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How Much Faith Is Enough?

Have You Thought of This? A Word to the Wise...

by Barry Kenavan

Jesus Christ said the mustard seed "is the least of all the seeds"(Matthew 13:32 ). But He compared our faith to this tiny seed in Matthew 17:20, saying, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

A seed needs to be planted and watered so that it grows to its fullest potential and produces fruit. Do we need to do the same thing with faith? Or should we be content with what we already have?

Let's take the quiz below to see what the Bible says about faith.

Yes

No

Does the Bible describe faith and tell us what it is? Hebrews 11:1; Romans 8:24-25.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Romans 8:24-25
24) For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25) But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Are degrees of faith mentioned in the Bible? (Continue the quiz to see if you are correct.)

Is it possible to have no faith? Mark 4:40; Luke 18:8.

Mark 4:40
But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

Luke 18:8
I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

Were the disciples corrected for having little faith? Matthew 6:30; 8:26 ; 14:31.

Matthew 6:30
Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 8:26
But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

Matthew 14:31
And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Did some people show great faith? Luke 7:9; Matthew 15:28.

Luke 7:9
When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"

Matthew 15:28
Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Can faith be described as weak? Romans 14:1.

Romans 14:1
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

Can a little faith help us accomplish anything? Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:6.

Matthew 17:20
So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Luke 17:6
So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, "Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

Is there room for my faith to grow and increase? Luke 17:5; 2 Corinthians 10:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:3.

Luke 17:5
And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."

2 Corinthians 10:15
not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,

2 Thessalonians 1:3
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

Is it possible to lose or shipwreck my faith? 1 Timothy 1:19.

1 Timothy 1:19
having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

Can we have faith without actions or deeds? 1 Thessalonians 1:3; James 2:14-20.

1 Thessalonians 1:3
remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,

James 2:14-20
14) What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15) If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16) and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17) Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18) But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19) You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20) But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Can we please God without having faith in Him? Hebrews 11:6.

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Should faith be based on what we see? John 20:24-29; 2 Corinthians 5:7.

John 20:24-29
24) Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25) The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord."
So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
26) And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" 27) Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."
28) And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29) Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Does faith help us understand that God created this world? Hebrews 11:3; Psalm 33:6-9.

Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Psalm 33:6-9
6) By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
7) He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deep in storehouses.
8) Let all the earth fear the LORD;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9) For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.

Is faith all I need, with no requirement to act on it? James 2:21-26.

James 2:21-26
21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22) Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23) And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. 24) You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25) Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Scriptures quoted are from the New Kings James Version Bible.



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