The danger in our church today is not that people do not have any faith, but they have a mediocre faith. If they had no faith then perhaps they would hit rock bottom and it would knock some sense into them. But their mediocrity keeps them hovering just above rock bottom.
The hardest ones to save are those who sit in the life raft of religion. Religion does not save; Jesus does. “Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone” (Acts 4:12 CEV).
Few Christians would describe themselves as having a mediocre faith. Yet so few Christians have a faith that is not mediocre. Stop trying to prove to people where you are and ask God to take you higher. The Lord will not rebuke you to leave you where you are but to draw you ever higher.
Sometimes it is a hard truth that gives us the foundation by which we can then stand. Jesus warned, “I know what you are doing: you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth!” (Revelation 3:15-16 CJB).
A mediocre faith has one foot in the faith and one foot firmly planted in the world. This kind of faith is as effective as an airplane that keeps some of its wheels on the ground. Even if the nose of the plane tilts up a little, it falls radically short of the heights it was meant to soar to.
The more you fit into the world, the less you belong in heaven. “Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him” (Romans 12:2 CEV).
A mediocre faith is one in which the Christian fits in better with the world than they do in true faith. They may go to a program or two each week. They may pray on occasion and even study their Bible from time to time. But they have no power of the Holy Spirit working in them.
The same Holy Spirit that dwelt in Peter dwells in you. “…they even carried their sick out into the streets and put them on cots and sleeping pads, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on one of them [with healing power]” (Acts 5:15 NKJV).
A mediocre faith will pray for friends and for family, but the prayers are flat, and the results are lacking. This kind of faith doesn’t even believe the prayers they speak and has no faith they will ever be answered. A mediocre faith only produces mediocre prayers.
An effective prayer is not dependent on the words you speak, but on the life you live. “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (James 5:16 NLT).
A mediocre faith will sometimes serve the church with great energy and dedication, but will resist surrendering to Christ. The service will be helpful, but the results will be limited to only what they can do on their own strength. Christ is not their strength but only the words written on their t-shirt.
There are more Christians willing to serve Christ than surrender to Him. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If you truly want to follow me, you should at once completely reject and disown your own life. And you must be willing to share my cross and experience it as your own, as you continually surrender to my ways’” (Matthew 16:24 TPT).
A mediocre faith can argue doctrines but cannot live them. It is a faith that criticizes other people more than loves them. It is a faith that can only bolster itself by putting others down. It is a faith that may have high intelligence but lacks the heart from which knowledge can grow fruit.
The more clearly you see yourself, the less critical you’ll be of others. “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:2 NLT).
A mediocre faith will proclaim the goodness of God in the church but keep silent at work or in public. This faith wants the church to see them as godly and conversely wants to appear worldly in the world. This Christian does not stay in Christ but only visits Him on occasion.
Live your life during the week such that you could preach it on Sunday morning. “…be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV).
A mediocre faith cannot withstand tribulations and will fall at the first sign of trouble. This is a faith that thinks God will always make things easy, and the first time He doesn’t, this faith crumbles to the ground. The sign of a mediocre faith is a failing faith, one that cannot stand strong in the trials.
In whatever you’re going through, it is meant to take you higher. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:2-4 NLT).
Dear Christian, you were meant to live a mighty faith. It doesn’t take your strength but your surrender. It will cost you everything but gain you so much more. There is a life you’re meant to live, and Christ can help you get there. Make it your aim to live higher in your faith each day.
The Lord wants to take you higher if only you would let Him. “The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet and makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my high places [of challenge and responsibility]” (Habakkuk 3:19 AMP).
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius
Once again, as always Paul, Thank you Brother for allowing God’s Spirit to use you to send us words of truth and encouragement! Standing true and tall in faithfulness to our Mighty Good and Great God, in these days, is ever so important. May the Lord God richly bless you and all His Children during this time with strength, courage, truth and much much of the great Love of Jesus Christ for the lost and those in the faith. With God ALL things are possible. Amen!!
Katherine, thank you so much! Your words were such an encouragement to me. I thank God for His saints like you that pour out to others to lift them up. You hold a special place in the kingdom and a special place in the heart of the Father. May He bless you richly and abundantly!
Dear Paul thank you for your words of admonition. I have this mediocre faith. I lack the power of.the Holy Spirit I crying out TO God for a change in my life. Can you please pray for me.
Hi Angela! I am so glad that you read this and were so ready to reach out to God to help you. I think we all have areas of our faith that are mediocre and we need to see that and confess that such that God can then come help us to grow. I pray that the Lord would pour out His favor on your life and give an anointing of the Holy Spirit. Blessings to you, Paul.
I too have a mediocre faith. I do not know how to surrender my life to Jesus. I thought I did on several occasions, but then I sin and think I must not have meant it.
Apologies for my late reply. It does not matter as much how many times you fall, but how many times you get back up. Keep pressing in, and never give up, because the Lord will never give up on you.
Thank you brother Paul. When going trough hard and dry places your insight and revelation always comforts my heart in the knowledge of what God is doing in me, and helps me to endure and keep going in the hope of His complete work in me. I thank God for your life and for sharing your life’s experiences with us, because this knowledge comes from hardship and having been tried yourself. God bless you!
Hello Marcela, so sorry for such a late reply. I sometimes have so much going on that I do not tend to the things that matter most. I so appreciate your kind words. Thank you so much. I needed this encouragement and I thank God for your life. May His favor rest on you always, Paul
Someone once said ” Everything you’re looking for is looking for you in the place of prayer.” I lack POWER and I really want God to qualify me to speak to others without shame.
I’m not living a life contrary to what I profess but I know things are lacking but I need God’s power, light and approval so that I lack nothing when I try to witness to others. I don’t wanna look like a fool that God doesn’t back up because I prematurely witness without God’s help. I need maturity and wisdom.
Smith Wigglesworth once said, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.” I know that was what He did with me. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you and He will. Share what you know and be honest about what you don’t know. People are starving for truth, so just stick to that. Tell your story, you are an expert in that. Prayers for your ministry, let it begin.
Amen and thank you. All the way from Dallas, Tx. 💜
Blessings to you!