Faith—The Substance of Things Hoped For
Faith—The Substance of Things Hoped For
Main Text: Hebrews 11:1–2 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.”
Central Message
Faith is trusting God and His Word even when we cannot yet see the result. Faith brings the unseen promises of God into present reality and produces a life that pleases God.
Suggested Time
- Introduction – 5 minutes
- Point 1: What is biblical faith? – 6 minutes
- Point 2: Faith sees what natural eyes cannot see – 6 minutes
- Point 3: Faith acts upon God’s Word – 6 minutes
- Point 4: Faith pleases God – 5 minutes
- Point 5: Faith produces a good testimony – 5 minutes
- Conclusion and prayer – 2 minutes
- INTRODUCTION: FAITH IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
Hebrews 11 begins with one of the clearest descriptions of faith in the Bible:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” — Hebrews 11:1
Christianity is built upon faith.
We believe in a God whom we cannot see with our physical eyes.
Jesus Christ has ascended into heaven, yet we believe that He is alive.
We cannot see heaven, but we believe there is an eternal home prepared for us.
We cannot see God’s promises physically, but we believe His Word because God is faithful.
Romans 10:17
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Faith does not come from imagination.
Faith does not come from positive thinking.
Faith does not come from human optimism.
True faith comes from hearing and believing the Word of God.
If God has spoken, faith says:
“God said it; therefore, I believe it.”
Faith does not ask, “Can I see it?”
Faith asks:
“Has God said it?”
- WHAT IS FAITH?
Hebrews 11:1 gives us two important descriptions:
- Faith is the substance of things hoped for
The word “substance” carries the idea of confidence, assurance, or firm foundation.
Biblical hope is not merely:
“I hope something happens.”
Biblical hope is confidence in what God has promised.
For example, if God says:
“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” — Hebrews 13:5
Faith says:
“Even when I feel alone, God is with me.”
If God says:
“My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:19
Faith says:
“I don’t know how God will provide, but I trust the God who promised.”
If God says:
“I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” — Matthew 28:20
Faith says:
“I may not understand everything, but I know I am not alone.”
Faith gives substance to hope.
Hope looks toward God’s promise.
Faith holds onto God’s promise.
- FAITH IS THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN
Hebrews 11:1 continues:
“The evidence of things not seen.”
There are things that are real even though we cannot see them.
2 Corinthians 5:7
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
The world says:
“Seeing is believing.”
The Christian says:
“Believing God’s Word enables me to live beyond what I see.”
This does not mean that Christians deny reality.
Faith does not pretend that problems do not exist.
Faith looks at the problem through the promises of God.
David saw Goliath.
But David also saw God’s power.
Goliath said:
“Give me a man, that we may fight together.” — 1 Samuel 17:10
The army of Israel saw a giant.
David saw an uncircumcised Philistine standing against the living God.
David declared:
“The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” — 1 Samuel 17:37
David’s faith was based on God’s previous faithfulness.
He remembered:
“God helped me before, and God will help me again.”
- FAITH DOES NOT DENY THE GIANT—FAITH MAGNIFIES GOD
Sometimes Christians misunderstand faith.
Faith does not say:
“There is no giant.”
Faith says:
“There is a giant, but my God is greater than the giant.”
Faith does not say:
“There is no storm.”
Faith says:
“Jesus is with me in the storm.”
Faith does not say:
“There is no problem.”
Faith says:
“My God is bigger than my problem.”
Jeremiah 32:27
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?”
Luke 1:37
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
Therefore, the question of faith is not:
“How big is my problem?”
The question is:
“How great is my God?”
- FAITH COMES FROM THE WORD OF GOD
Romans 10:17 says:
“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
This is extremely important.
If we want stronger faith, we need to feed our spirit with God’s Word.
You cannot continually feed your mind with fear, doubt, unbelief and negative reports and expect strong faith.
Faith grows when we hear God’s Word, meditate upon God’s Word, believe God’s Word and act upon God’s Word.
Psalm 119:105
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
The Word gives direction.
The Word gives confidence.
The Word gives correction.
The Word gives hope.
The Word gives faith.
