Posts
Thursday, May 3
“Faith is permitting
ourselves to be seized by the things we do not see.”
Martin Luther
*Now...
Faith, to be beneficial, must always be now, in the present
tense. We can’t have hindsight faith. However, the meaning of the word used in
this verse for now does not mean at
this moment of time, though many good sermons have contained that meaning.
It is a conjunction or connecting word between two thoughts.
It means but, moreover, moreover also, and, also, and also, or but rather. It
would be more appropriate to say, “And also faith is…” or “Moreover faith is…”
*Substance...
The
Greek word for substance is hupostasis, which means a setting under,
support, essence, assurance, confidence, person, the substantial quality or
nature of a person, substructure or that which has foundation, hence, is firm
and has actual existence.
(This
word is used in Hebrews 1:3 of Jesus as the “express image of His essence,” or the actual existence or personification of God.)
Vine’s
Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says, “It here may signify a
title-deed, as giving a guarantee, or reality.”
*Things hoped for...
The word for things
hoped for is elpizo, which means
to expect, confide, trust, or confident expectation. Its root word means to
anticipate, usually with pleasure.
*Evidence...
Evidence also means that by which
invisible things are tested or proved, conviction, proof, or test.
*Things...
Pragma is the word
for the second use of the word things,
which also means an object, business, matter, work, that which is an
accomplished fact or is being accomplished, that which exists, and so on.
(From this, we get our English word pragmatic, which one definition means the testing of concepts to
determine their validity by the practicality of their results.)
Therefore, defined, this verse might say, “Moreover, faith
gives actual existence as a guarantee to what is expected, as the confident
anticipation of matters being accomplished with practical results as proof of
the invisible.”
When we co-operate with God by faith, we are fellow-workers
with Him and we will see the answers to our prayers, which are already
accomplished and held in expectancy in heaven as something yet to arrive or be
revealed.
Only when faith is attached to all we do are we pleasing God,
as the writer of Hebrews tells us, “So, you see, it is impossible to please God
without faith.” (Heb. 11:6 NLT) If we have no faith to please Him, how do we
co-operate with Him?
Those who are willing to trust God and apply faith to His
Word, without further evidence, will receive the visible proof of His promises.
And “if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with
perseverance.” (Rom.
8:25 NKJV)
Smith Wigglesworth said, “I believe there is only one way to
all the treasures of God and that is the way of faith.” And St. Augustine said, “Faith is to believe what
we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.”
Just remember, faith is not a big, copper cauldron in which
we conjure up our slightest wish. Nope, nope, nope! Faith is the producer of
the will of the King, not the will of the servant. As Jesus said,
“Not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42 NKJV)
A. B. Simpson once said, “True faith drops its letter in the
post office box, and lets it go. Distrust holds onto a corner of it, and
wonders that the answer never comes.”
Faith: Though the eye beholds no evidence, the spirit is
assured of its existence.
One of my favorite verses too Lynn; and I love what you did with the verse! :) Amen; our faith is the reality of things hoped for, the proof of things unseen. Faith leads to miracles, and miracles lead us again and again to the promises of God.....
Blessings and hugs,
Denise
Ooohh - I love the idea that "faith" is a "support". That hit me in a new, neat way today.
And I like the idea that you love to dig word meanings out. Me too! :-)
Glad to journey with you in SDG!
Michelle
Lynn:
This really was an eye opener for me. "When we co-operate with God by faith, we are fellow-workers with Him and we will see the answers to our prayers, which are already accomplished and held in expectancy in heaven as something yet to arrive or be revealed."
I confess that I had not considered the fact our prayers have already been answered. This statement causes me to desire to pray with more fervor.
Wonderful post on faith!
Thank you for linking up this week.
Blessings,
Joan
Hey, Denise! Thank you so much for your kind comment. Blessings and hugs back!
Michelle, so glad to join up with another digger! :D Thanks so much for visiting and commenting. Blessings to you!
So awesome, Joan! Oh, how you've blessed me today! Thank you so much! Blessings to you, sweetie!
So true, Lynn. Faith, how can we live without it? Faith that God's will, not ours, as you so beautifully put it, will be accomplished. At lucky us, His will is for us to be with Him for eternity, regardless of our trials here on earth. We must continue to look toward Him, with faith (hope) and trust. Wonderfully inspiring post.
Oh, yes, Ceci! Thank you so much for your kind words. Your comments are always a blessing. Bless you!
Lynn, this is wonderful! I've never heard such a great exposition of that verse, thank you for all the time and effort to make it easy for us to understand.
This verse was given to me way back in 1996 after I served as a counselor at a camp for abused and abandoned children. There was so much that tested my faith that week but the administrative staff, who watched and studied us all week, presented to the counselors a verse that they felt described each one. Mine was this verse, all about faith.
Thank you for reminding me of it!
Love & blessings,
Anna
So encouraging! Glad to visit with you, Lynn. Needed a faith boost and this post was wonderful. (That A.B. Simpson quote is also good!) We have the faith of Jesus living in us! Love you! ~ Vicki
Hey, sweet Vicki! I thought about you earlier today and meant to drop by and see how you were...but I got sidetracked and forgot! Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. I'm so happy to see you. Blessings to you!
Great post Lynn! Love the word dissections and study,especially for substance (title deed). Love that one! Hebrews 11:1 has always been one of my favorite verses too. Thanks for such detail and deep thought... :)