Increasing Our Faith
Faith Development • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 6 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Luke 17:1-19
Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”
We should desire to increase our faith (1-5).
We should desire to increase our faith (1-5).
Jesus urges caution with “little ones” - those who may be weaker in faith.
Amid the apostles puffing themselves up and fighting over who will be the greatest, Jesus challenges them to proper service.
The amount of times Jesus requires us here to forgive is truly limitless. We still have trouble following these commands today.
“Offense” cannot mean causing an offense through the truth of God.
Jesus offended the Pharisees, but commanded to “let them alone” (Matt.15:14).
“Offense” in the context of Gal. 5:11 was a good thing!
Gal. 5:11 “And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.”
Rather, “offenses” here speak more to stumblingblocks put before others. Matt. 16:23; Rom. 16:17; 2 Tim. 2:18
Matt. 16:23 “But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.””
Rom. 16:17 “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”
2 Tim. 2:18 “who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.”
This is someone saying that the commands of God are not as important as the words of mankind. This is the offense, not any kind of negative reaction to the truth of God.
In fact, reacting negatively to God’s truth speaks to all the world to how you as a person handle it.
“Increase our Faith”
Meaning, “add to our faith”. Matt. 6:33
Matt. 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
The apostles have manifested kingdom thinking with this question!
Perhaps, having been challenged to forgive their brethren without limit, are realizing they need more faith to obey this command.
We rag on the apostles, but isn’t this precisely what we need, too?
They could have easily said, “forgive seven times in a day? What about justice? What about my lifestyle and what I want?” - but they didn’t. They responded with a plea to have their faith abound.
Challenges should push us to become more than what we are.
God wants to be joyful when our faith is tested. James 1:2–4
James 1:2–4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
What does it say if we take the trials God lays before us and say, “No thank you, I’d rather just keep doing what I’ve been doing”??
God wants our faith to be found pleasing in trials. 1 Pet. 1:7
1 Pet. 1:7 “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,”
What does it say when we constantly beseech God to remove challenges and trials without actually facing them?
God wants us to have enough faith to step into the light. John 3:21
John 3:21 “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.””
What does it say when we work to hide what we are doing in the hope that we are not confronted about it?
“Increase our Faith” cannot be qualified with “as long as I’m not too challenged.” 2 Timothy 4:1-4
We are meant to “endure sound doctrine”!
2 Timothy 4:1-4 “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
If you care about the truth, you will end up seeking teachers to challenge you, because you want to be more like the Lord.
A person of living faith doesn't run from doctrinal questions – he/she confronts them.
A person of living faith isn't satisfied to only let someone else teach – he/she seeks ways to constantly teach others about Jesus.
Romans 8:15-17 - In your progression in learning, you have assurance in God's grace and mercy.
Romans 8:15-17 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
Consider a similar plea: Mark 9:14-29
And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
Our hearts should go out to this poor man.
He has belief, yet knows the situation is dire, and he needs more.
Some nights, it feels like we are not able to sleep until we lay it all out to God.
Perhaps we even forget to do so, and go without sleep. Oh what peace we often forfeit! Oh what needless pain we bear! All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Jesus’ disciples had failed. They didn’t know it, but it was because of their lack of faith.
“faithless generation” - the apostles lacked faith. They believed this was all about THEIR part in this. They were so wrapped up in the greatness of the gifts they had received in the Limited Commission, they were unable to heal this man’s son.
Note the IF in this passage.
“IF you can do anything”
Saddled with the apostles’ lack of faith, this man is not sure Jesus can really help.
Would YOU think there is no doubt Jesus can do this if you were in his position, and had seen the failure of Jesus’ disciples?
“IF you can believe”
Faith is necessary for the good works of God to be done. Not in a “faith healer” type of way; simply that somewhere, faith must be involved. (Centurion’s servant healed because of Centurion’s faith)
The apostles were unable to cast out this unclean spirit.
NOT only because they were not fasting and praying.
But that fasting and prayer would have increased their faith.
You trust more in the One who provides your food.
You know more about the One who gives you wisdom and knowledge when you ask for it.
Whatever little we accomplish, He will be pleased with us. (6-10).
