Dr. Stanley tells us that everyone has some form of faith, and that it affects the way we live. A non-believer’s faith is self-directed while a believer’s faith is God-directed. Dr. Stanley explains how we can progress to a level of great faith so our Christian life will take on a stronger, more exciting purpose. For more messages from Charles Stanley, including this week’s broadcast, go to intouch.org/tv.
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in touch with Dr Charles Stanley
reaching the world with the Gospel of
Jesus Christ through sound Biblical
teaching next on InTouch levels of faith
in the life of the believer
when You Face difficulties and trials
and hardships in life how do you respond
you respond with doubt and fear and
anxiety and fretting or do you respond
by faith
and if you respond by faith what level
of Faith you say what do you mean by
what level of Faith that’s right what
level of faith
you say well how do you know what these
levels are we’re going to talk about it
how do you distinguish one from the
other what does it mean in my life how
does it affect my life speaking of
levels of Faith well we all operate on
one of three levels of faith and the
longer you live certainly the more faith
you and I ought to have and the higher
up these levels we ought to go in our
faith but some people will stay all of
their lives on the lowest level because
number one maybe they don’t even know
that there are levels of faith and
secondly
too afraid to launch out to too fearful
to trust God and so what happens is you
go through life and you miss his best
because you never grow in your faith and
that’s what I want to talk about in this
message and that is the levels of faith
in the life of the believer and it’s
very evident in Scripture that faith is
very very important in the eyes of God
and he sees Faith as very important in
our life and so what we want to talk
about in this message is this
how to raise your faith level
how to get in a position where you and
your relationship to God and the way you
trust him will position you listen to be
able to be blessed to the maximum of
your potential because
the way you trust him determines the way
the blessings come you don’t trust him
you don’t get blessed you trust him you
get blessed and the more you trust him
and the way that you’re able to walk in
these levels of Faith the greater the
blessings are coming your way think
about how absolutely essential and
important faith is and let’s think about
it in this life if you look at the life
of Jesus look at his ministry here’s
what you discover you discover that the
theme of Faith permeated the whole
Ministry of Jesus no matter what and I
want to give you a few verses of
scripture and I won’t have you turn to
all of these because I have enough of
you to turn to but I want you to think
about some of these verses for example
you find in the scriptures concerning
his Healing Ministry listen to what he
is continuously saying when he’s
confronting people whether they’re
paralyzed or they’re blind or or
whatever the situation may be listen for
example
in Matthew 9 he says to this lady
daughter your faith has made you well
then in Matthew 15 oh woman your faith
is great be it done unto you as you wish
in the fifth second chapter of Mark when
these fellas are
tearing up the roof of this man’s house
and letting their friend down by ropes
so that he can finally get to Jesus and
be healed Jesus said to him seeing their
faith my son your sins are forgiven
then he says in Mark 10 to Bartimaeus
the blind beggar go your way your faith
has made you whole and again he says
your faith has saved you receive your
sights your faith has made you well be
it done unto you according to your faith
all through the gospels Matthew Mark and
Luke especially what you find is Jesus
that theme of his relationship to these
people this needy people who have a
health problem whatever it might be it’s
always listen based on their Faith
remember he said on occasion he couldn’t
do any miracles in a particular place
because of their unbelief they didn’t
have any faith they wouldn’t trust him
and oftentimes you and I miss out on
God’s best blessings because we won’t
trust them we don’t believe that he
loves us we don’t believe that he will
provide our needs we don’t believe that
he’ll heal us we don’t believe that he
cares that much for us but if you look
at his ministry what was he continually
saying it was listen it was trust him
faith faith faith faith faith so if
that’s true in his ministry and his day
if it was so important that he magnified
the subject of Faith nothing’s changed
because you see in our lifestyle In Our
Lifetime and the culture in which we
live it makes no difference what
generation of what culture Faith
permeates every aspect of our life so
either we will live on this lower level
of Faith or we’ll graduate and we’ll
listen we’ll grow in our faith in our
understanding and what will happen is
your life’s going to change once you
move from level one and you begin to
operate on level two and on level three
your life’s going to change what are
these levels of Faith how do we
distinguish between them what does God
say about them that’s what I want us to
consider primarily so I want to give you
listen I want to give you a level then
I’m going to give you a word so you can
remember it and the first level listen
the first level in scripture of faith is
little faith little faith and I want you
to remember this little faith is
Restless faith little faith is wrestling
little faith for example is saying I
know he can but I’m not sure he will
little faith is struggling struggling
because
it’s a whole new perspective on on the
way we live
you remember what James said he that
waivers like like The Winds of the sea
blowing hither and yawn tossed to and
fro he says don’t let that person think
they’re going to receive anything from
God because God does not honor that kind
of Faith does this mean watch this
carefully does this mean that God will
never answer your prayers unless you
reach the third level of Faith no it
doesn’t mean that it means that your
lifestyle is going to change it means
it’s a relationship it means it’s your
request that it means that you’re you’re
fretting and your anxiety and your
questions and your doubts are going to
disappear and God’s going to do
something absolutely fantastic in your
life why because he wants the best for
you he doesn’t want us living on this
particular level but this is this is
level one
and I want you to listen carefully the
reason people stay on level one
wrestling faith that is struggling faith
laboring faith is because their focus is
on the circumstances and their focus is
on themselves their resources what they
think they can do and when you listen
when your focused
is on your circumstances and your focus
is on yourself your focus is on your
resources you’re not going to be able to
believe God for much it’s just not going
to happen because all of us have limited
resources whether it’s abilities and
talents and skills or finances and so as
long as you’re as long as you’re asking
and your belief system you’re on level
one it is the level of struggle
uncertainty doubts laboring and what
happens you’re going to find that what
you’re really looking for in life is
always seems to be a little bit beyond
you so what you have to realize is this
you have to ask yourself the question
where’s my focus
listen to this carefully God doesn’t
want you living on the level of little
faith struggling laboring wrestling over
at all will he maybe he will maybe he
won’t now here is a perfect example of
that and um
because if you look in the scriptures
they’re all kind of examples of how
Jesus operating people’s lives but look
if you will in Mark chapter 9 for a
moment here’s a perfect example of of
how this happens
thank you
you recall that In this passage for
example
that um
verse 20.
