Now Faith Is
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 (AMP)
Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
Faith is not a past tense; it is a NOW thing.
A substance is that which consists of physical matter. Faith is the physical material of what you hope for. Faith is what puts matter to whatever you are hoping for. Any hope without faith/ substance is a wish. We all know of the old saying that if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Hope without faith becomes awish.
Kenneth E. Hagin said that "Faith is grasping the unrealities of hope and bringing them into the real of reality."
If I have faith, I am assured that what I am hoping for cannot fail. I am in addition fully convinced that that thing I am hoping for is real.
Blessed is he who believes without seeing. Jesus said this to Thomas, who claimed that he could only believe that Jesus was alive by seeing with his eyes, and touching his woulds. Jesus appeared to him and when he finally said that he believed, Jesus told him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29).
You will be blessed if you do not go by sight. We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). You will be blessed if you do not go by what you see.
No one walks with a land with them, to prove that you have a land or be assured of it's safety; all you need is a title deed, to be assured that it is yours. When you have the title deed of what you hare hoping for, you are assured that it is yours. If you are assured, you can smile and give thanks to God, as that reality has been delivered, by faith. Faith is the title deed of things hoped for, according to the Amplified version of Hebrews 11:1.
Until you are convicted that that which God promised He is able to do it, you will not get it. It is by faith that you give substance to your faith.
Faith can be built.
Jude 20
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit
Faith does not come by praying. Faith is a product of construction. Faith is also not a gift that some were given and some were denied. We need to take time and construct our faith.
Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Not many people went to the airport to believe that the airport had went ablaze. Yet we all believe that the airport caught fire. This is because we read it in the newspapers, and saw on the news. If we can believe newspapers, gossipers and news people, how much are we to believe God.
If you heard that you were invited to the State House, no one would fast to know if it's God's will for them to go, seeking for confirmation, or even call the President to get a confirmation. Yet when God speaks, people ask for confirmation because of doubt and unbelief. We need to believe whatever God says, and act on it without asking for confirmation.
Hebrews 11:6 (AMP)
But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].
Faith becomes and ingredient that lays a foundation of who we are.
If someone tells you that you must do something, there is no room for negotiation. Faith is not optional, it is a must. Why would God put faith as a must? People think that they can please God by giving offerings. Both Cain and Abel gave offerings, but it was Abel's offerings that were accepted. Why? Because He offered by faith, while Cain did not.
Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous. God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
Cain's sacrifice was a product of the ground, an effort of man and his toil. Abel's sacrifice was that of animals, which is faith in God, not in works.
Here are a few reasons why faith is a must:
1. God used faith to create this universe, and will not allow us to operate minus what He used to create the universe.
Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
By faith we understand means that faith brings understanding. It is faith that will help you to understand.
God spoke by faith to create the universe. He believed that what He spoke would be. Faith is not seen. If God used faith to create the universe, He cannot allow you to use anything else except faith in His word. He had faith in His word that He spoke in creating the world, and wants you to also have faith in his word.
2. Faith is a seed.
Luke 17:5-6
And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." 6 So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."
The apostles prayed that their faith be increased. Jesus told them that they need to use their faith, comparing it to a seed. A seed has whatever is needed to produce in itself. Jesus compared faith to the seed as it is what you need to produce any miracle.
Mark 4:14
"The sower sows the word."
Faith is having confidence in the seed, that is the word of God.
The production of every seed requires it to go to the ground. Faith is active, not passive. Faith requires actions.
James 2:17-18, 26
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead... Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
The steps of a righteous man are ordered by God (Psalm 37:23), but you have to be on the move, for God to order your steps. You cannot stay in bed and ask God to order your steps. God blesses the works of our hands (Deuteronomy 15:10, 28:12), but you have to be working for Him to bless. You cannot fail to work and ask God to bless the work of your hands.
1 Peter 1:23
...having been born again, not of the corruptible seed but incorruptible, throught e word of God which lives and abides forever...
The word of God is an incorruptible seed, and has a guarantee of giving a hundred fold.
Hebrews 1:3
...upholding all things by the word of His power...
What is the difference between "the word of His power" and "the power of His word?". The latter implies that His word is powerful. Hebrews 1:3 uses the former, which implies that all of God's power is vested in His word, and since He is the same yesterday, today and forever, that will never change. If a president gives an order to the police department, by the power of his word they will act immediately. This is subject to change, however, if the president moves out of office, his word will cease to have power and the incoming president is the one whose words will have power. By upholding all things by the word of His power, we can be assured that will remain so as He is an unchanging God.
