By Faith...

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.

By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice...
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death...
By faith Noah prepared an ark...
By faith Abraham obeyed...
By faith Sarah herself received ability to conceive...
By faith Abraham offered up Isaac...
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau...
By faith Jacob blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped...
By faith Moses was hidden...
By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter...
By faith Moses left Egypt ...
By faith Moses kept the Passover...
By faith the Israelites passed through the Red Sea...
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down...
By faith Rahab the harlot welcomed the spies in peace...
By faith Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel & the prophets conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight...
Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground....

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart...

Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.

Excerpts from Hebrews 11 & 12