NOW FAITH IS !

NOW FAITH IS: Our text declares that faith is "the evidence of things not seen." One who has not prayed in real heart faith might say, "I don't see the thing about which I have been praying, so it hasn't come to pass." If the thing had come to pass--- if you had it--- you wouldn't have to believe it; you would know it. You must take this tell of believing to come to the place of knowing. Many want to know it first and then believe it. That is, they want to know it from the standpoint of its having come to pass. But we know it from the standpoint that God's word says it is so--- being it materializes. Notice what Jesus said in (Mark 11:24), "what things soever you desire, when you pray, BELIEVE that you receive them, and you shall HAVE them." Now notice that having comes after the believing. Most people want to turn that around. In common, everyday terms Jesus said, "you have to believe you've got it before you get it." I never have been able healing for my body without believing first that I had it, even while every symptom in my body was crying out, "you don't have healing." I would simply say to my flesh, "the Bible says, let God be true, but every man a liar. . ." So if you say I am not healed, you are a liar. God's word says that I am healed." I never would have been made an outside trustee if I would have not believed it first. When I act like that, results are forthcoming 100 times out of 100. Conversely, if a person sits around and groans, sighs, gripes, and complains, waiting for something to happen-- waiting until he or she can detect that every symptom is known in all the flesh corresponds with his or her faith before he or she starts believing God--- they is out of order, and they will never get very far. Thomas said, "I will not believe until I can see Him and put my finger in the print in His hands, and thrust my hand into the wound in His side." Then when Jesus appeared, Thomas said, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28). Jesus said to Thomas, "Because you have seen, you have believed." In other words, Thomas wasn't believing in the same way you and I believe in Jesus resurrection. He believed because he saw Him with his physical eyes. We believe it because the Word of God says it is so. Some people miss it without realizing it. They say, "Well, I believe in divine healing because I saw So and so healed." That's not the reason I believe in divine healing. I believe it because the Word of God says it. Likewise, I don't believe in speaking in tongues because some people believe in it and speak with tongues. I believe what the Bible says; not what I see and hear. My faith is not in what I see and hear. My faith is in what God says. When we get our faith to that point, we are right and in order, and that brings results. Thomas said, in effect, "I will not believe until I see." And Jesus said, "Thomas, thou hast believed because thou hast seen; blessed are they who have not seen, yet do believe." Those are the ones who are blessed ! Compare now Thomas faith with the faith of Abraham: (Romans 4:17--21) "As it is written, I have made thee [Abraham] a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: 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." Notice the difference between Thomas faith and Abraham's faith. Thomas had only a natural, human faith which said, "I'm not going to believe unless I can see and feel." Abraham, however, believe God's Word, considering not his own body. If he didn't consider his own body, he didn't consider physical sight or physical feelings. Then what did he consider ? The Word of God !