Measure of Faith that God Wants
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November 02, 2008 |
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 "For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith." (Romans 12:3)
Many Christians say they believe that God is the Creator, Jesus is our only Savior and the Bible is true. But the measure of faith is different in each individual. As recorded in James 2:22, "You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected," true faith is always accompanied with actions.
So, as much as you practice the word of God, higher level of faith is given you, and when you reach the level of faith God wants you can possess the hope for New Jerusalem and perfect love.
1. Growth of Faith
If one is born, he grows up and becomes an adult. In the same way, if anyone accepts Jesus as his Savior, he must grow up in spirit and reach the measure of faith of an adult man. Faith is categorized into five levels. The 1st level of faith is given those who have just accepted Jesus Christ and received the Holy Spirit. They have just been saved but do not practice the word of God at all. The 2nd level of faith is given those who try to practice the word of God but there are many more words of God they don't practice than the words of God they can practice.
Those who are at the 1st or 2nd levels of faith are likened to little children or children. They have been born of the Spirit and become children of God, but are still young in spirit. At the 3rd level of faith you can practice the word of God, and this level of faith is called the faith of young men. But at this level of faith you can practice the word of God outwardly but still commit sins in heart and thoughts.
When you reach the 60 % of the 3rd level of faith, you can be deemed to stand on the rock of faith. At that level of faith you can perform your part enough as a spiritual adult. When you arrive at the 4th level of faith, it means that you have cast off all forms of evil and confess from the heart "I love God from my deep heart and how can I please God?" and this confession of faith is always accompanied with the deeds. At the highest level, the 5th level of faith you have not only thrown away evils from the heat but filled your heart with goodness, love and truth. Because you have taken after the Lord in heart, you can please Him.
2. The Faith to Please God
God wants His beloved children to reach at least the rock of faith. And He also wants them to grow up more and go over the 4th level of faith and reach the 5th level of faith. It is because you can understand the heart of God at the 4th level of faith and measure depths of the heart of God. You cannot only live by His will and clearly communicate with Him but also can perform powerful works by faith and testify that God is alive. Moreover, you can awaken as many souls and lead them to the path to salvation.
By showing many wonders and signs God leads you to reach the 5th level of faith. As recorded in John 4:48, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe," He continues to manifest wonders and signs until you reach the 5th level of faith.
When the end time comes closer, it is more difficult to have faith because sins and evils are more rampant and many kinds of thoughts and theories lifted up against the knowledge of God are covering the world. Since the founding of the church to this day, however, God has manifested countless powerful works and extraordinary miracles. He has also revealed the secrets of the spiritual realm and leveled up your faiths through amazing power of God. Thus, since God is guiding you into the better place of heaven without abandoning, you should not become discouraged. I urge you to make it a rule to choose the things that are pleasing to God so that you can attain to the complete measure of faith.
3. Perfect Love Casts out Fear
1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love." When they are faced with small difficulties, some people get worried and involved in negative thoughts.
These fleshly thoughts distance you from the love of God. If you really love God, when faced with difficulties and troubles, you will examine what the will of God is and have nothing do with fear because you believe God guides you to the best way.
The apostle Paul had perfect love. So, while preaching the gospel, he never fell into fear but sang praises to God even when he was severely flogged and chained in prison. When the ship was wrecked and he depended on a piece of the ship in the sea, his heart was peaceful. While he was walking up to the place of martyrdom, he felt God's love and gave thanks and praise to Him. In Romans 8:38-39 he confessed, "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." It means he was always in peace and love of God.
How sure have you been of the love of God in everything? How many proofs have you showed about your love for God when faced with difficulties? Have you ever doubted the love of God thinking, "God doesn't love me"?
Jesus said in John 14:21, "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." When you completely live according to the word of God, you can have the confidence and perfect love for God, and then experience abundant proofs of God's presence with you in your lives.
4. Hope for New Jerusalem
Each one's dwelling place in heaven is different according to his level of faith. The eternal heavenly dwelling place for him who is at the 5th level of faith in which he can please God is New Jerusalem. As your faith and love becomes more complete, your hope for New Jerusalem also becomes clearer. God wants His children to enter the best dwelling place of heaven, New Jerusalem, and in the Bible He explains about the way to entering there. Those who completely believe and love God obey the instructions of the Bible and follow the way, while some say they want to go into New Jerusalem but go astray from the way.
If you have true hope for New Jerusalem, you have to bear it in your mind all the time. Then, because you eagerly long for New Jerusalem, everything is accomplished in that hope. If you love and miss someone, you take after him. In the same way, if you have the hope for New Jerusalem, you must follow the will of God in every word and deed. With this hope for New Jerusalem you can reach the level of faith God wants.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
God gives much grace and shows countless powerful works so that you can reach the complete measure of faith. It is because he wishes to gain the children who can measure and understand the depths of the heart of God and follow His will. May you become true children of God with whom God is pleased and live with Him in New Jerusalem for ever, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ I pray!
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