Four Kinds of Faith

Four Kinds of Faith

But WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM: for he that cometh to God MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. – Hebrews 11:6

As born again Christians, God has given each and every one of us “the” measure of faith (Romans 12:3) but it’s not enough for everything; and it’s our responsibility to grow it in order to be able to stand against everything the devil tries to throw at us (Ephesians 6:13-18). God never told us to fight the devil but to resist him (James 4:7) with our faith (1 Timothy 6:12).

I think it’s imperative to see from God’s Word the level of faith that we’re operating on any situation and what’s the cure if it’s not enough. So locate yourself from the categories below and get ready to make a change if your faith needs to be strengthened. Remember, you can cry and beg God all you want; it will not change anything without faith. Faith doesn’t cry or beg; faith takes control of every situation knowing that only God’s Word matters.

The Bible records four kinds of faith: “little faith, great faith, weak faith and strong faith.”

Little Faith

Characteristics: ─ Lack of understanding of God’s Word

Matthew 16:8 – “Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?”

─ Worries

Matthew 6:30 – “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”─ Fears

Matthew 8:25-26 – “And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”

─ Doubt

Matthew 14:31 – “And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

Cure:

Get more knowledge of God’s Word by hearing, listening or reading more of teachings of God’s Word.

Romans 10:17 – “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”

Weak Faith

Characteristics:

─ Consider circumstances, situations and feelings (sensory perceptions)

Romans 4:19 – “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb”

Cure:

Exercise your faith. Put it to work.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)

“17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:17-20)

For example, if the Word says, “By His stripes, you were healed…” (1 Peter 2:24); then take it as the final and only truth irrespective of how you feel. Keep confessing your health; refuse to let the pain you feel robs you what the Word of God says about you. It says, “You WERE healed”; not “are” or “will be”. When were you healed? When Jesus took your place of condemnation (sickness, poverty…) on the cross! What you may feel is just fact, but not the truth. So refuse to let facts dictate how you live your life because you were born of the truth which is God’s Word (John 17:17; 1 Peter 1:23).

Your life Is hid with Christ in God; He is your life (Colossians 3:3-4). Keep confessing this truth without fear, unbelief or any doubt and everything else will just have to bow at your word. Declare, “In Christ, I live, I move and I have my being” (Acts 17:28); “Christ in me the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27); “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20)…

Remember, there’s no failure, sickness or poverty in Christ and you are in Him.

Great Faith

Characteristics:

─ Having understanding

Matthew 8:9-10, “speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”

─ Refuse to give up

Matthew 15:28, “Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

Strong Faith

Characteristics:

─ Giving glory to God regardless of the situation and circumstances

Romans 4:20 – “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God”

─ Being fully persuaded, no assumption or any doubt

Romans 4:21 – “And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

Now you know what to do if your faith has been weak or little. Know more of God’s Word and put it to work. Faith never fails! Never give up, never give in!

But WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM: for he that cometh to God MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. – Hebrews 11:6