APOSTOLIC ACTING OUT

FAITH

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Scripture textHebrews 11:1 – “1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

            The Bible’s definition of faith is found in Hebrews 11:1.

Webster’s definition of faith – trust, confidence, complete acceptance of a truth which cannot be demonstrated or proved by the process of logical thought.

It says in Romans 8:24 – “24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

We use Webster’s definition of faith the most as it says in Romans 4:5, 20 – “5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.

            What Hebrews 11:1 is talking about is for example – faith can move a mountain as Jesus says it in Matthew 17:20-21 – “20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

            Some people ask you, when you are talking about God, if they are not a believer they ask, “Well, how do you know there is a God? You can’t prove it.” That’s where faith comes in. You tell them how you have faith and tell them your experience with repenting, getting baptized in Jesus’ name, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and that is your proof.

            In Mark 11:20-24 – “20And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. 22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What thing soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

            Here Jesus is saying that faith is believing that something will happen without having any doubt whatsoever in your heart that it will happen. When you use faith and try to move a mountain or such, it relates back to Romans 8:24. When you say to the mountain “move”, you don’t have to look up to see if the mountain is moved if you have faith. If you doubt in your mind, it shows how much faith you have.

            As found in Hebrews 11:17-19 – “17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promise offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

            If Abraham didn’t have faith in God, he wouldn’t have even thought that God would save his son and he wouldn’t have taken Isaac for a sacrifice unto God. If you decide to try your faith and say to a mountain “move”, be sure it is for a reason for God.

            What Jesus was talking about in Mark 11:24 – “24Therefore I say unto you, What thing soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

            That would be like believing you are going to receive the Holy Ghost, and if you believe you can get it and you want it and you ask as it says in Matthew 7:7 – “7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

            As it says in Hebrews 11:6 – “6But 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.

            It is impossible to please God without faith. If you do not believe in God, that won’t please Him. Back in Matthew 17:20-21 – “20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Where it says if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move a mountain.

            In Mark 4:30-32 – “30And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: 32But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadows of it.” This describes how big a mustard seed is. It goes on to say when it is sown; it grows up, and becomes greater than all herbs.

            That is what we need to do with our faith. We don’t need to just believe in God. We need to believe everything about God. Believe that He performs miracles. Believe that He will forgive your sins. Believe that He will give you the Holy Ghost. Believe that He died on the cross for your sins. Believe that He rose up from the dead and ascended into heaven. Believe that He is coming back again to take the church up into heaven. Believe that we will praise Him forever and ever up there.