Often
we think a testimony of faith in God as being some miraculous event
that is so uncommon that we would categorize it as a miracle. But
when we begin to visit with one another and listen to the stories
that each one of us can tell of how God has worked in our lives,
we discover our testimony has a common thread of simple faith
in God’s loving touch in our daily lives.
I
think the testimony of salvation -- how we heard the call
of God and responded in faith, is the greatest testimony of all. The
continued fellowship we have with the Father and the daily answered
prayer of protection and provision reminds us of the constant
care we receive because of our faith in God. You have an outstanding
testimony of faith!
It
is with this same simple faith that Christians have stepped into
the realm of the Spirit and experienced some of the greatest adventures
of faith! The writer of the Book of Hebrews wrote a powerful
message of faith in Hebrews 11, but before you look in chapter
11 … be sure and check out chapter 10 and the people to whom it is
addressed!
Hebrews
10
32
But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated,
you endured a great struggle with sufferings:
33
partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations,
and partly whileyou became companions of those who were so treated;
34
for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted
the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and
an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
35
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
36
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the
will of God, you may receive the promise:
38
Now the just shall live by faith;
It
was in the daily occurrence of life that these families experienced
sufferings, reproaches, tribulations, and the loss of their possessions. And
the writer encourages them to keep
their confidence, commit
to following Christ with endurance, and continue to maintain
the hope of receiving the promise! He reminds them: The
just shall live by faith!
I
read the testimony of a missionary who had been imprisoned and mistreated
for three years and expected to be executed. He later wrote
that his greatest question was whether he should preach, pray, or
sing as they led him away! He decided that when that day appeared,
to sing a hymn, “Some Golden Daybreak.” Although he was finally
released, his faith sustained him in the darkest of hours!
You
and I have never faced that kind of difficulty, but we have all faced
the question of how are we to live by faith. How do you live
by faith? The writer of Hebrews encourages our faith in
Hebrews 11.
Hebrews
11
1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen.
Faith
is an exercise of believing for
something when you don’t
physically have it and you can’t
see it. Faith demands hope. Hope
is the expectation and the anticipation of good things in our tomorrows. Faith
is the substance that sustains us as we wait for our tomorrows.
Oral
Roberts frequently used a phrase, “Something
good is going to happen to you.” That is a paraphrase
of Hebrews 11! Faith is having hope for our tomorrows! When
we have faith in God, we can trust that something good is going to
happen!
God
wants us to believe that good things will be supplied!
James
1
17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes
down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation
or shadow of turning.
Christians
have every right to be the most optimistic, positive people on
earth! They should have such an attitude of abundance
and generosity as anyone! Not that we are all rich … but
that we know God is giving good things to us! Our tomorrows
are all in His hands. EVEN
WHEN THINGS DON’T LOOK GOOD!
The
last words of Charles Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher, were,
“Oh, wifie, I have had such a blessed time with my Lord.” We
all have good days and bad days … but when Jesus walks with us
… it is a blessed time with Jesus!
Hebrews
11
2
For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
The
elders … the patriarchs of the Old Testament … are listed in Hebrews
11 … they obtained a good testimony because of their faith. Their
abilities and gifts are not remembered as being noteworthy … but
their faith is remembered!
Some
of the greatest men and women of faith had few special talents, had
little prestige in this world and many of them had little of this
world’s goods! Yet they were noticed by God because of their
faith in Him.
Isn’t
it just like Jesus to take note of the widow who put in two coins
which would add up to about a penny of our money!
Mark
12:43-44
"…
this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to
the treasury; … she out of her poverty put in all that she
had, her whole livelihood."
What
faith! There is no indication of despair but faith that God
would supply her needs -- and Jesus took note of it! Did you
notice that He didn’t intervene? He didn’t jump up and give
something back to her? He allowed her faith to sustain her. She
obtained a good testimony!
So
faith is based on hope. Hope is based on God’s goodness! We
live by faith and obtain a good report from God! That’s
neat!
By
faith we understand.
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.
God
wants us to understand faith. Our understanding of faith gives
us an open door to all the other promises and blessings of God! So
when the Bible directs us toward understanding … stop and get your
mind wrapped around it! By faith we understand … we understand
what? Understand: The world was created by God speaking it into existence. “Let there
be light and there was light.”
I
know you have read that and heard that before, but stop and take
a deep breathe and think about it. God spoke and it became. And
He hasn’t changed. When God speaks EVERYONE listens. When
you have trouble in life … what you need is to have God speak into
your circumstance! God still speaks. He speaks through
the Word of God and more specifically through His Holy Spirit in
your inner man. When you know God is spoken you can rest
in faith that it will be done as He said.
Is
it no wonder that when Jesus came He knew that when He spoke, that
powerful things would happen? He cursed a fig tree and it withered
and died. When the disciples asked how that happened, He explained
it in Mark 11:22-23. Believe God in your heart – speak with
your mouth – and don’t doubt! That is how God did it. Understanding
faith begins with understanding how the universe was created!
We
not only understand that God spoke and it became … but we also understand that the physical world is made up of spiritual material. Where
nothing existed … there is now a universe because GOD SAID SO! Now
stop a minute and think. When you pray … do you then try to
figure out how God is going to answer? If He takes the unformed
substance of the spirit realm and creates a formed substance which
seems solid to you and me … can He not answer your prayer in a way
that you don’t understand? Can God create an answer when there
is no answer?
Story: A
man turned over his diesel tractor in the woods and was penned under
it. He tried and tried to reach the clutch and couldn’t --
until he prayed. Then his hand reached out and had a firm grasp
on it so he could disengage the engine. What changed? God
made the impossible become possible.
What
is the answer to your questions in life? Begin with faith and
then allow the Lord to lead you. It may mean making a change
in your lifestyle – or your habits – or in you attitude or your thinking
– but God can make a way where there
seems to be no way. When we place our faith in Him.
By
Jerrel Venable |