- FAITH BELIEVES GOD EVEN WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES SAY OTHERWISE
Consider Abraham.
Romans 4:18
“Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations.”
Abraham had circumstances that appeared impossible.
His body was old.
Sarah was old.
Yet God had promised him a son.
Romans 4:19 says:
“And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead…”
Abraham did not deny his circumstances.
But he refused to allow circumstances to become greater than God’s promise.
Romans 4:20–21
“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”
This is faith:
God promised it.
God is able to do it.
Therefore, I trust Him.
- FAITH MUST PRODUCE ACTION
Faith is not merely believing something intellectually.
Biblical faith produces obedience.
James 2:17
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
James is not teaching salvation by human works.
He is teaching that genuine faith produces action.
Noah is a wonderful example.
Hebrews 11:7
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark…”
Notice the order:
God spoke → Noah believed → Noah acted.
Noah had never seen the flood.
But God had warned him.
Noah did not say:
“Let me wait until I see the rain.”
He built the ark before he saw the flood.
That is faith.
Faith obeys before it sees the outcome.
- PETER: FAITH REQUIRES STEPPING OUT
Matthew 14 gives us another powerful example.
Jesus came walking on the water.
Peter said:
“Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” — Matthew 14:28
Jesus said:
“Come.”
Peter stepped out of the boat.
Why?
Because Jesus had spoken.
Peter was walking on water because he was responding to the Word of Jesus.
As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked.
But when he saw the wind and waves, he became afraid.
Matthew 14:30
“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid…”
What happened?
Peter moved his attention:
from Jesus → to the storm.
Faith looks at Christ.
Fear looks at circumstances.
Faith says:
“Jesus said come.”
Fear says:
“Look at the waves.”
- FAITH DOES NOT MEAN WE NEVER HAVE QUESTIONS
Having questions does not necessarily mean that we have no faith.
There are times when we do not understand what God is doing.
Job went through tremendous suffering.
Yet Job declared:
Job 13:15
“Though he slays me, yet will I trust in him.”
Job did not understand everything.
But he continued to trust God.
Faith does not require us to understand everything.
Faith requires us to trust the One who understands everything.
Proverbs 3:5–6
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Sometimes God gives us an explanation.
Sometimes God gives us a promise.
And sometimes God simply says:
“Trust Me.”
- FAITH PLEASES GOD
One of the most important verses in Hebrews 11 is verse 6:
“But without faith it is impossible to please him.”
Think about that.
We can have many things:
- knowledge,
- education,
- money,
- position,
- abilities,
- experience,
but God says:
“Without faith it is impossible to please him.”
Why?
Because faith recognizes who God is.
Hebrews 11:6 continues:
“For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Faith begins with believing:
God is.
God exists.
God is holy.
God is faithful.
God is powerful.
God is good.
God keeps His promises.
And because we believe who God is, we come to Him.
- FAITH PRODUCES A GOOD TESTIMONY
Hebrews 11:2 says:
“For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.”
The people listed in Hebrews 11 were ordinary people who trusted an extraordinary God.
Abel had faith.
Hebrews 11:4:
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice…”
Enoch had faith.
Hebrews 11:5:
“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death…”
Noah had faith.
Hebrews 11:7:
“By faith Noah… prepared an ark…”
Abraham had faith.
Hebrews 11:8:
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out…”
Sarah had faith.
Hebrews 11:11:
“Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed…”
Moses had faith.
Hebrews 11:27:
“By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king…”
These people received a good testimony because they trusted God.
Their lives said:
“God can be trusted.”
- YOUR FAITH CAN BECOME YOUR TESTIMONY
Someone may not read the Bible.
But they may read your life.
Your family may see your faith.
Your children may see your faith.
Your neighbors may see your faith.
Your church may see your faith.
Your faith can become a testimony.
When you continue trusting God during difficult circumstances, people can see:
“There is something different about this person.”
2 Corinthians 5:7
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Our faith should not merely be something we talk about on Sunday.
Faith must become the way we live.
- FAITH DURING TRIALS
Faith is not only needed when everything is going well.
Faith becomes especially important during trials.
1 Peter 1:6–7
Peter says that believers may be:
“in heaviness through manifold temptations”
but that the trial of faith is precious.
