THE MEASURE OF FAITH

There is a common teaching in the church, by some, that “God has given all men the measure of faith,” taken from Ro. 12/3. This teaching, leaving those that hear it, with the thought, that everybody ever born on this planet, has this inbuilt sensorium, that gives all the ability to “activate,” and believe/obey God:

If God has given every man “the measure of faith,” Ro. 12/3.

Then,………..how come Jesus said,…………………………………

“how is it that ye………..HAVE NO FAITH?” Mk. 4/40.

If God has given every man “the measure of faith,”

Then,………..how come Jesus said,…………………………………

“O FAITHLESS (“apistis,” meaning, without faith, no faith) and perverse generation;” Math. 17/17, Mk. 9/19, Luke 9/41.

If God has given every man “the measure of faith,”

Then,………..how come, Jesus said,………………………………..

“WHERE is your faith?” Luke 8/25.

If God has given every man “the measure of faith,”

Then,………..how come, Jesus said,………………………………...

“Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, SHALL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?” Luke 18/8.

If God has given every man “the measure of faith,”

Then,………..how come the writer of Hebrews says,……………………………….

“But the word preached did not profit them, NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH IN THEM THAT HEARD IT.” Heb. 4/2.

IF GOD HAS GIVEN EVERY MAN “THE MEASURE OF FAITH,”

THEN HOW COME,……………..THE APOSTLE PAUL………………SAYS,……..

FOR ALL MEN HAVE NOT FAITH, 2 Thes. 3/2.

IF GOD HAS GIVEN EVERY MAN “THE MEASURE OF FAITH,”

THEN HOW COME,……………THE APOSTLE PAUL……………SAYS,…………..

…………………………. “FAITH………….COMETH:”…………………… Ro.10/17.

IF GOD HAS GIVEN EVERY MAN “THE MEASURE OF FAITH,”

THEN HOW COME,…………….THE APOSTLE PAUL……………SAYS,…………...

“BUT BEFORE FAITH CAME, (“erchomai,” meaning, to come, with adjuncts implying motion to or toward any person or place,) WE WERE KEPT UNDER THE LAW, SHUT UP UNTO THE FAITH WHICH SHOULD AFTERWARDS BE REVEALED. Gal 3/23.

I know that God “has given to “every man that is among you,” (that is to say, men/women of the household of faith, believers, followers, eklektos, elect of God, dear children of Loving Father,) I know that God has “dealt to every man” in the Body of Christ, THE MEASURE OF FAITH,” to operate, in gifts that have been given to believers by His grace, and that we are “not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think,” that is to say, if we have faith to prophesy, then “lets us prophecy according to the proportion of faith;” but if we have not been given “the measure of faith” to operate in ministry or teaching, or exhortation etc., then let us not suppose, presume, or think that we can be in ministry, or teach, or exhort, thus “thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought,” but let us stay within the bounds of what God has given to us with “the measure of faith:” Ro. 12/1-8.

SO……….HAS GOD GIVEN TO EVERY MAN “THE MEASURE OF FAITH???”

………………………………………………………………………………………………

INCREASE OUR FAITH

As I peruse my bible, I find varying degrees of faith, eg.

“LITTLE FAITH,” Math. 6/30, 8/26, 14/31, 16/8, Luke 12/28,

“WEAK IN FAITH,” Ro. 4/19,

“HIM THAT IS WEAK IN FAITH,” Ro. 14/1,

“FAITH AS A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED,” meaning that which is tiny, small, little, Math. 17/20, Luke 17/6,

“GREAT FAITH,” Math. 8/10, 15/28, Luke 7/9,

“I HAVE NOT FOUND SO GREAT A FAITH,” Math. 8/10, Luke 7/9,

“RICH IN FAITH,” Ja. 2/5,

“FULL OF FAITH,” Acts 6/5, 8, 11/24,

“STRONG IN FAITH,” Ro. 4/20,

“GREAT BOLDNESS IN THE FAITH,” 1 Tim. 3/13,

“MEASURE OF FAITH, PROPORTION OF FAITH,” Ro. 12/3, 6,

AND ONE OF THE THREE POWER GIFTINGS, “THE GIFT OF FAITH:” 1 COR. 12/9.

And I find “Holy Writings,” stating, that our faith is to grow, INCREASE:

YOUR FAITH GROWETH (“huperauxano,” meaning, to INCREASE, to flourish, TO INCREASE EXCEEDINGLY OR GREATLY,) EXCEEDINGLY 2 Thes. 1/3.

WHEN YOUR FAITH IS INCREASED, (AGAIN, “AUXANO,” MEANING, TO GROW, INCREASE, TO AUGMENT, TO GIVE INCREASE, CAUSE TO GROW, ENLARGE,) 2 Cor. 10/15:

“AND THE APOSTLES SAID UNTO THE LORD, INCREASE ( “PROSTITHEMI,” MEANING, TO ADD TO,) OUR FAITH.” LUKE 17/5.

SO,………….WAS THIS STATEMENT BY THE APOSTLES WRONG, OR MISUNDERSTOOD BY READERS?........OR WERE THEY LITERALLY ASKING THE LORD TO……….. “INCREASE THEIR FAITH?”

IF THE SON OF GOD SAID TO YOU, “OH YE OF LITTLE FAITH,”……………

IF YOU TRULY LOVED HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WOULDN`T YOUR RESPONSE TO HIM BE,….TO….PLEASE MAKE MY FAITH, BIGGER, LARGER, STRONGER, BOLDER,…………..INCREASED?................................

Bevan Kluver,

Straight Talk Ministries,

Ph/Fax 07 55452874,

Website www.straighttalkmin.org

bevan.kluver@bigpond.com

“speaking the truth in love, in the spirit of meekness, earnestly contending for the faith”;