Mat 8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
Mat 8:25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
Mat 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Oftentimes, the words “faith,” and “faithful” have been given a different definition today, and does not hold the godly definition of understanding unto truth, but unto the wisdom of men. The “faith” in God’s word of truth is always referred to as ‘God’s faith,’ or the ‘Ministry of God.’ This is NOT meant to say that because today’s religions ‘profess’ that they teach “the faith,” that they are ‘of the faith.’ The “faith” ought to be viewed as “God’s Will,’ and this is the definition of “the faith” that we see throughout His Word. And when we see the Lord educating His Apostles, uses words like, “ye of little faith,” “faithless,” “faithful,” “so great faith,” “great is thy faith,” and “have ye no faith?” His desire was that the Apostles be ‘filled with the faith,” or in other words; “faithful.” And when the Lord said the Apostles had “little faith,” this was not in reference to their justified standing in the sight of God to “save them” from the debt and penalty of sin, this reference of “little faith” concerned ‘how much’ of the Truth of His Word were they operating upon.
Mat 21:18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
Mat 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
Mat 21:20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
Mat 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Moreover, the Lord taught these Apostles something very significant about “the faithful” with the fig tree. Here was a “fig” tree with ‘no figs,’ the intended purpose of the tree is to bring forth figs, or in other words; bring forth “fruit” for its designed purpose in which it was created. So this why the Lord placed judgment upon this tree, in verse 18 the Lord “hungered,” and found not just any tree, but a tree designed to bring forth “good fruit.” But when the Lord desired to “partake” of this “good fruit,” it was of ‘no good.’ This was another education given unto His Apostles concerning their ‘faithfulness,’ the Lord would later educate them upon their ‘faithfulness’ in “the faith,” and that if the “Branch” is not meeting its designed purpose, He will ‘take it away.’ This does not mean the Apostles would have lost the justified standing “in Him,” notice He says, “every branch IN ME,” but they would counted as the “least” in the kingdom, not the greatest in the sight of God because they were of “little faith.”
Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Furthermore, when the Apostles said unto the Lord, “increase our faith,” (Luke 17:5) they knew their understanding of the scriptures; or of “the faith” was weak. Over and over the Lord said there were things about “the faith” that they did not “believe” as of yet. But after the Lord’s resurrection, their understanding became “opened” unto things like the resurrection, and being “strong,” and truly “forsaking all,” and being found faithful “friends” as well. And notice the Lord says that Peter’s faith could “fail,” and that there will be a time when he is “converted,” and it will be at that time when his faith is “strengthened.” But Satan will “have” those Saints in Christ who are not “strengthened” in the faith, or faithful. Satan desired to ‘have his way’ with Peter, and that would have been as he had his way with Judas, meaning Judas fulfilled Satan’s will and purpose.
Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Luk 22:33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
Luk 22:34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
Finally, in the Lord’s earthly ministry, the Lord was training ‘Soldiers,’ but not just as one does when training a army, these were the Lord’s “friends,” and not in the capacity of what we say a friend is today. The Lord’s definition of a friend shows the Lord’s selfless love for the Apostles. And when we ‘train’ those whom we love selflessly, like our children it is our desire that the knowledge that we taught them does not ‘fail them,’ not that idea that what we taught them would fail them, but that their lack of operating upon our knowledge will cause them to suffer in the choices of this life. The Lord desired that their being strong in the faith would be for their “good” as well, and just as the fig tree, He desired that they too would bring forth the desired ‘purpose’ of why the Lord chose them. And the “faithless,” and they of “little faith” would never be able to serve and bring forth the intended “fruit” that would “remain,” whether here on the earth, or in the Kingdom.
Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Joh 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Joh 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Rod Jones
SUPPLY OF GRACE 
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