DO YOU NEED MORE FAITH?
TEXT:
"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, ..."
(2 Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 3, King James Version)
It's been variously asked whether as Christians it is more faith we need in order to do exploits in life. References have been made to when at a point in time the Apostles had asked the Lord Jesus to increase their faith (Luke chapter 17 verse 5) In response, the Lord Jesus had told them in effect, to use what they already had. According to Him, possessing faith as small as the Mustard seed could do great things for them when put to work (see Luke chapter 17 verses 5 to10).
As children of God, it's settled that we don’t need more faith. Yes, we don’t really need God to give us more faith. What we need to realize is that we already have faith. The Bible tells us in Romans chapter 12 verse 3 that "God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." This is to say in other words, that at salvation, we received "the measure of faith", the kind of faith that is common with every believer (Romans chapter 12 verse 3; 2nd Peter chapter 1 verse 1; Galatians chapter 2 verse 20). Thus, the question isn't really about how to seek God to increase our faith, but it is about how to use what God has already given to us.
I have discovered that the difference between one believer and another when it comes to doing exploits in the faith, is in how the one has developed his lot, "the measure of faith" we have all received at salvation, as opposed to the other.
From the Scripture for the day, we see that faith can indeed grow, or rather, be developed. Weak faith when exercised, becomes strong faith; small faith can as well be grown to become great faith.
But how do we grow and abound in faith? Essentially by feeding on the Word of God because according to the Book of Romans chapter 10 verse 17, the Contemporary English Version, "No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ." Since faith is grown by hearing the Word of God, should we want to see ourselves do exploits in the faith, we ought to focus more on the Word, renewing our minds with it. Our responsibility is to grow "the measure of faith" we received in Christ. That's part of what's called working out our salvation, referred to in Philippians chapter 2 verse 12.
The way our faith can become effective, or the way it can begin to work, is by knowing or by acknowledging what we already have in Christ. In other words, your faith begins to work effectively when you have a good knowledge of your inheritance in Christ Jesus. This is what the Book of Philemon verse 6, tells us. It reads:
"I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ." (Philemon verse 6, the Amplified Version). Note the phrase "accurate knowledge". Actually, this is what we need. We don’t need God to give us more faith; but what we need is to possess accurate knowledge of what we already have and to put it to work. By doing so, we should see our faith work tremendously for us.
PRAYER:
In Christ Jesus, I have received "the measure of faith". I acknowledge it, I grow it and I put it to work in order for me to do exploits in the faith, in Jesus name.