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Post by Josh Parsley on Jul 13, 2006 0:30:28 GMT -5
I feel impressed to do a study on faith, particularly in Hebrews 11. I thought I would share my discoveries and I would encourage you to add any insight you may have. I’m not a teacher at all. To be honest this could very well end up being embarrassing, but we will see how it goes.
11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (KJV)
11:1 Now faith is the persuasion of the things that are in hope, as if they were in act; and [it is] the manifestness of the things not seen. (Murdock)
Now faith.. Faith is now. It is not a postponed reaction. Faith is an immediate reaction to the revelation of God. Many in this day and age would think that faith is something useful in the unseen future that might be helpful in passing over death. This is just not so. Faith must be now or it will be never.
Faith is a substance. You can image faith as something like a concrete that is mixed with God’s word, God’s Spirit, and your response. If one of the 3 things is missing it will not bind nor lay a foundation. Let us not be incomplete in not knowing the scriptures or the power of God, but let us know both and yield to both. Let that substance be one that is rock solid that no matter who or what may come it cannot be shaken. Any false rumor should be able to be laughed at by ones that are near to you because of the obviousness of your unshakable faith in our risen Lord.
Matthew Henry said this, “Faith demonstrates to the eye of the mind the reality of those things that cannot be discerned by the eye of the body.” Faith is the agent in which things that are not seen do seem to us as though they actually appear. It is the evidence, the proof, to the soul of man of the unseen world. Through faith you can be blind, yet see the Light, be deaf, yet hear His voice, be dumb, and yet speak to the masses. Even not having all the calculated tangible evidence, faith assures that it is reality. Faith is the evidence of things not seen.
The reason I included Murdock’s translation of this verse is because I like the word “manifestness.” Manifestness means “clearness to the sight or mind; obviousness” according to Webster’s 1828 dictionary. And that is exactly how it is for the ones “whose heart the Lord [has] opened.”
11:2 For by it [this faith] the elders obtained a good report. 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
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Post by jackjackson on Jul 13, 2006 17:03:54 GMT -5
This is why saying you have faith, absent of tangible works, is dead faith, or non-saving faith.
Faith is a believing trust of God's word with legs behind it.
The opposite of faith, is calling God a liar.
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Post by Josh Parsley on Jul 13, 2006 19:37:34 GMT -5
Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Faith is an offering unto God. I stress “unto (leaning towards)” God. This offering is a sweet smelling savor to our God. It must be directed to Him and through Him or it will not be acceptable. Many of us have seen “The Passion of Christ.” Do you know what aspect could never be shown on the screen? The smell of His offering. If you have ever smelt raw flesh that has been out in the open for hours, you know it does smell. Let’s not paint such a pretty picture of His beating. Surely the flesh was ripped from the bone and open to exposure. I may be wrong, but I’m inclined to think that open flesh being exposed without aid for hours was not a pleasant smell. Could it be that our pain and trails are a sweet smelling savor to our God? Could it be that the pain we feel for this world that lays in wickedness, is pleasant to Him? Surely the longer our old man has been dead and crucified with Christ it brings a more pleasant smell to His nostril. Faith is a sacrifice. Oh, let our sacrifice be a more excellent sacrifice than Cain’s! I think about how the firstlings of Abel’s flock must have run so wild before the sacrifice. They were much different than Cain’s fruit. The fruit had no freedom to rebel. How can a fruit rebel from his master? Oh, but how the firstfruits of His creatures* were like Abel’s firstlings? We were so able to rebel and buck. Even more than able, we were willing. More than willing, we did it. Praise Him that we can be an excellent sacrifice unto our God! How commonly we hear these verses, yet how they apply. Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Faith must be eternal. Abel’s small sacrifice of sheep turned into a much bigger sacrifice that he imagined- his own blood. Oh, how many times we think our small sacrifices have no large end. Our faith must endure to the end. With that enduring it shall speak praises for all eternity to the Lamb of God, Who took away our sins! Our small sacrifice will turn into an eternal praise to Him! *Jam 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
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Post by Josh Parsley on Jul 17, 2006 23:05:25 GMT -5
Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Gen 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Faith is a walk with God. It is so humbling to walk with God. It’s amazing to think that God humbles himself to look upon this world (Psalms 113:6). He humbles Himself to look upon us which humbles us when we acknowledge Him. Oh, what a bond of humility! Pride surely is sickening to God. Pride will break that bond. What a glorious thing to think that in the bond- that walk- we are translated into His image. Originally man was created in God’s image. Man fell. Christ came and took upon Him our sinful image, yet without sin. Now we can be in His image. Now through Christ’s work we can bear to be in His presence. Without that there is no way we could walk with Him.
Enoch walked with God and was later not found. I’ve noticed that’s how it is when we walk with God. We are no where to be found. I am grateful for this truth. I don’t want to be found or noticed while walking with Him. Let us be hid completely in Him.
This walk of faith which leads us from glory to glory is pleasing to Him. This is because He is well pleased in His Son. When we see Him we shall be like Him. My prayer is that I would see Him for who He is and be conformed into that image. That in itself is the greatest reward. I wonder if I could be as bold to say that if being with Him and being conformed to His image isn’t your prime desire that selfishness and pride is in your heart. If that is true we are not in faith or walking with Him.
