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The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you (Luke 17:5-6, ESV).
The apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. Let’s ask Jesus today, “God, increase our faith!” Now, what are our assignments to grow in faith? Let’s begin with Scripture, as Jesus is the Word, and ask Him to reveal our next steps in increasing faith.
- Believe in the importance of faith
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17).
Christianity is faith in God, not self-improvement. Our salvation and growing in Christ come through faith. Yet faith remains a mystery to many followers of Jesus, since we are creatures of sight, and Paul teaches that the righteous live by faith.
Let’s define faith as confidence in what God wants to do through us, rather than in what we think we can do through our own efforts.
- Find your measure of faith
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned (Romans 12:3).
Every believer is given a measure of faith. The Greek word for “measure” can be imagined as a vessel that receives. It’s not a static filling, as the Bible says to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 3:19). And Jesus promises an abundance of living water flowing from us when referring to the promised Spirit (John 7:37-39).
All of us have been given a measure that can be increased. Lets pray to be filled with God’s Spirit.
- Hear God’s Word
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).
In Romans 10:17, “word” is “rhema.” When the Gospel of John says, “In the beginning was the Word,” the Greek for “Word” is “Logos.” Both “rhema” and “Logos” can be translated as “word,” but one (Logos) refers to the person of Jesus, while rhema can refer to His spoken words to us. As believers, for our faith to grow, we need to hear and keep in step with the Spirit. When the Word speaks a word to us, we obey, and our faith grows.
What is the “word” for us today?
- Faith rests on God’s power
So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5).
Faith (trusting in God) means obeying when we don’t understand, relying on resources we don’t have, and doing things we fear. Taking steps on top of the quagmire of our unbelief, we find the secure footing of a narrow path that, at least initially, can’t be seen, but is revealed as we stay faithful.
Faithfulness relies on the power of God; it’s beyond our ability.
- Fight!
Fight the good fight of the faith (1 Timothy 6:12a).
Walking by faith will require increased sophistication in spiritual warfare. Satan doesn’t bother those living by sight, as they are no threat to him, but those walking by faith in the power of God will be opposed.
Again, stand in faith because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4b).
One, 2, 3, 4, and 5 — let’s grow in faith. God, increase our faith!