Heb 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The word faith is derived from the Greek word pistis with a basic meaning of moral convictions that come from the truth of God; the reliance upon Christ for salvation; assurance; belief; and fidelity.
However, when you go back to the origin of pistis we find pietho which defines as: to agree with; obey; have confidence in; and to make friends with.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
- Faith the substance (support, essence, assurance, proof) of things we hope for (expect), and the evidence (proof) of things we do not yet see.
When looking at these foundational basics, I love to acknowledge that Faith comes as we make friends with, agree with, have confidence in, obey, and walk in fidelity to the Word of God. Faith that will bring whatever is needed into existence.
- Heb. 11:6 tells us that without faith (without agreeing with, having confidence in, making friends with the Word) it is impossible to please God.
We sing a song in most gatherings today with these lyrics ... "I am a friend of God, I am a friend of God, I am a friend of God ... He calls me friend." However, unless we are making friends with, agreeing with and obeying the Word ... are we really friends with God. Will we be called friends in the end?
I am not opting to be the downer in your life today, I am merely making a point. How can we say we are friends of/with God, and then neglect the written Word?
John 1:1 says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jesus himself was the Word made flesh dwelling among us according to John 1:14.
There are so many people who weary themselves striving to get to the level of great faith, but never make friends with the Word. Never walk in Faith Basics. They gravel and beg in prayer, and do all kinds of works to obtain, however, to be a person of Great Faith is much easier than flesh works. I can offer you this truth from ... yes, you guessed it ... from the written Word!
- Matthew 8:5-13 is the story of the centurion, who entered the realm of "Great Faith."
How did he get into that realm?
Verse 8 of Matthew 8 tells us ... he sided with the Word. He didn't take upon himself to lay out all of his good works, no he simply said, "speak the Word only."
These words backed by the knowledge and confidence of ranks of authority caused this centurion to be called by Jesus one of "Great Faith." The centurion sided with, and made friends with, the Word, and by doing so he got quick results, and Jesus mark of approval.
- To move into realms of Great Faith ... one must make friends with, agree with and obey the written Word.
I must add one more ingredient to Great Faith that will cause it to produce. That ingredient is "speaking." By speaking the Word of God that you have opted to agree with and have made friends with, will bring faith substance into the seen realm.
The Centurion said, "Speak" the Word only. The written word is the foundational truths that we build upon. The spoken Word ... our voice applied to the written Word is what brings a thing hoped for into existence.
By Speaking the Word of God, or words that agree with the written Word we move into "Great Faith" that produces all manner of good things.
James 1:16-18
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
God begat us with the Word of Truth, and framed the World with His Word.
Being made in God's image and likeness we to are to be speaking spirits, who are walking in the blessed evidence of our faith released.
