Increase our Faith
N.B. For some reason the audio starts at "Faith in His Power" and the section "Introduction" is missing
Introduction
- Do you ever feel that churches and ministers are out of touch?
- The teaching of Jesus is very high
- Examples:
- You must not lead any of the little ones into sin
- Can we live up to this?
- Do we forgive?
- Do we keep on forgiving?
- The apostles respond - "increase our faith" (v5)
- Jesus did not provide escape clauses
- His message is clear and unequivocal
- He gave clear teaching
- We understand the disciples saying "increase our faith"
- When Jesus commands - He enables us
- There are commands
- There are promises
- How to live as Jesus requires:
- Overview:
- Faith in His Power
- Doing our Duty
- Having a Humble Mind
Faith in His Power
- In one sense the disciples' reply was correct - without faith it is impossible to believe and obey God
- We cannot make ourselves right with God - but God has done this work for us (in Jesus Christ)
- We are to come with empty hands and believe in faith in Jesus Christ
- We go on living a life of faith
- In one sense their reply was lacking - we need 'gigantic faith'
- Jesus tells them to exercise the faith that they have - a faith that can move mountains
- This would have been encouraging
- In one sense - an element of unbelief
- They are struggling
- Jesus knows our struggles and inadequacy - we must be honest about this with Jesus
- "Without Him we can do nothing" but "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
- Our sufficiency comes from Jesus
- v6 - not a literal meaning but a metaphorical meaning
- The mulberry trees had deep roots that lasted maybe up to 600 years!
- A mustard seed was the smallest known seed
- If you have real genuine faith - it can overcome the most deep rooted problem
- Example of Corrie Ten Boom
- It is not great faith but little faith that is needed
- The gospels show many examples of those with little faith coming to Jesus (and being rewarded)
- Example of the women with the issue of blood, the man who was demon possessed
- Can a tree be uprooted and planted in the sea?
- It can in faith
- Personal example
Doing our Duty (v7-10)
- We must not misunderstand - the Christian life is not solely about duty but out of grace we do our duty because we love God
- Example of Prince Harry
- We do our duty because we want to honour Him
- Reading v7-10
- A life of faith is always a life of obedience
- The servant was doing his duty
- We are to do the things commanded by God
- We will not receive thanks - we are to thank Him
- We will not receive praise
- We are unprofitable servants
- We have not done everything that we should have
- We are saved by grace alone - Eph 2:9
- But we are saved for good works - Eph 2:10
- Do we follow the culture of our world?
- Do it - if it feels good
- Examples of things that must be done
- This follows in our spiritual life
- Forgiveness
- Do your duty even when it is hard
Having a Humble Mind
- Have a humble attitude - as a servant (v9-10)
- Yes we are a royal priesthood but also a servant
- Jesus declared Himself a servant yet was the Son of God
- How much more then should we serve God and one another?
- This requires humility
- We must avoid pride (it is not about deserving but about grace)
- God does not owe us anything - but we owe Him everything
- Look at what Jesus endured
- We must avoid revenge
- We are here to be a servant of the living God
- Are we humble like Jesus?
- We are "to walk humbly with our God"
- They were the apostles (v5) but they too were to be servants