Why does God allow faith to be tested?
Because tested faith becomes mature faith.
A faith that has never been tested has never demonstrated its strength.
Think about a bridge.
We know a bridge is strong when it carries weight.
Likewise, faith is demonstrated when we continue trusting God during difficult circumstances.
Romans 5:3–4
“Tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience;
and experience, hope.”
- FAITH CAN MOVE US FROM FEAR TO CONFIDENCE
Fear says:
“What if something goes wrong?”
Faith says:
“God is with me.”
Fear says:
“I cannot do this.”
Faith says:
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Fear says:
“What will happen tomorrow?”
Faith says:
Matthew 6:34
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow…”
Fear says:
“I am alone.”
Faith says:
Hebrews 13:5
“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Fear says:
“There is no way.”
Faith says:
Isaiah 43:19
“Behold, I will do a new thing…”
- JESUS IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF FAITHFULNESS
Ultimately, our faith is not faith in faith.
Our faith is in Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 12:2 says:
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”
The Christian life begins with Christ and continues by looking to Christ.
When your faith is weak:
Look to Jesus.
When you are discouraged:
Look to Jesus.
When you are confused:
Look to Jesus.
When circumstances are difficult:
Look to Jesus.
Isaiah 26:3
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
- FAITH MUST KEEP GOING
One of the greatest dangers is giving up before the promise is fulfilled.
Galatians 6:9 says:
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Sometimes the answer does not come immediately.
Sometimes the breakthrough takes time.
Sometimes we pray today and must continue praying tomorrow.
Faith says:
“I will not quit.”
Hebrews 10:35–36
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience…”
Faith and patience work together.
Faith believes God’s promise.
Patience waits for God’s timing.
- FAITH LOOKS BEYOND WHAT IS TEMPORARY
Paul says in:
2 Corinthians 4:18
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen…”
Why?
“For the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Everything we see around us is temporary.
But God’s kingdom is eternal.
Our hope is not ultimately based on this world.
Our hope is in Christ.
1 Peter 1:3–4
Peter speaks of:
“an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”
Therefore, Christian faith looks beyond today.
We have an eternal hope.
- THREE QUESTIONS FOR SELF-EXAMINATION
As we close, let us ask ourselves three questions.
Question 1: What am I believing?
Am I believing God’s Word or merely believing my circumstances?
Question 2: What am I looking at?
Am I looking at Jesus or at the storm?
Question 3: What am I doing with my faith?
Am I only saying that I believe, or am I obeying God’s Word?
Faith says:
“Lord, because You have spoken, I will obey.”
CONCLUSION: “FAITH THAT CAN BE SEEN”
Hebrews 11:1–2 says:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.”
True faith has three characteristics:
- Faith BELIEVES God’s Word.
“God has spoken, therefore I believe.”
- Faith OBEYS God’s Word.
“God has spoken, therefore I will act.”
- Faith PERSEVERES until God’s purpose is accomplished.
“God has promised, therefore I will not give up.”
Faith does not mean that we will never face storms.
Faith means that Jesus will be with us in the storm.
Faith does not mean that we will never face giants.
Faith means that God is greater than every giant.
Faith does not mean that we will understand everything.
Faith means that we trust the God who understands everything.
And faith does not merely give us something to believe.
Faith gives us a life that becomes a testimony.
Hebrews 11:2:
“By it the elders obtained a good testimony.”
May people look at our lives and say:
“He trusted God.”
“She trusted God’s Word.”
“They did not give up.”
“They walked by faith.”
And may our lives testify:
“God is faithful.”
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.
Lord, increase our faith. Help us not to live by what we see, but to walk according to Your Word.
When we face storms, help us to look to Jesus. When we face giants, help us remember Your power. When we do not understand, help us trust Your wisdom.
Give us the faith of Abraham to trust Your promises, the faith of Noah to obey Your Word, the faith of Moses to follow You, and the faith of the saints who persevered until the end.
Help us to live a life that gives a good testimony.
May our families see our faith.
May our church see our faith.
May the world see Christ through our faith.
And when our journey is finished, may our lives testify that You are faithful.
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.