This Matter of Faith

Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

We are saved by faith in Christ. We are set free from anxiety by casting our cares upon Him, believing that the Lord cares for us. By faith we pray – prayer in fact can be called the language of faith. By faith we believe God’s promises and by faith we believe that the Bible is God’s Word wherein we find those promises. We hear, by faith, the promise of Christ to come again and receive us to Himself. By faith, by faith, by faith.

2Co 4:18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Who would build a ship in the desert? A man who believes God when He speaks.

In this world, the real Christian – the person who is truly born again by faith in Christ – experiences all kinds of sufferings. This world is enemy turf. Life here is a battle for Christ’s people. So we find ourselves at war and faith turns out to be the key to victory:

Eph 6:16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

1Jn 5:4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

The Lord is going to put you into impossible circumstances. This is what He has always done in regard to His people. He backs up against the Red Sea with Egyptian armies coming to destroy us. Why? To show His glory and to teach us to trust in Him. In the wilderness with no food or water – right where He led us. Will we believe Him or not?

2Co 1:9-10 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. (10) He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

I heard someone say once that those who know Christ have either just come out of a trial, are in the midst of a trial, or are headed for a trial. God teaches His people to believe Him. To believe His Word as coming from One who cannot lie. And these lessons do not come easily, neither are they learned in easy times.

Will we trust Him? There is the real question. Many of you are backed up against the Red Sea right now with no visible hope of rescue. Will you believe the Lord when He promises to provide for you, to protect you, and to ultimately deliver you? Will I believe Him today? If I do not, I will regret it tomorrow.  The Lord is our GOOD Shepherd. Those who are in His pasture shall not want. Even in the valley of the shadow of death. It’s true. It’s really, really true.