HEBREWS 11:1 FAITH

You can probably recite Hebrews 11:1 without looking it up in your Bible "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

When I told our Sunday School class Sunday about the group discussion my husband and I hope to start the last of next month, I made it very clear that the study of healing would NOT be based on theology. Nor would it be based on denominational teaching. Above all, it would NOT be based on tradition, nor on another person's experiences or thoughts. We were going to base it on one thing, and one thing only: The Word of God.

Do you know why many people are not healed? The minute they are prayed for, they begin to examine themselves and see if they FEEL healed. Whoa! Let's stop right there. Faith has nothing to do with feeling. Feeling has nothing to do with faith. You can't find one Scripture that promises if you have faith, you'll have feeling. Nor can you find one Scripture that assures you that if you have feeling, you have faith.

In the natural realm we say, "When I see it, I'll believe it." And too many people carry that erroneous idea over into the spiritual realm. But true faith says, "If I believe it, I'll see it."

Are you wondering where I got that idea? Does the Bible really say that? It sure does. Try Mark 11:24, which says, "Whatever things ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Can't get any plainer than that.

So I can honestly say that based on the Word of God, I BEIEVE I have my healing. I didn't say I AM healed -- I said I BELIEVE I'm healed.

What is belief, anyway? Belief is faith. And what is faith? Faith is the EVIDENCE of things not seen. So the evidence of my healing is in my faith, or my belief. Belief, or faith must come first. And that prepares the way for the manifestation of the healing.

You know, there's a time period between our believing and our receiving the manifestation of whatever it is we have prayed for. Some people receive instantaneous healing; but, remember, we are not basing our faith on others' experiences. If we received instantaneous healing, we wouldn't need faith. Why? Because we already have what we prayed for! We no longer need faith. We have the real thing. But in Mark 11:24, there is a time for faith to work, for believing to come into play.

So, remember that faith accepts the Word of God regardless of pain, symptoms or feelings! Rest assured, true faith disregards everything but the Word of God. If you stand by the Word of God in every situation, God will stand by you.

Don't just read what I've written. Think about it. Meditate on it. Go over it again and again and see if God doesn't make these truths real to your heart as never before.

Preacher's Kid