It is not uncommon to hear someone say, “I need more faith.”  What he is actually saying is that he needs more “faith in God.”  Each person possesses a certain capacity, or “measure,” of faith.  (Romans 12)  Indeed, each individual believes something.  What he believes will be determined by the information that he accumulates.

It is natural to think of doubt as being the opposite of faith, but it is really faith in reverse, or negative faith.  If faith believes that something will happen, then doubt believes that this thing will not happen.  In either case, the person is using his innate capacity to believe.  This, again, is determined by the person’s storehouse of knowledge.

The Disciples of Christ were caught in a storm in the midst of the sea.  They were fearful that the boat would sink and they would all drown.  When Jesus awakened and stilled the storm they were astonished.  According to Luke’s rendition (Luke 8), the Lord asked them, “Where is your faith?”  The insinuation is that they had faith, but it was misdirected.  They had faith in the storm because this is what their store of information dictated.  They did not need more faith, but simply to redirect that faith to Jesus Christ.  When He preformed the miracle they exclaimed, “What manner of man is this!”  It wasn’t a question, but an exclamation.  The more one knows about Jesus Christ the more He will believe in the promises and power of Christ.  The more one studies the world and its natural laws the more his faith will be inclined to the laws of nature.  Regrettably, we often have more knowledge of storms than we do of Christ.

“The Faith” was Paul’s most valued possession.  Near the end of his journey he wrote to Timothy, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”  (2 Timothy 4)  He did not say that he had kept the doctrine, the holiness standards, etc.  He said that he had kept the faith.  However, the faith is not just “that” one believes but “what” one believes.  The two cannot be separated.  Some think that they can continue believing in God while ceasing to believe in His entire Word!  Conversely, some have held to the doctrine while losing faith in the power of God.  Neither extreme position can claim to have kept the faith.  A church that has lost the doctrine and holiness has lost the faith no matter how positive the pulpit sounds.  A church that has “held the line” on doctrine but can never seem to preach the positive revival message cannot claim to have kept the faith.  God’s power and His truth are inseparable – you can’t consistently have one without the other.  When Paul said that he had kept the faith he was saying that he retained it all - “I still believe God’s Word and I still believe in God’s power!”

The spirit of compromise is devastating in these last days.  The faith of the Christian is being challenged from without and “within.”  Satan has always fantasized about what he could do in the body of a respected minister – such as Moses.  (Jude 1)  Given only five minutes in the body of the Lawgiver he could have planted irreparable confusion in the minds of the people.  God simply would not allow it.  However, Satan is transformed into an angle of light, and he has ministers spreading this deception.  (2 Corinthians 11)  Remember, we have a measure of faith, so what we actually believe will be determined by the voices to which we listen.  Do you believe in the storm or the Savior?

Apostolics are dying daily with the disease of selective believism.  Certain portions of the scripture no longer apply to the modern church.  This is the logic of the natural mind, which is hostile to the spiritual mind.  When I reason these things out I tend to stray from the ancient landmarks.  (Proverbs 22:28)  When I pray I am restored to my faith in these lines of demarcation.  It is the battle as old as creation – logic verses logos; human philosophy verses the Word of God.  Trends of compromise do not come from a prayer room, but from listening to the wrong voices.  You will believe something and that something will be determined by the voices to which you listen.  Keep the faith – both sides of it.  Keep holding to the doctrine of Christ and keep believing in the supernatural power of God.  On judgment day this is all that will matter.