2024-03-08
Good Morning Dear Ones,
In this fourth installment of the Transformation subseries, the Holy Spirit directs me to share on Levels of Faith. It’s important for us to first look at GA 5: 1 again, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.” From where does spiritual slavery arise? It comes from trying to be justified by the law--that lock-step kind of approach that led traditional Judaism into this kind of spiritual slavery in its thinking. No one has ever been given salvation, eternal forgiveness, or justification by the law. However, being led by the Spirit and following our Lord Jesus’ teaching has broken the chains that kept people from these things. Learning and living by the gifts of the Holy Spirit is what frees our relationships. GA 5: 22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility (gentleness), and self-control. Against such things as these there is no law.”
Those who live by the Spirit know they are loved and accepted. The Father is revealed in the Son. MT 11: 28-30, “Come to Me, all you who are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” As parts of transformation, there are five levels of faith. Level One: The person comes to realization that God has called him to faith—a measure of faith. Remember the story in MT 8: 23-27 of Jesus calming a storm on the Sea of Galilee? Jesus had been asleep in the boat with His disciples when a furious storm arose. His companions were afraid and woke Him pleading to be saved. MT 8: 26 -27 was Christ’s reply, “‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. That left them amazed asking, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and waves obey Him!’” Level Two: Hearing and Studying of the Word of God. RO 10: 17, “So faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” This notion is not only in the NT, but is also found in JER 33: 3, [God speaking] “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Two other Scriptures apply here: JN 8: 47, “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” This doesn’t exclude Christ’s disciples in the boat with Him, because they were so new to His teaching. Christ’s comforting words are read in JN 10: 27, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” His caveat in HE 3: 15 matters too. “As has just been said: ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.’” A rebellion referred to here might be Korah’s rebellion, found in NU 16. In looking at Level 2, one sees that faith builds upon hearing God’s word. Hearing and study are built upon the measure of one’s faith. It’s anointed and the only Source of incorruptible power. The word of God sheds His light, piercing the darkness from sin. Encounters with God, through prayer and listening to Him releases His holy power. We must remember 1 JN 1: 5, 9 help us to better understand our God Who loves us so much. He has no evil in Him and forgives our sinfulness.
Before beginning the discussion of the third level, of faith, it is quite necessary to at least mention the enemy who is present, but still under God’s ultimate control. This truth doesn’t absolve us from the trouble he makes or who he is. We need to understand that there are times when God actually allows the evil one to give us a particular challenge to teach us a lesson. We do our greatest growth in faith as we work through such a period of trouble. GN 50: 20, “You intended harm for me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” RO 6: 23, For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Remember how God limited what the devil could do to Job (in his attempt to get Job to abandon his faith; [JOB 1: 8-12]). God loved Job and He loves all who live in the Spirit. Praise and thanks be to Him!
PRAYER: O Lord, You awaken us to the value of having faith in You, right from the very beginning. HE 13: 8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Your consistency and clarity in teaching us your will is a wonderful part of that gift. The greatest truth of all is JN 3: 16, “For God so loved the world that He gave us His Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Your word is a love letter to us, and we are determined to study it and come ever closer to You. Your presence in our lives surrounds us with access to Your power to do good. PS 72: 14, “He rescues them from oppression and violence; their lives are precious to Him.” We pledge You our love, loyalty, thanks, and eternal praise, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: As promised above, I will answer the Holy Spirit’s direction to continue discussing the other three levels of faith. The Holy Spirit has been leading me to one precious verse/passage after another to make His intention of what we need to know about faithfulness and how he gradually transforms us. How can we be anything but grateful for it? I hope you are finding this discussion useful and that you see its application to our foundation in GA 5: 22-23. God has expectations for us, just as we do for Him in the Covenant of Grace. When we do our part to comply, we can always rely on Him to do His. That should give us great comfort and freedom! Our God is unparalleled!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2024. All Rights Reserved.
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