“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1 ESV). Faith is a conviction based on what we don’t see. That conviction is so strong, it causes us to speak and act in line with something in our hearts. It enables us to walk out what God told us to do.
We are saved by faith. And we appropriate God’s promises by faith.
Another level of faith exists that we don’t often talk about. I CALL IT FAITH FOR ASSIGNMENTS. Life is not about getting a new leather sofa, a larger home, or a new car. It is more than obtaining God’s promises for ourselves.
The Hall of Faith
Hebrews chapter 11 is filled with accounts of men and women who used their faith to do what God asked of them. It contains the stories of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and many others.
God invites us as Christians today to run our race in the same way these people of old did. The list is not complete, and we should be working on adding our names to that chapter.
“Let’s go on to something that is beyond believing God for our own needs and wants.”
Examples to Follow
In the Old Testament, Moses represents the Law and Elijah the prophets. James 5:17 (ESV) says, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours.” To Jewish believers, Elijah was the greatest prophet. Yet James said he was just like you and me.
Elijah’s example is not one we can’t attain to. He is somebody to follow. However, he lived under the Old Covenant, and we live under a better covenant. As Christians today, we should do greater exploits than Elijah and the others listed in Hebrews chapter 11.
What did these men and women have in common? One thing I see is that their assignments were bigger than they were. THEY ALL WALKED CONTRARY TO THE MAINSTREAM OF THOUGHT AROUND THEM.
Assignments
Let’s go on to something that is beyond believing God for our own needs and wants. Thank God for those things. But there’s more.
The assignments of the Old Testament saints required that they walk close to God. They had to hear His voice in the face of challenging situations.
Can you imagine Noah? The voices against him must have been loud. At times he must have questioned what he was doing. But his conviction was strong enough to land him in Hebrews 11.
What do you do when surrounded by adversity? Do you listen to the loud voices? What about your well-meaning friends who give advice contrary to what God put on your heart to do?
We must get to where the assignment burns in us and what others say doesn’t matter. Only what God has said matters.
THE PEOPLE IN HEBREWS 11 RISKED THEIR LIVES TO LIVE BY THEIR CONVICTIONS. Live, die, sink, or swim, they trusted God. They did not hold on to their lives but followed God no matter what.
Always Move Forward
We never plateau in our faith. There is always another assignment.
Shrinking back and not living by faith is never OK. One successful season doesn’t mean we can relax. Faith never relaxes.
It’s not OK not to influence society or pursue the dream God has given you. FAITH IS THE ONLY WAY TO PLEASE GOD, AND HE EXPECTS YOU TO WALK BY IT. What is His next level for you? What is His next stage for your church or business? What is your assignment from Him?
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”
(Heb. 12:1 ESV).
Vidar Ligard
[Editor’s Note: Vidar and his wife, Cathrine, are the directors of Rhema Bible Training College Kenya, which has nine campuses throughout that country. To learn more about the Ligards, go to safarimission.org.]
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Vidar Ligard
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