Chaplain's Corner - September 24, 2004

Click to View Archived messages

Got Faith?

Greetings in the name of Jesus! I was thinking about this week’s message & had started on another topic but this one is the big winner.

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.

For us to know if we “got faith” we have to know what faith is, & then how do we get it. First off, from our text it says “faith is the substance of things hoped for.” If something has substance that means it has weight, or value, solid and practical in character, quality or importance. We have faith that we will get a paycheck from our employer on payday. We have faith that when we go to our vehicle, it will start. Can we see these things? No, that is why faith is the evidence of things unseen. We can’t see that engine start, we know it when it does. So is our faith in God. Can we physically see him? Not yet…But we know that when we wake up every morning he is there and has given us another day. So we know that faith has merit and substance. Now how do we get it? The Bible says that “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” As Christians we gain faith by reading and studying God’s word, the Bible. God speaks to us through his word by the Holy Spirit. To gain faith we must study every day.

If I were to define faith I would have to say that it is three faceted.

First is wisdom. We gain wisdom through tests and trials. We don’t learn when were on the mountain top and have won the victory. We learn and gain wisdom through the tough times. When you make mistakes, you learn from them and gain….WISDOM! As you gain wisdom you also gain the second facet, strength.

Strength walks hand in hand with wisdom. As we learn and gain knowledge and wisdom, our faith gets stronger. As our faith gets stronger we learn to trust God more and more. Look at the three Hebrew Children. They were thrown into a furnace to be burned alive because they would not bow down to an idol made by man. They had strong faith that God would deliver them and he did. In fact, there was a fourth man in the fire! They were not harmed at all. (For the entire story read Daniel Chapter 3).

The third facet is knowledge, which walks right with wisdom and strength. Knowledge comes from studying God’s word. When you study, pray first. Let God lead you in your study. Open your heart to him & I guarantee that every time you read you’ll get a different bit of knowledge that will help you in your day to day life.

Hebrews chapter 11 is the Hall of Fame of Faith. If you get the opportunity to read it I encourage you to do so.

I hope this message has helped you to get faith if you haven’t gotten it, or strengthened your faith further.

E-mail reaches me at chaplain@andersonspeedway.com. If you have a prayer request, need to talk, have a comment about the message, (good or bad) I’d love to hear from you.

RWJM is a faith based ministry which relies totally on your generous donations. (Tax-deductible of course) You cam make a donation online through a secure link at www.rwjm.org or see me at the track & I’ll give you a donation envelope to mail in your donation. Go with God for he will always go with you.

I’ll see you at the races!
May God Bless!
Rev. Carlos