Faith is not an emotion or a feeling, true faith is the certainty or security in the words of God. Faith in God experiences a growth process or development, because faith is born, grows and is nourished, it is sustained by the powerful Word of the Lord.
We see that Abraham trusted God, because “it had been said to him: in Isaac your offspring will be called.” When you trust God, you place your whole heart in his promises, because you have the certainty that he will not fail you…
HOW TO STRENGTHEN FAITH IN THE TEST
“having been told: In Isaac your offspring shall be called; thinking that God is able to raise up even from the dead, whence, in a figurative sense, he also received him again” Hebrews 11:18-19.
In the light of Scripture we can see that Abraham’s walk was a path of faith, established in the words that the Lord gave him. Abraham deposited his heart in his promises, for example God told him:
“Go from your country and from your kindred, and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” And we see that when the Lord told him “your offspring will be prolonged in Isaac”, he believed and that faith gave him victory in the face of the difficult test he faced.
Often the emotions and thoughts (ie the soul) rebel against faith in the Lord. This is where we must submit or surrender our entire being (spirit, soul and body) to the word of God. Just as the universe was constituted by the Word of the Lord, we are born and grow by his word, we are nourished and strengthened by it. For all this it is necessary to return to his word.
What is the faith? it is the trust we place in our God. The Bible teaches us that Abraham was called a friend of God, the Scripture tells us that: “Abraham believed… and he was called a friend of God”. So Abraham knew his friend (God), he fully trusted him. He trusted the words of the Lord even though he did not mentally understand what was happening, but faith must sacrifice reason or logic.
His son Isaac trusted his father Abraham, as the Lord Jesus one day trusted his. The Father promised his Son: “I will not leave your soul in Hades and your body will not see corruption”, and God fulfilled his word, against all odds, on the third day the heavenly Father raised him from the dead . Then we can completely trust God, the Lord does not lie, he will never fail you. That’s why you can trust him.
Faith in God manages to see even beyond death. Today’s text tells us that: “thinking that God is able to raise even from the dead, whence, in a figurative sense, he also received him again.” The passage highlights what Abraham thought: “thinking that God is powerful”, although surely in his mind there were more thoughts, this one prevailed over the others.
Faith or trust in God goes beyond the natural and temporary, it transcends to the spiritual and eternal. Perhaps Abraham thought: “Isaac may die, but the Lord gave me a promise…and he can still raise him from the dead, because his power is above death”).
Faith impels us to do things for God, so that we place our whole heart only in him. When faith weakens, it stagnates or prevents progress towards the Lord’s plan. True faith rests in almighty God, faith simply trusts, faith strengthens you in the face of trial.
Sometimes the heart gets discouraged, or certain areas in the life of the believer go numb, or fall into the phase of inactivity, but God is almighty to activate the heart, hope, faith, the flow in the Spirit, the Lord it can restore what has died, or is about to die. He perseveres and continues to advance, he believes, because God comes with a reward.
Strengthen your faith in the face of trial. Come into the presence of God, worship, study and read his word and then your spirit will be strengthened in the face of adversity or trial. Faith in the Lord leads us to obey, to move forward in the face of great challenges, helps us overcome adversity, strengthens us to live a pleasing life in the eyes of God, and that is when life becomes a powerful instrument in the hands of the Lord.
Final reflection: The Lord wants to act in your favor, he has already been doing it, although sometimes it is difficult for us to understand it, God has dominion over all things, trust and advance, God wants to show his power in you. He enters his presence and strengthens your faith in the face of trial and you will see the hand of God in your favor.
(Written by Pastor Gonzalo Sanabria)
