I’m preaching to myself. I’m trying to reconcile a truth and a fact. The scriptures declare one thing, but reality says something else. The one is diametrically opposed to the other. I’m not looking for reasons or excuses, but how to grab onto the truth of the scriptures. Isn’t that the very definition of faith?
Truth: Jesus suffered lashes for our health. Isa 53:5; 1 Pet 2:24
Fact: Why would we be sick if He paid for them?
Dogma: “God said ‘no’.” “God said ‘wait’.” “Miracles don’t happen today.”
Time to break it down (for myself) —
Faith:
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Assurance: a positive declaration intended to give confidence; a promise.
Conviction: a firmly held belief or opinion.
Greek:
substance: that which has actual existence
evidence: a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested
“Now faith is that which has actual existence of things hoped for, the proof of things not seen.”
Faith is something tangible.
Faith is the proof of things not seen.
Hmmm… reminds me of the account of Elijah. He spoke the promise of no rain, he didn’t “pray” about it, he just declared it. At the end of 3.5 years of no rain he cried out seven times for it to rain, falling on the ground each time, a big show. But in the NT, the same event is counted differently. According to the NT, the first was an “earnest prayer” and the second was just “prayer”. The first “prayer” had more “power” than the second. But if you read the story in the OT it’s the other way around.
Hmmm…
Romans 4:17-18 (ESV2011)
as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”
There’s that “things” again. Hmmm… a drought didn’t exist until Elijah declared it so. Abraham, praying that Abimelech would be healed of barrenness, whereas Abraham (Sarah) was still barren, Abimelech was healed. Then Abraham (Sarah) was healed. God spoke everything into existence. It never existed before He spoke. Noah said it was going to rain, it had never rained before.
Abraham had God’s promise and he hoped against hope and then:
Romans 4:19-22 (ESV2011)
He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”
There it is! #1 no unbelief made him waver. Though he had unbelief, he didn’t let it affect him. He was firm in his conviction. #2 promises of God. #3 he grew stronger in faith looking at God’s promises. #4 he gave God the glory. In all things give thanks to the Lord. #5 fully convinced! Or as the KJV says “being fully persuaded”, well now! Persuaded. This word persuaded in the Greek is the exact same word in Heb 11:1 for evidence!
This reasoning reminds me of this verse:
Isaiah 1:18 (KJV)
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Guess what!? The word “reason together” in the Greek Septuagint, is that exact same Greek word above: evidence and persuade! If we have reason about our salvation, the truth holds for all the rest. Just two verses before our definition of faith is this verse:
Hebrews 10:38 (KJV)
Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
And that verse reminds me of a few verses before this one:
Hebrews 10:23 (KJV)
Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised; )
and then this one!
Hebrews 4:14 (KJV)
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession.
“Hold fast” in these verses is:
1. to have power, be powerful
a. to be chief, be master of, to rule
2. to get possession of
a. to become master of, to obtain
b. to take hold of
c. to take hold of, take, seize
Which reminds me of this verse:
Matthew 11:12 (KJV)
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth* violence, and the violent** take it by force.
* suffereth…: or, is gotten by force, and they that thrust men, or has been coming violently
** strong, forceful, using force, violent
Hmmm…. #1 be “fully persuaded” #2 take by force the kingdom of heaven
Hmmm…. reminds me of this verse:
Luke 16:16 (KJV)
The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth* into it.
* same word as taking by force in Matthew 11:12
This reminds me of this verse:
Hebrews 4:11 (KJV)
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Wait! What!? Labor to enter that rest! Labour: to exert one’s self, endeavour, give diligence
And that reminds me of this verse:
Hebrews 3:12 (KJV)
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Evil heart is actually “full of labours, annoyances, hardships”… oh wow!!! A heart filled with annoyances – “I’m sick”, “I’m in debt”, “I’m [fill-in-the-blank]” – causes us unbelief, which causes us to depart from God’s presence. “The just shall live by faith.”
This reminds me of these:
2 Corinthians 9:8 (KJV)
And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work:
Ephesians 3:20 (KJV)
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Oh Lord my God! How great Thou art!! Let me be fully persuaded!!!
I shall live by faith!
Assurance: a positive declaration intended to give confidence; a promise.
Conviction: a firmly held belief or opinion.
I AM HEALED!
HALLELUJAH!!! Amen! Done!