Exceedingly Growing Faith

emekrus

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We are bound to thank God always for you brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth”—2Thessalonians 1:3

The word “exceedingly” is from the Greek word, ‘perissos’ meaning—Superabundant in quantity or superior in quality. And by implication, it means to be excessive.

In the context of our opening text above, exceedingly growing faith refers not to faith growing in superabundant quantity. But rather, it refers to faith growing or manifesting in excessive or superior quality.

The above conclusion is drawn from the biblical fact that every believer in Christ Jesus already has the superabundant quantity or measure of faith given to him or her at salvation…

When someone accepts Jesus as his Lord and personal saviour, he receives the same quantity or measure of faith as every other believer before him (see Romans 12:3).

So in the context of the opening text, when the Apostle Paul talks of exceedingly growing faith, he is not referring to growth in terms of increase in size or quantity…

Because every believer already have the mountain moving size or quantity of faith, deposited in him at salvation. Even though many believers have not yet realized this scriptural truth.

When the Apostle Paul refers to exceedingly growing faith in the lives of the Thessalonian believers, he was referring to the super abounding or excessive manifestation of their God given faith at salvation…

Because it’s not every believer with the super abounding quantity of faith, that actually have their faith growing (manifesting) exceedingly.

For so many believers, their faith manifests so very little. While for some others, their faith grows or manifests normally. Then for some other Christians their faith grows or manifests exceedingly.

Now let’s take a practical analogy to better understand this scriptural concept of exceedingly growing faith…

Now I can have an electric bulb of a particular Watt power. This bulb has all the capacity to produce as much light as any other bulb of the same wattage. But yet it could be producing lesser illumination than it is supposed to…

Then at some other time, the same bulb could also be producing normal light that it is supposed to produce. While at some other time, the same bulb can also produce excessive illumination. All these variations in the quality of light produced by this electric bulb can easily be traced to the voltage of electric current it receives per time.

Exceedingly growing faith can also be likened to the electric bulb example above. Every believer in Christ Jesus has the mounting moving faith given to him at salvation…

Yet some believers can only move little pieces of stones with their faith (little growing faith). While some other group of believers can also with the same measure of faith move big rocks (normally growing faith). Then some other group of believers can as well engage the same measure of faith to move mountains…

The believers that can engage their measure of faith to move mountains or great mountains can be referred to as having exceedingly growing or manifesting faith.

But however, unlike the electric bulb with excessive illumination or light, which can be traced to only the voltage rate, exceedingly growing faith is a function of a number of scriptural keys. These keys to exceedingly growing faith will be discussed in another post.

In this article, we’ll be exploring the features that make up or constitute exceedingly growing faith. We want to study and understand the attributes or attitudes of a believer who is said to be having exceedingly growing faith. So we may engage our faith to receive such attributes as well…

Why? Because such attributes are commendable godly attributes as we can understand from the opening text.

The Features of Exceedingly Growing Faith

A believer with an exceedingly growing faith is not the one that doesn’t face any hard time or difficulty in life or his spiritual walk. But rather, he can be recognised by how he handles hard times or adversity that comes his way per time.

Here is exactly what the Apostle Paul says concerning the believers with exceedingly growing faith:

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure”—2 Thessalonians 1:3-4

From the above scripture, it is clear that we can recognise a believer with an exceedingly growing faith, by his patience and faith amidst persecutions and tribulations.

A believer with an exceedingly growing faith is not identified by how many scripture he quotes, or how much faith he professes when everything is going well or rosy. He is not identified by how much zeal or excitement he displays when everyone is in harmony with him.

But rather, he is recognised by his affirmation, profession, attitude, patience, perseverance, tolerance and confidence or assurance in God amidst strong oppositions or afflictions.

Many Christians can believe a number of truth from scriptures, and profess them with all fervour, but when they face some serious persecution or adversity, they waiver in their profession, and eventually give up on the faith they have zealously professed amongst so many witnesses.

Then in the extreme cases, some even give up completely on God and become renegades or agnostic.

Scripturally, attitudes of the woman with the dead baby (with Elisha), Daniel, the three Hebrew boys and Jesus in the face of death, are good instances of exceedingly growing faith.

Remain Blessed!

Emeke Odili.
 

Si_monfaith

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We are bound to thank God always for you brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth”—2Thessalonians 1:3

The word “exceedingly” is from the Greek word, ‘perissos’ meaning—Superabundant in quantity or superior in quality. And by implication, it means to be excessive.

In the context of our opening text above, exceedingly growing faith refers not to faith growing in superabundant quantity. But rather, it refers to faith growing or manifesting in excessive or superior quality.

