Faith Conquers

Hebrews 11

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ² For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

³ By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

⁴ By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

⁵ By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. ⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

⁷ By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

⁸ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; ¹⁰ for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

¹¹ By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. ¹² Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ¹⁴ For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. ¹⁵ And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, ¹⁸ of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” ¹⁹ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

²⁰ By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

²² By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

²³ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, ²⁶ esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. ³¹ By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

³² And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: ³³ who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ³⁵ Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. ³⁶ Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— ³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

³⁹ And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, ⁴⁰ God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Faith can move our mountains that hinder us from walking in total assurance that God is here with us today.  Building our faith in the things we cannot see, keeps us moving forward towards the things of God.  We have testimony’s that are to be built and shared with the children of God.  God says, without faith it is impossible to please Him.  So we are to step out of our comfort zones and take a leap of faith into the unknown.  Believing that God will carry us in, through and around all uncharted territories.  God states, in verse 6 for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who come to Him.  Our God asks, that we give up our lives, so we can find our lives, lives that He preordained before the beginning of time.  He says, that our steps have been ordered by the Lord, so how can a man know his way.  It is not about the plans we’ve incorporated for ourselves, but the plans God has already spoke over our lives, that we are denying.  God speaks, in Revelations that there will be no cowards in heaven.  We cannot go on believing, we have this world already figured out by the disastrous things we see. So we try and tuck ourselves away, believing if we’ll just ignore society and stay with our dreams they will manifest. Or if we’ll just shoot, rob, lie, and kill to fulfill pleasures and dreams, we can just let the cards fall where they may. Believe me there both a lie from the pit of hell.  The scriptures from our bible must be obeyed and walked to obtain the promises of our inheritance.  Though God said, there were many of them who didn’t acquire their full inheritance.  He still kept them alive and in perfect peace, as they walked around this world but not of it. They believing God and His word, that something better awaited them.  “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord.  So if we live or die, we belong to our Lord”. (Romans 14:8)  However, there were some who did receive the promises as verses 32-35 mentioned.  There are many opportunities out here today, for us to use the word of God in faith to proclaim our inheritance.  But if we’re not tested and tried in our faith, to receive it, our walk is in vain.  Conquer faith, then conquer your destiny.

Blessings to us all as we conquer our faith in the living God,

Vincent Young, Christian Analyst.