By faith...

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

And without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

By faith Noah...
By faith Abraham...
By faith Isaac...
By faith Jacob...
By faith Joseph...
By faith Moses...
By faith the people [Israelites] passes through the Red Sea..
By faith the walls of Jericho fell...
By faith the prostitute Rahab...
(Hebrews 11:7, 8, 20, 21, 22, 23, 29, 30, 31)

Faith is a challenging word.  It's an action word.  It requires something from a person.  Not only was the Old Testament filled with people of faith, but the New Testament as well.  From numerous healings, to raising Lazarus from the dead, feeding thousands with just a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish, Peter walking on water, and many others. 

Just take the ten men healed from leprosy in Luke 17:11-19...specifically verse 14:

When he saw them, he said, 'Go show yourselves to the priests.' And as they went they were cleansed.

Did you catch that?  AS THEY WENT.  Not right then and there with Jesus.  But as they left, in faith, to go to the priests.  They had to believe Jesus at His Word and obey before the healing came.  It was out of their obedient faith that they were healed. 

How many times does God require us to step out in obedient faith before He reveals what is going on?

Noah built an ark...and it had never even rained before.  Did he really know what an ark was or its purpose?

Abraham was called to move...to where?  He didn't know.  God hadn't revealed that to him yet.  But he obeyed.  And he obeyed even when God told him to sacrifice Isaac.  Didn't make sense, but out of faith he obeyed.

The Israelites walked through the sea.  Out of faith they walked between two massive walls of water that could have swallowed them at any moment!

And really... who knew that simply marching around the walls of Jericho would send them crashing down?!  I wonder what went through the Israelites minds as they continually walked around and around the walls each day.  Did some think it was crazy?  Cause I know I would most definitely might be prone to think that!

No matter where you look in the Bible, faith is not an idle word.  It requires action.  It demands an abandonment to what may seem normal, and to trust in the unseen.  It demands that we break out of our comfortable little control box and step out into the unknown.  Scary.  Frightening.  Terrifying.  Makes me want to throw up.  But at the same time there is something electrifying in stepping out into the unknown.

When we step out in faith, our eyes are off of ourselves and upon God.  And that is when He loves to move - when all that can be said is "God did it".  He wants the glory.  He wants the praise.  He wants our trust, our hearts, our faith.



Want your name in the Hall of Faith...step out.  Jump.  Abandon it all for God and you will not be disappointed.  Through your faith in Him you will tell the world of His greatness.  Let your obedient faith be a testimony to the world of a life-saving God.