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
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Post by Josh Parsley on Jul 19, 2006 22:06:15 GMT -5
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
The first thing I notice here is that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. I’m sure Noah heard of what happened to his great-grandfather Enoch. Maybe Noah imagined what it would be like to walk with God and then one day just walk right up to Heaven with Him. Maybe he heard of Enoch’s prophecies (Jude 14). I know when I was young I would love to hear stories from my grandparents and how my family got here. Surely Noah was the same. If I heard that my great-grandfather walked with God and disappeared one day, it would stir my imagination! So surely faith can be imparted in a family line. If mothers and fathers walked with God, the children would notice! Maybe if the parents told their children how they were born again and how God has revealed things to them, it would stir the hearts of the children. I would love to see parents so walk with God that the children are so stirred to seek Him. By Noah’s faith, his whole house was saved!
Faith will build an ark that will weather the storm. Noah heard the warning of God and responded. This verse makes me think of how faith is a “building.” It builds and builds. Piece by piece, obedience by obedience, faith may start as just a seed but will grow into a large tree that fruit may be used to nourish not only you, but others. The more we come to the reality of faith the more we come into the holy of holies. Faith is the only way we can enter in. I heard Brother Ron Bailey once say something to this effect, “The Christian life is like a spiral staircase. It seems as if we are covering the same ground, but we are really on a new plane.” That is so true. It may see like we are always doing the same old thing, but really we are completing the ark. My prayer is that the church would not get weary in well doing, but that we would come to the perfect man.
The last part of this verse reminds me of a Leonard Ravenhill quote, “Have we no righteousness that reflects on their corruption?” It seems as if Noah did. Noah, by this faith, condemned the world because of his faith. The unshakable faith of Noah should have been a warning sign to the people that something had really happened to Noah- an encounter with God. I fear for so many that are around the Godly, yet will not repent. I believe that many who are around true Christians and never repent will have greater damnation because they seen such great light coming from that Christian.
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Post by Josh Parsley on Jul 24, 2006 22:03:17 GMT -5
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
I think one of the first things that a person needs to learn is that God is smarter than you. It seems as if in this day and age that people think that their methods are wittier than the one who gave them a brain. This is especially so in evangelism. There are so many “methods” that are foreign to the Bible. Yet, the most prominent method, which is preaching, is forgotten. He is Lord. When He calls, we must obey. It doesn’t matter what we may think is wise; His wisdom is much higher than ours. Abraham didn’t know where he was going. But one thing was for sure, he was being “called out.” Salvation is being called out. We are chosen (called out) by God. God has called us out of the world of sin, and into the holiness of the heavenlies.
Again we see the substance of faith- reaction i.e. obedience. It seems so many times in the Christian life that our obedience is leading us into “not knowing whither he went.” I think it would do us some good to sit down and think about the last thing God convicted you to do. Did you do it? Think about how that obedience/disobedience affected that day and the days following. Everything the Lord does seems to be a building us farther into the “unknown.” In reality, it isn’t unknown to us, but only to the world.
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Amazing! It was written, but now it is revealed. We still see through a glass darkly, but verses like these should put us in awe and great humility.
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
It may honestly seem that our obedience is going nowhere, but without any doubting it brings much glory to God, and has a definite purpose. I have found out in certain things the Lord has had me do that I didn’t understand, it wasn’t long before I seen it’s purpose.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
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Post by Josh Parsley on Aug 8, 2006 20:20:00 GMT -5
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Faith is seeing the eternal or at least it should be. Many today demand things from God and call it faith. I wonder if when I was young if I jumped up and down and told my mother, “I want it now!” if someone would call that a trusting and loving relationship. I doubt it. It sounds more like using God as a principle to get what you want rather than worshiping the Prince of Peace. Faith is a sojourning, a pilgrimage in the promises of God while looking for that Eternal City.
It seems that many today do not have an eternal mindset, and in turn do not look for anything that is beyond today. We may thank God for our daily bread, but rarely do we long for the Living Bread of Heaven (John 6:51) to meet us in the air (1 Thes 4:17). Even among those that want Christ to come many only want Him to come for their benefit. They want out of the mess they are in- this sinful world. Very few long for His coming so that He may be glorified. His coming will bring Him His much deserved glory. It will be beneficial to us, but our eye must be set upon Him. If our eye is fully aimed at us it is humanism, not Christianity. I have found that when I “seek those things which are above” the things that are on this earth fall right into place.
Do we really long for that Eternal City, where we may worship Him undistracted? Or would we rather groan that we would get something today? Paul had to have had this pilgrim mindset or how could he have said, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory?”
It amazed me how the things of the Spirit, can seem to us not to be possible, but they are. To have an eternal mind we must deny ourselves today. Even with that we cannot look at eternity through the lenses of today, but we must see today through the lenses of eternity. There is a huge difference. Do you see it? Think about it for a moment.
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Post by jackjackson on Aug 21, 2006 14:33:31 GMT -5
Also note that in Romans 4:12, "we are to walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham". His faith had substance. His faith could seen by his actions. The faith itself cannot be seen, because it is a matter of the mind and will, but the evidence of that faith should be plainly visible to all.
Paul said "Examine (or keep on examining "pim") yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove (continue to prove "pim") your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Cor. 13:5) If faith didn't have substance, how could Paul (God's Word) command us to examine it?
Jack Jackson
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