Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith knows. Faith is confident. Faith is full of peace and power. Faith does not beg and whine. Faith is happy. Faith is not depressed. Faith is triumphant. Faith is not defeated. Faith is persistent. Faith does not give up. Faith does not make excuses. Faith does not think that tragedy is heroic or romantic, because faith is not deceived. Faith is not stupid. Faith does not pretend that weakness is piety. Faith knows that victory is piety.

The Bible says that faith is assurance and faith is conviction. Another translation says, “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” You want something, and by faith you have the reality of it. Even before you see it and feel it, you have the proof that it is true. You have more than a promise, because by faith you have grasped the reality of the promise. By faith, what you want is no longer a fantasy, but a reality. By faith, it is no longer undecided, but your faith has decided and made it a sure thing.

The Faithless think that when we want something, God might reply with a “Yes” or a “No,” and we never know what he decides until we see success or failure. On the contrary, Scripture shows that, by faith, even what seems to be a “No” from God is turned to a “Yes” from God, because God always says “Yes” to faith. In fact, our faith is God saying “Yes” to us in our hearts. If you have faith for something, God has already said “Yes” to you. By faith, we know for certain what God will do. We never need to wait or to wonder.

The Faithless can also see that God says “Yes” in the Bible, but in their experience it is always a “No.” The reason is their lack of faith, and the fact that they have never believed in God. But they wish to appear strong in faith, and become the leaders and examples of those who follow Jesus, and so they blame their failures on “the will of God,” as if God would decide to contradict his own promises and commands. As they do this, they multiply their sin.

The Faithless double damn themselves. First, they damn themselves because they have no faith. Second, they damn themselves again because they make excuses for their lack of faith, and in the process they invent false doctrines, mislead other people, blaspheme against God, and persecute those who believe. Their faithless doctrines will fulfill themselves in their bodies and spirits, destroying them and damning them.

Most of the problems in humanity exist or continue to exist because of the Faithless — religious people who are faithless and perpetuate faithless doctrines. They claim to be followers of Christ, and many have made themselves leaders and teachers. Yet they are the greatest enemies of the gospel, even more so than those who admit that they are unbelievers. Faithless religious people are the most wicked and destructive individuals.

A crude “Give me!” faith is far better than a false reverence that makes the sovereignty of God into an excuse for failure and unbelief. God sovereignly sent Jesus to suffer in our place and to grant us his power. Why won’t you receive his salvation and his miracles?

Samson said to God, “What, after giving me such a great victory, should I now die of thirst?” According to Scripture’s own commentary, he was an example of faith. Samson took it for granted that God should always give him victory and always care for him. Samson knew that he mattered to God, and he knew God would supply whatever Samson wanted in any situation. That was faith. And God caused water to gush out from a hollow in the ground.

The Faithless, with all their outward display of scholarship and reverence, cannot be counted as those who have faith. They have replaced God’s gospel of healing and miracles with their message of suffering and defeat. The Faithless love to talk about suffering, because the one they worship is not God the Father of Jesus Christ, but the idol that is called Suffering.

And they cannot be honored among those who suffer persecution because of faith. This is because they are the ones who persecute those who have faith. They are the ones who cause suffering in those who follow Jesus Christ and preach his message of healing and miracles, prosperity and protection, favor and success, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.