Hebrews 11

[dcampsart]

I don't know why but Hebrews 11 is CONSTANTLY on my mind.

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. [Hebrews 11:1-3]

I am continually trying to break down and analyze faith. I think of how it's ONE thing that triggers a response from God! It's probably the most pleasing thing to God we can operate in. I know... the greatest gift is LOVE but doesn't scripture say... FAITH which worketh by (through) LOVE? When I think of how Jesus said when we pray if we BELIEVE we'll receive, we shall have it, I ask myself the question..."How does faith work?" How do you know that you know what you ask for is going to happen?

I used to be heavily involved in the faith movement but have stepped back and presently I'm reevaluating my position. Personally, I find it more comforting to focus on the sovereignty of God, believing that all things work together for good. I've wondered if that may be a lazy approach. I say lazy because some I knew, heavily involved in the faith movement, used to say that Christians who rail against "naming and claiming" are just too lazy to fight the good fight!

Think about the heroes we read about in the remainder of the verses in the "great hall of faith!" I'm sorry but I have to wonder what the believer was thinking about confessing and possessing his or her way out of being sawn in two not necessarily working!

I don't know why Hebrews 11 is constantly on my mind. What could God be attempting to get into my hard head? What is your take?

Do we believe and SPEAK things into existence or do we resign ourselves to trusting God knows best?

Edited January 11, 2009 by dcampsart

[Blien]

I don't know bro but I find much confidence in God's ability to deliver me, provide or what have you and that's what powers my faith. Its very comforting to know that the Master of the Universe is on your side once you've pledged your allegiance and that HE is a good and faithful King.

[stacey c]

I don't think speaking and believing and Gods divine will are exclusive of each other.

I am totally sure that God wants me to speak His Word into situations in my life, beit spiritual or physical, but I'm not "into" the name and claim it either.

God needs to be first in all things, and He wants to see our faith in Him as our provider. Scripture says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and ALL these things shall be added unto you."

Not to mention all the scriptures that state, if you BELIEVE when you pray..... You shall recieve.

I donot think God is going to wave a magic wand and poof your rich. But He does give us talents and abilities to work along with scripture that says God shall supply all my needs.

I'm not going around claiming a brand new Hummer, but I am believing Him for a car, cause I do need one.

Now if suddenly I had a brand new Hummer in my drive way, it would have to be totally God because it would be WWWWAAAAYYYYY above what I could do fr myself!

Faith brings me out of the realm of what I can do, and into the realm of what my God can do.

[dcampsart]

I don't know bro but I find much confidence in God's ability to deliver me, provide or what have you and that's what powers my faith. Its very comforting to know that the Master of the Universe is on your side once you've pledged your allegiance and that HE is a good and faithful King.

I agree Blien. I remember a famous faith movement preacher saying that God's answer to Paul's dilemma, with the thorn in his flesh, was that His grace being sufficient for him was the grace to believe his way out of the situation. I don't read where the thorn was ever removed. My take was that God's grace was sufficent for him to bear with it instead. After hearing the preacher talk about his ideas, I started reevaluating my position in this sort of teaching.

You are right though... confidence in God's ability to provide or deliver is still what faith is all about! Thanks...

[dcampsart]

I don't think speaking and believing and Gods divine will are exclusive of each other.

I agree with you here also. I guess I did actually separate the idea of what I say or claim and believing or trusting. I too believe I should be careful in what I confess but I got tired of feeling like I was not believing enough or watching my confession enough... feeling like everything is my fault if what I confess or am believing for doesn't come to pass. God isn't deaf after all! I know I don't have to repeat prayers over and over again thinking my many words will get him to listen! Maybe I should BELIEVE once and then simply believe and thank him for the answer.

I often look at people in wheelchairs or limping along with walkers or handicapped in any way and think about how wonderful it would be to have the FAITH to walk up to them, lay hands on them and tell them what Peter and John told the lame beggar. Trust me... I'm not too fanatical in this thought. I don't know if I'll ever have the faith to attempt that sort of thing. I wish I had the courage and FAITH to walk into hospitals and pray for the sick but I always give into the idea of what if it doesn't work.

[Guest man]

Do we believe and SPEAK things into existence or do we resign ourselves to trusting God knows best?

If you put your trust in God, then the only answer to your question is, "God knows best".

[larryt]

I don't know why but Hebrews 11 is CONSTANTLY on my mind.

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. [Hebrews 11:1-3]

I am continually trying to break down and analyze faith. I think of how it's ONE thing that triggers a response from God! It's probably the most pleasing thing to God we can operate in. I know... the greatest gift is LOVE but doesn't scripture say... FAITH which worketh by (through) LOVE? When I think of how Jesus said when we pray if we BELIEVE we'll receive, we shall have it, I ask myself the question..."How does faith work?" How do you know that you know what you ask for is going to happen?

I used to be heavily involved in the faith movement but have stepped back and presently I'm reevaluating my position. Personally, I find it more comforting to focus on the sovereignty of God, believing that all things work together for good. I've wondered if that may be a lazy approach. I say lazy because some I knew, heavily involved in the faith movement, used to say that Christians who rail against "naming and claiming" are just too lazy to fight the good fight!

