Foundations for Hope

Foundation for Things Hoped For
Hebrews 11:1

Faith is vitally important in the life of a Christian (Hebrews 10:38). In fact, generally, life would be very difficult without faith. You trust your spouse, doctor and lawyer.  You sleep with hope that you will wake up. You drive your car by faith. You don't know if you are going to make it to your destination alive. You have faith that the food you buy from strangers is not harmful.

The specific definition of faith in the Bible is found in Hebrew 11:1. The verse says that faith is the 'hupostasis' of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The key word in the definition is 'hupostasis'. Different english bible versions use different words to carry the meaning of this word.  Words used include  'the substance', 'the title deed', 'the guarantee',  'the firm foundation', 'a well grounded assurance' and 'the solid ground for' things hoped for. I would like to draw attention to three of them.

> Firm foundation. Taken literally, the Greek word, hupo-stasis, is made up of stasis “to stand,” and hupo “under,” meaning “that which stands under or a foundation.” So faith is that which supports things hoped for. It is therefore the ground on which one builds hope.  Hope suggests there is an object on which the hope is based. Faith is as good as it's object/foundation. The believers' faith is based on the trustworthiness of God. The character of God makes the foundation of the believers faith as firm as God. Things we hope for in Christ are therefore as certain as God himself. Faith being a trusting response to Gods ability, faithfulness and intention grows with the knowledge of God. Without faith - things, blessings, health, life, prosperity, joy, the success, souls, etc you hope for are baseless, unfounded and will not stand. You therefore have no hope or you only have false hope. If faith is weak the things you hope for are at risk of not coming to pass. If faith is on and off and waivering hope cannot stand. If faith is abandoned hope is lost. The bigger the things you hope for the deeper your faith should be.

> Collection Voucher. Faith (trust in God)  is the collection voucher for what Christ has already paid for by grace and is yours to claim. Faith is confidence in Gods promise to deliver what's already fully paid for by his grace. Grace is the currency of Gods kingdom. Since God does not lie, when you trust in Him, what you hope for is as good as done. The thing he has promised he will do. His character, his Son, his covenant and his Spirit are the unfailing guarantee. Faith begins as  an attitude prompted by hearing Gods word (Romans 10:17) but is executed by corresponding action (James 2:26) and ends in a reward  (Hebrew 11:6) or an expected outcome/effect/result. Favorable results are guaranteed in Jesus' name.

> Title Deed. Faith in God is the substance/evidence of entitlement which you must present in claiming ownership or a right to the things you hope for.  Like the title deeds for a piece of property, having faith in God is having the thngs you hope for. Faith is entrusting a future you do not know to a God you know. Gods word in you (not just in Bible) is the source of faith. Jesus is the author of faith. Faith is a gift from the Holy Spirit. So fall in love with Gods word, our Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Is the Holy Spirit a helper, teacher, comfort you live with yet ignore?


An example of what faith can do  is in  1 Chronicle 4:9,10. We can show faith by confession of belief and deeds of obedience such as praying, caring, giving, witnessing, forgiving, helping, etc. Jabez showed his faith by praying. He was called Jabez by his mother because she bore him with sorrow. He was associated with pain and sorrow but called on the God of Israel, and God granted him that which he requested. You also pray like he did:

>>>Bless me indeed. To be blessed by God is to receive his benefits and favor. It is to be happy and have things go well for you.

>>>Enlarge my border.  Enlargement of borders includes growth, increase and improvement. For whatever limitation you are facing in your studies, wisdom,  resources, opportunites and physical space you can also pray in Jesus' name believing.

>>>Thy hand be on me. He desired to be used by God. God wants you to think beyond survival questions of where am I going to sleep. What will I eat. What shall I wear.  Jabez wanted blessings that were more than enough for his personal needs. He wanted an overflow so that he could make a difference in other people's lives and be helpful. He cried for the supernatural  on his life. He wanted to be equipped and resourced for to serve. God has the love, power, grace,  tools,  gifts, and skills you need.

>>>Keep me from evil and causing pain. He asked for total freedom - from sickness, bitterness, anger, revenge, sin, associating with evil influence, poverty, laziness, pride, irrational fear,  negativism, etc He did not want to be a cause of pain. He did not want to be offensive or cause pain by what he did or did no do.  Jesus taught us to pray 'deliver us from evil'.