God has guaranteed His word.
Isaiah 55:10-11
"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
When the word of God (seed) is planted, it guarantees you that whatever it was intended for is what it will fulfill.
Jeremiah 1:12 (NIV)
The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”
God does not watch your situations; He watched over His word. God is only obligated to watch over His word. If you plant His word, He will watch it and fulfill it. There is no need to beg God to watch your tough situation; take His word and act on it, and watch Him fulfill it.
You have a guarantee that you will never fail. Those who will have this certainty will never fail.
Psalm 107:20
He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Fasting does not touch God; it touches your heart to align to what God has said. It allows the frequency of your heart to tune to the frequency of heaven. God does not need fasting; we need fasting. Fasting does not move God, as He can only be moved by His word. If we served a God who could be moved, then He would not be dependable as everyone would moved Him by fasting. We are the ones who need fasting. God is not even moved by problems. If God was moved by problems, He would be living in the poorest slums. God is only moved by His word. Nobody can look down on you, as you have whatever you need.
God's word is already established in heaven.
Psalm 119:89
Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven.
Psalm 119:89 (NIV)
Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
The word of God is forever settled, standing firm in heaven. Pillars in a building are already settled, so no one moves the pillar if they need to sit, or even stand behind them and by faith hope that they will move. If you want to sit around a pillar, you align your self around it as it is already settled. The word of God is settled, so whatever it says is what will stand. You need to align yourself to the word, not align the word to yourself, for it to be fulfilled. If the word of God said that it's by giving we will prosper, that when we give we shall be given back, good measures, pressed down, shaken together and running over (Luke 6:38), that is what stands. When we give, we are acting by faith in obedience to His word, and aligning ourselves to His word.
3. Faith is a shield.
Ephesians 6:16
...above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked on.
Faith is the only thing that will quench the fiery darts of the enemy, as it is a shield. You should have no problem with who throws the darts, as you have what it takes to quench it. Fire can come, but you have what it takes to quench it. The devil was stripped off every weapon by Jesus. It does not matter what darts the enemy may throw at you, as you have what it takes to quench it. If you do not have a shield, you will be burnt. People with faith are bold.
If you fear a chameleon, you will always see it, even if it is not there. If you do not fear it, even if it is there, it will not matter to you. People who fear dogs attract the dogs to attack them, even if they are harmless or coward dogs. This is a natural example of how fear attracts. People who do not fear dogs are oblivious to their presence and are rarely attacked. Even teh devil knows those who do not have a shield of faith. The devil wants you intimidated. With faith, you can quench every dart of poverty, lack, etc.
God has given you faith to quench every fiery dart of the enemy.
4. Faith that puts you over.
1 John 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.
Our money is not our victory; our faith is. When you have faith, you are above, and will attract everything else to you.
Every mountain answers only to faith.
Mark 11:23
"For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says."
"Whoever" means that anyone can speak to mountains. It is not limited to individuals. "Whatever" is not limited to things. The difference between you and your "whatever", what you need, is your faith. Many people do not have (lack), and blame other people. All you need is faith. You do not need your efforts, you need faith.
Faith is mandatory.
Habakkuk 2:4
"Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith."
You need your own faith. A son cannot live on the faith of the mother or parent; you live by your own faith. Faith is the only currency that trades in heaven.
If you need anything from heaven, you need faith.
Mark 10:49-52
So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
The intentions of so many things is to silence you. Bartimaeus was being discouraged by the disciples in efforts to silence him, but he refused to keep quiet.
The garment Bartimaeus had was to identify his condition, but he threw it off by faith when Jesus called him. Jesus did not even pray for him. By faith Bartimaeus denounced his situation, and received his healing.
Jesus acknowledged the faith of the woman with the issue of blood as what healed her, not His power or prayer or anything else (Mark 5:34). All you need is faith.
Like I said earlier, faith is not a special gift that some were given and some were denied. We were all given the same measure of faith:
Romans 12:3 (KJV)
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Other Bible translations have interpreted this verse to say that we have been given a measure of faith, which is incorrect. Each and every one of us was given the measure of faith. What we do with it from this point is upon us. Do not hate someone because they used their faith and prospered, and received their miracle; use your own faith to get what you require. If I believe God for a plane, do not hate me or take offense, as you have your own measure of faith: use it.
All you need is faith.
Amen.
-- Apostle Dr. David Karanja.
(11/08/13 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor.)
