Biblical Principles for Ever Increasing Faith

Intro

Text - Luke 17.1-5

Luke 17:1–5 NKJV

1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

Title - Biblical Principles for Ever Increasing Faith

Background

Jesus presented to them 2 critical things

the inevitability and danger of offenses - read Luke 17.1-2

the need to forgive offenders as many times as they ask for forgiveness - read Luke 17.3-4

Jesus responded by giving them a parable -

faith as a mustard seed - Luke 17.6

Luke 17:6 NKJV

6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Questions

Why did the disciples ask to increase their faith?

Why did Jesus answer with the parable of the mustard seed?

The disciples’ concern

They wanted to do things right

they did not want to offend anyone!

they wanted to be able to forgive as Jesus commanded - as many times as needed!

They thought “more” faith is necessary to be able to do great things

more = more in number

Also, their request was a response the the Lord’s frequent observation - they had “little faith”

Matthew 6:30 NKJV

30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 8:26 NKJV

26 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 14:31 NKJV

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 16:8 NKJV

8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?

little faith - Grk. OLIGOPISTOS

Jesus’ Response

Faith as small as a mustard seed is enough to do great things

You don’t really need “more” faith to be able to do great things

The faith you have now - even if it seems so small - is enough to do great things

“If you have faith...”

Matthew 17:19–20 NKJV

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 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.

it is not because you have lesss faith - you really have no faith

Matthew 21:20–21 NKJV

20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” 21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.

“have faith in God...”

Mark 11:22–24 NKJV

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

You should rather focus your faith on obedience

Luke 17:7–10 NKJV

7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8 But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

another parable - on full obedience

the servant’s work is not complete until he has

plowed the field or tended the sheep

prepared food for his master

serve until the master has eaten

The primary function of faith is obedience to God’s Word

Genesis 15:1–6 NKJV

1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” 2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Hebrews 11:8–9 NKJV

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;

God commended Abraham’s obedience

Genesis 22:16–18 NKJV

16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— 17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

God saw Israel’s lack of faith

Romans 10:16 NKJV

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”

Faith that is focused on obedience ”grows”

2 Thessalonians 1:3 NKJV

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

The key to increasing faith is growth by obedience

believers who are obedient to God’s word are the ones who are growing in faith.

faith is like a seed - it must be planted in order to grow

increase is the result of faith when it has grown to maturity

Conclusion

Start planting you faith -

be obedient to God

do all things by faith