Text: James 1:22-25
Memory verse:
”But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.“
James 1:22 NKJV
When it comes to physical strength, a child cannot ordinarily do what an adult can easily accomplish. Likewise, there are levels of faith, such as no faith, little faith and great faith. Jesus said to His disciples, “… How is it that you have no faith?”“ (Mark 4:40). In another place, He said ”… “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”“ (Matt 14:31). Yet, in another place, He said, ”… “O woman, great is your faith! ….“ (Matt 15:28).
In other words, you can move from no faith to little faith and from little faith to great faith.
While you can pray to increase in faith (Luke 17:5), yet praying alone without doing other things is like praying to grow physically and strong without eating and exercising!
The reason why some people who pray fervently during powerful revival meetings in church don’t still grow in faith is because they don’t go further to feeding and exercising their faith. You feed your faith by reading and meditating on the Word of God and by hearing the preaching of the Word. ”So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.“ (Rom 10:17).
The revelation of the Word of God is the food of the spirit or of faith, just as ‘bread’, that is, physical food feeds the body and knowledge or information feeds the mind. Theology without the Spirit is the acquisition of knowledge about God; knowing about God but not knowing God. Education gives informati, n but the Holy Spirit gives revelation and it is the revelation of the Word that feeds your faith and grows it.
However, if you stop at feeding your faith alone without exercising it, growth in faith will still be hampered. You exercise your faith by going from hearing that ‘powerful sermon’ or having that ‘great revelation’ to being doers of the Word. “Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to God’s Word; instead, put it into practice.” (Jam 1:22 GNT). Be a practitioner of the Word. Be intentional about making the Word that you feed on to be a part of your speech and your actions.
Friends, read and meditate on today’s Word until you get a revelation. Also, have you recently been charged by a particular preaching? Go over your notes or listen to it again until the Holy Spirit ministers personally to you. Then, go ahead and deliberately reflect the Word in your prayers, thoughts, speech and actions today and continuously.
Prayer points
1. Father, I end every self-deception and I receive grace to be a doer of the Word, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, I am determined to grow in faith. Please energize me by Your Spirit, in Jesus’ name.
Today’s declarations
1. Growing in faith is not by chance, therefore I am intentional about it.
2. I am not a self-deceiver, hearer of the Word alone but an addicted practitioner.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng