The History of Faith
Someone has recently noted that our world desperately needs heroes. In matters of faith, they are in abundance.
Every church age has its own hall of heroes who are rightly honored. However, the most moving account of faith
heroes is given in Hebrews 11. As we begin our study of the history of faith, pause here and read completely through
the entire chapter of Hebrews 11, finishing with Hebrews 12:1–2. Exciting reading, isn't it? Doesn't it make your
heart quicken a beat?
Did you notice that both those who experienced great victory, as well as those who lived in faith without ever
experiencing a victory, are listed together? Read 11:33–34 again. What did faith enable them to do?
Now, read again from the second sentence in 11:35–38. What did faith enable these heroes to do?
Word Wealth
1 John 5:4 “… and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. A sensible “faith” question is,
When do you win? When are you victorious? Our society suggests that the experience of victory can only be real
when you have what you want when you want it. But the Bible teaches that you win, not when you get
what you want, but the moment you believe! If I'm surrounded by problems, I win not when they're
solved, but the moment I believe God's bound that He'll sustain me through or beyond it. If I am sick, I win over
sickness; not when I get well, but the moment I believe in God's promises which make Jesus Christ the Healer alive
and real to me. If I find myself in poverty, I win the moment I believe what He has said about my financial circumstances.
You and I are overcomers the moment we place our faith in the Son of God, and what His Word is speaking into our
lives.
Here in 1 John 5:4, the word “overcome” is used twice, and victory, once. Each usage comes from the same Greek
word, nike (Strong's #3528, 3529; neeh-kay). It looks like the name of a popular athletic
shoe manufacturer, doesn't it? This is, of course, because they chose the name for their company from this Greek
word since it is also the name of the goddess of victory in Greek mythology. But military or athletic victory,
that which the Greeks referred to, which focuses only on human goals, is only that—a myth. What is real and what
has substance is this: When you put your faith in the Son of God—when you become one born of God—your faith then
makes you an overcomer and gives you a victory that can never be taken away from you!
Heroes of Faith
Please use your Bible to answer the following questions about the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11. As
you answer the questions, you'll also be considering the principles for effective, practical faith that are on
display there.
Who is the faith hero first mentioned in this chapter? And what does he do in faith? (v. 4)
What happened to Enoch? How did he please God? (v. 5)
Probing the Depths
Faith that pleases God does these three things according to Hebrews 11:6:
• Pleasing faith comes actively before God—“those who diligently seek Him.” To be diligent, as it is
used here, means to investigate, crave, or demand. It is an insistent coming. Nothing in this graphic word picture
is intended to portray someone nagging God! However, Jesus Himself taught two parables lauding this diligent, aggressive
seeking attitude in prayer. Read one of them in Luke 11:5–10. The Lord doesn't want you to think He's asleep, or
uncaring about your predicament. However, He does want you to come before Him unashamedly insistent! The oft-heard
word “importunity” (“insistence” in v. 8) comes from two Greek words, meaning “without bashfulness.”
Write your thoughts on this parable, noting Jesus' desire to instill boldness in asking (as contrasted with
mere tenacity). Look up the words and discern this important truth.
• Pleasing faith believes God exists—“believe[s] that He is.” Some people's prayers sound as though they
were talking to themselves! Have you ever prayed without even thinking of standing in His presence? God wants your
faith to focus on the reality of His being. Contrary to modern world views, God is there!—and He insists
that you think so in order to please Him.
For most of us this is theoretically not an issue. As a Christian, you have already professed faith in God through
Christ. In that sense, you believe He exists. The problem comes when we're under pressure. Do we believe He exists
in these troubling circumstances? That's when your faith pleases God—when by faith you can see Him in your
situation.
• Pleasing faith believes God is a rewarder—“and that He is a rewarder.” In some cultures, this word
might simply mean a good employer. It has the sense of wages, money given for hire. If it were only to mean that,
then God is pleased when you believe He's a good boss! But it's much more than believing God gives good wages.
“Rewarder” has the meaning of beyond recompense, of reimbursing beyond the value of what was received. Isn't that
exactly what Ephesians 3:20–21 is saying? Approach it from the negative point of inquiry. How can I please God
when I believe He rewards less than I am asking? Biblical answer: God can't be pleased when we believe He only-but-slightly
answers prayer with “just enough” to get us through our circumstance. Remember: Pleasing faith believes God rewards
beyond normal recompense when He is diligently sought.
