Guest minister column for August 1, 2008

By Rev. Sonja Rivers
Published: August 1, 2008

Everyone expresses faith in something in the physical realm. No one can live a single day without exercising some kind of faith.
When we wake up in the mornings and turn on the light switch we have faith that light will come on.
When we get in our cars and SUV’s we have faith that they will start.
Faith is also expressed in the spiritual realm. Each of us, regardless of our background or our social status, can express faith. The difference between the faith we exercise in our daily routine and our religious faith happens to be the “object” of our faith.
Our faith is only as good as the “object” in which we place it. The Bible insists that we personally put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Mark 11:22 states, “‘Have faith in God’, Jesus answered.”
However, the greatest teaching in the Bible on the subject of faithis found in the 11th chapter of Hebrews. 
It is important to look at what faith does.
Hebrews 11:1 states, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” True faith is confident obedience to God’s word in spite of the circumstances or consequences. Faith is described in a two-fold way.
It is the “substance of things hoped for,” and “the evidence of things not seen.” 
Faith is the foundation that gives the believer the confidence to stand. The verse could be translated “faith is the confidence of things hoped for.”
The second, word describing what faith is, is translated “evidence” and means “conviction.” We must be convicted to allow us to believe things we cannot see. The things that God performs and the things he has promised.
What does faith do? Faith caused Abel to “worship” God. “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” (Heb.11:4). It is not known just how much had been revealed to Abel regarding how he was to worship. But his father Adam had walked with God. We do know that his faith caused him to worship God.
This verse tells us, “Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice” (Gen. 4:4). He chose the choicest lamb as an offering and he brought it to the place of sacrifice.
Our faith should compel us to come into the Lord’s house to worship Him with our best. When our faith is true we look for an opportunity to worship God.
Faith caused Enoch to “walk” with God.  “By faith” Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death “and was not found, because God had taken him.”
Before he was taken, he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 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 (Heb.11: 5-6). The walk that Enoch experienced was one of a deepening intimacy with God.
His faith and his obedience, as well as his worship, were exceptional in the sight of God. Enoch’s “walk” of faith delivered him from the consequence of death. Will yours?
Faith Caused Noah to “work” for God.
Hebrews 11:7 states, “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.” The majority of the people simply refused to believe Noah’s witness concerning the coming flood.
Yet, Noah because of his faith continued working and witnessing, building the ark and warning of the coming judgment.
Then as a final act of faith, he and his family stepped into the ark and closed the door. Noah was a man of faith and his life continually proved his faith. Does yours?
Remember it is faith that will give us confidence and conviction to “worship” God faithfully as Abel did, to “walk” with God faithfully as Enoch did and to “work” for God faithfully as Noah did.