT. BY FAITH WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORLDS [DURING THE SUCCESSIVE
AGES] WERE FRAMED -- FASHIONED, PUT IN ORDER AND EQUIPPED FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE -- BY
THE WORD OF GOD, SO THAT WHAT WE SEE WAS NOT MADE OUT OF THINGS WHICH ARE VISIBLE."
- FAITH BRINGS INTO REALITY WHAT YOU ARE PRAYING FOR EVEN BEFORE YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE IT.
- READ 2CO 5:7
- FAITH IS THE SPIRITUAL SENSE THROUGH WHICH THE SOUL COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE
SPIRITUAL WORLD.
- THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A PHOTOGRAPH GIVES US A GOOD EXAMPLE. THE PICTURE IS
TRANSFERRED TO WHITE PAPER. THE PICTURE CAN'T BE SEEN UNTIL THE PAPER IS PUT INTO A
CHEMICAL SOLUTION. THEN THE PICTURE GRADUALLY APPEARS ON THE PAPER. THE PICTURE IS NO LESS
REAL BEFORE THE CHEMICAL IS APPLIED EVEN THOUGH WE CAN'T SEE IT.
- FAITH IS THE CHEMICAL SOLUTION. WHAT YOU ARE PRAYING FOR DOES NOT COME INTO REALITY
UNTIL FAITH IS APPLIED. THE ANSWER TO YOUR PRAYER IS NO LESS REAL BEFORE YOU CAN ACTUALLY
SEE THE ANSWER.
- THERE IS A GREAT DANGER IF WE STOP HERE WITH OUR DEFINITION OF FAITH. YET MANY
CHRISTIANS STOP HERE.
- THE DANGEROUS DECEPTION:
- IF I JUST WORK UP ENOUGH FAITH, I CAN HAVE WHATEVER I IMAGINE.
- THIS KIND OF FAITH IS BASED IN THE SOUL OF MAN AND FEEDS THE DESIRES OF THE
FLESH. IT IS CALLED THE "NAME IT, CLAIM IT, EASY BELIEVISM" KIND OF FAITH AND
LEADS A PERSON IN PRESUMPTION.
- BIBLICAL FAITH IS BASED IN THE SPIRIT OF MAN AND SEEKS THE DESIRES OF GOD.
- FAITH DOES NOT ONLY DEAL WITH THE PROMISES OF GOD BUT IT IS AN UNCEASING RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. IT SHOULD BE AS NATURAL AS BREATHING.
- IN OUR EXAMPLE OF DEVELOPING A PHOTOGRAPH, NOTICE THAT THE PICTURE IS ON THE PAPER
BEFORE THE CHEMICAL IS APPLIED. THE CHEMICAL DID NOT CREATE THE PICTURE; IT ONLY BROUGHT
IT INTO FOCUS.
- IN THE SAME WAY, FAITH DOES NOT CREATE THE ANSWER TO PRAYER; IT ONLY BRINGS IT INTO
FOCUS. THEREFORE, BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE MIND OF GOD (KNOW HIS WILL FOR YOU) BEFORE YOU
CLAIM THE PROMISE. LET GOD GIVE YOU THE PICTURE BEFORE YOU APPLY YOUR FAITH TO IT.
- WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAITH AND BELIEF?
- READ JAM 2:17-20
- BELIEF IS HEAD KNOWLEDGE. EVEN THE DEMONS BELIEVE. (THEY KNOW THAT IT IS TRUE) BUT THEY
ARE NOT SAVED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE FAITH.
- FAITH IS HEART KNOWLEDGE. THERE IS ACTION INVOLVED.
- FOR EXAMPLE: A MAN IS DYING FROM THIRST. HE KNOWS (HEAD KNOWLEDGE) THAT A DRINK OF WATER
WILL SAVE HIS LIFE. HOWEVER, HE SITS WITH A GLASS OF WATER NEXT TO HIM BUT DOES NOT DRINK
IT. HE DIES BECAUSE HE DOES NOT ACT ON HIS BELIEF (NO HEART KNOWLEDGE). FAITH (HEART
KNOWLEDGE) = HEAD KNOWLEDGE + ACTION.
- WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAITH AND HOPE?
- FAITH IS BELIEVING IN THE REALITY OF SOMETHING FOR THE PRESENT.
- HOPE IS BELIEVING IN THE REALITY OF SOMETHING FOR THE FUTURE.
- IN THE BIBLE, BOTH OF THESE ARE EQUALLY ASSURED AND BASED ON THE UNFAILING PROMISES OF
GOD.
- WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT FAITH FROM MARK 11:23-24?
- READ MARK 11:23-24
- OUR CONFESSION IS IMPORTANT (THIS IS OUR ACTION ON WHAT WE BELIEVE). IT IS BASED IN 4
TRUTHS:
- IT IS BASED ON WHAT GOD IN CHRIST HAS BOUGHT FOR US IN REDEMPTION (PHYSICAL, MATERIAL,
SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS)
- IT IS BASED ON OUR POSITION IN CHRIST -- THAT WE ARE PRECIOUS CHILDREN TO GOD BECAUSE OF
CHRIST.
- IT IS BASED ON WHAT JESUS CHRIST IS DOING FOR US NOW AS OUR INTERCESSOR.
- IT IS BASED ON WHAT GOD'S WORD CAN DO IN AND THROUGH US BECAUSE OF OUR CONFESSION.