Whatever little we accomplish, He will be pleased with us. (6-10).
This passage is the answer to “Increase our faith” (5).
Jesus focuses on two things here:
The great things that can be accomplished with faith
The great contentedness that must mark the servant of the Lord.
There is power in faith. Mark 4:30-32; Acts 2:42,46
Mustard and mulberry were both used for medicinal purposes. (Vincent)
Mustard seeds are small. Not the smallest seed in the world, but relative to their growth, they are extremely small.
Mark 4:30-32 “Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.””
In this example, Jesus is saying that even if they have a little of the living faith He speaks of, they will be able to do amazing things in the Kingdom.
Small examples that make a huge difference:
faithful worship attendance.
faithful prayer life.
faithful evangelism.
faithful living (speech, dress, behavior).
faithful accountability (giving and getting!).
These things can move mountains in our lives!
Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (46) “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,”
The Servant lives for God, not for their desires. 2 Cor. 5:9; 1 Cor. 10:12; Matt. 25:30; Rom. 3:12; Tit. 3:9; Philem. 11; Heb. 13:17; Matt. 10:42
What would YOU say to the servant who is just now coming in from plowing your fields? Maybe you would have a supper ready for him! But such was not the case in the 1st Century.
Jesus says these things as if any other situation is a ridiculous notion. Everyone lived in this way at the time.
In the same sense, we should not think of God as someone who is just stumbling over themselves to please us.
Rather, WE please HIM!
2 Cor. 5:9 “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.”
Some seem to think their service is some kind of boon to God, that the Lord would be lost without their help, and that the local church would collapse if they were not a member there!
1 Cor. 10:12 “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
God is also not trying to squeeze blood from a turnip!
“Unprofitable” - useless, worthless
Important in context to understand that this is how the SERVANT views himself, NOT how God views him.
In another context, it is indeed how GOD views the servant who intentionally does not prepare.
Matthew 25:30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
There are other “unprofitables” in the NT, but they come from another word.
Rom. 3:12; Tit. 3:9; Philem. 11; Heb. 13:17 - these all are different words, varying in meanings from “worthless” to “depraved”, and they all carry with them the concept that the one who is called such is responsible for their own actions.
“Unprofitable” is not useless. Rather, you have done what was expected of you. That is good, but there must be an inner drive to accomplish more.
God is only expecting what we can do, and He is pleased when we do it!
Matt. 10:42 “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.””
Faith and Thankfulness are tied together. (11-19).
Faith and Thankfulness are tied together. (11-19).
A cry for help (11-13)
Leprosy - a disease that slowly rots the body while you’re still alive. Much like sin.
They know they cannot get healing on their own – they need Jesus.
Healing taking place at obedience (14)
The direction of Jesus to go to the priest implies that they will be healed. Their obedience demonstrates that they trusted at least to some degree.
True thankfulness (15-18)
Only one comes back to glorify God and give thanks.
The others were presumably absorbed in their excitement of being healed.
Perhaps the fact that he was a Samaritan informed his thankfulness.
Wholeness by Faith (19)
His FAITH made him whole.
His active, living faith brought him back to Jesus in order to glorify God.
Seek Relationships with Those who Have Faith.
Seek Relationships with Those who Have Faith.
Building something lasting means having the right materials. 1 Cor. 3:11-14; Mal. 3:16; Heb. 10:32-33
The kind of teaching we receive makes a difference.
1 Corinthians 3:11-14 “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.”
Are we willing to open our hearts to those who strive to uphold the Truth?
Malachi 3:16 “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name.”
Hebrews 10:32-33 “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated;”
Can we tell the difference between someone who is really trying to know God and someone who is just playing religion?
How many of your friends can you honestly say are working to know God in a closer way?
Separate yourselves from those who have a poisonous “faith”. Heb. 12:14-15; Eph. 4:31-32
Is their focus on God, or on themselves?
Some will become infatuated with others, while some might cause you to be bitter against others. Neither is good for your faith.
Hebrews 12:14-15 “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;”
It is easier to spread bitterness than to work and bear with our brethren in patience.
Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
If you spend your time with those of a different faith, don't be surprised when you find out how far you have drifted from the saving faith of God.