Think about the heroes we read about in the remainder of the verses in the "great hall of faith!" I'm sorry but I have to wonder what the believer was thinking about confessing and possessing his or her way out of being sawn in two not necessarily working!

I don't know why Hebrews 11 is constantly on my mind. What could God be attempting to get into my hard head? What is your take?

Do we believe and SPEAK things into existence or do we resign ourselves to trusting God knows best?

Hi dcampsart,

Errors in "faith" stem from the inability to separate the "I wants" from the "God wants". Sometimes God wants us to go through trials and tribulation to work things out or into our lives. As Job said: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.(1:21)

LT

[stacey c]

I don't know why but Hebrews 11 is CONSTANTLY on my mind.

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. [Hebrews 11:1-3]

I am continually trying to break down and analyze faith. I think of how it's ONE thing that triggers a response from God! It's probably the most pleasing thing to God we can operate in. I know... the greatest gift is LOVE but doesn't scripture say... FAITH which worketh by (through) LOVE? When I think of how Jesus said when we pray if we BELIEVE we'll receive, we shall have it, I ask myself the question..."How does faith work?" How do you know that you know what you ask for is going to happen?

I used to be heavily involved in the faith movement but have stepped back and presently I'm reevaluating my position. Personally, I find it more comforting to focus on the sovereignty of God, believing that all things work together for good. I've wondered if that may be a lazy approach. I say lazy because some I knew, heavily involved in the faith movement, used to say that Christians who rail against "naming and claiming" are just too lazy to fight the good fight!

Think about the heroes we read about in the remainder of the verses in the "great hall of faith!" I'm sorry but I have to wonder what the believer was thinking about confessing and possessing his or her way out of being sawn in two not necessarily working!

I don't know why Hebrews 11 is constantly on my mind. What could God be attempting to get into my hard head? What is your take?

Do we believe and SPEAK things into existence or do we resign ourselves to trusting God knows best?

Hi dcampsart,

Errors in "faith" stem from the inability to separate the "I wants" from the "God wants". Sometimes God wants us to go through trials and tribulation to work things out or into our lives. As Job said: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.(1:21)

LT

Amen LT.... our faith builds in these trials and tribulations....keeping our eyes on God knowing that He will bring us through.

[dcampsart]

I do agree with man, Larryt and StaceyC. You are of the thought that I'm accepting now. I've often said how I actually thank God for this 24/7 chronic pain from neuropathy because of the changes it has wrought in my life toward seeking God but I sometimes cringe when I remember some reactions I would've got had I said that to some who were in the faith movement in the past. They would've thought I caused my pain to remain because of my negative confession and that I'm not right to say or believe that God has allowed this. I've come to believe differently since reading how much David said it was GOOD that God afflicted him because, prior to that, he was going astray!

I don't want to turn this into a debate about whether or not a certian movement is right or wrong. When I read the introductory verses to Hebrews 11, I keep asking myself what does faith... forgive me... feel like or look like or act like. The word says that faith is the SUBSTANCE to what we HOPE for and.... the EVIDENCE of things not yet SEEN. Does this explain believers ACTIONS because of their faith?

I marvel when I read in the "hall of faith" how people, like Sarah, are included because she judged Him faithful who had promised. However, I remember her laughing at hearing the Lord's promise she would have a son. Maybe it can be seen as faith because deep down, she still trusted God no matter how impossible it looked.

Then the people who all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. [Hebrews 11:13] I guess their faith truly had SUBSTANCE and EVIDENCE!

Even though great wonders were performed through many belilevers' faith, many also never received what they were believing for but yet they received a good report.

39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. [Hebrew 11:39-40]

I guess there's a balance in everythig... even faith!

Edited January 11, 2009 by dcampsart

[EricH]

I don't know why but Hebrews 11 is CONSTANTLY on my mind.

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. [Hebrews 11:1-3]

I am continually trying to break down and analyze faith. I think of how it's ONE thing that triggers a response from God! It's probably the most pleasing thing to God we can operate in. I know... the greatest gift is LOVE but doesn't scripture say... FAITH which worketh by (through) LOVE? When I think of how Jesus said when we pray if we BELIEVE we'll receive, we shall have it, I ask myself the question..."How does faith work?" How do you know that you know what you ask for is going to happen?

I used to be heavily involved in the faith movement but have stepped back and presently I'm reevaluating my position. Personally, I find it more comforting to focus on the sovereignty of God, believing that all things work together for good. I've wondered if that may be a lazy approach. I say lazy because some I knew, heavily involved in the faith movement, used to say that Christians who rail against "naming and claiming" are just too lazy to fight the good fight!

Think about the heroes we read about in the remainder of the verses in the "great hall of faith!" I'm sorry but I have to wonder what the believer was thinking about confessing and possessing his or her way out of being sawn in two not necessarily working!

I don't know why Hebrews 11 is constantly on my mind. What could God be attempting to get into my hard head? What is your take?

Do we believe and SPEAK things into existence or do we resign ourselves to trusting God knows best?

Faith is not always getting what we ask for immediately consider this passage in Hebrews 11:

They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground. All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.

Hebrews 11:37-40 HCSB