Increase Our Faith
This morning our men had a good study of Luke 17:5-10. It is a challenging passage, because many people have misconceptions about faith and servant-hood. Therefore, I tried to keep us focused on the request of the apostles that prompted Jesus' teachings. They wanted Jesus to increase their faith. What do you think Jesus said to them?
His first response was that it doesn't take a lot of faith to do miraculous things. All it takes is trusting what God tells us to do. When we trust Him, all things are possible. It is not that we need more faith. If we have a little faith like the size of a mustard seed, we have enough faith. What we need is faith in Him. We need to trust what He says for us to do, and do it. Then, when we need something, we ask, and He answers in His will. Therefore, to increase faith we listen and obey and trust His will, not ours.
In the next verses Jesus conveys a profound but simple message. We increase our faith when we realize, it is not about our needs being met, it is about obeying Jesus. We are the slave in His story, and when the slave has done "all" and "only" what was commanded and nothing else, he was an "unprofitable" servant. What does that say to you? It is not about Jesus feeding us after we have served Him some of the day. It is about us serving Him all day and more. Now, He does meet our needs, but our responsibility is to do His will. When we only do His will, that is total trust in Him. That is increasing the right kind of faith.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Samuel 20-22.
March 27 –30
Now, it is very important for us to continue to pray for the revival services. However, them main way to see revival in our church family is to be sure to come to the services yourself. If you are not there, it limits what God can do in you and through you. Continue to pray for the people around you and to invite them to come to the services.
His first response was that it doesn't take a lot of faith to do miraculous things. All it takes is trusting what God tells us to do. When we trust Him, all things are possible. It is not that we need more faith. If we have a little faith like the size of a mustard seed, we have enough faith. What we need is faith in Him. We need to trust what He says for us to do, and do it. Then, when we need something, we ask, and He answers in His will. Therefore, to increase faith we listen and obey and trust His will, not ours.
In the next verses Jesus conveys a profound but simple message. We increase our faith when we realize, it is not about our needs being met, it is about obeying Jesus. We are the slave in His story, and when the slave has done "all" and "only" what was commanded and nothing else, he was an "unprofitable" servant. What does that say to you? It is not about Jesus feeding us after we have served Him some of the day. It is about us serving Him all day and more. Now, He does meet our needs, but our responsibility is to do His will. When we only do His will, that is total trust in Him. That is increasing the right kind of faith.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Samuel 20-22.
March 27 –30
Now, it is very important for us to continue to pray for the revival services. However, them main way to see revival in our church family is to be sure to come to the services yourself. If you are not there, it limits what God can do in you and through you. Continue to pray for the people around you and to invite them to come to the services.