?Rev. Dr. Nelda Barrette Murriane, First United Methodist Church of Kennedale?
Faith is trust, confidence and assurance in God. The way we live shows our faith through obedience and service to God. God will increase our faith if we fervently ask and draw close to Him.? {{more: continue …}}?
The expression ?just have faith, it will all work out? is something we say to family, friends, co-workers and neighbors to comfort and encourage someone facing serious problems or stressful situations. But just what is faith as described in the Bible, and does it really work?
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In Hebrews 11:1, ?Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.? Faith is the substance or assurance of things we hope for, but have not yet received. Faith (confidence, belief, trust) is also our evidence of that which is not seen?the invisible spiritual things. Faith comes before a prayer is answered or before an individual has received what he or she has requested from God. Even if we have received what we asked for, we must remain strong in the “faith”.
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A New Testament example of faith is also found in Matthew 9:27-30 where two blind men came to Jesus and asked Him to heal them. Jesus first asked them, ?Do you believe that I am able to do this?? and their reply was, ?Yes, Lord.? ?Then He touched their eyes saying, ?According to your faith let it be to you.? And their eyes were opened.?
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The faith and assurance they had in Jesus could give them sight was the substance or reality they hoped for. It also gave them the trust or evidence that they would receive what they asked for. They believed, they trusted, they had faith in advance that it would be done.
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In the Old Testament there is another example. Daniel had three friends who refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar?s image of gold. If they refused to bow to the image, they were threatened with being thrown into a fiery pit alive.
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The three young Jewish men (Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego) refused to bow to the image told King Nebuchadnezzar: ?If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up? (Daniel 3:17-18).
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These men had no idea in advance how God would deliver them from the fiery furnace, whether it would be at that time by saving their physical lives or later in the resurrection. Their faith belief and trust was the substance of what they hoped for, and it was the evidence of that which was not yet seen or even received. Their faith or trust was built on serving God and obeying His commandments. They believed God would deliver them because they stood on God’s Word and obeyed His commandments. Therefore they did not bow down to worship any others gods.?
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“Keep the Faith!”
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“I don’t know how, but I know WHO!”
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See you on Sunday!?
Peace,
Pastor Nelda
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