World ChangersSample

Faith Works

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1–10

Hebrews 11:1 gives us a powerful definition of faith: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith is believing in invisible things. It sees what could be, with God in the equation. 

Let’s dive deeper into what Hebrews 11 has to say about faith and people of faith. Take a minute to read Hebrews 11:1–10.

So many verses here speak of how faith worked. Abel offered a sacrifice. Noah got out his carpentry tools and prepared an ark. Abraham obeyed and later even offered up Isaac. 

A faith with no works is a faith that does not work. These people in the Hall of Faith of Hebrews 11—stumbling and fumbling as they may have been at times—actually used their faith.

How we all wish we could find some La-Z-Boy that we could recline in and still get all the benefits of exercise. But there is no such thing. In the same way, if we are running in the race of life, we can’t stay still. Faith is getting out on the track and pushing the pace. 

Faith may involve our emotions at times, but faith is not a feeling. Faith is obeying God in spite of feelings, circumstances, consequences, or opposition. As the heroes of Hebrews 11 discovered, faith can make the difference between something happening or not happening, between receiving or not receiving what God has for us. 

“But I don’t want to try and fail,” you say. 

Why not? I would rather try and fail than not try at all, wouldn’t you? That is faith. Faith takes risks. Faith will bet the farm on something. Faith will say, “Let’s just see what the Lord will do.” But if you sit around in your safe zone and never venture out, trusting in the Lord, you can be very sure of the result. 

Nothing will happen at all. 

Faith—even faith the size of a tiny mustard seed—opens the door to mighty, mind-blowing, supernatural works right in the middle of your situation, no matter how messy it might be. 

Think of an “impossible” situation in your life right now. What would it look like to have a mustard seed of faith that God could redeem that relationship or circumstance? How would having faith change how you viewed that situation?