11 Now faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a goodtestimony.
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 NKJV
Hebrews chapter 11 is sometimes referred to as the (picture) Gallery of the Faith Heroes of the Bible. The place where God honours those who lived by Faith and overcame in their time. Jesus spoke to all seven Churches in Revelation chapters 2 & 3 with the words, ‘To the one who is victorious or overcomes, I will give/make …’; He made an individual promise to each of them.
Hebrews chapter 11 opens with two powerful words concerning Faith, it is both Substance and Evidence – suggests something definite, tangible. I was thinking this morning of a short word which would actually be the opposite of these two words – ‘hype’. Unusually this short word has it’s origins in American English of the last century and is therefore a modern word. Hype has influenced and infiltrated a lot of the modern Church of today. (A major part of my background is in the Charismatic Church)
“Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.” Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline, 1988
Amazing to read these opening words of a work published so long ago, still so apt today.
Hebrews chapter 11, verse 34, says something very important for us,
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, OUT OF WEAKNESS WERE MADE STRONG, BECAME VALIANT IN BATTLE, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again.
These warriors started WEAK BUT ‘WERE MADE STRONG’. God Strengthens His people to accomplish the roles He’s marked out for our lives, but it requires our full commitment! Christ is returning for a victorious church and even one that sees the dead raised. Hallelujah.
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.
We’re living in days when God’s glory will be seen as never before across the earth and He’ll have a valiant Bride to work together with Him.
24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6