"The just shall live by faith" is defined in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. We may note that all of the examples are from the Old Testament showing us that righteous people have lived by faith since the time of Abel, and also that faith is shown to be obedience to God, not something we think up and decide to believe God for.

It is characteristic of our man-centered times that we are trying to put faith in the hands of people so we can control the outcome. This hardly was the case with the heroes listed in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews.

In the first verse (above) we see the terms "substance," "hope," "evidence," and "things not seen."

First of all, substance. Other translations have "assurance." The idea seems to be that faith is something solid we can rest on. This certainly was true of Noah, Abraham, and the others listed in the eleventh chapter. God spoke to them. That spoken Word created a foundation on which they lived their lives.

The substance or assurance comes to us when God speaks, whether to us personally in the Spirit or in the written Word. We must keep in mind, however, that the letter without the Spirit kills. The letter of the Bible doesn't make alive as does the Spirit.

There has been considerable confusion in Christian circles as people have seized on a passage of Scripture and "claimed it by faith." Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. But what comes from God always works!

The words of the Scriptures are not alive nor are they life-giving until they are made alive by the Spirit of God. Many of us have had the Lord make a passage alive to us. Then it works the way it is supposed to.

But to just pick out a passage no way. You can have a sick person in front of you, lay a Bible on them, say "He sent His word and healed them," and have the person die in front of you.

You can't use the Bible this way! No individual in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews tried to use the Scriptures this way. They dealt with the living God, not with the scroll! So it is today.

Please keep the "faith teachers" away from me! I've been miraculously healed several times but never by trying to stand on a word not given to me! I've even been healed when I wasn't prayed for and wasn't praying for myself or believing I would be healed!

Things hoped for. What is your hope? Do you want God or a mansion in Paradise?

Here is how you can tell. How happy would you be in a perfect paradise of love, joy, and peace if Jesus wasn't there? Be honest now!

The true saint wants God above all with or without Paradise. The Father knows who the true saints are!

Suppose Jesus asked you to just be with Him and you never got to do anything. He just wanted your company like He did the disciples in Gethsemane. Would you be willing to go unnoticed? Watch how you answer, you may be tested.

The evidence or conviction. True faith holds a certainty concerning the Character of God. This certainty can only come from the hand of God. It brings the Bride through the mud still persuaded that Jesus is the only show in town. I heard of a missionary that starved to death trusting God. I cannot verify the story but I do not doubt it. But But But

I know what the Scriptures say about God's provisions. The Scriptures can never be changed. But sometimes we are not aware of the bigger picture. We are to hold to God no matter what happens to us or our loved ones. We know God is absolutely good, absolutely trustworthy, absolutely righteous no matter what happens. Are you convinced of this beyond all experience?

Things not seen. Even if we could see God it would not change our judgment of His Character, and faith is just that our judgment of God's Character. Satan could see God but he and his followers have no faith in God's Character. They simply do not believe that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him with a whole heart.

Whatever happens to you or me doesn't change God's Character. God demonstrated His goodness on the cross of Calvary. Period.

Some day we will see and know as we are known. But whether such sight and knowledge result in joy or anguish depends entirely on how we have behaved when we couldn't see.

Suppose Jesus stood before you right now and you could see Him perfectly. Would you change anything you are thinking, doing, or saying?

If you would, then change it now. Brother, Sister, Jesus is real.

I promised God when I got saved that I would testify to the truth of what I experienced. The Bible is totally true or a monumental lie. There is no middle ground.

After fifty-two years I'm here to tell you it's true and I have no reason to lie to you.