What Faith Can Do
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:1–35
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,” Hebrews 11:1.
What Faith Can Do
Father God, we pray that you give us the grace to draw near with a clean heart in full assurance of faith. Wash our bodies with pure water and cleanse our minds of an evil conscience so that we will be able to hold fast to the profession of our faith without wavering, Hebrews 10:22-23. We pray Lord that you will give us a revelation of what faith can do and that faith in you will cause us to provoke one another to love and good works.
How do we provoke one another? If you see the dormant potential in your brother’s Christian life you challenge the person with love, not condemnation. Tell them you know they are meant to manifest better things. Provoke them to walk in faith, to be what God wants them to be. Today, there are few Christians who provoke us to do better works or upgrade our faith. I pray that today you and I will be provoked to exercise faith in the living God.
Faith is substantiating the things you hoped for. If you do not have a list of the things you hope for from God, you are not exercising faith; your faith is potential power that you are not using. I want to provoke you today to begin to substantiate the things you are hoping for in Christ. Put in writing the hundreds of things you want from God. This is provocation; it is substantiation of the things you hope for. Your list cannot include what you can see or predict. It must include things that only God can do, so that when people see these things happen they will say, “This is faith!”
When we exercise faith by substantiating the things we hope for and believing in the evidence of things not seen, there is great reward. My prayer today is that when we go through this catalogue of what faith can do, we will be provoked to exercise faith.
“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear,” Hebrews 11:3. By faith Abel offered God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain and this gave witness to Abel’s righteousness, Hebrews 13:4. Cain probably did not think that God existed so why offer an excellent sacrifice? Many times people think rendering sacrifices to God is useless because they do not see God. But the faithful see God and offer excellent sacrifices.
“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But 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,” Hebrews 11:5–6. If you want to give God pleasure, exercise faith.
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith,” Hebrews 11:7. When God asked Abraham to go to a strange land, even though it meant leaving his home and not knowing where he was going, he obeyed. “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sarah received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and of the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable,” Hebrews 11:10–12. Abraham sought after God and was rewarded greatly.
“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of the staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones,” Hebrews 11:20-22. Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and to experience the pleasures of sin. He chose to suffer affliction with the people of God, esteemed himself before Christ, and received greater riches than those of Egypt, verses 24-26. “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible,” verse 27. If you do not see a picture of a better future, begin to paint that picture by faith because when you see what is invisible, you can endure what is visible.
“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection,” Hebrews 11:30–35. God clearly rewards those who actively use their faith.
Prayer Points:
It is no secret what God can do for those who exercise faith. I pray that God will give you the grace to begin to work in the realm of faith, that He will provoke you to exercise your faith so that He can reward you with a better life in Jesus’ name.
