26/06/2021
The Subject of Faith
Faith functions by the "quality" of reception of God's word in our heart rather than the "quantity" of it's retention.
The Sadducees and the Pharisees readily comes to mind as examples of those who had the Law in "quantity" but not in "quality".
The "quantity" of the word you hear does not impact your faith, what impacts your faith is the "quality" of reception (your understanding) of the word of God that you hear and the skill you acquire by being a doer of the word and not a hearer only.
"13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Hebrews 5:13-14 KJV
Seeking To Increase Faith?
Seeking to increase one’s faith in order to do exploits is not the direction to travel, rather the challenge should be to improve upon ones understanding of God's word because "small" faith or "big" faith will achieve the same thing.
If we should think of "increasing" our faith then it should be by increasing our understanding of God's word which facilitates faith.
We can thus understand the import of Luke 17:5-6 KJV;
"5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you."
“The Measure of Faith”
To those in Christ, God has dealt "the" measure of faith as opposed to "a" measure of faith;
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Romans 12:3 KJV
If we are to go by the above scripture, it's safe to say that those in Christ have "the measure of faith" required to make the desired difference.
What we need to do is make that "measure of faith" effective by our understanding of God's word; by raising our level of understanding, we raise the level of effectiveness of our faith.
So when we study to show ourselves approved unto God what we seek is increased understanding from rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)
The "quality" of reception given to God's word in the heart of a man rather than the "quantity" of the word received makes the difference in exercising faith.
“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Hebrews 4:2 KJV
The Word As A Seed
The word of God can be likened unto seed sown; when the quality of the seed is not in question, the quantity of seed sown does not determine the harvest rather the quality of the soil on which the seed is sown goes a long way in determining the harvest as illustrated explicitly by Christ in Mark 4:3-9 KJV
"3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by...
8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear"
Cultivating Our Heart
The challenge is cultivating our heart thereby making it fertile and receptive to God's word.
We are able to do this by circumcising our heart; decreasing self and increasing Christ and by so doing renewing our mind.
"Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings." Jeremiah 4:4 KJV
Usage of The Word Develops Skill in Expression of Faith
As you become skillful in the use of the word which allows you to discern both good and evil you invariably build the "quality" of your faith.
"22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed" James 1:22-25 KJV
It is important to engage God's word in our realm of thought otherwise we will not have the desired fruits.
Understanding aids obedience, it is the key to unlocking the treasures inherent in God's word;
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding" Proverbs 4:7 KJV
Yemi Oduyemi
Teaching & Counselling
