[2 Peter 3:18 KJV] “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.“
The simple reason why you must grow in grace and in knowledge is because it is according to the proportion of faith. You may rant and rave but prophecy is according to the measure of faith!
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;” (Romans 12:6 KJV)
What will obey one person may not obey you because of the dimension of grace and knowledge and faith operating in our lives. We must strive to grow in grace and in knowledge and in faith! It is by the loudness of the voice but by the dimension of faith!
“Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:19-21 KJV)
The story of the prophet and his servant buttresses this point firmly. What the servant could not do even with the staff the prophet did without the staff. Life is not about finesse! It is according to the proportion of faith. What Gahazi could not do by finesse was accomplished by anointing. You must grow in grace!
“And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life. And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.” (2 Kings 4:17-35 KJV)
You grow in grace and knowledge and faith by:
1. The hearing faith
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?“
(Galatians 3:3-5 KJV)
2. By pray and fasting
“Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:19-21 KJV)
3. Through submission
“And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” (Luke 2:49-52 KJV)
Life will answer to your proportion of faith and not by finesse!
Stay blessed