SCRIPTURAL FAITH!

Hebrews 11:1-6

      I.   WHAT IS SCRIPTURAL FAITH?

There is not a clearer explanation of faith in all of Scripture than the one found in Hebrews 1:1. The two key words in this verse is “sure” and certain.” Scriptural faith is being sure about what God has said and certain about what God has promised. Sure, and certain about what? When can we be sure and certain God is going to act? When can we know for sure that God is going to do what we ask? Fortunately for us our God has given us the answer to both questions: Hebrews 11:1-2. Each of the men and women mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11 is associated with the words “by faith.” There is also another word used for some of these men and women: “Promise.” That term: “promise” is used eighteen times in the Book of Hebrews. Scriptural faith and the promises of God go hand and hand: Hebrews 11:11. The clear teaching of Scripture is that Abraham’s faith was based on the promises of God. That is what living by faith is all about, simply taking God at His Word! Living by faith requires that we become familiar with God’s promises.

II.   ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED WITH GOD?

Many Christians become disappointed with God. They feel as if God has let them down, because He did not answer their prayer. When people don’t get their prayers answered the way they think God should it is not unusual for them to stop praying, stop reading their Bibles, and stop attending church. Hebrews 12:15. Scriptural faith is not a force we tap into. Biblical faith is confidence that God will do exactly what He has promised to do.

III.   THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAITH AND HOPE!

A large part of our problem with unanswered pray is we have confused the concepts of faith and hope. When we can find a promise of God to have faith in we don’t have to just hope God will answer our prayer we can by faith simply say God will do it. To believe that God will do something He has not promised to do is not faith, it is presumption. Part of our problem in prayer is that instead of us wanting to yield to God’s will we want Him to yield to our will. Scriptural faith is not an escape hatch from all the trials and tribulations of this life. Scriptural faith is confidence that God will keep His promises. Some believers were abandoning their faith in Jesus Christ because God was allowing them to be persecuted for their faith. Do you know what God has promised to each of us if we will choose to live a godly life? 2 Timothy 3:10-12; Hebrews 4:14. Regardless of what happens in our lives from day to day, the very fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose from the dead ought to be the most important reason to live out our faith. Our Lord Jesus said all of His followers would have trouble in this world just as He did: John 16:33. From time to time in this life our Lord is going to ask each of His disciples to be willing to suffer for His glory: Philippians 1:29.

  IV.   GROWING IN OUR FAITH!

None of us like the discipling of the Lord in our lives but it is necessary: Proverbs 13:24; Hebrews 12:4-12. When the Lord allows us to suffer in this life it is easy to think it is because He doesn’t love us but He has already proved that by His death on the cross. Psalm 13:5-6. We must learn God’s promises and put our faith in them: 2 Peter 1:3-4; Romans 10:17.