The above conclusion is drawn from the biblical fact that every believer in Christ Jesus already has the superabundant quantity or measure of faith given to him or her at salvation…

When someone accepts Jesus as his Lord and personal saviour, he receives the same quantity or measure of faith as every other believer before him (see Romans 12:3).

So in the context of the opening text, when the Apostle Paul talks of exceedingly growing faith, he is not referring to growth in terms of increase in size or quantity…

Because every believer already have the mountain moving size or quantity of faith, deposited in him at salvation. Even though many believers have not yet realized this scriptural truth.

When the Apostle Paul refers to exceedingly growing faith in the lives of the Thessalonian believers, he was referring to the super abounding or excessive manifestation of their God given faith at salvation…

Because it’s not every believer with the super abounding quantity of faith, that actually have their faith growing (manifesting) exceedingly.

For so many believers, their faith manifests so very little. While for some others, their faith grows or manifests normally. Then for some other Christians their faith grows or manifests exceedingly.

Now let’s take a practical analogy to better understand this scriptural concept of exceedingly growing faith…

Now I can have an electric bulb of a particular Watt power. This bulb has all the capacity to produce as much light as any other bulb of the same wattage. But yet it could be producing lesser illumination than it is supposed to…

Then at some other time, the same bulb could also be producing normal light that it is supposed to produce. While at some other time, the same bulb can also produce excessive illumination. All these variations in the quality of light produced by this electric bulb can easily be traced to the voltage of electric current it receives per time.

Exceedingly growing faith can also be likened to the electric bulb example above. Every believer in Christ Jesus has the mounting moving faith given to him at salvation…

Yet some believers can only move little pieces of stones with their faith (little growing faith). While some other group of believers can also with the same measure of faith move big rocks (normally growing faith). Then some other group of believers can as well engage the same measure of faith to move mountains…

The believers that can engage their measure of faith to move mountains or great mountains can be referred to as having exceedingly growing or manifesting faith.

But however, unlike the electric bulb with excessive illumination or light, which can be traced to only the voltage rate, exceedingly growing faith is a function of a number of scriptural keys. These keys to exceedingly growing faith will be discussed in another post.

In this article, we’ll be exploring the features that make up or constitute exceedingly growing faith. We want to study and understand the attributes or attitudes of a believer who is said to be having exceedingly growing faith. So we may engage our faith to receive such attributes as well…

Why? Because such attributes are commendable godly attributes as we can understand from the opening text.

The Features of Exceedingly Growing Faith

A believer with an exceedingly growing faith is not the one that doesn’t face any hard time or difficulty in life or his spiritual walk. But rather, he can be recognised by how he handles hard times or adversity that comes his way per time.

Here is exactly what the Apostle Paul says concerning the believers with exceedingly growing faith:

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure”—2 Thessalonians 1:3-4

From the above scripture, it is clear that we can recognise a believer with an exceedingly growing faith, by his patience and faith amidst persecutions and tribulations.

A believer with an exceedingly growing faith is not identified by how many scripture he quotes, or how much faith he professes when everything is going well or rosy. He is not identified by how much zeal or excitement he displays when everyone is in harmony with him.

But rather, he is recognised by his affirmation, profession, attitude, patience, perseverance, tolerance and confidence or assurance in God amidst strong oppositions or afflictions.

Many Christians can believe a number of truth from scriptures, and profess them with all fervour, but when they face some serious persecution or adversity, they waiver in their profession, and eventually give up on the faith they have zealously professed amongst so many witnesses.

Then in the extreme cases, some even give up completely on God and become renegades or agnostic.

Scripturally, attitudes of the woman with the dead baby (with Elisha), Daniel, the three Hebrew boys and Jesus in the face of death, are good instances of exceedingly growing faith.

Remain Blessed!

Emeke Odili.

Are you speaking about faith which causes victory or one which God causes and uses to bring about victory as the fulfilment of His plans?
 
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emekrus

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Are you speaking about faith which causes victory or one which God causes and uses to bring about victory as the fulfilment of His plans?
I am actually speaking of both in exceedingly growing dimension.

And by the way... the two kinds of faith you mentioned are from God.
 
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Si_monfaith

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I am actually speaking of both in exceedingly growing dimension.

And by the way... the two kinds of faith you mentioned are from God.

Do you mean to say humans create plans, fulfill them and thus change God's plans?
 
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emekrus

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Does prayer or faith change God's plan?

From scriptures we see that God changed his plan as a result of people's prayers.

Example, you remember Hezekiah and the City of Nineveh.

