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How to measure your faith

How to measure your faith. The meaning of faith. Whoever has faith in something is loyal to this thing. Whoever has faith in something is faithful to it. Whoever has faith in something trusts in it. Whoever has faith in something believes in it.

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How to measure your faith

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  1. How to measure your faith

  2. The meaning of faith • Whoever has faith in something is loyalto this thing. • Whoever has faith in something is faithful to it. • Whoever has faith in something trusts in it. • Whoever has faith in something believes in it. • Whoever has faith in something has hope and anticipation. • Whoever has faith in something has acceptance. • Whoever has faith in something has complete submission. Whoever has faith in God has loyalty, faithfulness, trust, believe in Him, hope & anticipation, acceptance, and complete submission.

  3. 1) FAITH BY OFFERING “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice…” Hebrews 11:4 Measure your faith by offering to God: tithes, love, serving, prayer, fasting, etc. Offering worship through respect and love. Wrong way to worship: distracted prayer, giving tithes reluctantly or without faith, not wanting to serve people or sacrifice for others. “And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And if you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it now unto your governor; will he be pleased with you, or accept your person? Said the Lord of hosts.” Mal 1:8

  4. Meaning of faith by offering Faith is the support of all actions like prayer, giving, and serving. The faith of Abel to offer only the BEST to God. ”Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering.” Genesis 4:4

  5. 2) Faith by fear “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household.” Hebrews 11:7 Measure of faith if fear is holy fear. Like Joseph when he ran from temptation in fear of sinning in front of God with Potiphar’s wife. ”How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Gen 39:9

  6. Those who fear God will run away from sin and gossip. • “In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; and by fear of the Lord one departs from evil.” Proverbs 16:6 • “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.” Proverbs 15:33 • “The fear of the Lord expels sin.” Sirach 1:27

  7. He who believes that God is in front of him, that God is holy and hates sin is just and rewards everyone according to his deeds, fears to err in front of God, is ashamed to do any wrong, and is ashamed to hurt the heart of the loving God; if he believes in God's love! Here the apostle says: “Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him." (1 John 3:6). For sure, he who sins doesn't have in mind that God sees, hears and records everything during committing sin... and for sure he who does wrong doesn't completely believe that there is a God who “Gives freedom to the prisoners.” (Ps 146:7) hence, if one says to the oppressor “God is present” then he fears and trembles.

  8. 3) Faith by obedience “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8 Faith is measured by obedience to God. To obey is a commandment of God. ”For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14 You must obey at all costs, no matter how difficult the situation you must obey God.

  9. This is what John the evangelist teaches us “Now by this we know that we know Him.” How? “If we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him ” (1 John 2:3-4). Faith is tested through a life of obedience to God's commandments, and he who does not have this obedience is not considered a believer of Truth, and can not claim to know God.

  10. 4) Faith by dispassion “By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents.” Hebrews 11:9 Do not seek prestige, money, to be honored, etc. How would you feel if you are a sojourner in life? Sojourner to money, passions, etc. “while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal”. 2co 4:18

  11. 5) Faith by patience “For he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:10 Joyfully and patiently longing for your chance to go to heaven. Keeping your thoughts on heavenly and not earthly things. “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2

  12. 6) Faith by blessing “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.” Hebrews 11:20 Do you believe the name of God has power? Do you know the power of prayer for others? Do you believe the power of blessing when you ask a priest to bless you, just like how Esau and Jacob fought over the blessing of their father. Do you believe that when you serve you receive blessings. Faith makes you able to serve all people.

  13. 7) faith BY COURAGE “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.” Hebrews 11:23 You will not fear people, situations, death, future, sickness, the unknown, etc. David the prophet says, “Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against me, In this I will be confident.” (Ps 27:3) and if you ask him about the reason of this attitude, then he answers in the same Psalm “The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps 27: 1). David experienced God, His help and His protection. When evil men advanced towards him to devour his flesh he said “When the wicked came against me …They stumbled and fell.” (Ps 27:2).

  14. He does not receive his tranquility from the external circumstances surrounding him, but he receives his tranquility from God's work in these circumstances and in him. If you have this faith, that God is with you, you shall not fear even if an army besieges you, or if war breaks against you, and even if you walk in the valley of the shadow of death. David, the man of faith, when he entered the war he let God enter with him, and he invoked the spirit of faith and peace in the hearts of men of war with his saying: “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?… Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine” (1 Sam, 17:26,32), and he told the Philistine “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel” (1 Sam. 17:45), that means: you come to me with the seen and I come to you with He who is unseen.

  15. 8) Faith by refusing “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.” Hebrews 11:24-25 By faith Moses refused Pharaoh; in the same way, we should refuse alcohol, ungodly talk, improper dress, wrong actions/thoughts, prejudice, etc.

  16. 9) Faith by choice “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.” Hebrews 11:25 Choosing serving over relaxing. Choosing fasting over eating. Choosing reading the Bible over going out with friends. Choosing to win your brother rather than fighting about money. Choosing prayer over sleeping.

  17. 10) Faith by fleeing ”By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:27 Flee from laziness, lust, lying, power, etc. St. Annasimone chose rather to flee and be unknown and poor than to be under control and authority of the king. A good example are the kings who forsook royalty and honor for God. (St. Arsenious, St. Anthony, Sts. Maximus & Dometius, etc.)

  18. fruits of faith The importance of faith lies in its association with many virtues. The fruits of faith are strength, peace, courage, and tranquility. Its fruits are a life of purity and righteousness, a life of submission and devotion to God, a life of prayer and many other virtues.

  19. Glory be to God forever. Amen

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