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Kinds of Faith From Faith—How to Receive from
God All of Your Needs The
Context “The object and purpose of our instruction and charge is that all believers would be filled with charity (love) that comes from a pure heart, and a clear conscience, and genuine faith.” —1 Timothy 1:5 All progress
in the Christian life is by trusting (faith). “This Good News tells us how God makes
us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by trusting
(faith). As the Scriptures say, The just shall live by trust (faith).” – Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Habakkuk
2:4 Kinds of Faith
There are several kinds of faith mentioned in Scripture, of which the following list will be helpful in arriving at the kind of faith one should have: 1. COMMON FAITH (Titus 1:4). It
is called "the mutual faith" (Rom. 2. WEAK FAITH (Rom. If the devil cannot get men to
commit great sins that are forbidden in Scripture, he will urge
honest-hearted people to go to the extreme and condemn this or that in
personal liberties that are not strictly condemned by God. Multitudes today
go to the utter extreme and condemn in some degree almost every phase of
human living. The law of Scripture concerning anything that is not definitely
forbidden by God in Scripture is: "He who doubteth is damned if he eat,
because he eateth not in faith: for WHATSOEVER
IS NOT OF FAITH IS SIN"
(Rom. The Christian law of love to
others is: "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for
peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat [food] destroy
not the work of God. All things are pure; but IT IS EVIL FOR THAT 3. STRONG FAITH (Rom. This is the kind of faith all
persons are to have if they would only persuade themselves that God is true
to His Word. Most men claim that they have faith in God to this extent, and
not one wants to say boldly that He is a liar and that He will not do as He
said, but when it comes to exercising faith that will not doubt or waver in
prayer, very few will maintain such a strong faith and thank God for the
answer even before it is realized. Very few will simply refuse to question or
waver in the least when it seems that things are going contrary to what has
been asked of God. This is exactly why they do not get definite answers from
God. No one will exercise faith as strong as Abraham's and go so long without
an answer from God. Such a thing, that God would refuse one who came to Him
in such unwavering faith, is literally impossible and unheard of (James
1:5-8; Heb. 4. LITTLE FAITH (Matt. 5. GREAT FAITH (Matt. 6. UNFEIGNED FAITH (1 Tim. 1:5;
2 Tim. 1:5). This faith is the kind that knows no hypocrisy, sham, or
counterfeit. It is the kind that does not brag or put on an outward show, but
is real. It is simply genuine and sincere in every aspect. It proceeds from a
pure heart and a good conscience, as stated in these Scriptures. It is not
hereditary, although in 2 Tim. 1:5 Paul speaks of it as being in three
successive generations. It is the kind that all honest, pure, and sincere men
have. It is the unselfish, holy, and godly kind that naturally increases in
the life of every true child of God, as he grows in grace and knowledge (2
Pet. 1:4-9; 7. TEMPORARY FAITH (Luke Some teach that this cannot
happen, but it does, despite the so-called impossibility of falling away from
the faith and being renewed in repentance again. Some teach that one cannot
fall from the faith, but Jesus certainly said that some would "receive
the word with joy; and these have no root, WHICH FOR A
WHILE BELIEVE, and
in time of temptation FALL AWAY" (Matt. 13:20-21; Luke 8:13). Paul
speaks of these as those who "concerning faith have made shipwreck"
(1 Tim. 8. HISTORICAL FAITH (1 John 9. MENTAL FAITH (James True faith is not mental assent to truth as a fact. Most people have such assent. People will believe that God is able, that He has promised to do certain things, and that He would if true faith were exercised, but they put little effort into cooperating with God or getting what He has promised. It is merely a mental assent to truth without active faith in it. It is the kind of faith that turns to every source of help but God, while still claiming to believe in God and His Word. It is like believing that food is good without ever eating it to get its benefits. Mental assent, or passive faith, is one of the most dangerous enemies of true faith in God. It claims all the faith in the world and is easily satisfied with either anything or nothing from God. If it does not get what it wants, it does not care. It would accept something from God if He would come personally, lay the answer in the lap, and beg one to keep the gift, but apart from this, it puts forth little or no effort to act in faith concerning anything God has promised. Mental faith may go as far as to maintain belief in every truth and in every part of God's program, and it may even claim to be contending for certain benefits; yet it dares not act upon the promises of God. 10. ACTIVE FAITH (James 2:14-26; Heb. 10:19-38). This is the kind that acts upon the Word of God as it is made