By Faith Part 1

Text: Hebrews 11

Definition of Faith

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (NIV Hebrews 11:1)

“Faith is substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (KJV)

By Faith – we understand that the universe was formed out of God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. This is why, there is really no need for scientists to make a deatailed creation of the world and discredit God concerning his creation.

Creation is beyond imagination. Humans can create a small portion of what God has created. But even then, the materials used for creation is still a part of God's creation. This is why scientists are dumb in the eyes of God. They were able to see only a small portion of the mystery of matter, yet discredit God for its mystery.

By Faith – Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain. I have heard many pastors who have interpreted that the main reason why Cain's offering was rejected was because his sacrifice is not blood. However, in my personal study, I haven't seen in the Bible that it was said directly that it is the reason why it was rejected.

But here is what I see. The story of Cain and Abel is not about what kind of offering, but in what manner it was offered. Furthermore, the book of Hebrews gave us a very clear answer why Abel's offering was accepted, because it was offered “by faith”.

This is also true in our time now. The manner of offering is very important. God already have taught us giving our tithes and offering. We already know that tithes is 10% of our income that offering is something extra out of our generosity. If it is in our conviction and with deep sincerity that God will bless us if we give our tithes fully, then we are acting by faith. It is not based on amount. It is based on our faith.

Do we have faith that God will bless us generously so that we can bless others all the more?

By Faith – Enoch was taken from this life so that he did not experience death. He was said to be the one who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. The passage is very clear in its explanation about Enoch, that he is pleased God, and that it is impossible to please God without faith.

Enoch pleases the Lord. He must have pleased the Lord so much that he did not suffer death. He must be a good man highly favored by God. There are very few people who did not experienced death that was written in the Bible.

By Faith – Noah when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. When God told Noah to build an Ark, Noah knows, that it will sound stupid for all other people to see him building an Ark during the time that there is no rain. He knows, that when the people see him, he will be ridiculed and be laughed at.

But, Noah built it anyway. Take note that there is holy fear in Noah. He was fearful to the Lord. He knows that what God is telling will come into fulfillment. And that despite all the ridicules he received, we can see that Noah continued to obey what was said to him.

By Faith – Abraham when called to go to a place he will receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he is going.

We can connect this to mission. Sometimes, God is calling us to go to a strange place that we don't know. Though Abraham did not go originally to share the gospel of Christ, but we can see here that he obeyed God, for He knows that God has a purpose in him because he's the one who sent him to the land of Canaan.

He knows, he will be a stranger to that place. He knows that it will be very difficult for him to go there. It is not a home to him yet. Transferring from one place to another is never easy. In considering a new place to live, one will first, survey the land if it fits his needs. Secondly, he will try to evaluate his neighbors whether or not they are hostile or friendly. Third, he will see to it that he has security in that area.

But Abraham don't know all about these. God just said to him, “Go”. And Abraham acted by faith, and obeyed the Lord. As a result, God fulfilled His promise to Abraham to possess the land of Canaan.

By Faith – Abraham though he was past age, and Sarah herself was barren, was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made a promise.

This must be a difficult time with Abraham and Sarah. They have moved into a new land, without an heir. Yes, God gave them a new land to toil and live in, but he doesn't have anyone to take care of all these after he is gone. But by faith, Abraham and Sarah patiently waited for the promise heir.

They were in past age now. And it was believed that Sarah's womb is already closed to bear a child. But if it is impossible with man, it is very possible with God. Though, Sarah laughed when the angels of the Lord visited them and told them that she's going to bear a child, still they waited for the child in their house. Indeed, Sarah bore a child and named him “Yitzaach” or Isaac.

Here we see, that God is the giver of life. He is the source of life. All we have to do is to submit to his will and wait upon its fulfillment.

By Faith – Abraham when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. What do we feel if God says, give your son or daughter as an offering to the Lord. And it means that you have to kill your own son or daughter for the Lord to be pleased. We might think that God won't never do this. But in the story of Abraham, God actually did it. He asked Abraham to offer his child to him. For what reason did God asked Abraham to do so? Abraham didn't knew the reason why God asked him to do it. But Abraham acted by faith. It is the Lord who gave Isaac to him, and it is the Lord who can take him away.

Sometimes however, it is difficult for us to offer to God something that we don't even value the most. How much more those things that God wants us to offer because it is very valuable to us? Here in the passage we see that Abraham did offer Isaac anyway, because he follows God. He did not disobeyed him and did not even question his ways.