But without faith it is impossible to please him (God): for (“because” meaning there’s no other way) he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:6
What does it take to follow Jesus? Faith in Him.
By faith, by faith, by faith, by faith…All of the real people mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11 were ordinary people like you and me who reacted to God’s Word by taking Him at His Word. They were able to face anything by faith. We’re not to let anyone or the devil talk us out of our faith in God, in His Word, in Jesus Who is The Word.
We were living in Oregon and I was miserable a lot of the time. People were loving and praying for us, but I just couldn’t seem to break out of the heavy darkness I felt in my soul. I’d often try to wear a somewhat happy, religious face but I wasn’t experiencing any true spiritual victory in my life – At least, not the kind I’d see in other Christians’ lives.
I thought if I just had a well-paying job that I would finally have “the breakthrough” I longed for and needed…
What I discovered was that God had deeper plans and was much more concerned with giving me a spiritual breakthrough than He was with giving me a nice income and letting me go off on that road not really coming to the spiritual breakthrough He knew He wanted for me. He also knew that, bottom line, His spiritual breakthrough was what I really wanted as well.
God knows our hearts far better than we do. ☺
When Ann and I caught onto the idea of pinning up Bible verses all over our Oregon home and began memorizing them, little by little, God’s Word began to change us. We were really becoming different inside. We were growing in the Lord and in the power of His might. We truly began to stand against the devil’s lies and to become believers.
“But without faith it is impossible to please God” isn’t a guilt trip or legalistic. That verse is in the Bible to inspire and motivate us to become free in Jesus – and in the power of His might – by finally living in true faith.
Take up the challenge, precious people. Know the Word and act on it – This is faith. Let’s get free in Jesus.
Is God really working all things together for my good? YES! And, He’s doing the same thing for anyone (just like the ordinary people in Hebrews chapter 11) who will, by faith, keep believing. This is what being a Christian is all about, and it’s always been true of people clear down through the ages to you and me.
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Hebrews 11 KJV
God bless,
Mark