03/03/2025
Did you know there are measures or levels of faith referred to in the Scriptures?
1st Romans 12:3 - God has given to everyone of us “A MEASURE OF FAITH:” it is “purposefully” and “particularly” given to each of us “individually” by God, in the Lord Jesus, and from the Holy Spirit for His glory, and our good and the good of others…
“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the MEASURE OF FAITH that God has assigned.””
2nd “DEAD FAITH” is referred to in James 2:17
“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is DEAD.”
The book of James strongly condemns the practice of saints so called, who boldly “proclaim” their faith, yet, who do not “practice” their faith by their “performance” - not manifesting works such as care for the poor and needy, by being partial, and oppressive of workers.
3rd Jesus in Matthew 8:26 referred to his disciples who were fearful as having “LITTLE FAITH.”
And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of LITTLE FAITH?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
4th The Apostle Paul to the Gentiles wrote to his spiritual “son in the faith” Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:5 about having “GENUINE FAITH!”
“I am reminded of your “SINCERE - GENUINE” faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
I want a genuine/sincere faith and a genuine/sincere faith in my life. Do you?
5th next we see that the Apostle Paul in his letter to the saints in the Church of Rome in Romans 10:17: (not one big church meeting in one big building, but rather, to small house churches scattered about the city of Rome, regarding our having a “GROWING FAITH.”
“So FAITH comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Our is not a static nor may it not be a stagnant faith; but rather, a “GROWING” one that comes only by hearing and applying “the Word of Christ.” You must be reading the “word of God/Christ/faith” to “GROW IN FAITH.” God help us!
6th in the book of Hebrews, Hebrews 10:23, which I believe was written by the Apostle Paul due to a few certain references he used in the book - a book written to Jewish Christians scattered about Asia due to persecution and suffering, concerning having an “UNWAVERING FAITH…”
“Let us hold fast the confession of our HOPE (FAITH) WITHOUT WAVERING, for he who promised is faithful.” Because of false teaching and their unimaginable persecution and suffering - Read Hebrews 11 about them towards the end of the chapter, they needed to be reminded to hold on. Don’t faint in their faith or give up. Then they would read of the heroes of the faith, who despite the greatest of human trials and temptations, did not give up, but rather held on to their “UNWAVERING FAITH.” Glory! Help us Lord.
Finally in Matthew 8:10 and Luke 7:9 Jesus speaks to the gathered crowd commending 2 Gentiles for their GREAT and COMMENDABLE FAITH: one a Syro-Phoenician woman in Matthew, and the other a Roman Centurion in Luke 7:9. Both Gentiles were seeking healing for someone they dearly loved and in both cases Jesus healed them.
Matthew 8:10 “When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such FAITH.”
Luke 7:9 “When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such FAITH.” Lord, help us to possess and exhibit this kind of faith in our lives - that you can commend now and reward both now and in the Kingdom to come.
Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Love you all and praying for you all.
~Brother Harold
John 3:30
