Increasing Your Faith

Introduction

This week we are continuing our By Faith sermon series.

On week one I spoke about the definition of faith according to Hebrews 11:1.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Because of God’s perfect character we can and should trust Him even when we do not yet see what we are hoping for.

I then went on to discuss the rest of chapter 11 and we read how by faith the people in the Bible which God used to do amazing things trusted Him and were obedient even though some of them did not see that which they were hoping for in their lifetime but rather they were part of the Lord’s plan to bless future generations.

Last week in part two of this series my messages was focused primarily on the limitless power and potential of your faith.

We read that how Jesus explains if we have even a small amount of faith that nothing will be impossible for us.

Matthew 17:20–21 ESV

20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

I challenged each of you to do a spiritual inventory of how much faith you have and to focus on actively trusting Jesus in all areas of your life including those things which you are hoping for.

Both of these sermons are on our OLC YouTube channel for anyone to reference.

Now that we have discussed what faith is and the limitless potential of faith this week I want to speak this week on how to increase your faith.

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Faith Increases by Hearing the Gospel

In Romans 10 Paul is again comparing salvation by the law versus salvation through Christ. He does this by using the Israelites as an example.

You see the Jews were searching for righteousness by the law but they could not achieve it in part because they focused on works and not faith.

As I spoke about a couple of weeks ago, there are many still today not only in other religions but also in some Christian denominations that still teach partial salvation by Christ and part by works. Meaning you must have faith in Jesus and you must perform good works to be saved.

This is not accurate and people who teach this way are essentially saying the blood of Christ is not sufficient for all sins which could not be further from the truth.

Jesus Christ is the perfect sinless lamb of God and all who put their faith in Him will be saved. Never let anyone convince you otherwise.

So here in Romans 10 Paul is making the point that because the Jews were so focused on the works of the Law the were not practicing faith in the Lord but rather works. Therefore, many refused to become righteous by God’s way and consequently those people were not made righteous.

Romans 10:3–4 NLT

3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

This is one of the reasons why many Gentiles heard and eagerly accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ yet the Israelites who had the Scriptures and Prophets and were awaiting a coming Messiah rejected Him. Simply put they had a head knowledge of God but not a heart knowledge of God.

As a Pastor my desire is that all of you study God’s word and grow deeper in the knowledge of the truth of His word. But just like the Jews a person can have the head knowledge of God’s word but not a heart knowledge. Said differently you could memorize the entire Bible but without allowing the Gospel to touch your heart and without putting your faith in Jesus Christ you will not be counted righteous in the eyes of God.

This is one of the reasons I focus on connecting the Gospel message into many of the sermons I preach because people need to hear and be reminded that by our faith in Christ alone we are saved and without being saved our faith cannot grow.

Romans 10:9–17 NLT

9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” 16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Aren’t you glad that somebody took the time to share the Good New about Jesus Christ with you amen!

Listen we can have a tendency to over complicate things in our Christian walk but the truth is and the truth will always be that when we are seeking faith or to increase our faith the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be the central hub which all other elements stem from. Otherwise we are in danger of focusing on activity instead of letting go of our ways and completely trusting Jesus and walking in His ways! Amen.

Faith Increases by Reading the Bible

The Bible is in fact the inspired word of God meaning the Holy Spirit worked through mankind to write the Scriptures. And once we have heard the Gospel message and put our faith in Jesus Christ the true life changing power of the Scriptures will come alive to us like never before. This is because after we are saved the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside of us and equips us to better understand the word of God.

Spending time in God’s word allows us to see that throughout all time the Lord has done mighty things for His people. From cover to cover we can read how God works in the supernatural and the natural to love, guide, protect and bless those who love and trust Him. In fact, being loving and steadfast are part of God’s unchanging character. And the more we read the Bible the more we see imperfect people are used by a perfect God to do mighty things not because of their ability but because over their availability.

This should encourage every believer that when we are going through a difficult season or if we just want to feel pure unconditional pure love the same God that loves His people in the Bible is the same God that loves you and I beyond what we could ever think imagine or hope for. And that is a reason to give Him praise! Hallelujah!

Faith Increases Through Prayer

In addition to hearing the Gospel and reading our Bibles, our faith is also increased through prayer. Jesus Himself often made time to be alone with the Father in prayer.

Luke 5:16 NLT

16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

There is something uniquely special when we have intimate time with the Lord. Prayer gives us an opportunity to declare first with reverence that we know who we are speaking with. Yes God is our Father and Jesus is our Friend but God is so much more. He is the all mighty, all powerful, all knowing, all loving one true God of the entire universe. And the fact that He not only allows us to know Him but desires that we be part of His family is truly an awesome gift. His love for us that He have His only Son to suffer and die and rise on the third day so that all who put their faith in Him will have eternal life in paradise with Him. That is a love that in beyond our compare and beyond our comprehension.

Hear me today there is nothing I mean nothing that can compare with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in your prayer life. There is no amount of money, no relationship, no drug, no accomplishment nothing that is even in the same ballpark as the peace, love and power felt in the presence of Almighty God! Hallelujah!

The Lord loves you and you can tell Him anything and He will comfort you.

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

God is the most trusted source you can have when making an important decision in any area of your life.

Luke 6:12–13 NLT

12 One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. 13 At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:

When you need a miracle you can pray to the Lord. Jesus prayed to the Father many times when performing miracles.

John 11:41–44 NLT

41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

Anything and everything you need from comfort to a miracle to a healing to a physical, mental or emotional need God can and will provide. And through prayer we are not only blessed with the powerful presence of God but also have confidence that He hears us and by our faith in Him we can have confidence in the blessing we are asking for.

John 14:13–14 ESV

13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

By coming to the Lord in prayer and then confidently and patiently waiting Jesus gives us hope in our situations. Then we see the fulfillment our of hopes our active trust in the Lord grows even deeper which is the catalyst for even deeper faith. When we truly trust the Lord and are faithful to His ways than as Jesus said nothing will be impossible for us.

Closing

In closing, while there are more ways we can grow our faith alway remember that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is at the center of all faith and increase of faith. Also, be a student of God’s word so that you will know His character better and be able to lean on His promises. In addition, please pray to the Lord being completely reverent, vulnerable and full of worship.

Faith is the confidence that the things we hope for will happen and when you put our faith in Jesus Christ He will never let you down.

Prayer