II - Substance

Those strong in faith are people of substance. We say, “He is a man of substance.” What we mean is:

He has no lack.

He doesn’t have to go to others and ask for help.

He has what he needs and wants.

He can purchase what he wants when he wants it.

He has the ability to give to others.

He knows how to get more.

(Hebrews 11:1)  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Think for a moment:

Wood is the substance of oak furniture.

Sand is the substance from which we make glass.

Clay is the substance of pottery.

God’s Word says “faith is the substance of things hoped for.” (Hebrews 11:1) What do we hope for?  Something more? Heaven?  Peace?  Life after death?  To see God?  Something beyond what our five senses can detect?  Let me ask you this. Do we sit on the furniture? Do we drink from the glass? Do we put plants in the pottery? We can hang our hope on faith with the same surety! “I hope someone gives me money for my birthday!” is not the same hope as, “I hope in God’s Word!” The first is an anxious awaiting, while the second is simply marking the time. There is no doubt about its taking place. Faith assures the Faithful.

(Romans 10:17)  "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

(Ephesians 2:8)  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

Faith is the sixth sense. Faith allows me to be absolutely positive about things my physical senses cannot detect. Faith, being a gift from God is proof He exists. Faith pleases God. Faith believes and trusts the Word of God above all else! We smell dinner cooking. We hear dinner cooking. We see dinner cooking. We touch the food with our mouth and our tongue confirms that, “Dinner is cooked.” Each sense confirming the other’s truth. Our senses can be fooled. Faith cannot! Faith doesn’t need other senses for confirmation. It simply “knows!” I don’t need outside confirmation of who I am. I know. I’m sure. Faith is like that. It is sure of what it knows.

Faith mighty Faith!  The promises that look to God alone,

Laughs at impossibilities and shouts, “It shall be done!”