LORD, INCREASE OUR FAITH!

LORD, INCREASE OUR FAITH!

LUKE 17:5

[By Ron Halbrook]

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• Introduction1. LUKE 17:5 Fervent plea of

learners 5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

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• Introduction2. LUKE 17:1-10 Plea made while

learning about their duties

2. LUKE 17:1-10 Plea made while learning about their duties

1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.


3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.


6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.


7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.


10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

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• Introduction3. The same plea arises in our hearts today

Christ leads our faith to grow Duty challenges faith to grow Faith can & must grow

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I. Christ Leads Our Faith to Grow A. His Teaching Produces Hunger for God & Truth

Matt. 7:28-8:1 After Sermon on the Mount, “great multitudes followed him” to learn more Matt. 13:36 “Declare unto us the parable” Lk. 17:5 “Lord, increase our faith”

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I. Christ Leads Our Faith to Grow B. His Example Produces Hunger for God & Truth

Lk. 11:1 After he prayed: “Lord, teach us to pray” Jn. 13:14 Practiced what he preached

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

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I. Christ Leads Our Faith to Grow C. Christ Awakens in Us a Desire for a Better Life

Lk. 7:37-38 The weeping sinner

Lk. 7:37-38 The weeping sinner 37 And, behold, a woman in the city,

which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

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Jn. 8:11 Gave adulterous woman a new life: “Go, and sin no more.”

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Jn. 13: 9 After Jesus’ rebuke, petulant Peter: “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.”

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II. Duty Challenges Faith to Grow A. Duty to Avoid Sin Lest Destroy Other Souls

Lk. 17:1-2 Punishment for destroying souls worse than death—our sin destroys souls

Lk. 17:1-2 Punishment for Destroying Souls Worse Than Death—Our Sin Destroys Souls1 Then said he unto the disciples,

It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

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Sinful words & deeds of professed Christians!!! 2 Sam. 12:14 David’s adultery gave “occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme”—& forfeited moral leadership over Amnon & Absalom (13:14; 15:6)

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Tit. 2:4-5 Wife must observe duties to God, husband, & children “that the word of God be not blasphemed”

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Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:19 Husband must observe duties to God, wife, & children lest destroy by provoking anger & spreading bitterness

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II. Duty Challenges Faith to Grow B. Freely Forgive Penitent Sinners

Lk. 17:3-5 Rebuke, forgive “seven times”

Lk. 17:3-5 Rebuke, forgive “seven times”

3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

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The only limit: “if he repent” Very hard to forgive when sinned against—but commanded!

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Matt. 6:14-15 Condition for our pardon 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses,

your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

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Lk. 17:5 Fervent plea reflects difficult duty, & disciples’ desire to grow

5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

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II. Duty Challenges Faith to Grow C. Faith Acts, Embraces Duty

Lk. 17:6 Duty calls, faith answers: small but growing faith, great results

6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

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Lk. 17:6 Duty calls, faith answers: small but growing faith, great results All duties fulfilled by active faith (even

use of miraculous powers; Mk. 16:17-18) Some duties more daunting: uproot tree Faith may be small but active, living,

learning, growing—answers to duty!

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Lk. 17:7-10 Duty calls, faith answers: faithful servants


7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.


10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

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Lk. 17:7-10 Duty calls, faith answers: faithful servants Focus on duty: slaves serve, they are not served Commitment to duty: day & night Patience in duty: serve now, rewarded later Humility in duty: accept role of servant—

unworthy to serve so great a master

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III. Faith Can & Must Grow A. Study, Meditate on God’s Word

Rom. 10:17 “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” 1 Pet. 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” Make plans: home study, assemble with saints, read spiritual literature, visit meetings

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III. Faith Can & Must Grow B. Regular Prayer

Ps. 55:17 “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray” Dan. 6:10 Daniel “kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks” Matt. 6:6 Private prayer Acts 2:42 Public prayer Pray fervently, “Lord, increase my faith!”

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III. Faith Can & Must Grow C. Learn from Faithful Men & Women

Prov. 13:20 “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise” Prov. 24:6 “For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety” Heb. 11 Heroes of faith then & now

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III. Faith Can & Must Grow D. Lest We Fall Away

2 Pet. 1:8-10 If always growing, “ye shall never fall”

2 Pet. 1:8-10 If always growing, “ye shall never fall”

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

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III. Faith Can & Must Grow E. Growing Faith Finds Victory in Christ

1 Jn. 5:4-5 Victory over the world

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

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• Invitation1. LUKE 17:5 Fervent plea of

learners 5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

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• Invitation2. LUKE 17:1-10 Plea made while

learning about their duties3. The same plea arises in our hearts today

Christ leads our faith to grow Duty challenges faith to grow Faith can & must grow

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• Invitation4. Christ forgives our sins & increases our faith

Acts 22:16 If outside of Christ, submit to him without delay

16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

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• Invitation4. Christ forgives our sins & increases our faith

Prov. 28:13 If a Christian fallen into sin, submit to him without delay

13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

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LORD, INCREASE OUR FAITH!