Confidence and Conviction
with kind permission of astrophotographer Martin Pugh ©
(study – 15)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Hebrews 11 tells us a lot about Faith – which is trusting God – believing His Word.
It tells us faith – is to patiently endure and to wait for Him however long it takes.
It tells us faith – is to rest on Him – to be supported by Him -
It tells us faith – is to patiently endure – to hope in Him,
It tells us faith to lie down and rest in the Lord -
It tells us faith – is to quickly seek refuge in Him in danger,
And it tells us that, “without faith it is impossible to please God.”Heb.11:6
The first few verses give a description of faith – rather than a definition of faith.
Hebrews chapter 11 tells us much about faith – but not everything about Faith, we read :–
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
- the evidence of things not seen.
For by it the elders obtained a good report.
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. Heb.11:1-3
Unlike us, those listed in Hebrews 11 had nothing to rely on but God’s Word,
We have a precedent – We have evidence of Christ’s first coming and they did not.
God gave those men and women many promises – and they believed God,
And they died never having received the things that God promised – yet had faith.
we read that they “received not the promise,” - they died first!!!
Think about it the next time you’re balk and hesitate to trust the Truth of His Word.
We are told that He will come again – knowing that He has already has come once,
We know He fulfilled His promises the first time - but they only had His Word,
God expects us, like them, to Trust His Word – knowing the Truth of His first coming.
When viewed in this perspective – what faith those Old Testament saints exhibited!
What lack we demonstrate when we know He’s a God Who keeps His covenant promises.
We also know Judgment was meted out in the O.T. when man rejected God’s word,
We see it in the Flood – His treatment of Israel - Sodom, Gomorrah and Nineveh,
We also see God’s execution of Judgment at Calvary – GOD KEEPS HIS WORD.
We have a precedent that gives us confidence that God’s future promises….
- confidence that God’s New Testament promises will also happen.
Abel had no president that God would accept His offering – but He trusted God,
Enoch had no evidence that God would rapture him – but in faith he walked with God.
Noah had no proof that judgment would come on earth – but he obeyed God’s Word,
Abraham had no evidence that God would keep covenant – yet Abraham believed God.
They all simply trusted God’s Word – and it was credited to them as righteousness,
They were actually forced to Trust God’s Word believing He’d one day fulfill His promises
They had no visible outward proof that God’s promises would be fulfilled…
– for instance Abraham lived and died …
– with not one square meter of land given to him.
None received the promises – but all lived their lives confident in His Word,
They never receiving the promises – but lived their life assuming they were true.
We read that, “these all, having obtained a good report through faith,
- received not the promise.” Heb.11:39
Their lives were lived knowing God’s promises would be fulfilled – one day,
– if not in this life then in the eternal state… as outlined in Hebrews 11.
Can any one of us honestly say that we exhibit a fraction the faith of such men?
– I doubt it….
Fulfilled Scripture – gives us confidence that all He promises will take place,
Yet how often we doubt His Word – falling apart when things go wrong,
The confidence that we must have in His Word – is laid out in Hebrews chapter 11.
So where are so many of us going so wrong in our faith and trust in God’s Word?
Hebrews 11 verse 1 gives us 2 parallel statements – saying the same thing in different words:
But note – “substance” in verse 1, is a wrong translation of the word “hypostasis“
We read in Hebrews 11 verse 1 that:-
Faith is the substance of things hoped for (things in the future)
Faith is the evidence of things not seen (invisible things). Heb.11:1
Now ‘substance” is a wrong translation of the Greek word “hypostasis.”
“Hypostasis” means “confidence” ….
- so faith is the confidence of things hoped for.
It is the same word translated “confidence” in Hebrews chapter 3, where we read:
“we are made partakers of Christ,
if we hold to the beginning of our confidence” (hypostasis )
if we hold to the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end Heb.3:14
Faith is confidence in the future outlined in scripture…..
Faith is the confidence of things hoped for (i.e in the future)
Faith is the evidence of things not seen (i.e evidence of invisible things)
Faith is a conviction of invisible things spoken of by God…..
Faith in an inner confidence and a conviction about future things,
– an inner confidence and conviction about things which are invisible.
It is confidence that all God says is actual reality –
Even When We Can’t See It.
Visible things can be perceived by our senses – they’re reality in the physical,
Invisible things cannot by perceived by our senses – but are equally real.
Visible reality can be researched – handled; seen; heard – experienced now,
Invisible reality is perceived by Faith alone – by trust in God’s revelation.
God is an invisible reality – Who has to be received on the basis of Faith
God becomes a reality by inner confidence and conviction – by Faith
The truth of God is outlined in Scripture – and like God Himself, is received by Faith
All spiritual values depend on this confidence and conviction, in the invisible.
- our position in Christ is an inner confidence and conviction – received by Faith
– the indwelling Spirit is an inner confidence and conviction – received by Faith
– God’s Love and His attributes come from inner confidence and conviction – by Faith
Many promises from God require inner confidence and conviction – by Faith,
Men of old only had God’s Word – but lived by faith with no received promises,
– they all died – knowing that one day all promises would be fulfilled.
We have the privilege of looking back on many fulfilled promises,
– confidently convicted that what we look forward to will also come to pass.
We must be like those of Hebrews 11 who looked forward to His soon coming – -
– with – an inner Confidence and Conviction about Invisible Future things
– just because God has promised – and just because God cannot lie
To do so is to accept Him and His Word By Faith.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for,
Faith is the evidence of things not seen,
And without faith it is impossible to please God.
- Listen to the Audio
-
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- Download the Audio
- Confidence and Conviction - part 15
- Full Study Index for ‘A Study on GROWING in GRACE’
- A Study : GROWING in GRACE
Elizabeth Haworth
Latest posts by Elizabeth Haworth (see all)
- Service Of Passionate Devotion – June 19, 2013
- Perfected Through Suffering – June 19, 2013
- Labor Pain – June 19, 2013
- -John 10:7 (ESV) – June 19, 2013
- June 19 – June 19, 2013
Today's Devotionals
-
Knowing Jesus Devotional: Labor PainDaily Light: June 19My Utmost: Service Of Passionate DevotionOpen Windows: Perfected Through Suffering
