Manifested Faith

Hebrews 11:1

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I have learned not to be presumptuous when dealing with the Father. His knowledge is limitless. His wisdom is abundant. I relay to you this lesson, as we revisit one of the foundational Scriptures of this ministry.

Hebrews 11:1

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

We know that faith is the Holy Ghost. He is the substance or the essential part of things that we hope for. Hope that can be seen with the natural eye is not hope. Thus, the Holy Ghost is the evidence and substance of things we have never seen. God has promised us things that the eye has never seen. However, the Holy Ghost is the evidence of those things. He is the evidence of our new body and of everlasting life. Now is the time to connect the dots.

1 Corinthians 6:17

17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

We have been joined to the Holy Spirit and made one with Him. Peter understood this and he made his understanding known, saying to Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost (Acts 5:3).

Acts 5:3

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Truly we are one with God, but how does this apply to faith? To see this clearly, we must first see the operation of salvation. In the beginning, all souls were placed in the loins of Adam. When he fell, all souls fell into sin with him. However, through salvation the opportunity was given to man to allow them to be born-again. However, this time they would not be born of corruptible seed, but incorruptible seed of God.

Titus 3:5

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost Even as God made the body from the dust and the soul from the wind, He made the new creature from the Holy Ghost.

However, to do that we had to first die.

Romans 6:3

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

The death at salvation is something that is not often taught. This death, though for a fraction of a second, allowed the body of sin to die. All the lusts of the flesh were circumcised from it, and it was washed with pure water. The soul was removed from the flesh, and this caused its expression to cease. Truly, the body without the spirit is dead (James 2:26).

James 2:26

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

To be born again means to die and be resurrected by the Holy Spirit in the flesh. This is extremely significant, because it is a qualification for ministry.

Romans 10:13-15

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

A cry of the heart is powerful enough to spring unto the salvation of the soul. However, one must first be taught about Jesus, that they may know that He is the solution they seek. He is the only way to God and has the only name whereby a man can be saved. However, in order for Jesus to be preached, a preacher must be sent. The word ‘sent’ here is a great mystery. It is revealed in the following scripture.

John 6:57

57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

Notice that though Jesus was sent by the Father, He simultaneously lived by the Father. The word ‘sent’ reveals the purpose of God. You are sent from heaven to be a carrier of God and a witness to His works through your body. Thus, God does not forsake those whom He sends; in fact, He is in them. If God is in us, then we know that He will minister through us. He will preach the gospel. He will do signs and wonders. He will work ministry. However, we could not qualify for this ministry unless we first died through salvation.

Hebrews 9:27

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

Take note of the scripture above. It is appointed unto men once to die. Thus, when we died at salvation, that was our appointment. Therefore, when our soul was taken out of the flesh it immediately went into a judgment. At this point, we had been calling on the name of the Lord for salvation, believing on Him. Thus, when we died, we died in faith. Dying in faith caused our soul to be judged worthy of being placed in heaven, inside of the Holy Ghost. However, it was not God’s will that we stay there. His purpose was to use us as co-laborers with Him as He sought to reconcile the world. Thus, the Holy Ghost brought us back to earth, and entered our once sinful flesh, that we may allow Him to use it. This causes us to see even further what it means to be sent. You must be sent from heaven. You must have died, resurrected, went to heaven, and sent back to the earth, yet walking the earth with heaven (God) in you.

John 3:13

13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

At the point that Jesus was speaking, no man had yet received the Holy Ghost (ascended up to heaven), however, he was connoting to the fact that soon they would. He had to first die and rise so that they could ascend. Thus, it is clear that the sons of God have overcome death.

This all becomes significant when we consider the state of men.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

God has put all eternity (the ancient world, the secret) into the conscience of man. However, it was placed in such a way that the fallen man could never truly discern the plan of God (gospel). What then is the gospel?

