Growing your faith – Part 1

The Bible is a book of faith right from Genesis to Revelation, as it contains various acts of faith. Barren women conceived; children were raised from the dead; there was abundance at the gate of Samaria; the lunch of a little boy was multiplied by Jesus to feed thousands; various healings like the woman with the issue of blood, blind Bathemaeus; the lame, the crippled, the 10 blind men, the paralytic, the epileptic, and the man at the gate called Beautiful.

By faith, the disciples preached the gospel even under threat. Moses divided the Red Sea by faith, so the children of Israel crossed over on dry ground. Elisha made an axe-head to float and turned bitter to sweet water by faith.

Now, there are different types of faith: Little Faith; Weak Faith; Great faith; Mustard Seed Faith; Mountain Moving Faith and Overcoming Faith. However, the interesting thing is that God has given to each and every believer a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3). In other words, God has given to everyone the same measure of faith, what you might call “seed faith.” So what becomes of your life depends on what you do with the seed faith God has given you. How come some people are doing more exploits than other, if we received the same measure of faith? The answer is in the fact that faith grows and can be increased. It grows depending on what you do with the measure of faith you have been given. Unfortunately, some people are like the man who got one talent and hid it. Many people hide their measure of faith and do nothing. They refuse to “trade” that is, engage their faith productively. It is critical to note that you are the one responsible for growing your faith not God. Sometimes, people believe God for things their faith cannot carry.

For example, if you are believing God for a private jet tomorrow, can your faith carry it?
Three ways to grow your faith:
• Feeding on the word of God. (Romans 10:17). This involves constant reading and meditating on the Word of God. Jesus said man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. What this means is that, as you nourish your physical body with food, you need to nourish your spirit man with the Word of God. So, if you eat two square meals a day that is 14 square meals per week. But how many times do you read your Bible in a week? Your faith cannot grow and will become weak because you are not nourishing it. It is the word of God that builds assurance, confidence and faith in Him.
• Exercising your faith. Put your faith to work. Use the level of faith you have right now and you will be shocked what God will do.
• Following those who walk by faith. The reason Jesus would often lock out people, when He wanted to raise the dead was because their doubt could puncture His faith. The Bible also said that He could not do great miracles in His hometown because of unbelief. Faith can be contagious, just like unbelief. That is why you must choose the company you keep.

More next week.
For enquiries contact: ELSHADDAI COVENANT CHURCH, 7, Social Club Road, Off Charity Road, Abule-Egba. Tel: 08080929292; 08182281184 (WhatsApp messages only).