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 From the Heart
Substance + Spiritual Force
Substance+Spiritual force+From the Heart= Faith
As children play the game pretend, they imagine things unseen but yet seem so real to them in their lives. FAITH is such a very important tool to place in the HEREO'S tool box. It is important that we teach the children about the Shield of Faith as used in the armor of God. In Hebrews the 'Faith' Chapter 11 we find many examples of Faith. You may select the ones that you want to use but only a few of them that deals with the HEROE'S in this program. Without FAITH could Gideon have the courage to go up against an army of 135,000 to his 300?
 The parable of the man who built his house upon the 'substance of rock, and the substance of sand is found in both Luke and Mathew.
The picture above shows a house made from sand and a foundation of rock. When water is added to sand we know the outcome. As the parable goes there were two builders. One built his house on sand foundation (SUBSTANCE) and the other builder his house upon Rock. Of course, when the wind blew and the waves dashed against his house, it would fall. Look how the water had washed the foundation away, and how the roof is falling in! And the people; see how they are fleeing to save their lives! And all this calamity because he built his house upon the sand. But the other house in the distance was built upon rock a stable, foundation solid and firm. What a bold front it offers to the waves, and how safely it resists the fury of the storm. Its foundations are sure, because they rest upon the solid rock.
Jesus had been teaching the people. We find in the fifth,six,and seventh chapter of Mathew in his closing words He said, "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man who built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. And every one who heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." The lesson Jesus sought to impress upon the people by this parable was, that it is not enough simply to hear what He says. Many will do that; but it is only those who remember Christ's commandments and keep them, whose work will stand when the time of trial comes.
Substance + Spiritual Force+From the Heart=Faith. When a builder builds a structure it is important that the construction of the foundation is solid. In the First Day of the Lets Talk About Heroe's there is an activity of sand, rocks and water to teach the children about this 'Foundation' and Faith. It is important that the teacher' (s) conduct this part of the lesson as it also is a foundation for this program. FAITH is a key tool for all HEROE'S. Day 1 In this activity the children get to experience STS. They see, touch, hear the water,sand, and rock. It is important that you make sure each child places the sand on the rock and poor water over it as discribed in the activity Day 1 link above. Keep using the word SUBSTANCE and FAITH together.
Now notice, faith is the substance—the marginal rendering says "ASSURANCE"—of things hoped for in the following scripture of Hebrews Chapter 11. So FAITH comes before possession.
Once you have received the possession, you no longer hope for it. But even before you receive it, you have it in SUBSTANCE; and that substance—that ASSURANCE that you shall possess it—is FAITH.
Then again, faith is an EVIDENCE—the "evidence of things not seen." Faith precedes the actual receiving of what you ask for. And faith is the EVIDENCE you shall have it, before you even SEE it. It is the EVIDENCE of things not yet seen. You do not have it. You do not see it, or feel it—yet faith is your EVIDENCE that you have, or shall have it. Faith is the substance—the ASSURANCE—of receiving that which you still HOPE for.
In the general sense of the word, to have faith is to believe in something or someone, to fully trust, to be so confident that you base your actions on what you believe. To have faith is to be fully convinced of the truthfulness and reliability of that in which you believe.
Faith in God then, is having the kind of trust and confidence in God and in Christ that leads you to commit your whole soul to Him as Saviour (Justifier, Cleanser, Healer, Deliverer) and Lord (Master, King). Trusting totally.
Faith is a spiritual substance. When you have this spiritual substance in you, it communicates to you a certain inner knowing that the thing you are hoping for is certainly established, even before you see any material evidence that it has happened.
Faith is a spiritual force. Faith in God is a response to God's Word which moves God to act. Jesus said in Mark 11:23, "For assuredly I say to you, whoever SAYS to this mountain, 'Be removed and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but BELIEVES that those things he SAYS will be done, he will HAVE whatever he SAYS." Words mixed with the real, pure faith can and will move mountains or any other problem that we face.
Faith in God must be from the heart. It is not merely intellectual. It is spiritual. "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
Faith causes you to know in your heart before you see with your eyes. "For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2Cor 5.7)
Did you go to bed last night expecting in the morning that the sun would up in the sky and it would be day? That is just what Faith is all about. Trusting in thing that you cannot see. It is like your birthday, you wanting a certain present and on that day when you open up the package you knew it would be the gift you wanted. Because you Trusted and believed that your parents would come through for you.
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