FAITH DEVELOPMENT
"BEHOLD THE PROUD, his soul is not upright in him; BUT THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
Habakkuk 2:4 (NKJV)
"FOR I SAY, THROUGH THE GRACE GIVEN TO ME, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, BUT TO THINK SOBERLY, AS GOD HAS DEALT TO EACH ONE A MEASURE OF FAITH."
Romans 12:3 (NKJV)
At new birth, that is, when you are reborn; a measure of faith is given to you—it is given to every believer in Christ (Romans 12:3).
The growth of an individual believer's faith is premised on how the person put the faith to work, that is, how he or she exercises their faith.
Faith comes through the knowledge of the Word of God, and it grows by applying the Word to the circumstances or challenges of life that come your way: "SO FAITH COMES BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD" (Romans 10:17 NKJV).
Whatever may be the challenge or problem, when you apply the Word of God and you are able to overcome:
• Through such process, you undoubtedly make progress in the school of faith.
• Every problem you are able to prevail over, through the knowledge and application of the Word of God, is a promotion and lifting in the journey of faith.
• Know that, faith grows in the atmosphere of problems, challenges, and the difficult circumstances of life.
That means, if you are dodging or avoiding challenges, you may not experience growth in your faith. And you should remember that without faith you cannot walk with God, because you have to please Him in order to walk with Him—and it is through faith that you please God. Unbelief displeases Him: "BUT WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM [God], FOR HE WHO COMES TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV).
Therefore, faith grows through the knowledge of the Word of God and the exercise of it.
The knowledge of the Word of God you had should enhance or strengthen your fellowship with God.
Through fellowshipping or communion with God, you would be able to hear things He wanted to do in your life, or things He wanted to do through your life.
When God speaks to you, it increases your boldness and faith to take a step on whatever He has bidden you to do.
When the thing He has promised to do materializes, your faith and trust in Him is strengthened and deepened.
Faith also grow by being daring—having courage and the willingness to take a risk. Faith is about risk taking! If you are not willing to take any risk, your faith cannot grow—it would be stunted.
When you are sent on an errand by God, that is, you are given an assignment; you should be ready to take your life in your hands—do something risky:
23 THEN HE SAID TO THEM ALL, "IF ANYONE DESIRES TO COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY, AND FOLLOW ME. 24 "FOR WHOEVER DESIRES TO SAVE HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, BUT WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY [Jesus'] SAKE WILL SAVE IT" (Luke 9:23,24 NKJV).
If you are not ready to sacrifice your life because of God and His kingdom, you cannot grow in your faith; remember, you cannot save it by yourself.
For your faith to be strong and rugged, you have to be exposed to different challenges. It means, those who evade problems and challenges are usually stunted in their growth in faith.
You exercise your faith through challenges and difficulties that come you way, and when you overcome, you become a force or an authority to be reckoned with—take into account—in the Kingdom.
Your words do not fall to the ground again: "SO SAMUEL GREW, AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM AND LET NONE OF HIS WORDS FALL TO THE GROUND [fail]" (1 Samuel 3:19 NKJV).
• Angels run around to carryout your words (Hebrews 1:14).
• Demons move and run at your command (Mark 16:17).
Those who grow in the knowledge of the Word of God and the exercise of it are the mature believers; they are the ones who are able to discern good and evil:
12 FOR THOUGH BY THIS TIME YOU OUGHT TO BE TEACHERS, YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TEACH YOU AGAIN THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE ORACLES [sayings, Scriptures] OF GOD; AND YOU HAVE COME TO NEED MILK AND NOT SOLID FOOD. 13 FOR EVERYONE WHO PARTAKES ONLY OF MILK IS UNSKILLED IN THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR HE IS A BABE. 14 BUT SOLID FOOD BELONGS TO THOSE WHO ARE OF FULL AGE [mature], THAT IS, THOSE WHO BY REASON OF USE [practice] HAVE THEIR SENSES EXERCISED TO DISCERN BOTH GOOD AND EVIL" (Hebrews 5:12-14 NKJV).
You will not fail in Jesus' name. Peace!