[b]According to the Proportion of our Faith[i]by Alan Martin
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy according to the proportion of the faith.” Having gifts does not guarantee that we will use them correctly; for they must be used proportionate to the measure of faith we currently posses. How can we discern whether we are using them proportionately? One simple help is to speak only of the grace that has come to us and given us victory in the area about which we are sharing. Our faith is most evident in the areas in which we are overcoming, “faith is the victory that overcomes the world.” If we are not overcoming in certain areas of our walk, we should not prophecy, speak or teach about them as if we are. The reason we are unable to overcome some temptations or drive out some strongholds in our life is due to the weakness or lack of our unfinished faith. We can speak about these areas publicly in a way of confession, or we can appeal for help from our fellow saints to come along side us in that area; but, let us not speak as if we have a proportion of faith when the evidence would not verify that in fact we do.
God does not anoint theories or principles; He anoints humble, obedient servants. One can speak about the truth of self-control while being overcome with anger, desires or fear; he will have no genuine authority in his message though. God anoints men with the Holy Spirit who have yielded to the truth and ordered their lives under it. The brokenness attained in denying self and obeying the truth is the preparation for the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
We must all beware of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is that term originally used to describe the Greek play actor. We should not think that it is a word of mere pretense; these actors labored to memorize and learn their part well. Their goal was to accurately portray the message of the play so as to make the strongest impression upon the audience. Many sincere believers are seeking to learn their part as well, studying to show themselves approved, memorizing the scriptures, sticking to the script. But in the final analysis, the actor was not who he represented himself, regardless of how sincerely he played the part. This was the leaven of the Pharisees. They were students of the script, and made great efforts to adhere to their memorized lines and assigned parts; but, although they presented themselves as faithful men, they were in fact not righteous in their heart. They were not who they sought to portray themselves.
It is far better to speak of who we actually are in a true proportion to our faith. If we are weak, speak as one who is weak. If we are falling short in some areas of our life, speak as if we are one who has not yet arrived. We should never speak as if we have fully come to know, for “if anyone claims he knows anything, he does not yet know as he ought.” We can only prophecy in part, for we can only know in part. The perfection has not yet come, and for now we only can see as in a glass dimly. To speak as if we fully see in an area, or we have a full and complete understanding of some aspect of truth is to represent ourselves beyond our true limitations. Even if we think we are standing firm, we should take heed lest we fall.
In reality, it is God who makes everyone to stand firm in Christ and the person who has truly come to appreciate this knows he or she has nothing to boast about or speak authoritatively on. Recognizing and speaking as if we are weak, incomplete, poor and needy makes us prime candidates for receiving more grace. God has chosen the foolish things, weak things, despised things to confound the strong. We don’t have to be finished or perfect to be anointed, but that anointing will only be upon those areas where we have been truly broken. Some of the most powerful anointed times in my own ministry were simply times I was confessing my own shortcomings and the grace of God that was beginning to abound. God does not despise the broken and contrite heart.