Heb. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. According to what the above verse declares, it is not possible to please God unless you are in possession of and are indeed exercising that thing called faith.
Faith is more than nodding your head in agreement or verbally declaring that you believe something is true. At some point everyone has some portion of faith. God’s word declares: Ro 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Some fail to use it, some fail to feed it with the Word of God, some turn their back on it, but at some point everyone has faith in some specific measure. But look what it says in 2 Thes. 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. What happened? Some have rejected faith and chosen their own path. They cannot please God.
Faith is more than a hope or an expectation. Faith is completely relying on or trusting that something shall be. Hebrews 11:1 tells us “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith, real faith has substance and it has evidence. Faith has the power to resist temptation and refuses to give ground when opposed by opinions, bad reports or even threats and accusations. Faith has no plan “b”. Faith is not even based on fact because fact’s change. Faith is rooted in truth. The truth of God’s Word does not change because God does not change.
Faith must be fed to be sustained. God’s Word is the answer. When we truly hear God’s word down in our spirit, faith comes. Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Many listen but fail to hear. You may memorize a verse of scripture without truly hearing the message it contains. However, when you hear the message from God; when you are quickened in your heart, that word comes alive and has power in it. Read Hebrews 11:6 again. Faith has wonderful rewards.
Maranatha!