How can we increase our faith as the apostles requested in Luke 17:5? Opening Scripture “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ ” (Luke 17:5) Seeing Faith as a Gift to Be Nurtured • Faith originates with God (Ephesians 2:8). • Yet Scripture calls believers to cultivate and strengthen what God has given (2 Peter 1:5–8). Rooted in the Word • “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) • Make daily, deliberate intake of Scripture a priority: – Read broadly to grasp the whole counsel of God. – Meditate slowly on smaller passages to let truth sink in (Psalm 1:2). – Memorize key verses; recall them in moments of doubt (Psalm 119:11). Prayerful Dependence on Christ • The apostles took their request straight to Jesus—so should we. • Persist in asking: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). • Pray Scripture back to God, aligning your heart with His revealed will (1 John 5:14–15). Obedience That Stretches Trust • Jesus immediately answered the apostles with a call to action (Luke 17:6). • Obedient steps—however small—exercise spiritual “muscles” (James 2:22). • Act on what you already know; God often enlarges faith through doing, not mere knowing (John 13:17). Fellowship That Strengthens • “Encourage one another daily… so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13) • Gather with believers who speak truth, model faith, and share testimonies of God’s faithfulness (Psalm 66:16). • Submit to biblically faithful teaching and mutual accountability (Ephesians 4:11–16). Embracing Trials as God’s Training Ground • “You know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” (James 1:3) • Trials reveal weak spots and drive us to rely on Christ’s sufficiency (2 Corinthians 12:9). • Look for God’s purpose in hardship; celebrate incremental growth (1 Peter 1:6–7). Remembering God’s Track Record • Rehearse past answers to prayer and fulfilled promises (Psalm 77:11–12). • Keep a written record of God’s interventions; reread it during seasons of doubt (Joshua 4:6–7). • Thanksgiving reinforces confidence in God’s unchanging character (Hebrews 13:8). Walking in the Spirit • The Holy Spirit produces faith as part of His fruit (Galatians 5:22). • Yield daily to His prompting: confess sin, seek holiness, rely on His power (Romans 8:13–14). • Expect Him to illuminate Scripture and empower obedience (John 14:26). Final Encouragement Start where you are, ask as the apostles did, and engage in the God-given means above. As you do, “He who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24) |
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