What is Faith?

What is faith?

In (Hebrews 11:1) it says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." 
If we turn to the dictionary, faith means: belief that is not based on proof; confidence or trust in a person or thing.

So faith is believing in something we can not see.

• We have faith that God's Word is Truth. 
• We believe that Jesus died on the cross, through him we have eternal life and victory over satan.
• We believe Christ rose on the third day.
• We believe....

I can go on at the things we believe in but there is something that is certain today and I am seeing it everywhere, including in the church.

Did you know there are two types of faith? No seriously, there are two types of faith. A lot of us don't realize this.

• Faith - Believing in something or someone that is unseen.
• Reality Faith - Lack of faith because of what you can see in front of you.

This is what troubles me today as I see this more and more coming in to the church body and more christian believers tend to rely more on the reality faith while professing they have faith. I think if we examined ourself today some would find a little more reality faith then faith. When ever I hear a christian say, BUT... that is a sign of their reality faith showing up. I know because I was one of these Christians. The Lord has taken me through many and I mean many faith storms over the past few years and my eyes have open so much. Even more so recently to things I hear from believers all around me.


The church body today is being attacked by a spirit of division. Many already know this. But what is causing this? It's my belief that there are obviously several reasons to be the cause, however, probably one of the biggest reasons today the church is more secular is because of these two noted reasons:  

• Lack of Faith within the church
• Lack of Knowledge to Gods Words

Believers we must know Gods word!  If we truly know His word, we will have and grow in FAITH! 

When I say know Gods Word, I don't mean partially know it. I mean read it, live it, breathe it daily.

Now, If we truly are reading, living, breathing His word, we would make NO room for reality faith.

Explain reality faith?

Let me give you a few examples of reality faith.

• I know in His word, He said I am delivered from this sickness (disease). But... I still see the inflictions, I still feel the pain. My healing is coming but until then I am still sick or with disease.
• I know His word, He said He would provide all I need. But... I still: Have no money to pay my bills, feed my family, see the doctor. Where is God and Why am I still where I have been.
• I know His word, He said He would hear my cry and run to me. But... My marriage is still failing, I have tried everything the Word says to do and I am still sitting here. Why is He punishing me?
• I know His word, He has shown me vision to His plans. But... My church attendance is falling. Finances are not met. The church body is divided. Why has He failed me?

The above are only a few examples of reality faith.

If we know His word, We know NOT to look at what IS in front of us. We know to look up at Him and look through His eyes. Lets go to the book of Romans where we read and learn more about Faith. 


 (Romans 4:  (to read this full passage click here) vs's 16-20 noted below. (NLT)


  ¹⁶ So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. ¹⁷ That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. ¹⁸ Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” ¹⁹ And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. ²⁰ Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. ²¹ He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. ²² And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. ²³ And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded ²⁴ for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵ He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Faith is received as a gift. 


Over the last 3 months the above passage has stayed in my spirit. When ever I hear someone speak they have faith but act upon the reality faith, I have to admit, It troubles me. I do see this a lot! Not only does it trouble me but I have actually questioned my faith a time or two and I am led back to this passage above. 


You and I, We are all given gifts from the father. Among all of these gifts, we are given FAITH. We don't have to earn it. We don't have to buy it. This gift has already been purchased along with others by Christ at Calvary. Faith is a gift to you and I. It's time we RECEIVE and USE this gift!  It is up to you and I to keep this gift and not only keep it    but guard it and never lose it!  I have mentioned in previous posts about how we started going to a word of faith church these last couple years. Boy, What a difference in our family. The things around us we are seeing happen and the things we now see clearer then before. I am amazed, truly amazed with my father.  


I want to take this opportunity that lay here before me and encourage each one who stops in:


I encourage each of us to fully examine ourself daily while asking the Lord to show us anything that is within, that should not be there. If there is any doubt lurking within, ask him to cleanse you from that doubt and completely remove it. Ask for spiritual growth, growth in true faith, growth to operate in true faith, His guidance in all we do. And in all of this I urge you to DIG in your word daily.  This generation of believers lack the Knowledge of Gods Word. Believers, If you want to know Christ like no other, Your going to have to start by reading the Word of God. 

"I see people all the time flocking to bookstores or libraries for books that are action packed, murder mysteries, encouraging, inspiring, counseling, educational, etc...     

No matter what kind of book your looking for, I can direct you to a book that has all of that and more... THE BIBLE!"

Accept the challenge today and grow deeper in Christ and In Faith!


Blessings!