Increase Our Faith: Luke 17:5-6
“5) The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6) And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.” Luke 17:5-6
By this point the disciples had figured out that following and obeying Jesus Christ takes faith. They wanted and needed more faith. So they asked Jesus to increase their faith.
His response was that small faith even like that of a mustard seed could do great things. It could uproot a mulberry tree and cast it into the sea. In Matthew 17:20, He said mustard seed size faith can move mountains.
Jesus did not emphasize the amount of faith but rather the person or object toward which the faith was directed. Small faith in a big God can accomplish great things. Great faith in a pathetic god is worthless.
On the other hand, in Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus emphasized that mustard seed size faith can grow immensely. Faith can and should grow. So how does that happen?
First, Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. If you want your faith to grow, study the Bible. It is filled with amazing stories of the supernatural character and nature of God. As you study the Bible, you soon come to the realization that nothing is impossible with God!
Second, faith comes by stepping out and doing! The more you obey and do what Jesus said, the greater your faith will grow! Faith is intended to be active and not passive. Faith grows in proportion to your obedience in doing.
Third, faith grows as you grow in your understanding of Jesus Christ, His names and His offices. According to Ephesians 1:17, It comes down to embracing a spirit of wisdom and revelation into a growing knowledge of Christ.
Yes, get to know Jesus as Savior, but don’t stop there. Also get to know Him as Provider, Protector, Healer, Deliver, Redeemer and King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Get to know and love every member of the Trinity. Get to know the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Power is connected to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Get to know Him.
Finally, wrap your prayer life around your faith. Ask great things of God; expect great things from God. Then step out and live accordingly.
Listen to stories of faith and hang around people of growing faith. Don’t spend all your time learning and analyzing, step out and start doing!
Obedience to step out and obey God was the common denominator of every hero of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11. Follower their example! Be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“5) The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6) And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.” Luke 17:5-6
By this point the disciples had figured out that following and obeying Jesus Christ takes faith. They wanted and needed more faith. So they asked Jesus to increase their faith.
His response was that small faith even like that of a mustard seed could do great things. It could uproot a mulberry tree and cast it into the sea. In Matthew 17:20, He said mustard seed size faith can move mountains.
Jesus did not emphasize the amount of faith but rather the person or object toward which the faith was directed. Small faith in a big God can accomplish great things. Great faith in a pathetic god is worthless.
On the other hand, in Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus emphasized that mustard seed size faith can grow immensely. Faith can and should grow. So how does that happen?
First, Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. If you want your faith to grow, study the Bible. It is filled with amazing stories of the supernatural character and nature of God. As you study the Bible, you soon come to the realization that nothing is impossible with God!
Second, faith comes by stepping out and doing! The more you obey and do what Jesus said, the greater your faith will grow! Faith is intended to be active and not passive. Faith grows in proportion to your obedience in doing.
Third, faith grows as you grow in your understanding of Jesus Christ, His names and His offices. According to Ephesians 1:17, It comes down to embracing a spirit of wisdom and revelation into a growing knowledge of Christ.
Yes, get to know Jesus as Savior, but don’t stop there. Also get to know Him as Provider, Protector, Healer, Deliver, Redeemer and King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Get to know and love every member of the Trinity. Get to know the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Power is connected to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Get to know Him.
Finally, wrap your prayer life around your faith. Ask great things of God; expect great things from God. Then step out and live accordingly.
Listen to stories of faith and hang around people of growing faith. Don’t spend all your time learning and analyzing, step out and start doing!
Obedience to step out and obey God was the common denominator of every hero of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11. Follower their example! Be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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