INCREASE
OUR FAITH
( Luke 17:5 ) And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our
faith.
* INTRODUCTION:
a. The disciples asked the Lord Jesus
Christ to increase his faith.
This is a good sign that this
disciple is truly saved and satisfied for being weak in their Christian life.
b. If all Church members are with
this desire to increase their faith to God this is also sign for the Church to
move forward and reach more souls for the Lord Jesus Christ.
* Jerusalem Church is our good model
having strong faith to God because of many times they encounter persecution to
hinder them to win lost people they cannot be stop even there is a threat to
put them in prison nobody can stop them.
( Acts 5:17-20 ) [17]Then the high priest rose up, and all they that
were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with
indignation,
[18]And
laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
[19]But
the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth,
and said,
[20]Go,
stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
* The evidence of their strong faith
to God. The authority cannot stop them in winning lost people. Examine what the
disciples of Christ answered the one that persecuted them.
( Acts 5:26-29 ) [26]Then went the captain with the officers, and
brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should
have been stoned.
[27]And
when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high
priest asked them,
[28]Saying,
Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and,
behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this
man's blood upon us.
[29]Then
Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather
than men.
* Church we all need ask God to
increase our faith to God that we move forward always in the work of the Lord.
1. THIS SHOULD BE THE GREAT DESIRE
AND NEED OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL CHURCH MEMBER TO PRAY MORE TO INCREASED OUR FAITH
TO GOD.
( Luke 17:5 ) And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our
faith.
* The Priority of Praying Together of
Jerusalem Church to increase their faith to God. To fulfill the great work of
God with dynamic growth of the Church.
( Acts 6:4-7 ) [4]But we will give ourselves continually to prayer,
and to the ministry of the word.
[5]And the
saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith
and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and
Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
[6]Whom
they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands
on them.
* Jerusalem Church a model Powerful
Prayer Meeting, when the Church face deep persecution in their time. They
prayed without ceasing to the Lord.
( Acts 12:1-5 ) [1]Now about that time Herod the king stretched
forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
[2]And he
killed James the brother of John with the sword.
[3]And
because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.
(Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
[4]And
when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four
quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth
to the people.
[5]Peter
therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church
unto God for him.
*
The great promises of God in Prayer are very clear to give an answer to
our prayers.
( 2 Chronicles 7:14 ) If my people, which are called by my name, shall
humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their
land.
* ( Jeremiah 33:3 ) [3]Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew
thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
* If all Church members of this will
ask to increase our faith to God. We can assure always victory in the work of
the Lord.
( Hebrew 11:32-33 ) [32]And what shall I more say? for the time would
fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of
David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
[33]Who
through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises,
stopped the mouths of lions,
[34]Quenched
the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made
strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
[35]Women
received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
[36]And
others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and
imprisonment:
* We need to increase our faith to
God for moving forward in the work of the Lord.
d. God’s servant as the in-charge to
the local Church also need to increase their faith to God because we are
responsible to encourage the Christians inside the local Church to have strong
in the faith to God.
* The work of God is great and large
and we need to strong faith from the servant of God and also to all Church
members.
( Psalms 111: 1- 4 ) [1]Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with
my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
[2]The
works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
[3]His
work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
[4]He hath
made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of
compassion..
2. THIS SHOULD BE THE GREAT DESIRE OF
EVERY FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS INSIDE THE LOCAL CHURCH TO INCREASE THEIR FAITH TO
GOD.
( Proverbs 28:20 ) A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he
that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
a. Faithful Christians are known for
being strong in their faith to God.
b. The Antioch Church is known to be
strong and faithful church because when encounter great persecution the more
became faithful in winning lost people.
( Acts 11:19-24 ) [19]Now they which were scattered abroad upon the
persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus,
and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
[20]And
some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to
Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
[21]And
the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned
unto the Lord.
[22]Then
tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in
Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
[23]Who,
when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all,
that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
[24]For he
was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was
added unto the Lord.
c. Jerusalem Church also are known to
be a faithful Church and they were hindered to win lost people but with courage
and determination they continue to win lost people.
