The Law of Capacity
- The Bible relates a story in Mark 9:15-27 about a young man who was possessed by an evil spirit. Jesus had just taken three disciples with Him privately. When they returned, they saw the rest of the disciples in a discussion with some of the scribes there.
Jesus asked the disciples what was going on. Then a man from the crowd came forth and told Jesus, his son was possessed by a spirit that makes him mute. The boy was brought to Jesus and various symptoms were displayed before Him.
Jesus asked how long it had been happening to him. The father related it had been going on since childhood.
The father made, what looked like on the surface, a very logical statement. He told Jesus, "If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." Jesus gave the father a remarkable answer. "If you can? All things are possible to him who believes."
The father gave Jesus an equally remarkable answer. "I do believe; help my unbelief". At times, we could all make that same statement. "I believe!" But, man, do I need help with what I don't believe!" What the father was asking Jesus to do was to increase his capacity to believe.
The Law of Capacity is a foundation law for faith. Think of capacity as a set point or a thermostat for faith. You can set a thermostat in a room for a certain temperature. Let's say you set it for 72 degrees (F). No matter in what direction, the temperature may try to go, the thermostat will always bring the room temperature to 72 degrees.
This is how the Law of Capacity works. Your faith will increase to the level of your capacity for faith. The good news is it can be increased. You're not stuck at your current capacity.
Three factors will determine your capacity to believe. They are, self-image, focus and self-talk. All three of these together or any one of them individually, will affect your capacity to believe.
Self-Image
Self-image will strongly influence your capacity to believe. Basically, self-image is how you see yourself. Your self-image will lift you up or hold you back. It's determined by your beliefs, perceptions and interpretations of people and events.
Think of your self-image as a building. Your beliefs are the foundation. Your underlying beliefs will affect your self-image. For example, one may have a belief they are unlovable. That person doesn't believe he's worthy of being loved by someone. She then is told how much God loves her.
But, her underlying belief is she's unlovable. This belief will now influence his perception. His perception is God really can't love him all that much, because he's basically unlovable. God may tolerate her to a degree, but He doesn't really love someone who's unlovable.
Because of the belief and perception, she interprets what she's told. Because of her belief she isn't unlovable and God only tolerates her, her interpretation then is God doesn't love her. So, you see, in this case, self-image, by itself, determines the level of faith one has about God's love for them.
Think of your self-image as a building. Your beliefs are the foundation. Your underlying beliefs will affect your self-image. For example, one may have a belief they are unlovable. That person doesn't believe he's worthy of being loved by someone. She then is told how much God loves her.
But, her underlying belief is she's unlovable. This belief will now influence his perception. His perception is God really can't love him all that much, because he's basically unlovable. God may tolerate her to a degree, but He doesn't really love someone who's unlovable.
Because of the belief and perception, she interprets what she's told. Because of her belief she isn't unlovable and God only tolerates her, her interpretation then is God doesn't love her. So, you see, in this case, self-image, by itself, determines the level of faith one has about God's love for them.
Focus
Your focus will also determine your capacity to believe. There are many Christians who struggle with this one. For example, we are told in 2 Peter 1:9 we have been cleansed from past sins. Because of self-image, perceptions and interpretations, one's focus may be lower-level.
For example, one may believe their past was so bad, their past sins weren't REALLY forgiven. Not theirs. Because of this belief, they perceive their past actions are exceptions to the scripture. This results in an interpretation that their past is too bad to really be forgiven. Because of this, God doesn't really love them.
Instead of his focus being on God's love and what the scriptures say about being forgiven of past sins, his focus is on the past sins and not God or His love. So, his capacity to believe he is forgiven of his past is diminished.
For example, one may believe their past was so bad, their past sins weren't REALLY forgiven. Not theirs. Because of this belief, they perceive their past actions are exceptions to the scripture. This results in an interpretation that their past is too bad to really be forgiven. Because of this, God doesn't really love them.
Instead of his focus being on God's love and what the scriptures say about being forgiven of past sins, his focus is on the past sins and not God or His love. So, his capacity to believe he is forgiven of his past is diminished.
Self-Talk
Research indicates that the average person talks to himself or herself about 50,000 times a day. The sad part is the most of that self-talk is about yourself. Researches have also discovered most of that self-talk is negative.
You say things like "I can't believe like he can", "he knows the Bible so much better than I do", "I just can't pray" or "God won't speak to me like He does with ...". That negative self-talk will surely limit your capacity to believe.
Our negative thought and negative conversations affect our ability to act and affect our bodies. They also affect our capacity to believe. How many times have you received a compliment or read a scripture about who you are in Christ and you immediately say to yourself, "THAT'S NOT ME!"
So, instead of participating in that destructive and limiting self-talk, agree with what God says about you in His Word.
Read it, pray it and declare it!
The Law of Capacity is your first step to great faith.
You say things like "I can't believe like he can", "he knows the Bible so much better than I do", "I just can't pray" or "God won't speak to me like He does with ...". That negative self-talk will surely limit your capacity to believe.
Our negative thought and negative conversations affect our ability to act and affect our bodies. They also affect our capacity to believe. How many times have you received a compliment or read a scripture about who you are in Christ and you immediately say to yourself, "THAT'S NOT ME!"
So, instead of participating in that destructive and limiting self-talk, agree with what God says about you in His Word.
Read it, pray it and declare it!
The Law of Capacity is your first step to great faith.
