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 11:6 NKJV
On face value, it does seemed that this verse is talking about having faith in God such that one believes in God for healing and blessings. Firstly, is faith merely believing? And is biblical faith (in this case) referring to believing God for blessings?
If you were to read further down Hebrews chapter 11, you realized that firstly, none of the bible heros listed below we exercising their faith for their own well being. It was all for the Kingdom of God. In fact, all died without recieving the promise.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Hebrews 11:13 NKJV
Thier lived for the Kingdom of God, not Kingdom on Earth.
But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:16 NKJV
Moses also forsook the riches and comfort in Egypt and chose to wander in the wilderness and suffer affliction.
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
Hebrews 11:25-26 NKJV
By faith David (man after God'a heart) did many valiant deeds for God. And David, above anyone else, delighted in the Law of God, wrote Psalms 119.
who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again....
Hebrews 11:33-35a NKJV
Ans many others like Jeremiah, Isaiah, Daniel, was thrown in prison, sawn in half, fed to lions for the sake of their faith in God.
... Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
Hebrews 11:35b-38 NKJV
Shouldn't all the more, those who are under a better and perfect covenant, be even more living by faith, instead of living for blessings after blessings, and eyes kept on worldly values?
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.
Hebrews 11:39-40 NKJV
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