MEASURE OF FAITH

“God has dealt to each one a MEASURE of FAITH” – Romans 12:3b

God – the Author of Faith – deposits in every Believer at the New Birth, a MEASURE of FAITH: “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a MEASURE OF FAITH” (Rom.12:3). All human beings have some amount of natural faith that makes us to do natural things such as: waking up and standing on our feet without doubting that they would support us; boarding a bus with the confidence that it would arrive at the desired destination, even without knowing the driver or his state of mind; or striving to do our best at work because we believe that we’ll receive our salary at the end of the month. Natural faith usually comes by habit, custom, or routine.

For natural faith, no relationship with God is required; it is simply the confidence to live a normal life in this world. However, every child of God receives from the Father, a Measure of Supernatural Faith at the new birth. Through the hearing of the Gospel – the Word of God – the Father imparts this Measure of Faith for Salvation. God’s Word is the “raw material” or substance of Faith (Rom.10:17). This divine and supernatural Faith comes from the Throne of God into the hearts of the humble and sincere; those who receive God with complete surrender, total submission, and unconditional obedience to His Word.

This Measure of Faith is the ‘beginning-faith’ or Saving Faith: “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph.2:8). Unlike natural faith that belongs to all human beings, Supernatural Faith is the portion of God’s children. This Measure of Faith imparted initially for the purpose of Salvation, subsequently functions for other blessings such as: Justification, sanctification, deliverance, healing, holiness, protection, provisions, prosperity, promotion, riches, wholeness, wisdom and wealth. This is the Faith of those who truly want to glorify God with their lives, who desire to serve His Purpose in this world!

1 Thessalonians 3:2b says: “…for not all have faith.” Not all human beings have received the Word of God that imparts the Measure of Faith: “a man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven” (Jh.3:27). This Supernatural, God-kind of Faith comes with being Born-Again! Salvation does not come through human effort. God will not allow ‘flesh’ to perform divine results. Beyond salvation, every productive effort and work of Service in God’s Kingdom is a function of how we use our Measure of Faith: “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us USE THEM: if prophecy, let us prophesy in PROPORTION to our FAITH; or ministry, let us USE it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching…” (vv.6-8).

No matter how minute it may seem, this Measure of Faith is what will ultimately mature “to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph.4:13b). The Believer’s entire Life and Walk of Faith begins with this Measure! This is the Faith that connects us to Realms of the Invisible, the Supernatural and the Unlimited Power of God. This is the Faith that activates miracles and wonders and enables us to do supernatural exploits. No one can see God’s Supernatural with only a natural faith. Miracles, wonders and great manifestations of God’s Power are only possible through Supernatural Faith on the part of the Believer.

The maturing of Faith, from the initial measure to a Great and Fiery Faith, is a personal obligation of every believer. This predicates on our commitment to hearing, meditating on, and doing God’s Word. We are each responsible for whatever the initial measure of faith grows to become in us. We can choose to either grow our faith on God’s Word or remain stunted in faith. Beloved, what have you been doing with your God-given Measure of Faith? It’s time to build-up, effectively utilize and maximize our Measure of Faith!