Let us take time to reflect on a few considerations regarding our faith as believers. We should take care to evaluate earnestly and without deceiving ourselves in regards to the need to grow our faith even after accepting Jesus as Lord.

• Just believing that Jesus was historically real, and was God come to dwell among us is not a saving faith. Even having fear of God does not mean you have saving faith. Even Satan and his demons believe these things.

James 2:19

19You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

• We must truly in our hearts believe that Jesus Christ is God and submit to Him as Lord over our life. We turn from our old ways and seek to live according to His ways. This requires more than claiming to submit to Him with our words or doing good works in His name.  Our decisions in life are to be based on His will and His ways rather than our desires. If nothing in your life changes after you claim to submit to Jesus as Lord, it should be a red flag to you that you should pray and search more deeply to test if you really have committed to Him wholeheartedly or are just claiming the name.

Matthew 7:21-23

   21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

• Even once we are truly followers of Christ, we have further to go in growing our faith. Do not grow complacent. Even Jesus’ disciples as He walked among them had further to grow in their faith.

Matthew 17:14-23

The Demoniac

      14When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, 15“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16“I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” 17And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once.

      19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” 20And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 21[“But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”]

• Of course, another phase we can look forward to as a natural progression of our faith and walk with Christ as Lord… the in filling of the Holy Spirit that brings with it much power. A good demonstration of this impact is perhaps to consider Peter before Pentecost and after Pentecost. Peter had faith in both cases, but he was transformed from his condition before the Spirit (e.g. he denied Christ 3 times when Jesus was taken into custody before crucifixion) to a powerful and bold servant of Christ after he was infilled by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 22:37-47

      37Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39“For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

      43Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

We all need help from the Father. That is why He sends the Holy Spirit as our Helper. Pray for the Father’s help to grow your faith and fill you with the Spirit. Ask Him to show you where you are not being faithful and fully submitted. Connect with someone you trust who can also help hold you accountable as to your actions and attitudes lining up with the instructions of our Lord. Stay connected to the Lord in prayer and submitted to Him in all aspects of your life.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.