- REMEMBER THAT FAITH IS LIKE A MUSCLE. WHEN IT IS EXERCISED, IT GROWS.
- WITH THE HEART (SPIRIT OF MAN) BELIEVES.
- FAITH IS EXACTLY HOW YOU ENTERED INTO GOD’S KINGDOM. THIS IS HOW WE GET SAVED.
- MARK 11:24 IS THE PRAYER OF FAITH
- THE PROMISE IS FOR MORE THAN JUST OUR NEEDS, BUT ALSO FOR OUR DESIRES (WHEN THEY ARE
CONTROLLED BY GOD).
- BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT YOU RECEIVED THEM EVEN BEFORE YOU SEE THEM AND YOU WILL HAVE
THEM.
- THE FAITH FORMULA:
- HAVE GOD'S WORD FOR IT (LOOK UP A SCRIPTURE THAT MEETS YOUR NEED)
- PRAY AND ASK GOD IF THIS IS HIS DESIRE FOR YOU.
- WHEN GOD SAYS, "YES", AND YOU ARE SURE HE PUT THE PICTURE ON THE WHITE PAPER,
THEN BELIEVE THE WORD. (ROM 4:20)
- DON'T CONSIDER THE CONTRARY CIRCUMSTANCES
- CONFESS WHAT YOU BELIEVE.
- ARE SOME PEOPLE GIVEN MORE FAITH THAN OTHERS?
- READ ROM 12:3 FAITH CAN BE MEASURED (MAT 14:31 ROM 4:19 JAM 2:5,22)
- EVERYONE IS GIVEN A MEASURE OF FAITH WHEN HE IS BORN AGAIN.
- CAN WE DO SOMETHING TO MAKE OUR FAITH GROW?
- GOD EXPECTS US TO INCREASE OUR FAITH (2TH 1:3).
- FAITH IS INCREASED BY HEARING THE WORD (ROM 10:17).
- TRUST GOD FOR LITTLE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE AND BUILD UP TO TRUSTING GOD FOR THE BIG THINGS
IN YOUR LIFE.
- FAITH IS INCREASED BY READING AND STUDYING GOD'S PROMISES AND THEN APPROPRIATING THEM.
- FAITH IS INCREASED BY HEARING OUR OWN CONFESSION OF HIS WORD OF WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.
- STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH BY:
- BELIEVING THAT THE UNSEEN WORLD ACTUALLY EXISTS AND SEEKS TO CONQUER AND GET POSSESSION
OF YOU AND BLESS YOU.
- ACCEPT THE MEASURE OF FAITH WITHIN YOU AS PROOF OF ITS EXISTENCE AND OPERATION IN YOUR
LIFE.
- ACCEPT ALL THAT IS REVEALED OF IT IN THE WORD AS A FINGER POINTING TO THE DIRECTION OF
FULL POSSESSION.
- SET YOUR HEART UPON GOD AND NOT ON THE WORLD.
- EXPECT THAT THE UNSEEN WORLD CAN BECOME MORE REAL AND MORE NEAR TO YOU THAN THE WORLD
YOU SEE.
- THE LIFE OF FAITH IS BASED ON:
- A GOD WE DON'T SEE, TASTE, TOUCH, SMELL, OR HEAR.
- A KINGDOM WE DON'T SEE.
- A SAVIOR WE DID NOT SEE DIE FOR OUR SINS.
- A NEW BIRTH EXPERIENCE WE CAN'T SEE OR EXPLAIN.
- A HOLY SPIRIT WHOSE LIFE IN US WE DO NOT SEE.
- A REWARD TO COME THAT WE DON'T SEE.
- AN ETERNAL HEAVEN WE DON'T SEE.
- WE, THEREFORE, WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT. 2CO 5:7
- APPLICATION:
- THINK ABOUT IT: "SEEING IS NOT BELIEVING, BUT BELIEVING IS SEEING!"
- HOWEVER, FAITH IS MOSTLY THOUGHT OF AS A POWER BY WHICH WE GRASP THE HEAVENLY THINGS,
AND WE WEARY OURSELVES IN VAIN ATTEMPTS TO DO SO BECAUSE WE ARE TRUSTING IN FAITH AND OUR
OWN POWER TO BELIEVE LONG AND HARD ENOUGH RATHER THAN HAVING FAITH IN A SOVEREIGN GOD.
- HOMEWORK
- HEBREWS 11:4-7
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR
CORRECTION.
- APPLICATION OF HEB 11:1-3
- WHAT CHANGES WILL THIS LESSON MAKE IN YOUR FAITH WALK?
- PREPARATION FOR HEB 11:4-7
- READ HEB 11:4-7
- ABEL'S FAITH (READ GEN 4:1-5)
- WHAT DID HE HAVE FAITH FOR?
- WHAT ACTION WAS INVOLVED IN ABEL'S FAITH? (JAM 2:17)
- ENOCH'S FAITH (READ GEN 5:21-24 JUDE 14)
- WHAT DID HE HAVE FAITH FOR?
- WHAT ACTION WAS INVOLVED IN ENOCH'S FAITH? (JUDE 14)
- WHAT THREE THINGS ARE NECESSARY TO HAVE A FAITH LIKE ENOCH'S?
- NOAH'S FAITH (GEN 5:28-32 GEN 6:5-9,13-22 GEN 7:1-18,23-24 GEN 8:1,13-21
2PE 2:5
- WHAT DID HE HAVE FAITH FOR?
- WHAT ACTION WAS INVOLVED IN NOAH'S FAITH?