“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," Hebrews 11:1

I got my title for this series of studies from a chorus based upon a verse of a hymn by Charles Wesley.

The words of the chorus are.

Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees
And looks to God alone;
Laughs at impossibilities
And cries: It shall be done!

These are marvellous words and are well suited to what this chapter has to tell us about ‘Mighty Faith’. The word appears some 23 times in the chapter. That surely indicates that ‘FAITH’ is a key component of the gospel message. Indeed, we cannot even start for heaven until we obtain faith, a gift of God.

I. WE WILL START BY DEFINING FAITH.

You will notice how this first verse begins. “Now faith is  . . .” It is a very common word and is used ever so frequently whenever the gospel of Christ is preached. No other religion on this earth uses this word as do Christians.

But what does it mean?

1. The Greek word translated ‘faith’ carries the meaning of ‘being persuaded of the truth of anything’.

So faith simply means that one accepts as true that in which one has faith. The story is told of a tightrope walker, Charles Blondin who asked  crowd gathered to watch him cross the Niagara falls on a tightrope.” Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?” The crowd shouted, “Yes”! Then Blondin asked: “Who will get in the wheelbarrow?” Of course... none did. They were limited in their ‘faith’!

2. There is a little expression which nicely defines true faith.

“Faith is just believing what God says is true.” “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever,” Psalm 119:160.

That is what ‘Christian Faith’ is. Paul said on one occasion: “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me,” Acts 27:25. Believing God banishes fear, brings joy and confidence.

No one will be lost from the good ship ‘FAITH’.

3. The lengthy explanation of the role faith played in the lives of the chief of God’s servants shows its necessity.

A.There is no spiritual life without faith. “The just shall live by faith,” Rom 1:17.

B. There is no peace with God without faith. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Rom 5:1.

C. We are kept by faith. “Who are kept by the power of God through faith,” 1 Pet 1:5.

D. The is no salvation without faith. “For by grace are ye saved through faith,” Eph 2:8.

HAVE YOU FAITH TODAY. Remember, it is “not of yourselves: it is the gift of God,” Ephesians 1:8.