Dealing with
what God has dealt to us

Romans 12:3 “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.”

As Christians, we all recognize doctrinally, the grace that has been bestowed to undeserving mankind, and we know that faith is a gift… Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: and we know that faith grows. The apostles asked the Lord to “increase their faith” and Paul commended the church because their faith was growing “exceedingly.”

But… we also tend to accept that there are different levels of faith. Spiritual Giants!!! Those in our lives who just seemed to have been given that extra portion. Those that we call when we have a prayer need because we know that their prayers are the “effectual and fervent prayers of a righteous man.”

But then we read this verse, “As God hath dealt to every man THE MEASURE of faith.” Scripture says that every man is given THE MEASURE. Not a measure, not different measures - not 1 oz here and a full lb over there. We were each given the measure of faith. And that measure of faith contains all that we need. We were each given access at salvation to everything needed for a victorious christian life. Not one of us were left out. Not one of us can say, I just don’t have the capability of that kind of faith. Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

The question is what are we doing with that precious gift.

Why do we see so many Christians living defeated lives. Why does there seem to be no growth in many, and super growth in others. Where is the power and the victory scripture says should be in our churches. Where is the faith that sustains us, the faith that brings peace and joy. I’m not talking about ministries or being busy in the church, Many times the busier we are, the further God is down on our list of priorities. We’re so busy doing for Him, we forget to be with Him. I’m talking about spiritual growth, I’m talking about real faith-based initiatives on a personal level.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

WALKING BY SIGHT - I was raised in a Christian home - most Christians would probably not have applied those words to our home since my father was not saved (in fact he was quite the drinking man when I was a little girl) but - my mother was saved, and from my earliest memory, I knew that there was a God because my mama knew him and I knew she knew him.

My mothers love of Jesus Christ was a much greater influence in our home, than the chaos that ruled my fathers life. I wanted to know God the way my mother knew him. When I was 3 I gave my first testimony of salvation at our family Bible time. I informed my sisters that Jesus lived in my heart, because I pulled up my shirt and he flew right in. Well, my family got a good laugh and a story to tell for years to come, but I didn‘t get saved. When I was six, the pastor preached a powerful message about the crucifixion and all that the Lord endured on our behalf. I understood as completely then as I do now the story of the good news. That Jesus Christ died for my sins. I knew that I had lied and stolen, so I knew what sins were, and my six year old heart was broken - for this Jesus, who was God’s son, who died on that terrible cross. So I went forward and I repeated the words after the nice lady, and I got baptized. But I was not saved. At camp at age 8 I knew I did not have what they were preaching about, so I went forward and made another profession, and came home and got baptized again, and at age 11 I went forward again, and got baptized again, but I wasn’t saved. I sang the songs in Sunday School and learned all the stories that were on flannel graph by heart. If believing in the “Romans Road” could save you, then I would have been. But faith is only as good as the object it is placed in. Saving faith must be in the person of Jesus Christ, not the book of Romans, and not even in my mothers faith.

With a head knowledge I believed that Jesus was born, died and rose again. I believed this fully and without reserve, but belief itself is not salvation. James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Having been taught that to say “the sinners prayer” (and be sincere) means that God must save you or he would be a liar, I felt that it was a betrayal to God to doubt my salvation. I understood the mechanics of salvation - I could walk anyone through it - I had a head knowledge of God and a very self-righteous spirit. I was a very moral and good little girl. I taught Junior church, was busy with the youth group 4 nights a week. I was too busy for God to be tempted by the world. Actually, God was pretty lucky to have me - I was so good, I couldn’t not be saved. But in my teenage years, during the still of the night, I was tormented by what was missing in my heart and my life. The conflict that arose in my spirit because of false assurance was overwhelming, because I had placed my trust in what man said, not in what God’s Word says the attributes of the converted soul are. So I recommitted and rededicated and surrendered over and over and over again. For two years every night when I went to bed, I literally prayed (verbatim) “God I know I’m saved, but if I’m not then you know I love you - please Save me.” Every morning I woke up and knew I was no different than when I went to bed.

One day someone said to me - “The only person that God cannot save…” Well I perked up at that - this was important, “is a self-righteous sinner” Self-righteous - I’m sure I’d heard that term thousands of times before, but as if it was the first time, I understood immediately what it meant. Matthew 9:12-13 “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick…for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” I asked God to show me if I was lost.

One Sunday evening, as I sat in the pew, He began to peel the facade of my self-righteousness away one layer at a time. For the first time in my life, I saw my sin and utter worthlessness. Not drugs or sex - not sins, but my SIN, the thing that truly keeps anyone from coming to God - my pride. The voice inside me that said that God must accept me, I was too good to go to hell. I understood for the first time that I deserved Hell because I was a sinner, not because of the act of sins, but the SIN that separated me from God. I came to the place of understanding that I was Lost and only then could Jesus save me. For the first time in 18 years, I understood what Repentance truly was - turning from myself and turning to God. I knew for the first time who Jesus was because I met him PERSONALLY.

But… as a baby Christian, I made a critical error. Having been in Church all of my life, I really thought I knew it all already. I was still busy teaching - I had been memorizing scripture my whole life, I had graduated from High School and was working full-time, but most important of all I was falling in love. In the time that I had left for God, I yearned for growth and knowledge, but I did not do my part; “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalms 119:11).

So, here I was a young christian, trying to act like a mature christian, having been saved only two years, and not having grown at all since, I soon found myself married and trying, with very limited resources, to cope with a marriage that was almost immediately out of control.

I had wanted someone strong, who could protect me from life, and someone who was in control. What I had admired during courtship, his strength and control became the very qualities I came to hate. Over the next few years abuse, verbal and physical, became part of my daily life. I spent five years wondering over and over what I had done to make him hurt me. Where had Prince Charming gone? He sure wasn’t living with me, and he had warts!!! Far from the christian home I had envisioned when I met this “son of a preacher.” Our home had violence, chaos and even drugs. I was miserable and I had no victory, because I had no weapons with which to fight the enemy, I was defeated at every turn. I cried out to God daily, but in my ignorance and pride, I did not search for His answers in His Word. I felt betrayed by my husband and abandoned by God. This was not how it was supposed to be.

By divine intervention after five years of marriage, I found myself alone, with my little girl, and a baby on the way. I had come to the end of relying on my husband for my happiness and I knew I could not depend upon myself. A thousand miles from him, in a tiny hovel of a house, I was more alone than I had ever been, yet it was at this point, that in spite of the tremendous burden I carried, I also saw God’s Word come alive in my own life, for the first time.

For five years, my husband had been the most important person in my life. I had placed his needs, wants and desires over what I knew to be in the best interest of myself and my daughter. My love for him had made me selfish and not willing to trust God enough to be strong and take a stand against sin. I had spent many hours telling God what the ideal solutions would be in my life, if He would just change my husband.

But it was only when I came to the place where I could tell the Lord that it was His presence I needed in my life to make me whole, not the man I had married, that the change began (and it began in me). For the first time I truly gave this man of mine to the Lord, and if it was not in God’s will to bring him back into my life, I was willing to let go. I knew that I needed the Lord more than any earthly relationship. For the first time since I was married, instead of telling God how to make Eddie better, I begged Him to embrace me and teach me. To show me my wicked ways and create a right spirit within me.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalms 139:23-24).

As I knelt before God, humbled and ashamed for my lack of love and service toward Him, as I cried out to Him not only to be my Savior, but Lord and Divine Guider of my life, His precious promise came alive. Did the circumstances change? No, but my perspective changed. I gave Him the circumstances and accepted by faith, that His will would be done. I needed His presence in my life, not just as an observer, but as the most active participant in it. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-29). I was so weary, rest was an unknown concept to me. But it was through these baby steps of faith, trusting with fear and trembling that God would stand by His Word and His promises to the believer, that I began to grow.