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The gospel is the good news which says that though all are appointed to die, you can live again and be spared from hell and death if you believe on Jesus. However, according to Ecclesiastes 3:11, the fallen man can never discern this gospel. They have no clue what happens after death. They simply believe that you must live the best life you possibly can, and then die.

Ecclesiastes 3:22

22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

According to mankind, there is nothing better than simply enjoying the fruit of your labor. This is their summation, because they cannot discern what happens after death. No man can find it out. Who, then, is going to tell a man what happens after death? The sent preacher will.

THE FAITH OF THE UNSAVED

The preacher can speak of things that no man is able to, because he has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. He has seen that there is life after death. In fact, he is the evidence of it.

Hebrews 11:1

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The Sons of God are essential to the world receiving salvation. The world may have a hope of peace after death and a better life, but this hope is obscure until the gospel is preached. Thus, the gospel and the preacher are essential to their understanding and reception of their hope. Until the preacher preaches Jesus, the sinner cannot be saved. The Sons of God are also the evidence of things not seen. The sinner did not know that life after death is possible. He had never seen it. However, the preacher is sent from heaven. He died a sinner but was resurrected in Christ. The proof of his death is evident, because He was once a known sinner but is now a totally different man – a new man. He is proof that there is life after death because He has died and now has eternal life. The unsaved must believe on Jesus to be saved. However, Jesus must first be taught to them. There must be evidence of Jesus’ life and that evidence is in the preacher. The preacher then becomes the evidence of what they will become if they believe in Jesus.

They have never seen themselves pure and holy, but the preacher is the evidence that they can be. They must believe upon Jesus as He ministers through the preacher. They must trust the preacher’s words as the word of God. The minister is Christ on the scene. He is the substance of what the sinner needs to be saved and he is the evidence of the life of Christ.

Acts 3:4

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

The lame man at the Gate Beautiful had to look upon the Sons. He had to believe that the Sons could give Him Jesus. He had never seen himself walk, however, he had to believe that there was a treasure in the Sons that could make him rise and walk.

In addition to this, the Sons of God work ministry by the power of God working through them. The eternal Godhead has been manifested in them. Thus, they are the proof of the powers of the world to come. These powers have never been seen. They are the glory of God veiled in flesh. The evidence of God in them is irrefutable, because He is manifest in them.

THE FAITH OF THE SONS

Ecclesiastes 3:15

15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

Every hope that the Sons of God await has already been given to them in Eternity. The new body and everlasting life were confirmed in the foreknowledge of God. Before the world began, they have walked in the glory that is promised to the Sons of God in time. This is why the promises of God are sure, because they have already happened. These promises were placed in every heart as eternity in the conscience. This conscience has been illuminated by the Spirit of God. The Sons can now perceive and comprehend the Word of God, because they have been begotten by it. They are the word of God made flesh. They are the carriers of the message of the gospel. Thus, that which has been accomplished in Eternity, has been manifested in them now. They are the substance and evidence of their hope.

Hebrews 11:1

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Their souls have been joined to the Lord and made one Spirit with Him. They are the Spirit of Prophecy manifested in these times. They are the Word of God from the beginning. They are all the promises of God manifested in this world but simply veiled in flesh. They have already received eternal life, which is everlasting life. They are the proof of things that have never been seen, because there is no other creature like the Sons of God.

They are their own evidence. Have you ever seen someone change from ungodly to righteous in a split instant? The world says it’s impossible; however, we are the evidence of it. We are the evidence that the glory of God will be manifested in the end, because it began in us. The Sons of God are (right now) the very thing that they have been hoping for, because now are we the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be (it is unseen/veiled in flesh): but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2).

1 John 3:2

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

We are as Jesus when He was transformed upon the mount of transfiguration, He had always been that glory, but He was hidden. We are the proof of the promises of God. We have already become them. We have seen them in Eternity and wear them now. We are the evidence of what the end shall be, because as He is, so are we in this world! One day we will put off this flesh and it will be revealed to the world what we have been all along.