they brought the boy to him when he saw
him immediately that the spirit
threw him into a convulsion and falling
to the ground he began rolling around
and foaming at the mouth
and he asked his father
how long has this been happening to him
and he said from childhood now watch
these next couple of verses it’s been
happening all of his life
it has often thrown him both Into the
Fire and into the water to destroy him
watch this but if you can as a father
speaking but if you can do anything take
pity on us and help us and listen to
Jesus response
and Jesus said to him if you can all
things are possible to him who believe
this is not what Jesus said listen to
the tone of my voice
if you can all things are possible in
that’s not what he said he said if you
if you can help us have opinions and
Jesus said what do you mean if you can
all things are possible to him who
believes and immediately the boy’s
father cried out and said I do believe
help mine believe perfect example of
what kind of faith
come on wake up what kind of faith
little faith and little faith is what
kind of faith
wrestling Faith struggling faith
laboring faith he said Lord I do believe
help my unbelief now all of us have been
there at some point in time or the other
and this is not to say that you will
never hit a circumstance at which you
won’t maybe feel that there are
situations and circumstances that try
our faith and God understands that but
he doesn’t want us staying there we may
hit one of those but he wants us to do
what to move from Level number one of
struggling wrestling laboring Faith to
level number two and that is a perfect
example of being there immediately the
boy’s father cried out and said I do
believe help my unbelief what was he
saying he was simply saying you know I’m
believing you but I’m having a hard time
at it I’m struggling and God honored
that now watch this carefully so I want
to say again that does not mean that God
won’t answer your prayer when you are in
level number one struggling because he
understands why you’re there now the
truth is if you stay there then you
don’t expect God’s best that’s not where
that’s not where he wants you he wants
you moving up
which brings us listen to level number
two so think about this level number two
we’ve moved from little faith now to
great faith great faith is reaching
Faith great faith is not willing to stay
on level one
listen great faith is not willing to
state in that way you labor and wrestle
and you doubt and you fear and you’re
full of anxiety great faith is willing
to reach out it’s reaching Faith
reaching Faith now you say well what’s
reaching Faith well this is Faith
maturing faith is beginning to mature
now Faith now is listen beginning to
stand on the truth of God’s word
great faith is willing to believe what
God said because that’s what he said it
doesn’t need to prove if that’s what God
Said then he believes that God will do
it and this Faith listen is focused on
God not on the circumstances great faith
is focused on God not the circumstances
which means whenever you’re in a
situation or circumstance whatever it
might be your focus can’t be on the
circumstance how big it is how long it’s
been how bad it is how deep it is uh how
wrong it is that’s not the issue the
issues who is this God with whom I’m
dealing this God Is Bigger Than all my
circumstances this God has the power to
listen this God has the power to change
any circumstance in my life no matter
what it is great faith is Faith it’s
what it’s beginning to reach out now
let’s look at let’s look at a few
scriptures here because if you think
about this whole issue of great faith
where does he talk about great faith so
let’s go back to Matthew chapter eight
for a moment Matthew chapter 8 and let’s
look at a few verses here
eighth chapter of Matthew
and um
let’s look if you will
at this fifth verse the Centurion and
when Jesus ended capernauma Centurion
came to him imploring him and saying
Lord my servant is lying paralyzed at
home fearfully tormented Jesus said to
him I’ll come and heal him man that’s a
fantastic response I’ll come in healing
but the Centurion said Lord I’m not
worthy of you to come unto my roof but
just say the word and my servant will be
healed can you say that Lord Jesus just
say the word just give me a verse of
scripture just speak to my heart just
make it just say the word my sermon be
healed for I also my man under Authority
with soldiers unto me and I say to this
one go and he goes and to another come
and he comes into my slave do this and
he does it now when Jesus heard this he
marveled and said to those who were
following truly I say to you I have not
found such great faith
with anyone in this world he was saying
you know he’s Gentiles have more faith
than you Israelites and your sons and
daughters of Abraham
so he says I’m not seeing such great
faith turn to the 15th chapter of
Matthew and look if you will
and um
this um let’s go back a few verses here
this is the sirophenician woman let’s
look if you will in uh verse 22 and a
Canaanite woman from that region came
and began to cry out saying have mercy
on me Lord son of David my daughter is
cruelly demon-possessed but he did not
answer her a word and his disciples came
and implored him saying send her away
she keeps shouting at us
but he answered and said I was and only
