Now Faith Is . . .

July 19

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.—HEBREWS 11:1

Now Faith Is . . .

This scripture gives us God’s definition of faith. Notice that faith is present tense: It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The New English Bible says, “Faith is giving substance to things hoped for.” You see, hope doesn’t have any substance. Hope has to be there, but faith is what gives substance to the things hoped for.

How does faith give substance to the things you’re hoping for? In Mark 11:23, Jesus said, “For 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.” It is by believing in your heart and speaking with your mouth that you see those unseen things manifest before your eyes.

Let’s continue reading in Mark. “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye

receive them, and ye shall have them” (v. 24). Before you ever see something manifest on the outside, you have to “see it” on the inside first. This is faith—the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

I’ve preached Mark 11:23 and 24 so much that some people jokingly say that I wrote it! But I didn’t. I got it out of the Bible.

Jesus said it. And after sixty-five years, I’m still just as thrilled when I read it. Way down deep inside of me, in my spirit,

something starts turning somersaults. That’s when the Word ofGod works for you—when you get thrilled with it!

Confession:

Faith gives substance to the things I’m hoping for. I need hope, but I also need faith. As I believe in my heart and speak

out of my mouth, I shall have whatever I say.