FAITH

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. “ – Hebrews 11:1 KJV

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” – Mark 11:24 NIV

We live in a faithless society. Yes. Many of us believe there is a God. Many of us believe that He is all powerful and can do anything He wants. Where our faith fails us, however, is that too many of us are unconvinced that He WANTS to answer our prayers with a “YES”, or that He is WILLING to do so.

That is not, however, what the scriptures tell us! Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is the SUBSTANCE of things not seen! The Greek word here can also be translated as the ESSENCE of “things not seen”. In other words, faith is the MATERIAL (if you will) that these unseen things are made of. Without faith, these “unseen things” that we pray for CANNOT exist!

So what does this faith look like? Well, we're told that in Mark 11:24. It says “believe that you have received it”! I know. That can be difficult. But it doesn't have to be.

“ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. “ – Matthew 18:3 NIV

When I was a child, I asked for a train set for one Christmas. On another, I asked for a bicycle. In both cases, I KNEW I had received them! I KNEW that on Christmas day, I would wake up and FIND them! THIS is the faith Jesus referred to in Mark 11:24. THIS is what it means to become as a little child! A little child KNOWS their father loves them. They KNOW their father wants to give them what they ask for. They KNOW his character. There is no doubt (at least in a loving family).

THIS is what the faith that move mountains looks like. (Matthew 17:20). NOT that God CAN do it, but that our Lord is WILLING to answer our prayers: “For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. 20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. “ 2 Cor. 1:19-20