( Acts 5:26-29 ) [26]Then went the captain with the officers, and
brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should
have been stoned.
[27]And
when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high
priest asked them,
[28]Saying,
Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and,
behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this
man's blood upon us.
[29]Then
Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather
than men.
* Church, we need to pray to God to
increase our faith for the sake of fulfill the great commission of the Lord
Jesus.
* Paul also was faithful servant of
with determination to finish his calling of the Lord.
( Acts 20:24 ) But none of these things move me, neither count I
my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the
ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the
grace of God.
3. THIS SHOULD BE THE GREAT
ENCOURAGEMENT TO GOD SERVANT TO ENLARGE THEIR COAST IN THE MINISTRY OF THE
LORD.
* Jabez the God servant prayed to God
to enlarge his coast in the Ministry of the Lord.
( 1 Chronicles 4: 10 ) And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh
that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand
might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not
grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
a. The Servant of God have great part
to motivate every individual Christian to have strong faith to enlarge our
coast or the Ministry of the Lord.
b. The Lord gave the vision to God
servant. That is why event the Servant will have desire to have strong faith to
enlarge our coast.
( Proverbs 29:18 ) Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he
that keepeth the law, happy is he.
c. The Lord Jesus Christ encourage
His disciples to look on the field for they are white already to harvest.
( John 4:35 ) Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then
cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the
fields; for they are white already to harvest.
4. THIS SHOULD BE THE GREAT CHALLENGE
TO INCREASED OUR FAITH TO ASSURE UNITY IN THE WORK OF THE LORD.
( Psalms 133;1-3 ) [1] Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity!
[2]It is
like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even
Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
[3]As the
dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for
there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
a. The unity of the Church in the
work of the Lord in the good evidence of strong faith of the Church members and
accomplish the work of the Lord like as one man the Ministry of the Lord.
b. The Lord Jesus Christ and God the
Father and Holy Spirit is our good model in perfect unity in the work of the
Lord.
( John 17: 21 ) That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in
me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe
that thou hast sent me.
c. The 4 soulwinners that brought the
palsy man to Jesus Christ.
( Mark 2:3-5 ) [3]And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the
palsy, which was borne of four.
[4]And
when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof
where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the
sick of the palsy lay.
[5]When
Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be
forgiven thee.
d. Paul also encourage the Christians
in the local Church to have unity in the work of the Lord.
( Philippians 2:1-5 ) [1]If there be therefore any consolation in Christ,
if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and
mercies,
[2]Fulfil
ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of
one mind.
[3]Let
nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each
esteem other better than themselves.
[4]Look
not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
[5]Let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
* Paul gave a strong reminder to the
Philippians Church to have unity inside the local Church. We can do this if all
in the Church are with strong faith to God.
Amen and amen.
5. THIS SHOULD BE THE GREAT PURPOSE
FOR THE CHURCH TO INCREASED THEIR FAITH TO GOD AND BE FRUITFUL IN THE WORK OF
THE LORD.
( II Timothy 2:1-6 ) [1]Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace
that is in Christ Jesus.
[2]And the
things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to
faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
[3]Thou
therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
[4]No man
that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may
please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
[5]And if
a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive
lawfully.
[6]The
husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
a. Paul challenge Timothy to be
strong in Christian life as a good qualification of effective soulwinners of
Christ
( II Timothy 2:1-2 ) [1]Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace
that is in Christ Jesus.
[2]And the
things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to
faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
b. Paul encourage Timothy To have
strong faith is good mark of the soldiers of Christ.
( II Timothy 2:3-4 ) [3]Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier
of Jesus Christ.
[4]No man
that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may
please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
c. To have a strong will always have
the desire strive for fruitfulness in their Christian life.
( II Timothy 2:5-6 ) [5]And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he
not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
[6]The
husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
Conclusion and Challenge:
* Church let's pray to increase our
faith to God.
(Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall
be impossible.
* God bless you all always*
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