By Dr. Shana Wise
Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Between these two passages of scriptures the author examines the faith of the ones from the Old Testament. They talk about the faith of Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob Joseph and Moses.
They also mention stories such as the walls of Jericho, Rehab’s faith, Gideon and Barack Sampson, David, and Samuel. They talk about many prophets who were persecuted and martyred because of their faith.
Chapter 11 ends with verses 39-40, “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”
I believe this verse signifies the hope of Christ through their works of faith. Christ was not physically present in the Old Testament days, but His Spirit was present.
The patriarchs and children of the Old Testament believed God through faith. They could not physically see or touch him, but they were able to witness his great works in their lives. This was all before Christ was born on earth.
We all have been born after Christ’s death burial and resurrection. I like the ones from the Old Testament, we have received the Holy Spirit that whales on the inside of us do a face in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The ones in the Old Testament did not physically see God but they believed Him.
In the same manner, we didn’t witness physically Jesus’ walking on the earth, or his death, or resurrection, however by faith we believe that this happened. Over 2000 years later we are still benefiting from what God did for us to his Son.
The Invisible
When I think about my faith in God, it brings me to the realization that just because we can’t physically see things doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
It’s like wind when it blows, we fill it and we can see the effects of the wind taking place in earth, however we cannot touch it we cannot see it, nor can we contain it.
I believe that now is the time that God wants us to activate our faith. He wants us to start seeing things more so from the spiritual and physical.
Because we are created in his image and his likeness, he has designed us to be able to see, hear, and speak supernaturally.
In order to do these things, we must first believe that God is God. He must be our God. Having a relationship with him through his son Jesus Christ activates our faith in the earth.
The lessons that we learned from the ones that came before us, not just in the Old Testament and the New Testament, and all the generations that have come before us before this day, is that they witnessed the power of God and his Son though their faith.
To make this fact more personal, all of us who have believed and God through his son Jesus Christ should have experienced the power of his supernatural works in our lives through our faith in his word.
It is not good enough for us to just read the word, but we must also know how to apply the word and pray the word. Faith is the key that unlocks the doors to our prayers, and it is the main factor that gets results of the manifest word in our lives.
What I like about our Christian faith in God is that it separates him from all other gods because he responds to us not so much because of our works but our faith through the works.
Being a disciple of Christ first requires faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and then once we have accepted this fact, it will require faith to continue to follow and grow and in Him.
Our ministry is currently on a 31-Day By Faith Challenge. This challenge requires us to write out what we believe God for by faith that has not happened yet.
By reading Hebrews chapter 11, meditating on the Word of God, and through our track record with God; we are believing for him to do Ephesians 3:20 through this challenge.
We are his witnesses here on earth and in the spirit. When Hebrews chapter 12 verse one talks about the great cloud of witnesses, it is not only talking about the ones who have died, but we are also included in this while we are alive.
Anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior should have already witnessed the power of his love and work in their lives through faith in him. We are his witnesses in earth. When we die, our witness will not die because of our faith is eternal.
I continue to challenge you in these days on earth to continue to activate your faith in God. No matter what’s going on, what trials and tribulations you face, what hardships you endure, know that God will never fail. It is our faith in him that gives us strength to make it day to day.
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About the Author
Dr. Shana Wise is an ordained Pastor and CEO of Wise Choice Ministries (est. 2016). She is the founder of The Well Christian Women’s Network formally known as Christian Women Preachers United. Dr. Wise is the author of women’s devotional, Acts of Intercession, The Impact of Your Election, and co-author of Basic Ministry Training Manual (available on Amazon) and Chief Women Arise. She received a Doctor of Divinity degree in 2019 from St. Thomas Christian University. Her passion is to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, equip others to apply the Word to their lives, and demonstrate the Word through the power of the Holy Spirit. She is a televangelist that appears on social media outlets. Shana is married to Deacon Ron Wise and is the mother of four children.
For speaking engagements email: wisechoiceministries512@gmail.com.
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Acts of Intercession
The Impact of Your Election
Basic Ministry Training Manual
Chief Women Arise
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