“INCREASE OUR FAITH” IS AN EXPRESSION OF GREAT DESIRE OF SPIRITUAL STRENGTH OF THE
CHRISTIAN.
( Luke 17:5 ) [5]And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our
faith.
*INTRODUCTION:
a. The disciples of Christ is honest
of his or her desire for spiritual strength by having a strong faith to God.
b. Abraham is our good model for
having a strong faith to God.
Romans 4:16-21 [16]Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by
grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only
which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is
the father of us all,
[17](As it
is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he
believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be
not as though they were.
[18]Who
against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations,
according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
[19]And
being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was
about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
[20]He
staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith,
giving glory to God;
[21]And
being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
b. Abraham received the promise of
God to him to the father of many nations being in 100 years old and his wife
Sarah that it is hard for her have born a baby because of being old age.
c. This a challenge to each one of us
to increase our faith for many good spiritual reasons.
d. We know the story of Abraham in
Genisis 22:1-16 how God test his faith by asking Abraham to offer his beloved
son Isaac and immediately he obeyed God and follow God's instructions to bring
his to place where God said to him to offer his son. This is true explanation
that Abraham was have a strong faith verse 19 that Abraham being not in faith
have a strong faith God, though he will doubt of God's promise because Abraham
is 100-year-old already but he continues to believe that the promise is always
true verse 20 He staggered not at promise of God through unbelief; but was
strong in faith, giving glory to God.
1. CHRISTIANS NEEDS TO INCREASE THEIR
FAITH TO GOD FOR CONTINUES GROWTH OF THE BELIEVERS OF CHRIST.
( Romans 10:17 ) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God.
a. The great desire of the Christian
to increase their faith to God is clear evidence that they are Christian.
Meaning they are really saved person.
b. But those who said they are
Christian even they old members of the Church but no desire to grow in their
Christian maybe they are not genuine Christian.
c. We use illustration of a baby they
ask milk, like what in (I Peter 2:2)
( I Peter 2:2) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the
word, that ye may grow thereby:
d. The Word of God is sincere milk
that need of a new believer of Christ.
( Romans 10:17 ) Rom 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God.
e. The source to increase of our is
the Word of God.
King David gave us the importance of
the Word of God in the of the Christian so that have the right direction in our
daily walk as Christian.
( Psalms 119: 105 ) Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my
path.
The Word of God protect us committing
sin before God.
( Psalms 119:11 ) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not
sin against thee.
The Word of God is Perfect and
perfect source to increase our faith to God.
( Psalms 19:7-11 ) [7]The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the
soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
[8]The
statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the
LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
[9]The
fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are
true and righteous altogether.
[10]More
to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than
honey and the honeycomb.
[11]Moreover
by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
e. The Word of God made us blessed
because King David said in
( Psalms 1:1-3 ) [1]Blessed is the man that walketh not in the
counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the
seat of the scornful.
[2]But his
delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and
night.
[3]And he
shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his
fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth
shall prosper.
We are blessed because we don't walk
in the counsel of the ungodly, we blessed because we don't stand in the way of sinners,
we blessed because we don't sit in the seat of the scornful. We blessed we
delighted to meditate and practice the Word of God in our life, we blessed
because God said our life is a tree planted in the rivers of water that our
leaves will not wither and God promise to that anything we do will prosper.
Psalms 1:3 [3]And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers
of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not
wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Christians, I challenge you all to
pray to God to increase our faith for our spiritual growth being genuine
believers of Christ.
2. CHRISTIANS NEEDS TO INCREASE THEIR
FAITH TO GOD TO ASSURE TO FINISH OUR SPIRITUAL RUN IN CHRISTIAN RACE.
Christians are all runners in a
spiritual race so need to have strong faith to God that can to run and reach
unto the finish line of our Christians race.
( 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 ) [24]Know ye not that they which run in a race run
all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
[25]And
every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do
it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
[26]I
therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the
air:
a. The Christians are called to be a
spiritual runner in the sight of God. So, we need a strong faith to assure to
run up to the finish line.
( I Corinthians 9:24 ) Know ye not that they which run in a race run all,
but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
b. This is the sad truth and reality
inside our Church that some Christians are running in their Christian race but
choose to love the World and forget to continue in their Christian race.
Demas choose to love the World more
than the Lord who saved him from sure judgement in hell fire forever and ever.
( II Timothy 4:10 ) For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this
present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus
unto Dalmatia.
So many Christians they started in
their Christian good but it sad to say they stop running in their Christian
run.
c. Paul gave a good advice to run in
spiritual race with victory and give glory to God.
