Agape Christian Center
LEVELS OF FAITH
Tune in for our Sunday Morning message, with Dr. John Pelizzari at Agape Christian Center, Belton, TX 76513.
Locations & Times
Agape Christian Center
321 N Penelope St, Belton, TX 76513, USA
Sunday 10:30 AM
LEVELS OF FAITH
Luke 18:8 - When Jesus returns, will He find faith on the earth?
1 Cor. 13:5 - Test yourself be in faith
Different kinds of faith:
Titus 1:4
To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
#1 COMMON FAITH - also called mutual faith.
Basically, it’s where everybody believes the same basic doctrines.
a. we all got saved by acting upon Rom. 10:9
Romans 4:19
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
#2 WEAK FAITH - Allows the circumstances to speak louder than God’s Word.
The mind and the emotions are its biggest influences.
Romans 4:20
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
#3 STRONG FAITH - It refuses to be defeated.
It refuses to take no for an answer.
This kind of faith is persuaded that what has been asked of God is granted.
Strong faith thanks God for the answer even before it is realized.
Matthew 6:30
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
#4 LITTLE FAITH - this is the same as having no faith.
In this scripture, we see that if you still worry, you really have no faith.
Matthew 15:28
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
#5 GREAT FAITH - This is the true, unwavering faith that will hold on no matter what.
1 Tim. 1:5
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
#6 UNFEIGNED FAITH - This faith is genuine, real, and sincere in every aspect.
It is the unselfish, holy, and godly kind of faith
a. that naturally increases in the life of every true child of God
b. as one grows in grace and knowledge.
#7 TEMPORARY FAITH -here today, gone tomorrow
Luke 8:13
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
This is the kind of faith that most believers have for a while.
It’s exciting at first, but because of shallowness and lack of roots, it fails in times of temptation and testing.
a. They never fully come clean with God or make the full surrender of their lives except for the moment
1 John 5:10
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
#8 HISTORICAL FAITH - This is faith in the history or the record of God
This is the most common type of worldly faith
a. found with people who believe the record ( history) of the bible
James 2:19-20
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. [20] But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
#9 MENTAL FAITH - Believes every part of the Bible but does not act upon the Word of God.
It stays in the mind and never gets to the heart.
Millions have mental faith in God and the Bible,
a. But they keep neglecting to obey its truths
It is the kind of faith that will turn to every source of help but God,
a. and at the same time maintain that it does believe in God and His Word.
Mental faith does not act on the Word of God.
Hebrews 10:19
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
#10 ACTIVE FAITH - This is the kind that acts upon the Word of God as it is made clear.
This is a person who has gotten beyond the stage of hearing
a. into the act of doing what God says
James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
#11 WAVERING FAITH - This is faith doubting God and refusing to believe.
Doubting is refusing to act on the Word.
Unbelief is a manifestation of ignorance of the Word of God.
a. If you do not know, you cannot act because you do not understand
b. if you do not understand, you are afraid to act because you do not know how to act
Wavering faith is called double-mindedness
a. a constant change of the one's mind
People who have wavering faith:
a. do not really make up their minds that they are going to
b. see the fight of faith through until the answer manifests.
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
#12 UNWAVERING FAITH - This kind of faith takes God at His word without any question.
This faith refuses to doubt, wonder, reason, or ask about the details.
Mark 11:22-24
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. [23] For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. [24] Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
#13 HUMAN FAITH - This kind of faith still struggles with doubts in their heart,
a. finds it difficult or silly to speak the desired results
b. and has a hard time believing that it shall come to pass.
Human faith usually struggles in speaking the word of God
a. because it does not make sense
b. and feels embarrassed if it spoke faith around nonbelievers.
Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
#14`DIVINE FAITH - any believer who chooses to believe, act upon and obey the word without reason or compromise.
a. they are bold in speaking the Word
You believe in apostolic power
a. meaning you believe that you can operate in signs, wonders, and miracles yourself
CONCLUSION
Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
You have to decide to continue in the faith, especially during hard and difficult ( tribulation ) times.
