A Gentle Spirit
.
Pastor
Jeanne Stewart, Oklahoma
,
.
A Measure of Faith
Recently
I envisioned myself standing with Jesus on one of the outer edges of the Grand
Canyon in Arizona. Our vantage point allowed us such a marvelous view of the
vastness in God’s design and plan. Jesus pointed out how the many lines had been
etched and carved onto the canyon walls through time by the patterns of wind-blown
sand and flowing water. He spoke to me of the constant, on-going design being carried
out with nature’s instruments, continuing even until we see the new of heaven
and new of earth coming down from above to replace the old with the complete.
I
listened and watched as the sound of His words spoke of change. They shifted
the atmosphere like a window being opened and a breeze of something new and fresh
coming into His church today. His design for end-time corporate worship must reflect
His constant, on-going image. By our faith we seek His glory to come down from
heaven and change us into His reflection as we are being etched and carved into instruments of power by His
Holy Spirit within.
Faith and Duty
We read
in Romans 12:3 we are to, “… think
soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”
Because
of the privilege and authority God has given to us, we are to think soberly.
The reference to ‘sober’ here has a
meaning of faith and receiving the amount we need to exercise the gifts God
apportions to us. Our lives must be marked by humility and faithfulness.
Many
stand at the vastness of canyon walls without confidence in fulfilling their
various responsibilities to accomplish His will. Whether it is thought large or
small in our own thinking, we must recognize God’s part is first. When
everything looks so out of reach in our own eyes we doubt we can accomplish anything
without huge faith. We must see through spiritual eyes to trust God and accept our
measure to believe what we have been given will accomplish His purpose within the
Church today.
Knowing
and understanding that each child of God has been given their measure of faith and that it continues
to develop – we go on with our daily walk in
His grace. The amount of our
faith is not the factor. Here it is the quality
of that amount of faith. Also, it is up to each individual to build their faith
by believing everything is possible through Christ Jesus.
Increase our Faith
“And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ So the Lord
said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree,
‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
(Luke 17:5-6)
In
the Church today we all sense the need for greater faith to meet the standard
of Jesus’ demands to reach the lost of our communities. We all sense the need
for greater faith to pray the effective prayers for all spiritual and physical healings.
Jesus came to heal both soul and body from the destruction of satan’s plan to
steal, kill and destroy. We must
remember this – we gain more understanding through the promises of His Word so
as to know Him in a deeper relationship of trust. It is a privilege then being His
child who pleases Him alone as He can and does work all things through us.
The
reference to ‘a mustard seed’ is a type
in scripture showing us that even this seed among all seeds is the smallest but
yet produces the largest among trees. “So
likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say,
‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.” (Luke
17:10) And our duty is to believe that from our smallest of faith we can
trust in our God to do the largest of works.
Then when
we join our faith with one another in corporate prayer, strength is gained by
joining together a quality of power, proclaiming nothing is impossible with God.
This is the secret that pleases Him, unity in His body of believers.
Enoch Had a Testimony
By
faith we then understand – by faith we then realize – by faith we have
confidence to please God. We learn this secret from Enoch. “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not
found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken he had this
testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please
Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder
of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:5-6)
So do
not say you have no faith, for God has imparted to you a measure of faith,
etched into your very being. With it you can please Him with a quality of trust,
knowing He does all things needed – huge. Seeking to please our heavenly Father
should be at the center of finding our quality of faith. Its quantity will continue
to be imprinted into our lifestyle as a pattern of hope to the next generation.
Will
you leave within your family a remembrance that your measure of faith made a
difference in those lives you touched around you?
Ending Prayer ~
Father God – give us a testimony like Enoch, that we please You. Show us what we have to stop doing so You can heal us. Lord we cannot eliminate suffering in this
world. We must have a relationship with it through Jesus our Healer. Father, You know all about suffering. To eliminate suffering we must
pray and allow You to accomplish Your will and
purpose. For only You can truly overpower the pain
that suffering causes. So we humbly bow to Your will
within us. Our own measure of faith You have given within
each of us. It is as small as a mustard seed but it moves outward and YOU then
accomplish the needs we give to You in our prayers.
In the Mighty Name of Jesus we pray … Amen.
