By Kathy L. McFarland
Hebrews 11:13 (KJV 1900)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
8. If you uphold the three standards of faith to be persuaded of the LORD God’s promises, embraced them, and confessed them, then you will feel like “strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
Think about that for a moment. Throughout the teachings of Christ, we are told that we must separate ourselves from the world, right? “The Parable of the Sower” says…
Matthew 13:22 (KJV 1900)
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
9. The world tricks most with the “deceitfulness of riches.” Even if the Word of God is heard, it is choked by the care of the world. When the Word of God is choked, the hearer of the Word becomes unfruitful. If the Christian is unfruitful, then no works are done to glorify the LORD God. Fruitful, living works can never be accomplished based upon the riches of the world.
Matthew 16:26 (KJV 1900)
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
10. If the whole world of riches is gained, it will cost the loss of your soul. Poor people who struggle to live day-by-day in poor countries that are filled with corruption and political ignorance, watch as their portion of simple living expectations are stolen from them. It is those that worry about feeding and clothing their family members that so easily succumb to seeking the riches of the world. The unfairness of others having resources when your family is starving creates a culture of seeking after the riches from the world.
Mark 10:23–25 (KJV 1900)
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
11. People that have the riches of the world, do NOT have a need for God. Their souls can be lost.
Many of the countries in the continent of Africa and South America, and many of the southern states in the USA have a road of poverty that far-exceeds the imagination of the rich. The devil sows his thorns amongst the people who seek the Word of God and strangle the message of God from reaching their understanding. It is the common attack by Satan toward the poor to keep them from serving their Lord Jesus Christ and creating works through Him and the Holy Spirit to glorify the LORD God in Heaven.
John 15:17–19 (KJV 1900)
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
The world hates followers of Jesus Christ. The world hates Christ. If you walk the way of the world, you will have riches, but you will lose your soul. The standard of faith requires you to love fellow Christians and support them in their walk with Christ. The standard of faith requires you to reject the world and all its riches. The standard of faith requires you to understand that Christ chose you
OUT OF THE WORLD, so you are hated, and no longer a part of the world.
Romans 12:1–3 (KJV 1900)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
12. The LORD God’s mercy allows you to be a living sacrifice, giving yourself fully and yielding to His control.
13. The Reasonable Service of a Believer that gives control fully to God must become holy.
14. Reasonable Service means a reward or notice will not be given by God for holiness for doing His will.
15. Reasonable Service expectations of God require Believers to seek His will deeply and live as He wants.
16. It is the LORD God that deals to each man a measure of faith!
17. It is unworthy for a holy believer of God to take credit for holiness that comes from God alone.
18. There are six standards measured by the LORD God to determine how much faith a person is to receive.
a. A measure of their giving themselves to the LORD God as a living sacrifice
b. A measure of how holy a Believer develops
c. A measure of how acceptable a believer is to the LORD God
d. A measure of how non-conforming to this world a believer exists
e. A measure of how much a believer transforms through renewal of mind
f. A measure to be able to prove what is good, acceptable, perfect will of the LORD God
19. Consider these six standards. There are just three measurements that the LORD God considers Reasonable Service.
a. The first is the measure of living sacrifice
b. The second is the amount of holiness that is achieved by the Believer
c. The third is the degree to which the Believer is acceptable by the LORD God.
20. There are NO rewards for achievement given by the LORD God or by the Lord Jesus Christ for the three standards of Reasonable Service.
21. There are three measurements for faith that DO NOT fall under the Reasonable Service standard.
a. Be non-conforming to this world
b. Be able to transform yourself by the renewing of your mind
c. Be able to prove what is the good, acceptable, perfect will of God
Teaching by Kathy L McFarland:
The six measurements that the LORD God uses to determine the amount of faith given to a person directly develops a Christian’s standards of faith for spiritual growth. When a person is given higher level faith, then confidence can be assured the believer has the adequate amount of spirituality to handle the faith award or increase perfectly.
This important concept contrasts those who receive just a little faith. It should be the goal of the Church, Christian leaders, Pastors, Counselors, Teachers, Chaplains, Parents, and Mentors to help develop the six-steps of standards of faith to prepare Believers to receive the granting of more faith from the LORD God.
Being a “Living Sacrifice” IS your spirituality. It is the amount of yourself that is given to the LORD God by your choice.
When you are a “Living Sacrifice,” your spirituality is measured, and faith given to you by the LORD God. What you do as a “Living Sacrifice” is spiritual works directed by the LORD God.
Being a “Living Sacrifice” IS NOT your faith!
Being a “Living Sacrifice” IS NOT your works!
Romans 10:17 (KJV 1900)
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
22. It is the human sense of hearing that faith is delivered by the LORD God.
23. A Believer must hear the WORD OF GOD to develop the six standards of faith and spiritual growth.
24. Scripture is the WORD OF GOD. (John 1:1-3)
25. If an unbeliever is unable to hear and understand God’s Word, then that is a person that does not have faith given by the LORD God.
