Heb 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.
Substance is the essential part, the main or the material part; something real and not imaginary.
Evidence is the outward sign; something that furnishes proof.
Faith is the substance. Faith that is substance, that is evidence:
Believes the words of God, v.3. Enoch believed Jude 14-15. He walked with God and God took him, Gen 5:24. God translated him, Heb 11:5.
Noah believed what God said about the coming rain and flood, though neither had ever been seen before. Abraham believed God’s words concerning the place he was to go. Sara believed God’s words that she could have a baby, though she was past age. They all did. Faith like this sees the invisible. Faith is the evidence of the thing that had not been seen.
Trusts in the Lord God, v.6. “He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb 11:27 says, “as seeing him who is invisible”. God stands behind his word. We sing the hymn, “Standing on the promises of God”. When God says it, he will bring it to pass. Faith is the evidence that God is real, he’s really there.
Compels a person to act on what he believes. Abel offered a lamb, Enoch walked with God, Noah built the ark, Abraham went, Sara conceived, Abraham offered his only begotten son, Isaac and Jacob blessed, Joseph commanded, Moses forsook Egypt, Rahab hid the spies, etc. Faith without works is dead, Jas 2:26. Their faith was the evidence and it was manifest by their actions. And God came through for them. He accepted Abel’s sacrifice, he translated Enoch, he brought the flood and saved Noah and his family, Isaac was born, the walls of Jericho fell and Rahab and her family were spared.
Pleases God, v.6. If you want to please God, then have the faith that is substance, that is evidence. Faith is the substance. Believe God’s words, seek God, and act on what he shows you to do. It pleases God for us to do by faith what he is showing us to do, though we cannot see it and can only hope for it.
By faith, Pastor Sehmish went to Thailand and in Nakhon Sawan God has done what had never been seen before. By faith, Pastor Keck established a mission in Corpus Christi and we now see a church (Bible Believers Baptist Church) where there had not been one before. By faith, Pastor Piña went to Kingsville and today there is Anchor Baptist Church. Auré and Lizzie went to Réunion Island and even now, Église Biblique Baptiste du Sud, is being planted.
Conclusion: What do you hope for, what do you see that is not currently seen? Does your faith prove it.
Titus 1:2 says, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began”. Do you hope to have eternal life? Then believe God’s words, trust Christ to save you, and walk by faith 2 Cor 5:7. Act on it.