Now Faith ... Substance ... Hope
NOW FAITH … is the SUBSTANCE of
things HOPED for (Hebrews 11:1). This verse brings out three points:
1. Faith contains substance.
Substance refers to matter or
something material. Although you can’t see faith, you can see the actions and
results of faith (which is always something of matter or substance, such as
healing, provision, marriage and children you prayed for, blessings from God,
material things like houses, cars, food and clothing, new employment, etc.).
2. Faith is “right now”, whereas
hope is always for the future.
This means that when we pray in
faith, we believe we have “already received” whatever it is we have asked for,
and then we shall have it (this is what Jesus said in Mark 11:24). You may ask,
“If we receive the answer “right now” then where is it? Why don’t I immediately
have it?”
Whatever you are believing for, God
firsts answers your prayer in the “Spirit realm”. In God’s perspective, He has
already answered your prayer. It is a done deal.
Usually, it takes a period of time,
according to earthly standards of time (the ticking away of the clock), for the
answer to become manifest in the physical realm. The physical realm always has
to catch up with what has already been accomplished in the Spirit realm. Often
intercessors see the answers to their prayers weeks or months after they began
praying for it.
Sometimes healings or miracles
happen instantaneously when Heaven invades earth. When the Glory of God invades
the place of worship or a person’s life, anything is possible. During Jesus’
ministry, He performed healings and miracles, most of which were instantaneous.
Jesus said that we (the Body of Christ) would do even greater works and
exploits than He did. Do we really believe this? The world is groaning and
waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God who understand their authority
in Christ.
Miracles usually take place during a
time of crisis. Miracles are great, but it’s better to have faith for a
lifestyle of divine health, provision, good relationships, etc, rather than
waiting until there is a crisis to have faith for a miracle.
In 2003 I was instantly healed of
arthritis in my back when some people commanded the affliction to leave my
body. I have remained healed since that time. However, there are other health
conditions I had that took anywhere from weeks to years to heal.
Sometimes prayers are answered
instantly. However, most of the time prayers are completely answered over a
process of time. That’s where patience comes into play. Faith and patience work
together. God promised Abraham a son, but it took 25 years before Isaac was
born. That is a more extreme, and rare, example. Most answers to prayer don’t
take that long.
3. Faith is the substance of things
HOPED for.
You must first have hope before you
have faith. Hope is more than just wishing for something. The Greek definition
of hope is: “expectation, confidence, to anticipate (usually with pleasure), to
trust, to have faith.”
Hope is desire, but notice that the
desire is accompanied by positive EXPECTATION. It means I am expecting
something specific to happen. Often things never arrive because you have no
expectation of it showing up. You must have anticipation that what you are
hoping for, that hope will bring it to the door.
Hope is defined in the Webster’s
Dictionary as “a feeling that what is wanted is likely to happen”.
Hope is like having a dream that you
believe will come to pass.
To have hope is to know that things
are going to get better no matter how they look right now.
Your future and your hope are gifts
from God that no one can take away! Hope is a gift! All you have to do is
receive it and you can walk in divine hope every day.
When you look around at your
circumstances and limitations, it can often be discouraging and disappointing.
When you look UP and look to Jesus, at His possibilities, hope comes.
Keep expecting God’s favor and
blessing.
Look at Joseph in the Bible—there
was no hope left for him, except what God had promised him. As Joseph looked to
God, he went from the pit to Potiphar’s house; from the prison to the Palace.
And so will you!
The Lord will turn your Valley of
Achor (valley of trouble) into a door of hope and you’ll be able to help others
(Hosea 2:15).
Hope brings rejoicing (Romans
12:12). Hope is joy and peace in believing (Romans 15:13).
Hope deferred or delayed makes the
heart sick, but when the desire comes it is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12).
Often hope is deferred because we
are wavering, doubting and questioning if God can do it and we stop waiting on
God and try to help God. God does not need our help. Our role is to praise Him
and thank Him for the desired answer. This displays confidence and firm relying
trust with expectation.
Hope sets the goal. Faith obtains
it.
Hope is a spiritual force that keeps
you holding on until the answer comes. Hope and patience work together.
If we hope for what we do not see or
have, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance, patience and composure (Romans
8:25).
Hope and faith differ, in that faith
CHANGES things. Hope’s job is to keep you moving forward until the
manifestation comes.
Hebrews 6:19 says that hope is an
anchor to the soul. When the storms come and the winds blow, hope will keep us
firmly secured so that we are not tossed to and fro.
Hope sees the future as better and
brighter. When you have hope you believe (have faith) that things will change,
renew and improve.
Hope in God and in His promises does
not disappoint us, delude us or shame us (Romans 5:5 Amplified).
For surely there is a latter end [a
future and a reward], and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off
(Proverbs 23:18).
Give yourself permission to dream
big dreams, because God put those dreams in your heart and He is a BIG God! He
can do anything! It just takes faith in God’s Word and His promises.
Faith comes by “hearing”, and
hearing by the Word of God. It helps greatly to listen to faith building
messages every day.
“For I know the plans I have for
you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
For God so loved this world that He gave His only begotton Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God did not send His Son into this world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him would be saved.
The thief (Satan the devil) comes only for to kill, steal and destroy. But Jesus has come to give us life, and life more abundantly, until it overflows.
I urge you to come to the Cross today and receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord. He will wash away all your sins and make you as clean and white as fresh snow.
Just pray this prayer and mean it with your heart:
Dear Lord Jesus (if you are not able to call him Lord yet, then just say "Jesus")
I receive You as my Savior and Lord. I give my life over to You. I believe that You died and rose again, and that if I call on the Name of the Lord I shall be saved.
I accept you into my heart right now, and confess that You are Lord and have risen from the dead and forever live to make intercession for me.
Thank You for washing my heart pure and clean and making me whole, and for giving me peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Thank You that now I am a new creature in Christ Jesus. The old has gone and the new has come.
And there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh (carnality and sin), but walk after the Spirit. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, I believe you got born again and are now heaven bound and will be with the Lord forever and have eternal life. Your sins are now forgiven. You are accepted in the Beloved.
I would encourage you to find a good Bible based local church to help you grow in your faith, to learn the Word of God, to praise and worship Him, and to have fellowship with the saints.
Serving Christ is the best decision you will ever make.
God bless you!!!