So scripturally, yes our prayers can change God's plan.
 
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Si_monfaith

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From scriptures we see that God changed his plan as a result of people's prayers.

Example, you remember Hezekiah and the City of Nineveh.

So scripturally, yes our prayers can change God's plan.

Abraham lied about his wife rather than seek God for protection to his life. He didn't pray.

However God protected his life, restored sarah, gave wealth and punished abimelech. Genesis 20.

God's plan in Christ was fulfilled. Purpose of prayer and faith isn't to earn victory but to commune with God and proclaim that God's plan in Christ will be fulfilled.
 
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emekrus

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Abraham lied about his wife rather than seek God for protection to his life. He didn't pray.

However God protected his life, restored sarah, gave wealth and punished abimelech. Genesis 20.

God's plan in Christ was fulfilled. Purpose of prayer and faith isn't to earn victory but to commune with God and proclaim that God's plan in Christ will be fulfilled.
Christ already knew the will of the Father. Yet he prayed to the Father, very close to the time of his death.
He prayed the Father in case there could be other way out apart from his death on the cross.

But from the outcome, it was obvious there was no other way out except his death on the cross. So Christ didn't have any choice than accept the cross.

But on the other hand, Hezekiah made his case with God and God had to add extra 15years to his age. How about that?

It was God's plan to destroy the City of Nineveh. But on hearing Jonah's word they sought the Lord and of course, God repented of the evil he planned to do them. How about this as well?

So I believe we can toe the same line concerning the plan of God if it challenges us so much.

As we seek the Lord out, he may give us face like Hezekiah.

Or he may as well insist. If he insists, Like the Lord Jesus Christ, we have to humbly let his will be done.

But however, we have the children privilege to negotiate with our Abba Father concerning every issue.
 
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Si_monfaith

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Christ already knew the will of the Father. Yet he prayed to the Father, very close to the time of his death.
He prayed the Father in case there could be other way out apart from his death on the cross.

But from the outcome, it was obvious there was no other way out except his death on the cross. So Christ didn't have any choice than accept the cross.

But on the other hand, Hezekiah made his case with God and God had to add extra 15years to his age. How about that?

It was God's plan to destroy the City of Nineveh. But on hearing Jonah's word they sought the Lord and of course, God repented of the evil he planned to do them. How about this as well?

So I believe we can toe the same line concerning the plan of God if it challenges us so much.

As we seek the Lord out, he may give us face like Hezekiah.

Or he may as well insist. If he insists, Like the Lord Jesus Christ, we have to humbly let his will be done.

But however, we have the children privilege to negotiate with our Abba Father concerning every issue.
Privilege is to commune and not to bring blessings.

Jesus prayed not to find a way out. He communed.

Hezekiah didn't pray for 15 year extension. God gave it according to His plan.
 
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emekrus

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Privilege is to commune and not to bring blessings.
So you mean we shouldn't pray for blessings or expect blessings when we pray?
The word of God says contrary. He says whatsoever we ask in prayer, we should believe we receive them and we shall have them.
Jesus prayed not to find a way out. He communed.

Perhaps if you check the content of his prayers again, you may understand better.

Hezekiah didn't pray for 15 year extension. God gave it according to His plan.

God's plan was that Hezekiah should die very soon. But Hezekiah's prayers made him add extra 15years. Read that scripture again and you'll see that's exactly what the bible says.
 
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Si_monfaith

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So you mean we shouldn't pray for blessings or expect blessings when we pray?
The word of God says contrary. He says whatsoever we ask in prayer, we should believe we receive them and we shall have them.


Perhaps if you check the content of his prayers again, you may understand better.



God's plan was that Hezekiah should die very soon. But Hezekiah's prayers made him add extra 15years. Read that scripture again and you'll see that's exactly what the bible says.

Desire for blessings is from God (Philippians 2: 13). "Whatever you ask" doesn't mean you conceived what to ask.

Which verse says Jesus sought to find a way out? None. Rather He said that He came for the very purpose of suffering, dying and be raised the 3rd day!

You haven't yet given a verse to show Hezekiah asked for a 15 year extension!
 
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Si_monfaith

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So you mean we shouldn't pray for blessings or expect blessings when we pray?
The word of God says contrary. He says whatsoever we ask in prayer, we should believe we receive them and we shall have them.


Perhaps if you check the content of his prayers again, you may understand better.



God's plan was that Hezekiah should die very soon. But Hezekiah's prayers made him add extra 15years. Read that scripture again and you'll see that's exactly what the bible says.

Psalm 135:6

6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

God has chosen us to fulfill His plan in our life not our plans.
 
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