WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
MAY 19, 2026
TOPIC: WHAT TYPE OF FAITH DO YOU HAVE?
BY T. O. BANSO
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 New King James Version).
Faith is very important in the life of a child of God. The Bible says that the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). Also, in Habakkuk 2:4, the Bible says that the just shall live by his faith.
Faith is so important that Jesus said, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”(Luke 18:8b New King James Version).
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). But the Bible qualifies faith in certain ways. Thus, we can speak about different kinds of faith, and each person should ask himself what type of faith he has.
Types of Faith
These are the types of faith described in the Bible:
1. No faith. This is a lack of faith. That was the condition of the disciples in Mark 4:36-41, when Jesus was talking to them after He had rebuked the wind on the sea, and it obeyed Him. “But He said to them, ‘Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?’” (Mark 4:40 New King James Version). No faith! However, some commentators have said that the disciples’ lack of faith did not mean they had zero faith. Rather, their faith was inactive.
2. Little faith. Matthew’s account of when Jesus rebuked the wind, which then obeyed, is in Matthew 8:23-27. In this account, Matthew uses the phrase “little faith” instead of “no faith” used by Mark, as you have seen previously. “But He said to them, ‘Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?’ Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm” (Matthew 8:26 New King James Version). Jesus also talked about little faith in Matthew 6:30, Luke 12:28, and Matthew 14:31, 16:8. Little faith!
3. Mustard seed faith. “So Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20 New King James Version). Jesus told His disciples this because of their inability to heal a demon-possessed boy.
When they asked Him in private why they couldn’t cast out the demon, He said it was because of their unbelief. He said that if they had faith as a mustard seed, they would be able to remove a mountain, and nothing would be impossible for them. In other words, what they needed to do the impossible was faith as tiny as a mustard seed, but they exercised unbelief.
In Luke 17:5, the disciples of Jesus asked Him to increase their faith (give them more faith). But Jesus replied that if they had faith as a mustard seed, they could tell a mulberry tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it would obey them (verse 6).
How big is a mustard seed? Jesus said in Matthew 13:32 that a mustard seed is the least of all the seeds. Nevertheless, He said that faith as a mustard seed would remove a mountain! However, the disciples exercised unbelief, even though in Matthew 10:1, Jesus had given them the power or authority to cast out the demons and heal every kind of disease and illness.
However, some Bible scholars believe that when Jesus talked about faith as a mustard seed, He was not only talking about the ‘smallest faith,’ but also about an increasing faith, considering what He said about the mustard seed in Matthew 13:31-32. Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches” (Matthew 13:31b-32 New King James Version). Mustard seed faith!
4. Great faith. Jesus described as “great” the faith of the Canaanite woman whose daughter was demon-possessed and brought her to Jesus for healing. Initially, it appeared that Jesus would not heal the daughter because, as He stated, He was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24). The woman was a Gentile and not a Jew. Jesus was first sent to the Jews, and it was not yet the time of the Gentiles. But she came and worshipped Jesus, pleading for His help. Jesus told her, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs” (verse 26 New King James Version). But the woman replied, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table” (verse 27). Jesus told the woman her faith was great, and it would be to her as she had desired (verse 28). Because of her great faith, her daughter was healed at that same hour.
Earlier in Matthew 8, the Bible tells the story of the centurion who had great faith that amazed Jesus. He said Jesus shouldn’t come to his house to heal his servant because he was not worthy of Jesus coming under his roof. Instead, he said Jesus should speak one word and his servant would be healed (verses 8-9). He spoke based on his training as a soldier who understood authority. In response, Jesus said He had not found such great faith, even in Israel (verse 10). Luke 7:1-10 also records this centurion’s story.
Jesus told him, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you” (Matthew 8:13 New King James Version). His servant was healed that same hour. Great faith!
5. True/sincere/unfeigned faith. The Bible also speaks about sincere faith, which is sometimes referred to as true, genuine, or unfeigned faith. Paul says, “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5 New King James Version). The American Standard Version uses the phrase “faith unfeigned”
Verse 6 says some strayed from this true/sincere/unfeigned faith and turned aside to idle talk, no longer teaching sound doctrines. Paul also described the faith in Timothy, his son in the ministry, as genuine faith (2 Timothy 1:5). The American Standard Version uses the phrase “unfeigned faith” instead of “genuine faith” used in the New King James Version. Genuine faith!
6. Shipwrecked (ruined) faith. Shipwrecked (ruined) faith. Writing to Timothy, Paul said that some people, having rejected faith and a good conscience, made a shipwreck of their faith (1 Timothy 1:19). Shipwrecked faith is ruined faith. Verse 20 gives two examples of these people: Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom Paul delivered to Satan so that they might learn not to blaspheme. In other words, they were excommunicated from fellowship so that their flesh may be destroyed and their spirit saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. It is like the phrase “deliver such a one to Satan” in 1 Corinthians 5:5. The verse says, “Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (New King James Version). In other words, the unrepentant member should be expelled from the church so that his sinful nature can be dealt with and his spirit can be ultimately saved.
Conclusion. Use the measure of faith God has given you (Romans 12:3). Build your faith. Let it grow or increase. Remember that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 New King James Version). Live by faith. Have faith in the Word of God. Act upon the Word of God.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you must give your heart to Jesus now. Please take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Jesus into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, help me to keep building my faith. Let me not reject faith and a good conscience. My faith will not be shipwrecked in Jesus’ name. Holy Spirit, empower me to continue having faith that will help me to please God. Help me to live by faith, and not by fear or unbelief.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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