the lost sheep of the House of Israel
but she came and began to bow down
before him saying Lord help me the Anson
said it’s not good to take the
children’s bread and throw it to the
dogs now that’s a pretty strong
statement because he was saying you know
I’ve come for my own people the Jews
testing her look at this but she said
yes Lord but even the dogs feed on the
crumbs which fall from the master’s
table then Jesus said to her o woman
your faith is great it shall be done for
you as you wish and our daughter was
healed at once you know why she didn’t
give up great faith doesn’t give up
great faith today does not listen to
people’s unwise counsel and Jesus was
testing her and so oftentimes we’re
going to get tested and what happens
either we listen to other people or we
go by our feelings or we go by our
reason or we go by sight God wants us to
go by his word great faith doesn’t give
up great great faith hangs in there no
matter what and great faith gets the
answer level two is christ-centered
level two is God oriented level two does
not focus on circumstances you said you
said that about five times right you
know why because that’s what the devil
wants to do get you focused on your
circumstances rather than on God level
number three
level number three is perfect faith
level three is resting faith not
struggling and laboring not reaching
resting Faith perfect faith says
it’s a done deal
we say that sounds rather presumptuous
no it’s not I want you to turn if you
will back to mark
chapter 11.
Mark chapter 11.
What’s Happening Here is that Jesus
cursed his fig tree and the next day
they came by and the disciples were
absolutely amazed and uh verse 20 says
and they were passionate by in the
morning and they saw the fig tree with
with it from The Roots up
and being reminded Peter said to him
Rabbi look the Fig Tree which you cursed
us with it and Jesus answered and said
to them have faith in God this isn’t
amazing how Jesus has these short terse
pointed Unforgettable inescapable
answers to something that we have these
big problems with what did he say said
have faith in God look at this things
think this thing is cursed from The
Roots up what’s happened have faith in
God now watch this truly I say to you
whoever says to the mountain be taken up
and cast unto the sea and there’s not
doubt in his heart but believes that
what he is saying is going to happen
it’ll be granted him now watch this next
verse he listened and say Amen
therefore I say to you all things
for which you pray
and ask
believe that you have received them past
tense and they will be granted to you
so that doesn’t maybe that’s a mistake
it’s not a mistake here’s what he says
level three is resting faith not
struggling and laboring not reaching
resting Faith level three brings you to
the to the level in your life where you
ask him
and you have you can stand on his word
in absolute Assurance you know God’s
will about that and you know what it is
perfect faith says this
not only can he
it’s a done deal it’s already done
no more fretting no more anxiety no more
worry no more no manipulation no more
trying to work it out figure it out
make it happen
perfect faith says
it’s a done deal with God
where does God want our faith to be
struggling
anxious trying to feel better getting
over depression is that we want you no
it’s not where he wants you I’ll tell
you where he wants you
he wants us moving from level one
to level two to level three will you
start out with level three most of the
time not but here’s what happens you
don’t stay on level one but a very brief
moment of time
you move to level two
and then as you grow in your faith you
know what happens you’ll be living on
level three most of the time you know
why because here’s what here’s the
reason because you have accepted that he
is who he says he is
he is as wise as he says he is he is as
powerful he says he is
he loves you unconditionally like he
says he does
and therefore you have no reason to
death
and you think about this you may not be
a Christian
that you realize
what you believe about Jesus Christ is
going to determine your whole Eternal
Destiny where you’re going to spend
eternity
nothing else but that determines it
that’s why it is so serious that you and
I consider our faith and for all of us
who are believers
our rewards in heaven you know what
what’s what they’re going to hinge on
our faith
that we trust him enough to believe in
did we trust him enough to take that
decision did we trust him enough to
follow him hey did we trust him enough
to take this challenge here did we trust
him enough to be obedient when it was
difficult all of our awards are going to
come ultimately by our faith because our
actions are a result of our faith
that’s why it is so important that you
and I examine our faith look at
ourselves
have I trusted Jesus Christ as my savior
am I walking in faith am I struggling
down here cheating myself out of the
blessings that God has already stored up
for me
simply because
I’ve never passed the struggling
wrestling laboring faith
oh God take me to level number two God
take me to level number three you know
what he’ll do here’s what he’ll do he’ll
give you enough tests
grow up your faith
and then one of these days most of your
decisions will be
perfect faith
if you’ll trust him
all right