Introduction
Faith is vital to the maturity of every Christian. Without faith
it is impossible for a saint to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Throughout
Biblical history faith has been the brand that authenticates every
godly servant. God’s word gives us examples of those who
lived by faith as well as those who lived by sight. Its pages
reveal how faith is to be lived out on a continual basis.
Faith
is also the mark of a mature believer. Those in the Hall of Faith
described in Hebrews 11 are men and women whose relationship with
God grew stronger and stronger as they acted on their faith. True
faith almost always faces opposition as it is expressed in the
life of a believer and within the Body of Christ. Learning to
depend on God’s promises during these times of testing stretches
our faith and expands the horizons it attains.
Over
a period of years the Lord has shown me that those within the
church are far more willing to trust God for their eternal salvation
than they are for His divine provision. We quickly testify to
others how faithful God is to save them, but deny by our actions
His ability to provide a financial need, heal a loved one, or
mend a broken relationship. Throughout the ministry of Jesus He
was complementing those who acted on their faith and sought him
for healing.
If
you are seeking to do the will of the Father, this week’s
studies will stretch you to believe Him in greater ways than you
have in the past. Like burning away the dross, the fire of His
word will remove the sediment that prevents His light from shining
its brightest within you. If faith is the substance of things
hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen (Hebrews 11:1),
then our confidence in the promises of God will ultimately yield
a harvest of hope and produce a ledger full of supernatural assets.
