Heb 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, faith is the substance of things hoped for.”
I have a better understanding of this scripture since I have heard it from the Jewish perspective. The substance that gives faith is the vision you have for your future. You must form a clear picture of what you want. God is the energy that is forever bringing into being the things you envision with a thankful heart.
The Jewish people encourage others to ask God for visions and dreams in the same way the Heroes of faith did in the Old Testament. Abraham envisioned himself as the father of many nations by counting the stars. It was God who said that he should count them. Jacob had a dream that heaven was a real place, and God’s angels were moving down to earth to help people and go back again. Joseph, the dreamer, saved the world of his time by interpreting the king’s dream. Although we lead an earthly life, our minds should be filled with things that are above. Ask God to give you visions and dreams, then fill your mind with them, and then begin to obey the first Jewish financial law: Be thankful! Begin to write down things you are thankful for, even the things you are expectantly waiting for.
The second financial law is to have wisdom. I thought that the wisdom Solomon had was a gift. I thought he woke up one morning and was wise. Apparently not. If you want wisdom, go study, read the Bible, and learn from wise people. The third law is to give. The idea is that we should be a conduit for others in the same way I am writing to you, about what I have learnt, so that others may partake of the prosperity God has in mind for all people.
We have all been created in the image of God. We have an imagination. Our task is to fill our imagination in the same way an artist paints a canvas. This is the substance that faith will bring forth. The imaginations and thoughts of the heart should be pure, sanctified, and washed with the blood of Christ. This place where we imagine is spiritually high. The book of Ephesians teaches this high place that is in Christ. Ephesians 2:6 says we are seated with Christ in heavenly places.
The idea is that we must focus our thoughts on the things we want and not the things we fear. Once you are sure that your vision and dream are from God, you become so filled with thanks that joy makes you live the thing you want before it happens in the physical. You become consumed with your future substance, and there is no room for doubt. As far as you are concerned, it has already come to pass. The heart soil is now properly planted, and the seed is growing as you give constant thanks and praise.
2 Cor 4:18: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
The last thought I would like to leave with you is that you must read the Bible, keeping in view the fact that you are living a heavenly life while on earth. In the book of Hebrews, we are described as being citizens of heaven. For instance, the fullness of God is pleased to live in Christ; we are in Christ, Christ is in us. Paul says, “It is not I who live, but Christ lives in me”. Jesus said, “Let thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven”. Don’t think about the physical earth, God created that; it is perfect. The Bible teaches that God is recreating us to be like Jesus. Think about your mind being the Kingdom of heaven, and the way you think will give you a heavenly life here on earth that is heavenly.