( Hebrews 12:1-2 ) [1]Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with
so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set
before us,
[2]Looking
unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right
hand of the throne of God.
d. Christian let us pray to increase
our faith to God so that we can finish our Spiritual race with victory.
( I Corinthians 9:24-27 ) [24]Know ye not that they which run in a race run
all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Paul always encourages himself to
continue running to reach unto the finish line that he may receive his reward.
Amen and amen!
[25]And
every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do
it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
[26]I
therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the
air:
Christians we need to have a strong
faith to God to finish our spiritual race faithfully for God's glory and
praise.
3. CHRISTIAN NEED TO INCREASED THEIR
FAITH TO GOD THE FACE OF SPIRITUAL BATTLE AGAINST OUR ENEMY THE DEVIL.
a. Christian are engaged in spiritual
battle against our spiritual enemy the Devil. There is great for us to pray to
increase our faith to God. Because our enemy is smarter and stronger than us.
But our God is powerful and stronger
than our spiritual enemy the Devil.
( 1 John 4:4 ) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome
them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
God promise that we can overcome our
spiritual enemy the Devil.
( 1 John 5:4-5 ) [4]For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the
world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
[5]Who is
he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of
God?
( Ephesians 6:10-14 ) [10]Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of his might.
[11]Put on
the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil.
[12]For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.
[13]Wherefore
take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the
evil day, and having done all, to stand.
[14]Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness;
b. God gave the best spiritual armour
against our spiritual enemy to protect us from their unexpected attacks to us.
The Armour of truth this are the
doctrine of the bibles we learned from attending our Sunday morning Sunday
School.
( II Timothy 3:16-17 ) [16]All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
[17]That
the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
The Breastplate of truth. This speak of our Church Testimony.
( I Corinthians 11:1-2 ) [1]Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of
Christ.
[2]Now I
praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the
ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
( I Peter 2:21 ) For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ
also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
The Amour of share the gospel of
Christ to lost sinners.
(Ephesians 6:15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the
gospel of peace;
The Amour of faith of the Christian
to increase our faith to God.
( Ephesians 6:16-17) [16]Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
[17]And
take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God:
The most important Amour to face our
enemy is The Power of Prayer.
( Ephesians 6:18 ) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in
the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for
all saints;
Christians we have a serious
spiritual enemy and need to increase our faith to God to face the good fight of
faith of our spiritual enemy.
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal
life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession
before many witnesses.
Amen and amen!!!
4. CHRISTIAN NEED TO INCREASED THEIR
FAITH TO GOD TO ASSURE OUR FRUITFULNESS IN CHRISTIAN LIFE BEFORE GOD.
( John 15: 8-16 ) [8]Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much
fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
[9]As the
Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
[10]If ye
keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my
Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
[11]These
things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your
joy might be full.
[12]This
is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
[13]Greater
love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
[14]Ye are
my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
[15]Henceforth
I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I
have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have
made known unto you.
[16]Ye
have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go
and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye
shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
a. We need to increase our faith to
God because God expect a bountiful fruit from His Church.
( l Corinthians 15:58 ) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast,
unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that
your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
b. Christ great commission is not for
group of people to be saved, not only many Barangays in our Community, not just
many Provinces here in the Philippines but the great commission of the Lord
Jesus Christ is the whole World.
( Matthew 28:19-20 ) [19]Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost:
[20]Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with
you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
c. Christ great concern is "
Unto The End of The World.
( 1 Timothy 2: 4 ) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto
the knowledge of the truth.
Christ make a specific on this text
That all sinners might be saved and come to the knowledge of the.
This is the reason why we our Mission
program in our Church to focus to send out more Missionaries all over the World
This is the reason many Baptists
Church hold their World Missions Conference.
This the reason why Church our church
to give more for Mission to support as many Missionaries as we can in the
Mission field.
This is the reason why we put up
Bible Seminary if we can to train more future Missionaries to send out to
Mission field.
Paul gave a good commendation to the
Philippians Church for faithful support to many Missionaries like him in the
Mission.
Paul said will bless them of their
faithfulness in giving to Mission.
( Philippians 4: 15-19 ) [15]Now ye Philippians know also, that in the
beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated
with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
[16]For
even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
[17]Not
because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
[18]But I
have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things
which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable,
wellpleasing to God.
[19]But my
God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus.
Lastly the disciples said to the Lord
Jesus Christ, “Lord increase our faith"
(Luke 17:5) And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our
faith.
God bless you all always *
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