Faith Life

Lesson Content

True people of God must receive all their need for body and soul by faith. Each one can experience faith according to the state of one's spiritual life. Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Elijah, David and other Old Testament saints lived a life of faith in one aspect. But the New Testament saints have been call ed to live a perfect life of faith. Faith can be broadly classified into three types:

1. Natural Faith: This is the faith that is in every man to exist in this world. This is seen in varying measures in each one and without it men cannot live. For example, an ordinary man needs the faith that he would reach his office and come back safely. The natural man has natural faith to accomplish whatever he decides to do in this world. This faith has its own limits. However, God expects man to make use of this faith to receive spiritual blessings.

2. Faith which is the fruit of the Spirit: When a child of God receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit, God gives him the faith which is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22). This aspect of faith is wholly imparted to hi m by God and it helps to nurture the growth of his spiritual life.

3. Gift of faith: Whenever God wants to perform something extraordinary through a child of God, He puts this gift of faith into that person at that particular time. God could not have wrought miracles and healings through the natural faith of that person. It was with this faith that Peter said to the cripple, “Rise up and walk” and he immediately leapt and walked (Acts 3:6-8). Faith has several aspects:

1. Faith unto salvation (Acts 16:31).

2. Faith for daily needs (Rom.1:17).

3. Healing faith (Jam.5:15).

4. Faith which quickens the dead (Rom.4:18,19).

5. Faith which gives deliverance from temptations, trials, tribulations, dangers etc. (Heb.11:32-34).

6. Faith which foresees future events (Heb.11:22).

7. Faith which helps to live a victorious life (I Jn.5:4). What is faith life? When the Lord Jesus finished His ministry on earth and ascended to heaven commanding His disciples to continue His work, He did not leave behind any material blessing for them. In John 14:1,27, He gave them only the riches of faith and peace. After the New Testament Church was established on the day of Pentecost, by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the New Testament servants of God (servants of God who lived during the apostolic times) continued to abide in this

life of faith. No pay or allowance was given to the apostles or disciples who lived during that time (I Cor.9:9,10). The Lord’s commandment was that they who preach the gospel should live of the gospel (I Cor.9:14; Lk.10:7). The servants of God of the Pentecostal Mission follow this order of faith life. They receive by faith all that they need for their sustenance as food, drink, clothing, faith homes and travelling fare. Just as there are different aspects of faith, there are also different stages of faith. The several steps of faith are:

1. Little Faith: First of all, those who have little faith are always worried about their personal needs (Matt.6:30,31). Secondly, they are afraid of trials and temptations (Matt.8:23-27). Thirdly, they doubt if they will be able to follow Jesus all the way in His footsteps until the end (Matt. 14:28-32). Fourthly, they are unable to understand the sound doctrines and discern the erroneous teachings (Matt. 16:8,12).

2. Great Faith: Great faith is faith that is seen in an extraordinary measure in certain people and on certain occasions, when one would not normally expect it from them. Although a Gentile, the centurion saying that his servant could be healed, if only Jesus gave a command, depicts his great faith (Matt.8:10). It was because this great faith was in the Canaanite woman, that she persistently troubled Jesus, for the healing of her daughter (Matt.15:28).

3. Faith like a mustard seed: Unlike the other seeds, the mustard seed is whole and has no air holes in it. Therefore, faith like a mustard seed, speaks of a firm faith. This faith is needed firstly to minister, to cast out devils and to lead others to salvation (Matt.17:14-21). Secondly, such a faith is needed to forgive and forget, to love our enemies, to bless those who persecute us and to grow in the character of Christ (Lk.17:3-6;23:34).

4. Most Holy Faith: Most Holy Faith is needed to enter the Most Holy Place, that is, Zion and New Jerusalem. This faith helps us to live a victorious life, overcoming sins, evil habits and thoughts. It helps us to rest without conflict in our mind. It also gives us the hope that we can become the Bride of Christ and be holy even as He is holy (Jude 20; I Pet. 1:15,16).

5. Faith of the Son of God:

This is the faith that Jesus the Son of God had when He offered Himself a sacrifice with the hope that it is possible to transform the sinful man into the likeness of God. He believed He can form a Bride for Himself or a perfected group of saints grown unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Through this faith we believe that both we, as well as others can grow to the perfection of Christ and be transformed (Col.1:28). There are different stages of faith. Yet for faith to become precious, it has to go through a trial. Faith is compared to gold. Just as gold is purified and refined, faith too is made precious through fiery trials (I Pet.1:7).