Apostle Dr. David Karanja is the visionary of Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 (AMP)
Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
Faith is not a past tense; it is a NOW thing.
A substance is that which consists of physical matter. Faith is the physical material of what you hope for. Faith is what puts matter to whatever you are hoping for. Any hope without faith/ substance is a wish. We all know of the old saying that if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Hope without faith becomes awish.
Kenneth E. Hagin said that "Faith is grasping the unrealities of hope and bringing them into the real of reality."
If I have faith, I am assured that what I am hoping for cannot fail. I am in addition fully convinced that that thing I am hoping for is real.
Blessed is he who believes without seeing. Jesus said this to Thomas, who claimed that he could only believe that Jesus was alive by seeing with his eyes, and touching his woulds. Jesus appeared to him and when he finally said that he believed, Jesus told him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29).
You will be blessed if you do not go by sight. We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). You will be blessed if you do not go by what you see.
No one walks with a land with them, to prove that you have a land or be assured of it's safety; all you need is a title deed, to be assured that it is yours. When you have the title deed of what you hare hoping for, you are assured that it is yours. If you are assured, you can smile and give thanks to God, as that reality has been delivered, by faith. Faith is the title deed of things hoped for, according to the Amplified version of Hebrews 11:1.
Until you are convicted that that which God promised He is able to do it, you will not get it. It is by faith that you give substance to your faith.
Faith can be built.
Jude 20
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit
Faith does not come by praying. Faith is a product of construction. Faith is also not a gift that some were given and some were denied. We need to take time and construct our faith.
Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Not many people went to the airport to believe that the airport had went ablaze. Yet we all believe that the airport caught fire. This is because we read it in the newspapers, and saw on the news. If we can believe newspapers, gossipers and news people, how much are we to believe God.
If you heard that you were invited to the State House, no one would fast to know if it's God's will for them to go, seeking for confirmation, or even call the President to get a confirmation. Yet when God speaks, people ask for confirmation because of doubt and unbelief. We need to believe whatever God says, and act on it without asking for confirmation.
Hebrews 11:6 (AMP)
But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].
Faith becomes and ingredient that lays a foundation of who we are.
If someone tells you that you must do something, there is no room for negotiation. Faith is not optional, it is a must. Why would God put faith as a must? People think that they can please God by giving offerings. Both Cain and Abel gave offerings, but it was Abel's offerings that were accepted. Why? Because He offered by faith, while Cain did not.
Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous. God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
Cain's sacrifice was a product of the ground, an effort of man and his toil. Abel's sacrifice was that of animals, which is faith in God, not in works.
Here are a few reasons why faith is a must:
1. God used faith to create this universe, and will not allow us to operate minus what He used to create the universe.
Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
By faith we understand means that faith brings understanding. It is faith that will help you to understand.
God spoke by faith to create the universe. He believed that what He spoke would be. Faith is not seen. If God used faith to create the universe, He cannot allow you to use anything else except faith in His word. He had faith in His word that He spoke in creating the world, and wants you to also have faith in his word.
2. Faith is a seed.
Luke 17:5-6
And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." 6 So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."
The apostles prayed that their faith be increased. Jesus told them that they need to use their faith, comparing it to a seed. A seed has whatever is needed to produce in itself. Jesus compared faith to the seed as it is what you need to produce any miracle.
Mark 4:14
"The sower sows the word."
Faith is having confidence in the seed, that is the word of God.
The production of every seed requires it to go to the ground. Faith is active, not passive. Faith requires actions.
James 2:17-18, 26
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead... Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
The steps of a righteous man are ordered by God (Psalm 37:23), but you have to be on the move, for God to order your steps. You cannot stay in bed and ask God to order your steps. God blesses the works of our hands (Deuteronomy 15:10, 28:12), but you have to be working for Him to bless. You cannot fail to work and ask God to bless the work of your hands.
1 Peter 1:23
...having been born again, not of the corruptible seed but incorruptible, throught e word of God which lives and abides forever...
The word of God is an incorruptible seed, and has a guarantee of giving a hundred fold.
Hebrews 1:3
...upholding all things by the word of His power...
What is the difference between "the word of His power" and "the power of His word?". The latter implies that His word is powerful. Hebrews 1:3 uses the former, which implies that all of God's power is vested in His word, and since He is the same yesterday, today and forever, that will never change. If a president gives an order to the police department, by the power of his word they will act immediately. This is subject to change, however, if the president moves out of office, his word will cease to have power and the incoming president is the one whose words will have power. By upholding all things by the word of His power, we can be assured that will remain so as He is an unchanging God.