clear. James put it this way: "shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." All persons must have this faith to get anything from God. As long as faith is purely mental and passive, no action will be taken to obey the truth. People must move beyond hearing and into doing what God says before they get results. Active living faith obeys every truth of God to the letter and appropriates what God has promised. It acts as if the unseen is real. It quickly provides works to prove its sincerity and obedience. Think of having a real, active, living faith of your own! Imagine the thrill of having your own prayers answered! As I write, I have a large stack of letters on my desk marked "Testimony." These letters, received in recent months, tell how God has answered prayer. People hear the media programs and are inspired to take God at His Word. As they act, God answers. One lady said she had been sick for ten long years and had not done any housework. She heard me say on the air that if you will believe God and refuse to be sick and defeated, you can have whatever you want. She said, "I acted upon the Word and got out of bed, and God met my faith. I have been doing my work ever since." Another one is so thrilled that her prayers have been answered three times from laying her hands on the radio and praying with us. Many more are deeply stirred to new life and deeper consecrations because they are learning to act upon the Word. Many people have never had an
answer to prayer, and they are missing the greatest blessings of life because
of this neglect. Most people depend upon others to get answers for them. They
pray, as they think, but they want someone else to do the believing. In
reality, they are not praying. They are merely saying words and going through
a form of prayer. True New Testament praying is always heard of God, and the
answer is always sure. God has planned that all persons should have this kind
of faith and results. "These signs shall follow them who believe,"
and "all things are possible to those who believeth" (Mark Faith can become a mighty living force that knows no defeat. Through Jesus Christ, you can know that you are master of all demon powers and circumstances. You no longer need be a slave to fear, timidity, weakness, failure, sickness, poverty, helplessness, and despair. You can be a conqueror in the very things wherein you have suffered defeat. "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7, 16). Again, "He who abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). You must awake to the consciousness of the new life you have in Christ. As a branch, you have His life, His health, His power, His love, and His nature flowing through you. You are the fruit-bearing part of Christ on earth. You are in Him, and He is in you. You have His words abiding in you, giving you faith for whatsoever you ask. You have as much right in Him to ask and receive from God as He had. You have a right to expect the same answers from God that He got. You represent God here as He did, so do not be satisfied with going without the benefits He died to give you. You are commanded to be a doer of the Word, which means you must ask and receive. You are not to be merely a hearer. You do not deceive yourself when you act on the Word. It will be confirmed, for it is truth. It must be a living, active faith, not a mere mental, passive something that all sinners can have. You are in Christ, and as God's child and heir, you have the authority to act on the Word. You are a fruit-bearer, a producer for God, so diligently follow and produce for Him according to His Word. 11. WAVERING FAITH (James
1:5-8). This is faith that doubts God and refuses to believe. Truly believing
and having faith means acting on the Word. It means taking what is already
yours. To believe on Jesus means to take Him for all that the Bible declares
Him to be. It means taking salvation from sin, healing for the body, answers to
your prayers, and all that He died to bring you. Believing is an act of the
will. When you really believe, you have acted. You have taken the necessary
step to get what you want from God. Faith is action in counting those things
that are not as though they were (Rom. A wavering faith is called double-mindedness: a constant change of mind as to what is wanted, or whether the thing asked for is wanted or not. It is the attitude of yes-no, yes-no, and yes-no, until God Himself cannot tell whether it is yes or no. One minute it is decided that a thing is wanted, and it may be wanted with some real desperation, but the next minute it is not so important. People with wavering faith do not really make up their minds to see the fight of faith through to an answer. They would accept the answer if it would come without any hesitation or effort on their part, but to take the necessary steps to get an answer or to fight in the least for the thing that is asked is another question. 12. UNWAVERING FAITH (Heb. This is faith refusing to doubt, wonder, question, or reason about one detail of what one has asked for from God. It has absolute confidence that what was asked is according to the Word of God, and therefore it knows that prayer is answered. It rests upon the promises as the basis of the answer, instead of upon feelings and things seen. It refuses to act contrary to what it has asked or to question in the least any delay in an answer. It counts the thing done regardless of all outward evidence to the contrary. It laughs at impossibilities and goes on in utmost confidence that what God has promised He is able to perform. It gives thanks for the answer from the moment it asks and looks forward, in childlike expectation, to receiving it. 13. HUMAN FAITH (Mark 14. DIVINE FAITH (Heb. 11:3;
