“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
Notice in the above scripture that faith and hope are interconnected. Therefore, it is important to understand what true bible hope and true bible faith are.
First, let’s look at bible hope. Many people have an incorrect idea of hope. What they think is hope really isn’t hope at all. Bible hope is very different from worldly hope. It’s important to know the difference, because hope is an anchor to our soul. It keeps us on track and anchored in God’s word. In addition hope provides God’s vision for our future. Faith and hope depend upon each other to work effectively.
Bible hope definition: A confident expectation of a better future.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
You may have prayed for someone for healing, then afterwards you ask them, “Do you believe you are healed” and they respond “I sure hope so”. They not only did not operate in faith, but they aren’t even operating in hope. The better word to use would be “wish”. They don’t have confidence they will be healed. They have no vision for it. They can’t see it. True bible hope knows that they will be healed. Hope gives vision. It allows your heart to see it happening. Every word of God is impregnated with hope. However, it places the accomplished promise in the future. If you are believing to get out of debt, true bible hope is confident that in the future you fully expect to be debt free. It is important to recognize the difference when someone who has true hope vs. just wishful thinking. Wishing says “it sure would be wonderful if it happens but I don’t know that it will, maybe it will, maybe it won’t.” It’s more founded on chance or luck. Bible hope knows that what we’ve requested will come to pass because we trust in God’s goodness and His word. We understand God’s character and that He will not lie. Once you get to the place where you have true bible hope, then you can apply your faith effectively. Faith takes what you are hoping for and brings it from the future into the NOW.
Hope is future. Faith IS NOW. As the scripture says above, Faith is the substance of things hoped for the EVIDENCE of things not seen. What is evidence?
One dictionary states the definition of evidence as such: “something which shows that something else exists or is true: A VISIBLE SIGN of something:”
For instance, when you see the after effects of a fire, you can drive by a hillside that has charred trees, and no brush along with ashes on the ground. You may not have seen the actual fire, but the charred remains are evidence that a fire occurred. In essence it is proof that there was a fire. Our faith is proof, the actual evidence that what we are believing for is already done (as long as we have God’s promise in His word to back it up). Therefore, if you are believing God for a car, and then find the promises in God’s word to back up what you are believing for, and you take that step of faith and act like it is done, then that faith is the actual evidence or proof that you already have the car. It’s a done deal.
Faith calls those things which be not as though they were. You believe you have it now already, so you begin preparing for it. Therefore, if it is a VISIBLE SIGN, that means action is involved. Faith is acting on what you believe. That’s why James says that faith without works is dead. FAITH IS ACTION.
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” James 2:17-18
In this he is not talking of the works of the law, but the works (action) of faith. Basically if you believe something with all your heart, then you will act on it. A good example of faith in action (or putting faith to work) is when I was believing God for my wife. I searched the scriptures concerning the promise and found scriptures such as: “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.” Proverbs 18:22. The various promises in the scriptures gave me vision, a confident expectation that I would get married. I had true bible hope. However, I turned that hope into faith when I prayed and asked for my wife and believed that I received her. I then acted on that faith because faith is now. I started preparing for her arrival. I did not date because married men don’t date. Faith told me that once I prayed I took that hope and turned it into reality, so basically I was already married now. When I would go out to eat, I had a table for two as if my wife was there with me. I was operating in faith. Faith was the evidence that what I was hoping for had come to pass. I continued this way, including buying a car that would be suitable for my wife. I prepared for her arrival, since I believed it was already done. As a result, when God showed my beautiful wife to me, I was prepared to receive her.
Faith and hope are different and both are important. They depend upon each other. However, for results we need to operate in faith, because faith grabs what we are hoping for and brings it from the spiritual realm into the natural. It gives it substance. Therefore, turn your hope into faith and receive God’s best for your life! HE will never fail you!
Proverbs 29:18
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
Hebrews 6:17-20
“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
Psalm 43:5
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
Psalm 62:5
“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation [hope] is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Galatians 3:5-7 & 9
“He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham…so then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”
Galatians 3:11-14
“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ: that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Mark 11: 22-25
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Romans 8:24-26
“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”
Further reading – Hebrews 11
