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This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to teach on “Minimizing Your Humanity and Maximizing Your Divinity.” A couple of days ago I introduced you to four levels of faith. Yesterday we went a little deeper into levels 1 and 2, and I provided you a few quick thoughts on level 3. This morning I will go deeper into levels 3 and 4. Let’s get to it.
Levels of faith:
Level 3. Faith in the rhema Word (what you hear). I told you yesterday that Jesus Himself did study the scriptures. However, Jesus did not just live by what He read. Jesus lived by what He heard. Jesus did not just live by what God said in the past. Jesus lived by what God was saying in the present. And God expects us to live the same way. The scriptures are God’s will documented. I love the Word, probably more than most. However, I know that we must read the Word of God with an expectation to hear the voice of God. Living only off of what God said will leave you limited. You have to know what God is saying to you in each season of your life. That is how Jesus lived, how He led His disciples, and how He performed ministry. One morning, after making countless trips between their ministry headquarters in Capernaum and the religious leadership’s headquarters in Jerusalem, Jesus told His disciples that this time, on the way back to Capernaum, He felt a leading, a compulsion from the Father, to go through Samaria. The team had NEVER traveled through Samaria and the disciples did not like the idea at all. However, Jesus was being led to do so, because the Father had scheduled a divine appointment with a woman at a well. Guess what? Jesus did not read that in the Bible. He heard that from the Father. I could give you countless other examples, but I believe you get the point. The Father wants you to live like Jesus lived; led of the Holy Spirit 24x7x365. And when God leads you to do something, or He gives you a promise while you are praying, or through someone else, then that Word from God (a Rhema) must be just as real to you as the written Word of God. Once you receive a Word from God, you are then positioned to have faith in what you heard. This is a greater level than just living off of what you read.
Level 4. Faith in God Himself (whom you believe). The Word of God will mean nothing to you if you do not have a relationship with the God of the Word. Not only must you have faith, but you must also know whom your faith is in. Jesus said, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). Paul said, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Tim 1:12). This is the highest form of faith, because this is a faith that is rooted and grounded in the person of God Himself. He must be the object of your faith. Beyond faith in what you saw, or faith in what you read, or faith in what you heard, this is faith in God Himself and this faith builds a level of trust that cannot be shaken. This is not faith in man, because man will let you down. This is not faith in yourself, because you have failed yourself more times than you want to remember. This is not faith in your ability to remain in faith, because you know there have been times when you have given up on what you were believing God for. This is an overarching faith in the person of God and in His unyielding commitment to you and the purpose He placed in you before the foundations of the world. When you are living with this type of faith, and you know that God is both the author and the finisher of the work He started in your life — fully committed to you in spite of your failures, faults and flaws — you are able to live your life with fearless confidence. Things may not always work out the way you wanted. You may not always get what you expected. You may have to overcome more challenges than you are comfortable with. But at the end of the day, you are not moved, because you have faith in God and you know He is fully committed to helping you maximize the purpose and potential He placed in you before He formed you in your mother’s womb. When you live this way, you will be able to live like Jesus and fear, doubt and unbelief will have no power over you. So my message to you is simple: HAVE FAITH IN GOD!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me how to grow my faith. You have given me Your Word and I love it. I read Your Word daily and it is the ruler by which I judge my decisions. However, I am not limited to Your written Word alone. You speak to me while I read Your written Word and You speak to me throughout the day. You speak to me through situations, other people, directly through Your Holy Spirit, and in many other ways. When You give me a Word and I receive it in my heart, that Word is just as important and it is just as powerful as Your written Word. I stand on Your promises with unwavering faith, because my faith is rooted and grounded in You. My faith is not in man. My faith is not in myself. My faith is not even in my ability to remain in faith. My faith is in You. I know You are committed to me and to the purpose You placed IN me before the foundations of the world. You are sometimes more committed than I am. Even when I am faithless, You remain faithful to me, because of Your undeserved grace. So my trust, faith and confidence is IN YOU! I live my life with fearless confidence, and I am not moved by what I see, because I know whom I believe and I know You will never leave me, forsake me, or give up on me! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
