Psalm 37:1–9 / Luke 17:5–10 / Habakkuk 1 & 2

Increase Our Faith

We are not unlike the Apostles

They had just been given some difficult instruction

They were unsure of themselves

Super Faith? Job, Abraham, David, Peter

All were imperfect sinners, not stained glass saints

It’s not great faith that matters, it’s faith in a Great God

Faith is merely the conduit through which God’s power and grace flow, not the source or cause of it.

Unworthy / unprofitable servants -

We are not asked to be heroes, just faithful

Wait for it.... (Habakkuk)

Context - Babylonians will be raised to conquer the Assyrians and Judah

At least 2 things going on:

Chaos - lack of justice, abundance of wickedness and violence

God in a box = God of our understanding = not God

You aren’t answering on my schedule.

You aren’t answering in the ways I think you should.

You can’t be using the wicked things and ppl I see.

How are they not being punished?

Why must I go through this?

Blind Faith?

Genesis, Exodus,

How about gifted faith? - Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”

God Spoke

H 2:3 - “it surely will come”

Keep on keeping on

H 2:3-4 - “if it seems slow, wait for it… the righteous shall live by his faith”

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Revelation 14:12 “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

Faith for Faithfulness

Update on our examples of faith:

Job - Job 19:25 “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.”

Abraham - Hebrews 11:19 “He considered that God was able even to raise [Isaac] from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.”

David - 1 Samuel 17:45 “Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

Peter - Matthew 16:16 “Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.””

Way leads onto way; faith leads onto faithfulness

Psalm 37:3 “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.”

Psalm 37:4-5 “4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”

Psalm 37:8 “8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.”

When we meditate on the Scriptures, and remember all that God has done in our own lives, we believe God is who He is, and that He does what He says, then our faith is strengthened to do what we ought; what we are called to do; to become what we are called to be.

5 takeaways to apply to our lives:

God is in control, even when it looks like all is lost.

God will ensure justice, even when we don’t yet see it.

God has spoken to us in His Word.

Judgment is already visible; final judgment is coming.

Whatever situation you are in, God will equip you for it.

Church Family, we live in difficult times. We need faith to live in a way that is pleasing to God and beneficial to ourselves and our loved ones. God has given us His Word and His Spirit. He gives us all we ever need in life; especially faith.