More Heroes of Faith
What did Noah do by faith? (v. 7)
Having condemned the attitude of the world in which Noah lived, what did he become?
Read Ephesians 5:1–11, to see how your walk of faith does today what Noah's life of faith did in his day.
Though Abraham's life of faith is studied elsewhere in these lessons, read Hebrews 11:8–12, 17. Write out your
thoughts on each of these statements.
• By faith Abraham obeyed (v. 8).
• By faith Abraham went out—clearly directed, yet with unclear directions (v. 8).
• By faith Abraham dwelt in a Promised Land but as a stranger—God promised him the land but he never got to live
in it as his own (v. 9).
• By faith Abraham waited—he saw an eternal city made by God (v. 10).
• By faith Sarah received strength for child-bearing in her old age (v. 11).
• By faith Abraham offered up Isaac, believing that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead if necessary since
his birth was like a resurrection miracle (v. 17).
In Hebrews 11:13–16, a remarkable litany of faith is recited. If you memorize this rhythmic statement of faith,
your personal faith life will be greatly enhanced. Now note five more characteristics of faith these verses reveal:
1. Faith is assured. Paul uses this word when he says he has become persuaded that nothing can separate
the believer from God's love in Christ (Rom. 8:38). It always involves a process of thought; persuasion requires
process, time. He uses the same word again to speak of the confidence he has in Christ finishing the good work
He has begun in every believer (Phil. 1:6).
Perhaps the most moving usage of this word occurs when Paul writes to Timothy who has begun to battle fear while
pastoring in Ephesus. As a loving father, he invites Timothy to take his place in the work of faith, saying, “I
am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed
to him until that day.” The Greek is peitho (Strong's #3982). It has the meaning of having experienced
a debate in which all the relevant ideas have been given a fair hearing. When all the issues have been considered,
a decision is made, based on all the evidence and an inner conviction. When this has happened, you are persuaded.
How is faith persuaded? This persuasion comes by considering all that God's Word has to say on the issues being
considered, and by exposure to the person of the Word, the
Lord Jesus. The combination of the written Word and the revealed Word in the person of Jesus Christ accomplishes
this glorious persuasion. The question is: What “words” of promise form the basis for your current persuasion?
2. Faith embraces. This word (aspadzomai, Strong's #782; oss-pod-zuh-my) is most
often used in the beginning of the epistles when the writer “greets” the church. Sometimes the apostle will instruct
the believers to greet one another—this is that word. It can mean to enfold someone in your arms, to salute (greet),
or to welcome. As the assurance of faith involves considering the promises and becoming persuaded by them, so “embracing”
means to take them in! Now that you see them for what they are, greet them, hug them, hold them, welcome them into
your life. As you would embrace a loved one, so you are to treat the promises God has spoken into your life. Make
them your friends. In several usages, it even has the connotation of great affection, being translated “to kiss.”
The question is: What biblical “words” of faith have you taken into your life as friends?
3. Faith confesses. The Greek word homologeo (Strong's #3670; hahm-ahl-ahg-eh-oh)
means to give assent, covenant, or to acknowledge. A contractual meaning is suggested, as when a building project
is to begin. Jesus uses this word when He says, “Whoever confesses me before men, … [I] also will confess …” (Luke
12:8). It means “to speak the same thing.” Faith aligns the persuading word with the embraced word to the spoken
word. What should you be confessing in your present circumstance? You should be confessing what you have become
persuaded of—you should be confessing what you are welcoming into your life. Put it in the negative: What should
you not be confessing? You should not confess things of which you are not persuaded. You should not be confessing
things you are, in fact, not welcoming into your life.
Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34). My friend and pastor, Steve
Overman, says often, “The Word of God will always tell you what's going on in God's heart. Unfortunately, your
words will always tell you what's going on in your heart!” The question is: What is the condition of your
heart towards the promises of God as indicated by your confession?
4. Faith declares plainly. Why is this different from what we just studied? The preceding has to do with
vocabulary—the words you have been using that tell the condition of your heart towards the promises of God. This
present declaration comes more as a manifestation of a life decision that you have made which is evident to all.
