Faith!

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says...,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. (Mark 11:22-24)

The word "faith" is not used much in the Old Testament, because the people saw the Lord God, they heard from God, and He had various physical manifestations of Himself.  Faith is used throughout the New Testatment, especially by Jesus during His teaching, and by the apostles, after Christ ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11).  It's used more in the New Testament because Christ would not be with man in the flesh for long.  People would have to believe in God, eventhough we wouldn't have the visible proof all the time.  For we walk by faith, not by sight. (II Corinthians 5:7)

So what does faith mean?  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 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. (Hebrews 11:1, 3) Faith is believing what is true, being convinced of the truth, being certain of reality and having evidence of unseen things (Acts 17:11 study).

We believe the Word of God because we know it is true: ...And He [Christ] said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelations 21:5) We are convinced of the truth, because of the eyewitness testimonies throughout the Bible: Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:24-29)

We are certain of reality and have evidence of unseen things because God has put the knowledge of Himself in EVERY person, whether they choose to admit it on not: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, ... For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith. [Habakkuk 2:4]” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,... (Romans 1:16-20) The reality of creation, everything we can see that man did not make, and everything we can't see that enables man to live, proves that God exists.

We who believe the Word of God, in Jesus the Christ, are filled with His Holy Spirit, eventhough we can't physically see Him: “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.  At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.  He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. (John 14:19-24)

Because we know that we are saved through our faith in Christ, and that His Spirit lives in us, we will also have physical proof: ...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (Galatians 2:16) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—... (II Corinthians 13:5) But the fruit [or evidence] of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control.  (Galatians 5:22-23)

We who have faith must not allow anyone or anything to cause us to lose heart.  We must remember that what we see is temporary, but what's coming is eternal (II Corinthians 4:16-18). Therefore, let's be sure to obey the Word of God, and be a living testimony of the fatih we have: You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. (Deuteronomy 13:4) ...become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world [Matthew 5:14],  holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. (Philipplians 2:15-16) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (II Timothy 4:7)