Just as there are different kinds of vehicles, we also have different kinds of faith. Today, we want to look at the different kinds of faith. As we have different kinds of cars, so also we have different kinds of FAITH and these include:
1. General faith. The very moment you got Born Again, you received what we call general or small faith. All Born Again believers have this type of faith.
In Romans 12:3 the Bible says, “…according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
God has given to every born-again believer the measure of faith. The Bible did not say ‘a measure of faith’ but ‘the measure of faith.’ This means that it is the same measure (size, quantity) of faith that every believer receives from God at salvation. Now, that deposit of faith is given to you small, but God expects you to make it grow.
It is your responsibility to increase that very measure of faith that God has given to you. The only way to do that is by (i) diligently learning more of God’s Word because faith begins where the will of God is known, and the Word of God is the will of God.
Your faith will increase as you study/hear God’s Word, “… because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17).
The reason fear grips many people in the face of adversity is because their faith is little. The Bible says, “If you faint (give up) in the day of adversity, thy strength (faith) is small indeed” (Prov. 24:10).
Here, the Bible is not talking about your physical strength; it is referring to your faith! When your faith is little you will give up trouble shows up. It is only your faith that can sustain you during such times.
With general faith we can receive answers to prayers (Matt. 17:20; Mk. 11:24; Matt. 21:22; 1 Jn. 5:14-15).
2. Weak faith! Weak faith is the result of not exercising your faith. When you hear the Word of God and you don’t act on it, your faith will become weak because you have not proved God. Weak faith is therefore, the result of not acting on the information that you have received.
What is the difference between little faith and weak faith? Little faith is the result of insufficient information from God’s Word but weak faith is the result of not acting on the Word of God you have received.
Weak faith will cause you to stagger when trouble strikes, and as a result, fear will grip your heart, and you will be defeated by the crisis of life. Look at what the Bible says about Abraham.
“And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Rom. 4:19-20)
When your faith is weak you will waver or stagger at the promises of God through unbelief when trouble comes. For instance, Shedrach, Meschach and Abed-nego were not weak in faith when trouble showed up (Dan. 3). Daniel was not weak in faith when he came under the cross fire of affliction (Dan. 6).
When your faith is weak, you’ll begin to ask for proof before you can believe whatever God has said in His Word.
In Romans 14:1-4, Paul is speaking about IMMATURE FAITH that has not yet developed the muscle it needs to stand against external pressures. For example, if a person who once worshiped idols became a Christian, he might understand perfectly well that Christ saved him through faith and that idols have no real power.
Still, because of his past associations, he might be badly shaken if he unknowingly ate meat that had been used in idol worship. If a person who once worshiped God on the required Jewish holy days became a Christian, he might well know that Christ saved him through faith, not through his keeping of the law. Still, when the festival days came, he might feel empty and unfaithful if he didn’t dedicate those days to God.
Paul responds to both weak brothers in love. Both are acting according to their consciences, but their honest convictions do not need to be made into rules for the church. Certainly, some issues are central to the faith and worth fighting for, but many are based on individual differences and should not be legislated. Our principle should be: In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in everything, love.
I therefore, challenge you to stop considering the magnitude of your problem, but consider the magnitude of your God. Stop considering your condition, but consider what God has promised you in His Word concerning that situation, and then rest in His power and faithfulness. Rise and be healed!
Next Sunday, we will be looking at the remaining types of faith: Thomas’ kind of faith, and Abraham’s kind of faith.
Watch out for the next edition of Good news from the Pulpit!
- Your friend: I. I. MADUBUNYI (Senior Pastor)
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