Help us believe!

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore." 13 All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14 for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them
Everyone human being has to function by faith. Even the hard core materialist has to have faith in their senses and the scientific method. The scientific method cannot prove the scientific method. It has to be accepted by faith. Everyone has convictions about reality. These convictions are our faith. One of the marks of our humanity is that we are by nature “believers” in something.
Now the Bible sees true faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as “faith” and everything else as unbelief. Unbelief is to believe wrongly. It is faith directed at the wrong object and distorted. It is to have a false hope and perspective upon life.
Our faith is foundational. It helps us look at the world as a creation by God. It is by trust in God’s Word that we gain approval. Faith is the bridge that reconciles us to God when it is rightly directed towards His promises. The better our faith the better we know God.
Now the promise that must be believed is that the Messiah will come. The promise to Abraham was that the one who would crush the head of the devil would come through him (Genesis 3:15). The earth would be “filled” with believers who would be the “children of Abraham.” (Romans 4). The humble would inherit the earth. The Messiah would restore paradise to the planet and the people of God would know perfect peace or “Shalom”
This restored paradise or “kingdom of God” is the better city that has been prepared for those who trust in God keeping HIS promises in Messiah Jesus. We will see the planet and human society healed. There will be a fellowship of respect and love which will endure for all eternity. Not only will humanity dwell in peace with God but they will just as amazingly be at peace with one another.
The power to do God’s purpose in our lives will come as we believe. Abraham believed and gained the power to have a child. The disciples believed and the Holy Spirit fell upon them at Pentecost. Only as we believe do we have the love needed to act. Faith is foundational to having the energy needed to accomplish our God given tasks and use our gifts.
There is another story of faith that has always struck me. A father had come to have his son healed. But the disciples could not heal his son. Jesus the Messiah now comes to heal the son. The father asks HIM to help “if he can”. Messiah Jesus confronts the unbelief in the man’s heart.
And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:23-24 ESV)
I think each of us is like the father of the child that day. We do believe. If the man did not believe he would not have his son seeing the apostles or even be asking Messiah Jesus for help. Total lack of faith would have kept the man home.
Yet, at the same time lots of bad things have happened. Things do not seem to be getting better and the people we hoped would help us seem powerless to assist us. It is hard to believe when we are tired and worn out. Circumstances do not seem to justify our faith. So our heart becomes divided. We believe but we don’t fully believe.
The man here does a very sane thing. He admits his unbelief. He confesses his lack of faith. Confession is always the first step in restoring our sanity. He then prays for his the Lord’s help in overcome his unbelief. Prayer is key to growing in faith. True faith is the gift of God. Only God can overcome the wrong belief that guides our hearts.
So can you confess today that there still remains in your heart unbelief? Can you define that unbelief as really faith in the wrong things? How well do you understand your own doubt? Can you pray today for God to help you to believe more?
Remember, faith come from hearing and hearing from the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). Sitting at the feet of Messiah Jesus is always a good place to find faith. Spend some time with HIM today just listening to HIS promises and love.
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42 ESV)

Trusting During Trouble

Isa 30:18 -19 Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.


The people had not been willing to rely on God. Israel had come to rely on themselves, on Egypt, and on idols. It appears at times we trust in anything and anyone except for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Due to this the LORD had delayed giving them grace. The planned redemption of Israel was delayed. Their sin and rebellion will only demonstrate more clearly how wildly merciful God is in forgiving His people. Some believe that the Hebrew here should be interpreted to means that God is silent in order to show greater mercy upon them in the end.

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a just God who keeps His promises. Therefore, those who trust in those promises even when all the circumstances speak against those promises being fulfilled have received grace from God to endure in faith in the midst of the most difficult times. One of the signs that we are true believers is that we rely on God’s promises even when all seems lost. This does not mean we may not struggle with moments of doubts and have questions. It does mean that in the end we are committed to reliance upon God’s goodness and mercy. It is the character of God and His competence in accomplishing what He in intends that gives us hope.

For a holy people will dwell in Zion. The additional adjective “holy” is supplied by the Septuagint version of the Old Testament and seems to fit well into this context. This seems to be a picture of the final redemption of God’s people. No more tears of sorrow. The people of God will know the full experience of God’s great grace and mercy.

On the one had we are to patiently wait. On the other we are to know that the LORD hears the cry for help the moment it is spoken. He has decided to act from the moment He hears it. From our perspective it seems like it takes a long time for God to keep His redemptive promises, but from His perspective He is not slow in keeping His promises but only allowing more time for more grace to be displayed. As we wait we are to know that He has heard us.

There are times in our lives when it seems that God is waiting to demonstrate grace to us. We can be seeking some new experience in prayer only to feel like our prayers hit the ceiling. Our desire can be to grow in faith and to do this we read the Bible only to have our reading create more questions than answers for our faith. We desire to develop Christian friends only to be hurt and rejected by them. We have been seeking God’s help to minister to people but can feel like there is no divine wind at our back. God seems to be waiting and at times the LORD seems silent to our cries for help and direction.

What are we do to when this happens? This passage would urge us to wait upon the Lord, depending upon his commitment to help and save us. It would remind us that God is fully committed to His plan of redemption and that He does hear the cries of His people. We must not despair. We must not give up faith in prayer. We must remain trusting in His amazing grace knowing that Christ/Messiah has died for our sins and been raised again. All the promises of God are “YES” in Messiah Jesus. He is the incarnation of God’s mercy and grace.