Scripture clearly states that we are all involved in some type of warfare, where “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). You see, we do not wrestle against people made of flesh and blood but against the evil rulers of the spirit realm, against those mighty satanic beings, against the great evil princes of darkness, and against the wicked spirits of this unseen world. Although we live in this world in the flesh, we do not engage in this warfare according to the flesh and by human standards, as the world typically engages in war.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full” (II Corinthians 10:3-6 WET).

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Just how important is your faith? In past discussions we have defined “faith” as “the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen and it is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us even though we cannot see it up ahead.” Faith is “trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proof.” It can also be defined as “trusting in somebody that you consider worthwhile and truthful.” It is by faith that we “accept that something exists when there is no physical proof of its existence or of its reality.” But just how important is your faith in all of this?

We know that according to the scripture, “God has dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). We know from our discussions, that God has dealt to everyone “the same amount of faith.” This means that no one has been given more faith than anyone else has, for we all have been given “the same amount” and not some “random or varied amount of faith.” We also found that you could not get more than the measure that has been dealt to you at birth by God. We know that faith is something that you increase through exercise, where you sort of develop your faith by building it up. The only way to increase your faith is through the knowledge gathered through the word of God. But just how important is your faith in all of this?

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Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete (James 1:2-4 TLB). We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love (Romans 5:3-5 TLB).

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and desires, and enticed. Then when lust and desire hath conceived, it bringeth forth and gives birth to sin: and sin, when it is finished and full-grown, bringeth forth death. Do not err and be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness or variation, neither shadow of turning (James 1:12-17).

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So, if you be in Christ, then you be “a new creature” (II Corinthians 5:17). You are no longer a part of Adam’s sinful race, a race that has a fixed moral nature in sin. No, you are now part of a new race, a spiritual race, created solely by Jesus through death and resurrection. This new spiritual race has a nature that is fixed in righteousness. No longer do we “know good and are unable to do it.” No longer do we “know evil and are unable to resist it” (Ephesians 2:1-3). We have been given “a second chance.”

“But God is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the dead—only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved—and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms—all because of what Christ Jesus did. And now God can always point to us as examples of how very, very rich his kindness is, as shown in all he has done for us through Jesus Christ. Because of his kindness, you have been saved through trusting Christ. And even trusting is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it. It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others” (Ephesians 2:4-10 TLB).

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Most believers are familiar with “The Great Commission.” These were a set of instructions given to the disciples by Jesus Christ.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Jesus gave these instructions shortly before he ascended to heaven to “sit at the right hand of the Father” (Acts 2:33-34). These instructions basically told his disciples, which now includes all “those who have love one to another” (John 8:35) to go forth and to make disciples in all nations, teaching them “to observe all things whatsoever and to obey all the commands” that he, Jesus had given them. Some of you do not feel that you are qualified and will not answer the call. But if that be the case, then listen to these words of Paul.

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Let us continue with the “snapshot” of you and your faith. Remember that this snapshot is not meant to be a picture of where you wanted to be with your faith but one that will reveal where you are and where your faith currently stands. Once you determine where you are, you can determine the course that you need to take to get you where you want to be with your faith and then, then you will be able to determine when you reach your goal. Previously, we covered “great faith” (Matthew 8:5-10); “little faith” (Matthew 14:22-31); “weak in faith” (Romans 4:17-19); “strong (strengthened) in faith,” (Romans 4:20-21); and “full of faith” (Acts 6:1-5).

FAITH UNFEIGNED (SINCERE FAITH) - Now the end (purpose) of the commandments is charity (love) out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of “faith unfeigned (sincere faith)” (I Timothy 1:5).

SHIPWRECKED FAITH - This charge (command) I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee (previously made concerning you), that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put (rejected) away concerning faith have made (suffered) shipwreck (I Timothy 1:18-19).

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Not long ago, we talked about “taking a snapshot” of you and your faith. With this snapshot, we mentioned that you would be able to see where you were in accordance with your faith. We also mentioned that this snapshot was not meant to be a picture of where you wanted to be with your faith but one that revealed where you are and where your faith currently stands. You see, you have to determine where you truly are with your faith so that you can know what you need to do and where you need to go to get your faith where you want it to be an in order to maximize your faith. Once you determine where you are, you can determine the course that you need to take to get you where you want to be with your faith. Then you will be able to determine when you reach your goal.

Everything in your Christian life depends on your faith. You can develop your faith through knowledge by knowing and understanding the word of God. The greatest hindrance to your faith is your own human reasoning. The greatest limitation to your faith is you yourself. What you do with the faith that you have been given is entirely up to you, but it is you that must grow it, that must develop it, that must exercise it. Here is a partial list that we hope will help you to develop your snapshot and to determine where you are with your faith. Do not forget to be honest in your estimate of yourself, measuring your value based on how much faith God has given you.. See if you can locate exactly where you currently are with your faith.

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All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both freshwater and saltwater flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water (James 3:7-12 NIV).

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29 NIV). Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:4 NIV). Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips (Ecclesiastes 10:12 NIV). You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Matthew 12:34 NIV).

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We have mentioned that you have to follow God’s instructions if you want to become all that God has planned for you to become. As believers, we now know some of the many benefits to following God’s instructions. While we are still a work in progress, we have discovered one of “the rewards for them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). We become “spiritually and morally mature.” When we become “spiritually and morally mature,” we speak wisdom among them that are the same. We speak not the wisdom of the world or the wisdom of those thought to be intelligent, wise, learned, or scholarly. We speak not the wisdom of the sages and the men of discernment. We speak not the wisdom of the Greek philosophers and orators or the Jewish theologians and the Christian teachers. No, we speak the wisdom of God, which is given to us by divine revelation. Yes, we speak the wisdom of God, wisdom that was hidden before the world began. Yes, that’s right; wisdom that God predestined from the beginning that would result in glory to us. Jesus prayed, thanking the Father for revealing this wisdom to those who would become “the spiritually and morally mature.” And as the spiritually and morally mature, we now know that the word of God is wisdom only to “those who have an ear to hear.”

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