I began to read my Bible with a hunger I had quenched in my early days of Christianity. The more I read, the more I desired to study. I was like a plant deprived of water - soaking up all of the life giving fluid that I had denied myself. 2 Timothy 2:15 says “Study to shew thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.” How ashamed I was of the years I had let God’s promises and His words of love to me go unread and unused in my life. Oh, how God's Word became sharp as I read, “rightly dividing the word of truth.” The Bible is sharper than a two-edged sword and it cuts asunder the enemy. I, like many Christians, had tried to fight the battle without a weapon. I had stood unprotected and fallen easily under Satan’s attacks. But God is faithful, even when we are not. He never forsook me. He never even moved. I wandered away from Him, but He in His mercy brought me back to my knees where He could begin a new work in me.

Faith is never based on our feelings.

(Romans 6:11) “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The word “reckon” does not mean to suppose, it means to count as fact, to know to be true, to rely upon, moment by moment, day by day. By faith, we are to reckon ourselves dead to sin and act upon these facts regardless of any feelings we may have. At the moment we accept the gift so freely offered to us, God, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, empowers us to live the life that in our flesh we could never and can never attain in our own strength. The Christian’s walk is only as strong as the faith that is exercised, and faith will only become strong as we trust and obey the Word of God. How glorious it is to be walking daily in faith, knowing that God has provided us already with the weapons to live a victorious life. As we begin to ask of Him, He gives us the faith to live.

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: (from the beginning of saving faith to the end of sanctifying faith) as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). The most precious aspect of this heart of faith, is that it is a living, growing outworking of our sanctification “The just shall live by faith”

WALKING BY FAITH Well my husband did want his family, and God gave me a second chance to be a wife who walked by faith instead of by sight. 1 Peter 3:1 became my daily prayer, that my husband would be won not by my words, but by my conversation (daily walk). My husband carried years of anger bottled up inside him, angry at God who could protect Shadrach, Meschach and Abendego from the fiery furnace and Daniel from the lions den, but couldn‘t protect a little six year old boy from a perpetrator, angry at parents who were in a ministry aimed at children, but not aware of what had happened to him, this was Ed’s motivating force his whole life. School, sports, even in our marriage. Proverbs asks the question “A wounded spirit, who can bear.” He could not, did not know how to deal with his past. For nine years Eddie tried to keep the anger bottled up, but there was a war inside him that raged incessantly. In the midst of this turmoil, we received a phone call. Eddie’s father had been murdered. Standing by my husband, holding him up, we got through the funeral and then the trial. However, the results of the trial were not what Eddie wanted. You see, he wanted vengeance. He had been holding himself in check, bargaining with God. But... God didn’t do what Eddie had asked, and the anger began to churn and the hatred began to fester inside of him. One year after his father’s death, I realized that behind the facade of calm presented for so many months, Eddie was erupting more and more often.

I knew this man was so empty, so desperate for the peace that fills the soul, that he truly hated me for having that one thing he so desperately craved. One morning as I was driving to Church, worn out with thinking “God did you bring us this far for it to end now?” He spoke so tenderly to me. “Love and hate cannot abide together in the same house.” As clear and audible as if spoken out loud, there was no mistaking the Holy Spirit’s presence.

Not many nights later our home was turned into a battlefield. For the first time in our married life, I had my husband put in jail. I believed with all my heart that Eddie would never forgive me for that. So, I accepted that I was on my own, but I knew that God was requiring me to trust Him once again. For several days I tried to decide what I would do about a job, keeping my children fed, and a roof over their heads. But the following Saturday Ed called to ask if he could take his family to Church the next day. I was so shocked that he wasn’t out of the country much less calling me, but that was what I wanted - for Eddie to be in Church to give his heart to the Lord.

The next morning after the kids went in to Sunday School, Ed turned to me and said, “Lori, I gave it all to God yesterday. I knew I couldn’t go on. I can’t do it myself anymore. If he can use me - I‘m His” As I sat there that morning, the peace that was in Eddie’s eyes spoke volumes. There was not a moment’s doubt that this was not the same man who had terrorized me only nights before. The battle was over, and Eddie had given God the right to take all of that pain and hurt, and use it for His glory. He had relinquished “control” and placed himself in God’s hands, fully trusting Him. My heart knew real calm about Eddie for the very first time in fourteen years, and the Holy Spirit flooded my soul with assurances of harmony.

