Faith

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These verses and any linked articles/stories are intended to help jumpstart you in your own studies. MOST VERSES ARE BEST UNDERSTOOD WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE WHOLE LETTER in which it was written. We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to have your own bible and seek on your own. no one or any resource can replace one-on-one time with the king.
Faith is hard to grasp at times. It can be hard to tell if we have it or don't. The word is thrown around like a beach ball in a crowded event, but that's only because we know it's important and should have it yet we don't know what to do with it or activate it. Scripture tells us we cannot please God without faith; it activates salvation. Despite being an unseen element of belief, faith is also a substance...that means it has something solid to it that produces action on our part, in response to something we can't see with our eyes.

Bible versions used will vary and some may be paraphrased.
We suggest using BibleGateway.com to look up the verse in your favorite version.

HEBREWS 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

HABAKKUK 3:17-19 Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls-
[the faith part] YET I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.

ISAIAH 33:17 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; they see the land that is very far off. [NKJV]

It takes faith to "see land that is very far off" (meaning, they are not experiencing being in the land but they can "see" it with their imagination. They are not seeing it with natural eyes...yet.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of the age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. [NKJV]

faith and belief go hand-in-hand

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith living within us we are powerless to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who passionately seek him. [TPT]

Hebrews 11:7 Faith opened Noah’s heart to receive revelation and warnings from God about what was coming, even things that had never been seen. But he stepped out in reverent obedience to God and built an ark that would save him and his family. [TPT]

Faith does not stand alone. It requires ACTION. That's why we're told that faith is "evidence". In other words, it is a reflection, a fruit of something we DO, SAY, BELIEVE. Noah didn't have faith until he determined in his heart to DO what God asked - i.e. his faith was activated when he started building the ark.

JAMES 1:5-8 [TPT] And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see yuor lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace. Just make sure you ask empowered by confident faith without doubting that you will receive. For the ambivalent person believes one minute and doubts the next. Being undecided makes you become like the rough seas driven and tossed by the wind. You’re up one minute and tossed down the next. When you are half-hearted and wavering it leaves you unstable. Can you really expect to receive anything from the Lord when you’re in that condition?

JAMES 1:12 [TPT] If your faith remains strong, even while surrounded by life’s difficulties, you will continue to experience the untold blessings of God! True happiness comes as you pass the test with faith, and receive the victorious crown of life promised to every lover of God!