Believing and trusting in what we don’t yet see. – Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

More specifically, believing in Jesus that trusting Him. – Hebrews 11:16 – But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Understanding Faith Compared to Presumption
The tempter can never compel us to do evil. He cannot control minds unless they are yielded to his control. The will must consent, faith must let go its hold upon Christ before Satan can exercise his power upon us. But every sinful desire we cherish affords him a foothold. Every point in which we fail to meet the divine standard is an open door by which he can enter to tempt and destroy us. And every failure or defeat on out part gives occasion for him to reproach Christ… We should not present our petitions to God to prove weather He will fulfill His word, but because He will fulfill it; not to prove that He loves us, but because He loves us. “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.” (Hebrews 11:6)… But faith is is in no sense allied to presumption. Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption. For presumption is Satan’s counterfeit of faith. Faith claims God’s promises and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led out first parents to trust the love God, and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted. Genuine faith has its foundations in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures. DA 125, 126

The righteous live by faith. – Habakkuk 2:4 – “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.”

The Just Shall Live By Faith
The faith that strengthened Habakkuk and all the holy and the just in those days of deep trial was the same faith that sustains God’s people today. In the darkest hours, under circumstances the most forbidding, the Christian believer may keep his soul stayed upon the source of all light and power. Day by day, through faith in God, his hope and courage may be renewed. PK 386, 387

Be Faithful to the End
We must cherish and cultivate the faith of which prophets and apostles have testified – the faith that lays hold on the promises of God and waits for deliverance in His appointed time and way. The sure word of prophecy will meet its final fulfillment in the glorious advent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as King of kings and Lord of lords. The time of waiting may seem long, the soul may be oppressed by discouraging circumstances, many in whom confidence has been placed may fall by the way; but with the prophet who endeavored to encourage Judah in a time of unparalleled apostasy, let us confidently declare, “The Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him” (Habakkuk 2:20). Let us ever hold in remembrance the cheering message, “The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry… The just shall live by his faith” Habakkuk 2:3, 4). PK 387, 388

God gives a measure of faith to each of us. – Romans 12:3 – For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Even faith as small as a mustard seed is powerful. – Matthew 17:20 – So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say tot his mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

A Faith That Makes Nothing Impossible
Their faith must be strengthened by fervent prayer and fasting, and humiliation of heart. They must be emptied of self and be filled with the Spirit and power of God. Earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith – faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreserved consecration to His work – can alone avail to bring men the Holy Spirit’s aid in the battle against principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and wicked spirits in high places. DA 431

Faith comes from hearing God speak to us in His Word. – Romans 10:17 – So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

We can pray and ask God to increase our faith. – Luke 17:5 – And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

Faith and doubt can exist together. – Mark 9:24 – Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Faith is necessary to receive God’s salvation. – Acts 16:31 – So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

We are justified (pardoned and set right with God) by faith. – Romans 5:1 – Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are also sanctified (given power to be like Jesus) by faith. – Acts 26:18 – To open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.

We receive Jesus into our lives and become God’s children by faith. – John 1:12 -But as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.

A Transcript of God’s Character
This power is not in the human agent. It is the power of God. When a soul receives Christ, he receives power to live the life of Christ. God requires perfection of His children. His law is a transcript of His character, and it is the standard of all character. COL 314, 315

Without faith, God’s Word does us no good. – Hebrews 4:2 – For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

Real faith shows itself in good works. – James 2:14-26 – ¹⁴What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ¹⁸But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble! ²⁰But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the alter? ²²Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? ²³And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. ²⁴You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. ²⁵Likewise, was not Rehab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? ²⁶For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Presumption
The testimony of the word of God is against this ensnaring doctrine of faith without works. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions upon which mercy is to be granted, it is presumption; for genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures. GC 472

We believe in Creation by faith. – Hebrews 11:3 – By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.