The Matter of "Your Own Faith"








Faith is not an immeasurable concept. It can be measured in terms of quality and quantity. First, let us look at the matter of quantity.

Quantity
In Matt. 8: 10-13, Jesus praised a centurion for his “great faith”, while in Matt.8:26, he rebuked the disciples for their “little faith”. Therefore, there is big faith and little faith. The centurion according to the Lord, received “according to his faith.” You will also always receive according to your faith!
Some preachers have told people that all that is needed is a little faith because Jesus said in Matt.17:20 that all that is needed is mustard seed size faith. Bear in mind the fact that a mustard seed is a little thing! In that case, the Lord contradicted himself when he rebuked some people for having little faith. Now, this is a doctrinal fix. There must be a problem somewhere.

My belief is that there is a translation problem here. In fact, the King James Version does not say “…Faith as small as a mustard seed”. Rather, it says “…faith as a grain of mustard seed.” I think the KJV is closer to what the Lord meant. I think His emphasis was on the capacity of the seed to grow into something big. The emphasis may not be on the size. Only faith that grows big ultimately draws down something big from heaven.

How would you measure your own personal faith? Is it great or small? If it is small, pray more and dwell more on the word of faith. Constantly rebuke mind binding devils of doubt and unbelief, and learn to act on what the word says.

Quality
According to Pastor Yongi Cho, there was a time when some young Christians were cut off by a flooded river and they were unable to cross to the other side. Some of them decided that they were going to walk across the raging waves of the flood waters because Jesus set the example and walked on water. They went ahead to ‘walk on water’ and ended up dead!

Those young folks had BIG faith, but the faith lacked quality. It was not founded on understanding of the ways of God. God is never interested in magical performances. Miracles are at His discretion and according to his purpose and not just for show.

Every step of high faith must be based on understanding of God’s ways and purposes for every moment. Just take a look at this scripture:

Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good; impatience will get you into trouble(Prov.19:2)

The God that encouraged steps of faith also said this. Qualitative faith requires sound knowledge of God’s word and his purpose as well as a connection to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

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