The Ingredients of Faith

By Reverend Michael Farias

It is easy to say what faith is, but it is not so easy to exercise faith.  Thankfully, the Lord gives us plenty of examples in the Bible and in life, in order for us to understand what exercising our faith looks like.

One of my favorite scriptures is Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. KJV.   In this simple passage, we are told what faith is.  Faith is a two-part formula consisting of a substance and evidence. Faith is both forward-looking and backward-looking.

Every kingdom leader has experienced the two parts of faith. Everyone who has ever done anything to advance the kingdom of God has done so by applying this two part formula of substance and evidence.

First, faith looks like a substance.  It is something you can see.  It is tangible.  For the escapees from Egypt of Old Testament Israel, the substance was the promised land; the land flowing with milk and honey.  What is the substance you see in your mind’s eye?  What is the promise and the prize you see when you are alone with the Lord at 3 am?  Is it a new building, a new methodology or idea, or maybe a new asset of some kind that will enable you to be more effective in your calling?  What do you see?  Whatever you see is the substance you're in pursuit of.  It is the substance of things hoped for, which is the first ingredient of faith, and you must be forward-looking to see it and to get it.

Think for a moment about Israel wandering in the wilderness.  What were they hoping for?  They were hoping for things not yet seen.  They hadn’t yet experienced  the promised land of Canaan, but they were hoping for it nevertheless.  They were hoping for a promise.  By faith, they journeyed and wandered, expecting that one day they would run into the substance that was the promised land.

The second ingredient of faith is evidence.  The evidence of things not seen.  By faith, you see it.  It is plain as day.  There is no doubt in your mind because you have seen evidence before.  This is the part of faith that is backward-looking.  There is evidence that convinces you to keep believing, and to keep moving forward.

Let’s look at Israel and their wandering in the wilderness again for a glimpse of the evidence they had in their tool box.

Evidence is not something that is going to happen, it is something that has already happened.  It is fact.  It is information that is true and reliable.  When evidence is presented, you can build your case, and rest your case.

Israel continued to move forward and not return to Egypt because of evidence.

Evidence is why you, too, should continue in your pursuit of what God has called you to do, and not give in or give up.  Let me explain: evidence is what God has done in the past and will do again in the future.

Evidence is a memorial and a memory of the miracles God has done in your life in order to get you this far.

As Israel wandered, they received miracles such as Manna from heaven, water from a rock, and the crossing of the Jordan river on dry ground.  They were led by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  These things and more were evidence that they were on the right track.  They could continue to move forward toward the substance of things hoped for because of the evidence they had looking back.

In my life and in yours, there is evidence, a history, memorials and memories of what God has done.

So, as I see it, I need faith that has two parts; a forward-looking component and a backward-looking component.

Look forward and move forward to whatever God has called you to do, and look back at what God has already done. It will inspire you.

For a faith-building study, check out the Greater Than Gold Bible study Exodus: Rescued for Relationship.