God has guaranteed His word.
Isaiah 55:10-11
"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
When the word of God (seed) is planted, it guarantees you that whatever it was intended for is what it will fulfill.
Jeremiah 1:12 (NIV)
The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”
God does not watch your situations; He watched over His word. God is only obligated to watch over His word. If you plant His word, He will watch it and fulfill it. There is no need to beg God to watch your tough situation; take His word and act on it, and watch Him fulfill it.
You have a guarantee that you will never fail. Those who will have this certainty will never fail.
Psalm 107:20
He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Fasting does not touch God; it touches your heart to align to what God has said. It allows the frequency of your heart to tune to the frequency of heaven. God does not need fasting; we need fasting. Fasting does not move God, as He can only be moved by His word. If we served a God who could be moved, then He would not be dependable as everyone would moved Him by fasting. We are the ones who need fasting. God is not even moved by problems. If God was moved by problems, He would be living in the poorest slums. God is only moved by His word. Nobody can look down on you, as you have whatever you need.
God's word is already established in heaven.
Psalm 119:89
Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven.
Psalm 119:89 (NIV)
Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
The word of God is forever settled, standing firm in heaven. Pillars in a building are already settled, so no one moves the pillar if they need to sit, or even stand behind them and by faith hope that they will move. If you want to sit around a pillar, you align your self around it as it is already settled. The word of God is settled, so whatever it says is what will stand. You need to align yourself to the word, not align the word to yourself, for it to be fulfilled. If the word of God said that it's by giving we will prosper, that when we give we shall be given back, good measures, pressed down, shaken together and running over (Luke 6:38), that is what stands. When we give, we are acting by faith in obedience to His word, and aligning ourselves to His word.
3. Faith is a shield.
Ephesians 6:16
...above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked on.
Faith is the only thing that will quench the fiery darts of the enemy, as it is a shield. You should have no problem with who throws the darts, as you have what it takes to quench it. Fire can come, but you have what it takes to quench it. The devil was stripped off every weapon by Jesus. It does not matter what darts the enemy may throw at you, as you have what it takes to quench it. If you do not have a shield, you will be burnt. People with faith are bold.
If you fear a chameleon, you will always see it, even if it is not there. If you do not fear it, even if it is there, it will not matter to you. People who fear dogs attract the dogs to attack them, even if they are harmless or coward dogs. This is a natural example of how fear attracts. People who do not fear dogs are oblivious to their presence and are rarely attacked. Even teh devil knows those who do not have a shield of faith. The devil wants you intimidated. With faith, you can quench every dart of poverty, lack, etc.
God has given you faith to quench every fiery dart of the enemy.
4. Faith that puts you over.
1 John 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.
Our money is not our victory; our faith is. When you have faith, you are above, and will attract everything else to you.
Every mountain answers only to faith.
Mark 11:23
"For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says."
"Whoever" means that anyone can speak to mountains. It is not limited to individuals. "Whatever" is not limited to things. The difference between you and your "whatever", what you need, is your faith. Many people do not have (lack), and blame other people. All you need is faith. You do not need your efforts, you need faith.
Faith is mandatory.
Habakkuk 2:4
"Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith."
You need your own faith. A son cannot live on the faith of the mother or parent; you live by your own faith. Faith is the only currency that trades in heaven.
If you need anything from heaven, you need faith.
Mark 10:49-52
So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
The intentions of so many things is to silence you. Bartimaeus was being discouraged by the disciples in efforts to silence him, but he refused to keep quiet.
The garment Bartimaeus had was to identify his condition, but he threw it off by faith when Jesus called him. Jesus did not even pray for him. By faith Bartimaeus denounced his situation, and received his healing.
Jesus acknowledged the faith of the woman with the issue of blood as what healed her, not His power or prayer or anything else (Mark 5:34). All you need is faith.
Like I said earlier, faith is not a special gift that some were given and some were denied. We were all given the same measure of faith:
Romans 12:3 (KJV)
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Other Bible translations have interpreted this verse to say that we have been given a measure of faith, which is incorrect. Each and every one of us was given the measure of faith. What we do with it from this point is upon us. Do not hate someone because they used their faith and prospered, and received their miracle; use your own faith to get what you require. If I believe God for a plane, do not hate me or take offense, as you have your own measure of faith: use it.
All you need is faith.
Amen.
-- Apostle Dr. David Karanja.
(11/08/13 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor.)
Apostle Dr. David Karanja is the visionary of Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.
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