Reference: Hebrews 11:1, Romans 10:17, and Jude 1:3
If it were possible to measure or to weighthe amount of faith that we have, how much would you say that you possessed? Ofcourse we cannot see faith as being a material substance, but there is a way ofknowing as to how much faith that we maypossess. When Jesus was on this earth teaching his disciples, he constantlytold them they were either of possessing little faith or no faith. He askedthem many times where their faith was. He asked them this because of certaincircumstances that arose. We can reveal how much faith by the way we react whenthings do not go as they should. There are people today that say they havefaith, but this does not prove that you have any by your confession alone. Weare of course told in Hebrews 10:23 to hold fast our profession of faith without wavering: forhe is faithful that promised... If we have a profession of faith without itbeing manifested then this type of faith is vain, because faith without worksis dead being alone without it being put into practice. Your faith is proven byyour works and not by just your confession only. The apostle James said that aman may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thyworks, and I will show thee my faith by my works. (James 2:18) You can onlyprove your faith by what type of works you produce. Many people today in therealm of the religious world say they have faith, but true faith is proven byit being manifested and put into operation. Most people today have only aprofession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ saying they have accepted him astheir personal Lord and Saviour.
This type of a confession of faith will onlybe proven to be what the Bible reveals as being lip religion without it comingfrom the heart. Jesus said that many honour him with their lips but theirhearts are far from him. Your confession of the Lord Jesus as taking him asyour Lord and Saviour is not manifesting the faith that the Bible speaks about.We are told that through faith the old testament saints obtained a good report.A good report means that they through the power of faith did many outstandingfeats of miraculous works. Reading the entire eleventhchapter of the book of Hebrews, we find thatmany of the old testament saints did marvelous things through and by the powerof faith. Are you aware of the fact that the old testament prophets prophesiedof the grace that would come unto us in this despensation of time since Christcame and revealed to us the truth of the mysteries of the kingdom of God? TheBible tells us that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Thismeans that our faith increases as we hear the truth of God's holy word and areobedient to it. Can you say that your faith is being increased by what you arehearing within your church that you attend? Do you have faith in Almighty Godor are you one that has just a profession without a possession? Faith is astrong belief in the promises of God that are revealed in his writing word.Many people today claim to be true believers of the word of God, but they areignorant of the fact that the Bible is not just a book full of promises thatwill make a person to be a great individual that can manifest great feats ofpower. The Bible is God's word to man that will redeem him back to God in hisoriginal state that he was in before he fell prone to sin's power in the gardenof Eden. All that some people can see in the word of God is the mention of thesigns that will follow the true believers as stated in Mark 16:17-18. Satan blindsthem from the fact that all scriptures are inspired of God and are profitablefor doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.This means that the scriptures are to make us into true sons and daughters ofGod in a progressive manner. Many people think that the word of God revealsthat one becomes a child of God when they repent of sin or when they acceptChrist as their Saviour. The truth of the matter is that we are given the powerof God to become sons of God but we must hear and obey every word of God asrevealed in the gospel. Our obedience to the truth will transform us into thesame image of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word of truth strengthens usspiritually as we receive and obey it. Many people read Mark 16:15-18 thinking theyare believers and that the signs will follow them if they receive the HolyGhost speaking in other tongues. They are ignorant of the fact that the HolyGhost is given to us to lead us into all the revealed truth that will make usborn again children of God placing us in a position that the signs of Mark 16 will follow. Wemust believe the gospel in order for the signs to be among the true believers.The gospel is the power of God unto our salvation which means ourobedience to it will make true sons and daughters of God filled with theSpirit, and the signs of manifested power will be among those that receive thetruth of the gospel and obey it. The truth as we receive it will increase ourfaith in a daily process. Very few people actually possess true faith that thegospel reveals. Faith can only come by hearing the truth of the word of God. Ifyour faith is not being increased it is because you are not hearing and obeyingthe truth of the word of God as revealed in the gospel of Christ. Many peoplethink they are what the Bible calls believers and so they attempt to manifestthe signs that are mentioned in Mark 16. Just because you claim to be a believer, this does notmean or prove that you can read God's word and think you can ask for somethingand receive it. You must come to the knowledge of the truth and be born againby the word and the Spirit as stated in John3:5. To confess you are a believerdoes not place you in the position that you can manifest the power of God inyour life. You must be a believer in God, but this is required in order for youto seek for him diligently believing for him. If you fail to realize that thegospel is the power of God to transform you into a new creation in Christ, thenyou will deceived by Satan thinking you are manifesting the power of God inyour life when all the time you are living in a delusion. Many people today aretrying to serve God with a carnal mind, but you cannot worship God in this fashion.You must have your conscience purged by the blood of Christ in order to servethe true and living God as stated in Hebrews9:14. Christ shed his blood for theNew Testament, which has become the power of God unto salvation to those thatbelieve and obey it. Your obedience to the new testament covenant will purgeyour conscience from dead works to serve the living God. This process increasesyour faith removing all doubt from within your heart and mind. Do you thinkChrist will find any faith on earth?