Dictionary.com gives several definitions of faith, but I will select the three most relevant ones that are related to this post. These definitions are listed below.

For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).

1. Confidence or trust in a person or thing – Faith in another’s ability.
2. Belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion – the firm faith of the Pilgrims.

The Bible gave us a definition of faith and it is found in Hebrews 11:1-3 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 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.”

Note that this verse encompasses the English definitions. Faith involves trusting in the things not seen; faith involves the unseen realm!

Faith in action

Chapter 11 of Hebrews gave us some examples of faith in action.

• The entire physical world that we can see appeared into existence by a command from God (Genesis 1).
• Able gave God an acceptable offering by faith (Genesis 4).
• Enoch lifestyle pleased God by faith (Genesis 5:24).
• Despite being mocked and ridiculed for many years Noah steadfastly obeyed God by faith knowing that what He said will come to pass (Genesis 6).
• Abraham exercised faith when he obeyed God and left his friends and family to an unknown place (Genesis 12). “Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.” (Hebrews 11:10 NLT)
• Sarah demonstrated her faith by simply believing the promises of God that she would have a child.

Note that, initially, Sarah laughed at God’s promise that she would gave birth to a child in her old age, but later she came to the realization that nothing was too hard for the Lord (Genesis 18:12).

• Faith is your willingness to sacrifice the things that you love dearly for God. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son because he believed that God would raise him up again (Genesis 22).

This incident was a type and shadow of God’s ultimate sacrifice when He gave His only begotten Son to die for the sins of humanity (John 3:16).

• Although Isaac’s wife deceived him by switching their sons so that the younger received the blessings of the promised inheritance, it was God’s will that the younger son – Jacob – received this blessing (Genesis 27).
• It was by faith that Jacob meticulously switched his hands to speak the inherited blessings on Joseph’s younger son, Ephraim, even though he was was partially blind (Genesis 48).
• Before Joseph died he prophetically requested that the children of Israel would take his bones when they left Egypt back to the Promised land. He was confident that they would eventually leave Egypt (Genesis 50:22-26).
• Moses mother fearlessly disobeyed Pharaoh’s command and preserved his life in an Ark on the river Nile (Exodus 1-2).
• Although Moses grew up in the luxurious palace as Pharaoh’s grand son, “he thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.” (Hebrews 11:26)
• By faith Moses accepted God’s commission to lead the people out of bondage in the Egypt into freedom in God (Exodus 3).
• Throughout their sojourn in the wilderness Moses exercised faith by parting the Red Sea, conquering enemy territories, producing water from the rock, providing heavenly bread and meat by the Word of God (Genesis 14).
• Under the leadership of Joshua the people faithfully marched around the wall of Jericho seven times and saw the strong fortified walls crashing down at the sound of their shouts of praise (Joshua 6).

• Rahab the prostitute heard about the conquests of the Israelites in the wilderness and the miraculously parting of the Red Sea and believed that the Israelites God was greater than all the giants in her country and she hid the spies with the promise that they would spare her life and family when they conquer her city (Joshua 2).
• By faith all the other judges, priests, kings and prophets of the Bible trusted in the mighty power of God and they “overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death.” (Hebrews 11:33-35 NLT)
• Additionally, many of the believers in Christ endured persecutions, but “they placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.”

Many of these biblical patriarchs did not see the promise of God during their lifetime but they believed that God had something better for them in the after life.

What does the Bible teaches us about faith?

You cannot please God without faith.

This faith that you need to please God can be as small as a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20).

With this small faith you can use it to remove mountains.

God created us with faith as small as a mustard seed.

With this miniscule amount of faith, you can remove the mountains of trials and you can conquer giants (Matthew 17:20).

This miniature faith is packed with power, but you have to put it to work because faith without works is dead (James 2:20).

Working your Mustard Seed faith

Hebrews 11, clearly shows us examples of how to work your mustard seed faith.

Speak your desires into existence through prayer and supplication (Philippians 4:6).

Whatever you speak or do, do it for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Make your body a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12).

Be obedient to God (Deuteronomy 11:13).

Be confident in the promises of God (Philippians 1:6).

Be fearless because God has not given us the spirit of fear but love, power and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

Hold on to the promises of God (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

Prophesy over your life (Philippians 4:13).

Be willing to give up and sacrifice worldly pleasures that you love dearly for God (Luke 9:23).

Be in the will of God (John 5:14).

Pray for a discerning heart (Ephesians 3:17-22).

Be willing to suffer for the sake of Christ (Philippians 1:29).

Accept God’s mandate on your life (Jeremiah 29:11).

Study, speak and practice the Word of God in your life (2 Timothy 2:15).

Be thankful and praise the Lord in every situation (Psalms 100).

Remember the past miracles of God (Psalms 73).

Trust in the mighty power of God (Psalms 4:5; Proverbs 3:5-6).

Be ready to endure persecutions knowing that your hope is not in this world but in a better life after the resurrection.

Be openminded knowing that you may not see the manifestation of the physical promise but a far better spiritual promise is guaranteed.