This is the type of faith I want to see in my own life. This is the type of faith that God wants us to have. Why else would it be held out to us as an example in Hebrews Chapter 11? And remember this, these individuals had such strength of faith even without the opportunity to be born again! They did not have the indwelling, regenerating power of the Holy Spirit as we do now. So what has happened??? What is our excuse?
How is it that man has been empowered with more of God's Holy Spirit - even to change the very nature of who we are - and yet Jesus could ponder, "Will I find faith on the earth when I return?" How is it that these men and women of old could wrought such awesome victories through faith in God and yet now many of God's people seem to be disempowered by and oppressed under the assaults of the enemy? These things are listed for us in Hebrews 11 as evidences of their faith! If God has provided "some better thing" for us (Hebrews 11:40), then where are the evidences of our faith (James 2:14-26)?
I am not speaking of earning salvation or seeking after signs. I am speaking about the reality of walking in resurrected life with Christ. Do you truly believe that such is the expectation of God for His people? Or has serving God merely become about doctrinal debates, church niceties, and religious posturing? Do you really expect to do "greater works than these" (John 14:12) simply because it is God's will to do such through His people? Is our God dead or is He surely alive (in your estimation)? Should we not examine ourselves to see if we "be in the faith" (II Corinthians 13:5)?
We have discussed before how the Greek word for faith "pistis" means both having faith and being faithful. Well, Hebrews Chapter 11 has something interesting to say about these men and women of faith.
"For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." Hebrews 11:14-16
Unlike some might teach, these men and women had a choice as to whether to continue to walk in faith with the Lord. Even after having made the decision to serve God, they could have returned back to the vomit of that from which they were delivered if they had remained "mindful" of it. Yet they considered themselves "strangers and pilgrims" in this world so that they might attain to a city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:13, 10). Their desire for things above (rather than things below) is what gave fuel to their faith. It is what allowed them to please God and for Him to work through them to accomplish His will in the earth. It is what allowed them to "turn to flight" the armies of the aliens.
While the saints in the Old Testament fought in the natural against enemies (aliens) in the flesh, we war in spiritual battles against enemies (aliens) which are not of the flesh. Fallen, extraterrestrial beings have invaded the souls of mankind in an attempt to pervert what God had created to be in His own image. These aliens (demons) permeate the landscape wherever you go as they attempt to defile man in rebellion against the Lord of Hosts. And we are not speaking of just a few devils. There are armies of them (Ephesians 6:12). Yet, who has the faith to stand against them? To stop their mouths and turn these armies to flight?
Quite honestly, I am sick & tired of seeing people bound by Satan and I am just about as sick & tired of talking about it. Who is ready to turn these demons on their tails? To truly be used of God to set captives free and bring deliverance to those who are oppressed by the enemy? This is not something that can be done in the flesh. We cannot rise up with loud voices, self-righteousness, and determined intent thinking our will to do it will bring it to pass. We need the Holy Spirit of God (Zechariah 4:6).
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:26
In the above text, the absence of the evidences of our faith is likened unto the absence of the Spirit of God. The answer is not to run around trying to do some work for God. The answer is to seek more of God's Spirit; spend more time in communion with Him. We need to be revived in our inner man and really put to death that which is drawing us back to the "old country" from which we have been delivered. It is time for the breath of God to breathe upon us once again and rekindle the spark of life which is His alone (Ezekiel 37:5-10).
Don't focus on what you "don't have" or what you "can't do". Get your eyes off of yourself and look to Christ. I tell you that no obstacle (finances, family, health, education, location, etc.) can impede the work of God's Spirit. If only we would believe...and we often have not because we ask not. As we do, God will answer and He will equip us for the victory in Christ Jesus, for it has already been declared.
"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." Mark 9:23
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