The Measure of Faith

: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 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. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.; (Romans 12:1-9)

We understand from this passage of Scripture that God has given the same measure of faith to everyone. If it were different measures of faith, then His word would have said a measure of faith, not the measure of faith. God has also given us different gifts and we are to use these gifts according to the faith that we develop. In other words, God has given each of us a lump of faith and each lump is the same, and we are to utilise pieces of this faith while employing the gifts that He has given us - for His glory.
The more we use of this faith, the easier it becomes to utilise more, and we can apply bigger pieces of it at a time. The more faith we become used to administering within the framework of God's word, the more signs and wonders will happen - for God's glory.
Hallelujah!

How big is the measure that we each receive of that which is available? Tiny.
How much can we cope with while in these bodies on this present earth?: Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.; (Matthew 17:17-20); He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.; (Mark 9:19-24); And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 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.; (Luke 17:5-6)

A question: How much faith did it take to call the universe into being?

The apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith, what was His reply?: But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.; (Luke 17:7-10)
This would seem to mean that faith comes with doing and confirms the above passage in Romans.
As Jesus asked; would we prefer to be faithless and perverse, or faithful and obedient?
Where would you like to spend eternity?


If you or I wished to take a trip overseas, after all the preliminaries such as payment and visas, would climb on an aircraft and expect to arrive at our destination. There would be no doubt that we would arrive there.
Or, if we purchased a cinema ticket, we expect to see the show that we have paid for.
There is a certain expectation, a certain faith.

So, how can we, in this day and age, increase our faith in God?
When buying a new cell phone there is enough battery power stored to insert the simcard and get connected to the network, but thereafter you will need to charge the battery and you will need to buy air time.
Likewise, when you hear the call of God it is because He has given you enough spiritual power to get started, but you must develop the power and you must gain the knowledge that comes as a result of gaining that power, and then passing it on to enable the next person to hear the call of God. Yes.
: And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.; (John 14:13-14); My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.; (James 1:2-8); And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?; (Matthew 14:28-31); And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.; (Matthew 21:20-22); And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.; (Acts 7:8)


We each have been given four senses, not so.
Seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling.
They are broken up into two groups:
Those of the mind - seeing and hearing.
Those of the body - tasting, feeling.
There are at least two other things that can be sensed - time and spirit.
All the above are gifts from our Creator, some for use to maintain our life on this present earth and some to prepare us for life everlasting. All the gifts must be used by each of us, we must do the using.
It's obvious that the two that we must use to obtain heavenly, everlasting citizenship is sight and sound, not so?: But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.; (Romans 10:16-21)
Here's a truth that is so obvious that it is often not noticed:
When you study the Bible in your quiet time, read it aloud to yourself and your inner being will understand the words easier. Sight and sound.

So, to increase our faith we each need to hear the word of God. Not weekly in church, as we will be watching the antics of the Pastor and be distracted, but daily as we see and hear God's word simultaneously. We shall be using both senses of the mind to study the same subject at the same time, and at a certain stage believe what we are reading, and then a third sense becomes effective, that of the switching on of our spirits. When we have become spiritually aware, we can be used by God because we are able to utilise the God-given measure of faith.
The first time that we experience a Spiritual manifestation because we have stepped out in faith - awesome. We can't help praising God and thanking Him for His LOVE. When we add this third faculty while in our closet, that of praising and talking to God, things can really start to happen.

Glory to the Living God.

Do you believe the following? Do I?
How well do we exercise our faith?: And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.; (Exodus 15:26); *A Psalm of David.* Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;; (Psalms 103:1-4); Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.; (Psalms 147:1-3); Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.; (John 14:12)

To exercise our faith to be faithful¹ is to inherit the promises.
: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.; (Romans 5:1-2)

¹ www.hosanna.org.za/faithful