The Greek word for manifest, emphanidzo (Strong's #1718; em-fan-id-zoh), is used to describe
the manifestation of the life, what others can plainly see because of life-style and conversation. Jesus uses this
word when speaking of the spiritual manifestation He and the Father will make to every believer when the Holy Spirit
is received (John 14:21). The combination of words used here in Hebrews suggests clarity. There can be no disputing
of what is being declared. It is obvious. The “plainly declaring” phrase may certainly involve language, but it
is much more than that. If you are around someone who is “declaring plainly” (as the word is used here), you will
hear what is being spoken through body language, decisions, actions, and their words. Their life “plainly declares.”
And in this instance, the lives of these believers “plainly declared” that they had become persuaded of God's promise,
that they had welcomed God's promise into their lives, that they were speaking what God what was promising, and
that their entire life-style proved that this faith was real. The question is: What is your life telling about
your faith to the people who know you best?
5. Faith calls to mind. Almost every time this word is used, it's translated “to remember.” It carries
the idea of controlling your thought life; being in charge of what you are thinking. It also implies controlling
what you are thinking by speaking of the thing you wish to remember.
The apostle writing this letter teaches all who are serious about their faith a remarkable lesson: If you place
in your mind an objective other than the one outlined in God's promise, you'll have an opportunity to reach that
objective! Amazing, isn't it?
If the pilgrims of Hebrews 13:13 had focused on the country they left behind to follow God's call, numerous
opportunities to go back would have appeared. Instead, however, they focused on the land of God's promise, a better,
heavenly country. They “called to mind” a goal that rested in the center of God's promises.
The important thing to remember is that we are to be absolutely in control of what we think. Some may argue
that we can overdo this. Yet God would not give instructions on how to think (see Phil. 4:8) if it were not possible
to do exactly what He has said!
Write Jesus' words in Luke 21:19.
Now, rewrite them, noting that to “possess” means “to acquire control of,” and that your “soul” includes your
mind and feelings.
One practice of the life of faith is to memorize God's Word. Repeat the promises. Call them to mind. Focus
on them. If you are struggling at all with your thought life, what does the psalmist say in Psalm 119:11?
The question confronting us is: What have we been calling to mind?
6. Faith desires. The Greek word oregamai (Strong's #3713; or-eg-om-ï) signifies
an inner choice to reach for something, to stretch oneself out to an extreme position of vulnerability, as in saying,
“This is what I want to do with my life.” It's the word used in 1 Timothy when Paul says that it's a good thing
to desire the office of a bishop. In its negative form, it's also the word used to describe someone coveting
an object not yet possessed. In the positive, you would use this word in the phrase, “This is the desire of my
life.” Faith desires the fulfillment of what God has promised. The question is: What is the desire of your life?
This faith litany, if you will commit it to memory, can become a gridwork for evaluating your faith life. Have
you caught the contradiction? At least, some think it is a contradiction to understanding the life of faith. We
have been discussing the faith life of those who never received what they were believing for! Does this bother
you?
It will not bother you if you understand the practical purpose of our faith life is to bring us where God wants
us to go. It is not a tool for self-accomplishment, but for God's accomplishing His purpose in us as we actively,
aggressively open up to His Word, will, promise, and power.
Read Hebrews 11:16. These are the very people of whom God “is not ashamed to be called their God.” The obvious
thought is that, sometimes, God is ashamed! When is that? Whenever our faith is an attempt to appropriate the goodness
of God for this life only, forgetting that His plan is an eternal one! Write a statement of your own: “Lord, I
want to have You rejoice over my faith!”
Yet More Heroes of Faith
Write out your thoughts on how the faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph is mentioned (Heb. 11:20–22). Doesn't the
life of faith plan on generational succession? How is it true that a person of faith has something to say upon
his or her passing?
What did Moses choose in faith? What did Moses esteem?
Read Hebrews 11:33, 34. Note the exploits of those motivated by faith. They—
Subdued kingdoms.
Worked righteousness.
Obtained promises.
Stopped the mouths of lions.
Quenched the violence of fire.
Escaped the edge of the sword.
Were made strong out of weakness.
Became valiant in battle.
Turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Faith Alive
Since “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,” write out some of the things
you are hoping for but do not yet see. As you do, let the Holy Spirit remind you of God's Word. Write those promises
alongside the things you're hoping for, but not yet seeing.
From Power Faith: Balancing Faith in Words and Works by Roy Hicks, JR. with Jack W. Hayford. Copyright 1994 by Jack W. Hayford.