E N D
Luke 18:8 - When Jesus returns, will He find faith on the earth?
1 Cor. 13:5 - Test yourself be in faith
Different kinds of faith:
Titus 1:4
To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
#1 COMMON FAITH - also called mutual faith.
Basically, it’s where everybody believes the same basic doctrines.
a. we all got saved by acting upon Rom. 10:9
Romans 4:19
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
#2 WEAK FAITH - Allows the circumstances to speak louder than God’s Word.
The mind and the emotions are its biggest influences.
Romans 4:20
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
#3 STRONG FAITH - It refuses to be defeated.
It refuses to take no for an answer.
This kind of faith is persuaded that what has been asked of God is granted.
Strong faith thanks God for the answer even before it is realized.
Matthew 6:30
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
#4 LITTLE FAITH - this is the same as having no faith.
In this scripture, we see that if you still worry, you really have no faith.
Matthew 15:28
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
#5 GREAT FAITH - This is the true, unwavering faith that will hold on no matter what.
1 Tim. 1:5
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
#6 UNFEIGNED FAITH - This faith is genuine, real, and sincere in every aspect.
It is the unselfish, holy, and godly kind of faith
a. that naturally increases in the life of every true child of God
b. as one grows in grace and knowledge.
#7 TEMPORARY FAITH -here today, gone tomorrow
Luke 8:13
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
This is the kind of faith that most believers have for a while.
It’s exciting at first, but because of shallowness and lack of roots, it fails in times of temptation and testing.
a. They never fully come clean with God or make the full surrender of their lives except for the moment
1 John 5:10
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
#8 HISTORICAL FAITH - This is faith in the history or the record of God
This is the most common type of worldly faith
a. found with people who believe the record ( history) of the bible
James 2:19-20
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. [20] But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
#9 MENTAL FAITH - Believes every part of the Bible but does not act upon the Word of God.
It stays in the mind and never gets to the heart.
Millions have mental faith in God and the Bible,
a. But they keep neglecting to obey its truths
It is the kind of faith that will turn to every source of help but God,
a. and at the same time maintain that it does believe in God and His Word.
Mental faith does not act on the Word of God.
Hebrews 10:19
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
#10 ACTIVE FAITH - This is the kind that acts upon the Word of God as it is made clear.
This is a person who has gotten beyond the stage of hearing
a. into the act of doing what God says
James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
#11 WAVERING FAITH - This is faith doubting God and refusing to believe.
Doubting is refusing to act on the Word.
Unbelief is a manifestation of ignorance of the Word of God.
a. If you do not know, you cannot act because you do not understand
b. if you do not understand, you are afraid to act because you do not know how to act
Wavering faith is called double-mindedness
a. a constant change of the one's mind
People who have wavering faith:
a. do not really make up their minds that they are going to
b. see the fight of faith through until the answer manifests.
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
#12 UNWAVERING FAITH - This kind of faith takes God at His word without any question.
This faith refuses to doubt, wonder, reason, or ask about the details.
Mark 11:22-24
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. [23] For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. [24] Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
#13 HUMAN FAITH - This kind of faith still struggles with doubts in their heart,
a. finds it difficult or silly to speak the desired results
b. and has a hard time believing that it shall come to pass.
Human faith usually struggles in speaking the word of God
a. because it does not make sense
b. and feels embarrassed if it spoke faith around nonbelievers.
Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
#14`DIVINE FAITH - any believer who chooses to believe, act upon and obey the word without reason or compromise.
a. they are bold in speaking the Word
You believe in apostolic power
a. meaning you believe that you can operate in signs, wonders, and miracles yourself
CONCLUSION
Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
You have to decide to continue in the faith, especially during hard and difficult ( tribulation ) times.
E N D