From that moment on, our home has never been the same. My husband and I have been married over twenty-five years. He was and is the love of my life. Our life has been a tremendous journey of grace and mercy, and not a day goes by that I don‘t thank God for His hand of protection upon us through it all. But I know that it was the measure of faith that God dealt to me, which sat unused for so many years, but which when I cried out for God to be God in my life, began to grow giving me victory over darkness. Faith is a journey - like Job we don’t know what tomorrow holds - we only know Who holds tomorrow.

Three characteristics we will find in a Heart of Faith.

1. A Heart of Faith will hunger for the word of God - Rom 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they which do Hunger and Thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.” Where do we find God’s righteousness - Jesus is God’s righteousness revealed to man, he was the living word and we find him in the written word.

   Growth comes from a personal study of Gods Word. Preachers and teachers are great - they are essential in many ways, but if your food only comes to you second hand - your appetite will never be that of an adult. You will always be a baby christian.

   1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

   Luke 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

   Scripture tells us that our works are gold, silver, precious stones or wood, hay, stubble 1Co 3:12-13 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

   Things that we do - ministries - charity - works - will go through fire. Rev 1:14 tells us that Jesus eyes are as a flame of fire. We will stand before him, and the fire of righteousness that will search out our works, will come from Jesus Christ himself. I want to be like Mary, I want to be so in love with him, so hungry to hear him speak to me, that nothing else matters. What will be revealed in that flame is the motive behind much of our “works.” If our motive is to be noticed here on earth, than we have received our reward here on earth. But how sad to stand before Jesus and watch those same works be burned up under his gaze. I want to be like Mary, I want to be so in love with Jesus, so hungry for his word, that nothing that needs done in the kitchen, or the yard, or the church, can pull me away from Him.

2. A Heart of Faith is characterized by meekness. Spiritual Meekness is the understanding that God is God and that everything that comes into our life is filtered through His fingers first. Faith is utter dependency upon God for all aspects of our life. It is the meekness of heart that like Job, acknowledges God’s sovereign right to rule our life. Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Primarily, it is the spirit in which we accept, by faith, that God’s dealings with us are always good, and He has the right to direct how He wills in our lives. It is the humility of heart which does not struggle against Him.

   Meekness doesn’t do away with our natural emotions, mourning or grief or anger, but it acknowledges the supreme right of God to be God in our lives.

3. A Heart of Faith will be characterized by obedience.

   ISa 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

   The heart that has experienced saving faith, and been the recipient of God’s love will want to yield itself to the God whose grace and mercy set it free. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness” (Romans 6:16).

   In this verse Paul is stressing to the Christians at Rome, that though they have stepped out in faith, they still have a will they must exercise. It is that will which we must yield to God’s leadership.

   God does not make arbitrary decisions for us, but because of the new man that is now born in us, we have the capability to cast down imaginations (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) and bring into captivity all thoughts that exalt anything but God.

   Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

   It is because of faith, that we are not dependent upon our emotions; It is by “the measure of faith” that we can rise above our circumstances.

   Romans 12:1-3 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. 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.

Every day women all over the world are faced with challenges. We deal with marriage - children, money problems. Some of us have dealt with violence in our homes, drugs, alcohol, pornography or adultery. Some have dealt with death, parents, siblings, spouses and children. Do you know what that is called - Life. We live in a world that is contaminated by sin. We will be affected by that contamination. The question is do we “deal” with life or do we say “no deal” hiding from the pain and disillusionment, betrayal by others and many times, the consequences of our own sin. When we refuse to deal, to shine the light of truth in our lives we frustrate God’s desire and ability to prove himself strong on our behalf.

And how will we do this …. “For I say, through the grace given unto me… as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Closing Verse Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”