Is Your Faith Progressing?

John 4:42
They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Jesus has convinced the Samaritan woman at the well that He is the Messiah. The Samaritan woman at this point has run to the town and called the people to come and see Jesus who is the Messiah. The people came because the woman gave them a testimony that Jesus told her everything she ever did. Since the woman was sexually immoral, there must have been rumors and stories going around about her life. They were therefore attracted to the news that a prophet had come and exposed her life. But when they listened to Jesus, their faith moved from being based on the woman’s testimony to their own conviction. Clearly, their faith progressed. Is your faith progressing?

The townspeople came because their faith was in the woman’s testimony. Their faith began with the woman’s testimony. The woman was convincing in what she said and how she said it. That is why the people left all that they were doing and rushed out of town to see the Messiah. When the townspeople came and saw Jesus and listened to Him, their faith in Jesus grew. They no longer believed in Jesus because of what the woman said, but now they believed in Jesus because of what they had seen and heard from Jesus. Their basis grew from what it was to something better. Faith grows. Faith is supposed to grow. Is your faith growing?

You became a believer because of your parents and background. You have now grown up and have experienced how God works with people individually. You have prayed and had some prayers answered and some not. How is your faith? Is your faith growing?

You have read the Bible about Job remaining faithful in suffering and then God blessed him. You have suffered too and God has eventually come through. Your faith in God should no longer be because of Job but because you have experienced it yourself. Your faith should grow from just what you read in scripture to what you have experienced. Is your faith growing?

You should not stop at the experience of your parents, or relatives, guardians, or what you have read in the Bible. You should come to Jesus and try Him yourself. Experience Him yourself. So that you can confidently say that, it is no longer because of what I read in the Bible or what I grew up knowing, but because I have experienced it myself. That is how faith grows. Is your faith growing?

You have heard powerful moving testimonies of others. You have retold the testimonies of others as the basis of your faith. That is ok but now move on and grow and experience Jesus for yourself. Let your faith grow from telling someone’s testimony that moved you, to your personal experience. Until you reach where it is personal, your faith is still weak. If it is still the faith of your forefathers, it is weak faith. If it is faith in what the Bible narrates without personal experience, it is weak faith. Your faith must mature, must grow into what you have personally experienced. Is your faith growing?

How did the faith of the townspeople grow? First, they believed the woman. Secondly, they came to Jesus. Thirdly they listened to Jesus for themselves. Faith begins somewhere. It may begin with a powerful pastor. But it must never stop or get stuck at that pastor. Many people are stuck at “my pastor.” “Oh when that pastor speaks,” “Oh this is one pastor I really believe in.” You need to move on from that point to now know Jesus for yourself so that if that pastor resigns from Christianity, your faith will still be strong, that is now growing. Is your faith growing?

Some are stuck at a book they read, and now they moved around with that one book and can’t let it go. You must outgrow that book and have a personal experience with God. Some are stuck on a topic that attracted them, maybe Bible end-time prophecies, or unique teaching on the Sabbath or state of the dead. Now that is all the person studies and preaches. That is poor growth. Move on and learn more from Jesus. Have other experiences other than being mesmerized by the exactness of Bible prophecies. Move on to grow your faith by personal experience with God in all areas of your life. Let your faith grow, beyond that topic and book that touched you. Is your faith growing?

Maybe a prayer touched you. A prayer was made and answers given. Now you are stuck with prayer. All you know and say is prayer, prayer, prayer. Now grow up and have other experiences with God. Do not get stuck at prayer band until it seems you have majored in prayer. You do not know much of what the Bible teaches but you pray. You can pray the whole night but you haven’t forgiven those who offended you. You can pray heavily but you are dishonest in the tithe and offering you give. You pray a lot but you habour jealous. You are clearly stuck at prayer. Your faith needs to grow beyond prayer. Is your faith growing?

Your faith will only grow if you come to Jesus and listen to Him for yourself. Move from the point of attraction to a wholesome experience. Then you will say what is in our text today. We no longer believe because of what we first heard but because we have now had our own experience with Jesus. That is how faith grows. Is your faith growing?

Dear God, help me to have my own experiences with You. Help me to move on from what attracted me to you to what I have personally experienced about You. May my faith keep growing, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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