29 October LUKE 17

Increase our faith

Luke 17:5-6(AMP) The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith .” And the Lord said, “If you have faith in God as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree , ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea’; and it would have obeyed you.”

How do you increase your faith?

1. Read the Word

Romans 10:17(NKJV) So then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Hebrews 4:12(NIV) For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Matthew 7:24-27(NIV) “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

1. Heed the Word

James 1:22-24(NKJV) offers a second way to increase your faith: But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Psalm 119:9-16(AMP) “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch according to Your word . With all my heart I have sought You, ; Do not let me wander from Your commandments . Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You. Blessed and reverently praised are You, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways . I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

1. Test the Word

Proverbs 30:5(AMP) Every word of God is tested and refined ; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.

1 Peter 1:7(ESV) so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

When tribulations and persecutions arise because of a word you have received from God, it’s not because you have a bad hand in the game of life. Jesus makes it clear in Mark 4:17 that these issues arise because of the word.

Mark 4:17(AMP) and they have no real root in themselves, so they endure only for a little while; then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they stumble and fall away.