Different levels of faith – where are you?

[iLOVE]

Different levels of faith – where are you?

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There are different levels of faith during spiritual growth. Each one has a test….and with each successive higher level, there is less support from God….Finally God does nothing for us at all, and we suffer and lose the battle…..but do we still love him? Do we still trust in him?

There are various levels of faith:

1.Weak Faith – Everyone begins here.Weak faith considers circumstances.It constantly limits God and His benefits.Wrong teachings are an influence here.It cannot see the Spirit, the power of God, or that God can do all things.

2.Temporary Faith – As we grow stronger, we receive the Word of God for awhile, and believe, but then fail when tests come.(Luke 8:15)

3.Active Faith – Faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26) We need to do more than just believe, since even the demons believe and tremble.The apostles acted on their faith, preached the gospel, and did good works.

4.Strong faith – This is a faith that staggers not at God’s promises.One refuses defeat, and will not take no for an answer. The person speaks out loud to the devil, rebuking him, and releases God into action.

5.Great Faith – has a great expectation, that just hearing the word is enough for the request to be granted.As in the centurion, who said “you only need to speak the word, and my servant will be healed.”He did not even ask Jesus to come. His words were enough.(Matt 8:5-10)

6.Unfeigned faith –(genuine) – It knows no hypocrisy. It does not brag or put on a show.(2 Tim 1:5)Very childlike, trusting and innocent, and is well founded in the Word of God.

7.Perfect (divine) faith – Absolute confidence in God’s own Word and Being.
This will be tested with fiery trials. James 2:22 - 1 Peter 4:12-19 NASB

While other levels of faith receive some support, and encouragement from God, this level takes what is learned from earlier levels, and endures to the end without apparent support.

Tribulation will come.Suffering will come.

Good works continue, in spite of persecutions.

We no longer care about our own needs.We forget who we are, and only desire to serve His purpose, and have His needs met.

Prayers are spoken, but there is no answer, yet one continues to hold on and believe.

There are wars, and one loses the war.

There is sickness, and there is no healing.

There are problems, and they are never resolved.

One does good, and it is called evil, and is punished for it.

One is faithful, and is betrayed by others.

One is generous, and loses everything.

One is alone, and no one comes to comfort.

One blesses, and is cursed and rejected in return.

One calls out to God, and does not receive an answer.One feels abandoned.

You are afflicted, but there is no deliverance.

Where are the promises, and the answers we have been waiting for?

But will that person respond by abandoning God?

This is the level of “the cross.”

There is no reward in this life at this point.Suffering seems to be around every corner.Will we endure to the end?Will we be faithful, without helps, and rewards, and interventions from God?

This is the point where we could lose our lives for the gospel.

Are we ready?Will we die for Him?

Is our love enough?Is our faith great enough?Have we died to ourselves yet, where HE is the only One that matters any more?

Have we forgotten who we are yet, and can only think of Him?

The faith God is looking for is NOT the faith that comes, because he helped us, or rewarded us, to encourage us.

The faith he is looking for is the faith that continues to trust and love, when God has seemed to turn away, and there is NO reward coming at all.

 

[farouk]

Are all those categories strictly Biblical?

 

[iLOVE]

Are all those categories strictly Biblical?

!00% yes.

 

[Kathi]

I think people are going to be intimidated regarding the grading system of the love of God.It cheapens our faith.

 

[farouk]

I think people are going to be intimidated regarding the grading system of the love of God.It cheapens our faith.

I prefer to look at for example the 7 churches of Asia, all of whom faced different challenges and tendencies. The parable of the sower also provides examples: some good, some bad.

 

[Gary]

There are different levels of faith during spiritual growth. Each one has a test….and with each successive higher level, there is less support from God….Finally God does nothing for us at all, and we suffer and lose the battle…..but do we still love him? Do we still trust in him?

While other levels of faith receive some support, and encouragement from God, this level takes what is learned from earlier levels, and endures to the end without apparent support.

So what do we do with this? Do we abandon it for a doctrine that comes from the heart of man?

Hebrews 13
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”


Just curious.
.

 

[iLOVE]

So what do we do with this? Do we abandon it for a doctrine that comes from the heart of man?

Hebrews 13
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”


Just curious.
.

Yes this doctrine does come from my heart where our Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit dwells.

Romans 5
New King James Version (NKJV)

Faith Triumphs in Trouble
5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

All faith will be tested!!!!! There is something coming to this world that is about to shift things around.

Try not to find fault with what I have posted but only learn from it.

The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:14-30 NIV

Jesus will ask the question what have you done with your time, talent, and treasure I have given you? Will you have excuses?

 

[Gary]

Whatever website you're getting this from, you need to stay away from there.

Your doctrine is not sound and contradicts the actual Word of God. How do you explain that?