0607 – General Faith 普遍信心

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Every believer has general faith. We will continue to grow and develop our faith in God based on His word. Sometimes, you will hear Christians share that they are believing God for something and then it didn’t come into fruition. Well, it has to do with their level of faith, whether they have heard from God or are purely just presumptuous.Romans 12:3(NKJV) For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Romans 10:17(NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The general faith is like a muscle that has to be exercised in order for it to get stronger to carry different loads. General faith is in operation when we choose to live a consecrated life.

All of us are given a measure of faith to operate in the spiritual gifts that God has given us, and we are to use it in proportion to our faith. We need to exercise our faith to operate in the gifts that He has given us. Our faith to operate in the gifts gets stronger when we yield to the Holy Spirit and witness His move through our lives.

What are the hindrances to general faith?

Matthew 13:57-58(NKJV) So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

There is nothing much that God can do if there is unbelief in the heart of the people. Jesus is telling us that the faith of men or the unbelief of men does play a part in seeing mighty works in our midst. If the people in the olden times had unbelief because Jesus was a carpenter’s son from their town, then how much more challenging it is for us to believe that a mighty move of God can work among us today! WE NEED TO DEAL WITH UNBELIEF.

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

There will be many opportunities for us to give up on the promises that God has given us when we are operating in the general faith. In this case, Peter received a word from God to walk on water which he did, but he started to doubt when he saw the wind and the waves. Doubt will hinder us from receiving from the Lord. Facts, figures and reports will cause us to doubt the ability of God! We need to battle the doubts and unbelief by choosing to stand on the Word that God has given to us. Believing in God’s Word will strengthen our general faith.

Sermon Series: CG Campaign – Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow (Part 5)


普遍信心

信 就是所望之事的实底, 是未见之事的确据。 每个信徒都有普遍信心。藉着神的话语,我们在主里的信心会继续不断增长并蒙建造。有时候你会听到基督徒分享,他们在某事上信靠了神,可后来却没见到果效。然而,他们是否听见神向他们说话 或 纯粹只是自以为是, 这和他们的信心程度和层次有关。

罗马书 12: 3 我凭着所赐我的恩,对你们各人说:不要看自己过于所当看的,要照着神所分给各人信心的大小,看得合乎中道。

罗马书10:17 可见信道是从听道来的,听道是从基督的话来的。

普遍信心好比一块需要锻炼的肌肉,这样它才能变得更强壮,可以承载不同的负荷。当我们选择过分别为圣的生活,普遍信心就得以运作。

神赐给我们每人不同大小的信心,来启动神赐给我们的属灵恩赐,我们要照着神所分给各人信心的大小,来运用这属灵恩赐。要启动神赐给我们的恩赐,我们需要操练我们的信心。当我们顺从圣灵的带领并见证圣灵在我们生命中运行,我们启动恩赐的信心就会越发坚固。

什么是普遍信心的阻碍?

马太福音 13:57-58 他们就厌弃他〔“厌弃他” 原文作“因他跌倒”〕。耶稣对他们说:“大凡先知,除了本地本家之外,没有不被人尊敬的。” 耶稣因为他们不信,就在那里不多行异能了。

倘若人们心存不信,神的工作就不能临到。主耶稣告诉我们,能否看见神在我们当中的伟大奇妙作为,人的信心或者人的不信确实起了作用。如果古代的人因着耶稣是本地木匠的儿子而心存不信,那么要我们相信在今日神的奇妙作为可以在我们中间运行, 这更是何等大的挑战!我们需要对付心中的不信。

马太福音 14:31 耶稣赶紧伸手拉住他,说:“你这小信的人哪,为甚么疑惑呢?”

当我们在普遍信心里运作时,将有很多机会使我们放弃神赐给我们的应许。在这段经文里,彼得从神领受了话语,叫他在水面上走,于是他照行了,可是当他看见风浪甚大,就开始疑惑。疑惑会阻挠我们领受主的恩赐。事实、数字和报导会使我们对神的能力产生疑惑!我们要和疑惑与不信争战,选择站立在神赐给我们的话语上。信靠神的话语将坚固我们的普遍信心。

讲章系列: 细胞小组活动 – 教会通过属灵恩赐得以成长 (5)