Gal. Men will have to exercise faith in the infinite throughout eternity, for there will always be the necessity of having confidence in God and His eternal plan concerning those matters that the finite has not yet comprehended of the infinite (Isa. 32:17). If faith will be necessary in eternity, how much more is it needed now when we do not know as we are also known. This life is the probationary period of human beings' eternal existence, and we must learn faith and obedience to carry out God's plan for man both now and forever. Faith is acting on the Word of God, and this will be necessary throughout eternity because God will eternally give the saved His Word and make known His will concerning all things to come. Thus it is clear that God has faith, Christ has faith, the Holy Spirit has faith, angels have faith, demons have faith (James 2:11), and men must have faith to please God (Heb. 11:6). Faith is absolutely necessary to carry on moral government. If moral agents cannot have faith in the Moral Governor of the universe, they will not trust Him. Lack of faith among subjects in human government tends to create anarchy and rebellion. When doubts, questionings, unbelief, dissatisfaction, and lack of confidence manifest among the subjects of any government, it cannot long endure. Faith is an absolute necessity. Childlike faith and confidence in God with utter abandonment of self-interests, trust in Him to leave everything in His hands for the common good of all, is not only demanded by God but it is the only reasonable attitude to take on the part of man The history of mankind and of angels and demons proves that God has been good, merciful, loving, kind, and consecrated to the best good of all creation. Not one person in moral creation can point a finger of accusation that God has dealt with him unjustly. No one can today testify that God has been unfaithful to him if s/he has done the will of God and conformed to the Word of God in faith. Not one free moral agent can accuse God of the least degree of unfaithfulness in any dealing. Not one will be able in all eternity to accuse Him of being a respecter of persons. God has been and always will be good to all. He longs to bless all persons today. He will heal every disease, save from every sin and bad habit, deliver from failure and poverty, and answer every prayer prayed in faith in the name of Jesus Christ. He longs to do what He has promised. He desires to supply all needs of men, but He will not break His own law by blessing those who do not have faith. He has laid down plain laws of faith whereby any and every person can get what s/he wants in life, and He will hold people to obedience to these laws before He grants people's desires. If people want the benefits, let them obey the laws of God intelligently and to the letter; by doing so, they will get what God has promised. If the benefits are not worth the price, then let us not complain that we are not supplied. If it's worth the simple effort to get them, as God has made clear, then don't doubt or waver for a moment about the outcome. It is already settled that the benefits are guaranteed and sure if true, simple, childlike faith is exercised. If we believe the Bible, there is no longer any question about this; let this be settled forever. Confess
Who You Are in Christ These
confessions, when spoken aloud, will cause the energy of faith to rise to
new levels in your heart. You will be
quickened to operate in a higher level of faith and expectation. (This link requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) Unlimited
Possibilities By taking these
scriptures and the principles of God’s Word, you can access the unlimited
possibilities for your life. Your choice of words gives substance to your
world! (This link requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) Back to Faith Link to the “short list” of 99 benefits of the
750 New Testament promises The Key
That Unlocks All Promises Link to the list of 250 separate benefits
of the 750 New Testament promises “Beloved,
I wish above all things that you may
prosper and be in health, even as your soul
prospers.” – 3
John 1:2 See the reality of evil, Satan, or the
devil See the bondage of unrighteousness
(sin) and corruption See The Source of Sin,
Sicknesses, and Diseases See How to Get Health and
Healing From God Link to God's Plan for Mankind Thank you Finis Jennings Dake and Dake
Publishing Thank you Derek Prince Ministries and
his book Faith to Live By
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