Increase Our Faith
Luke 17:5
“And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.”
One of the most important aspects of the Christian life is our faith. God says in Hebrews 11:6 that it is impossible to please God without faith. The disciples certainly had a desire to please God, and they had heard Jesus talk much about their faith. Knowing their faith was important to the degree of fellowship they had with Jesus, they asked Him to increase their faith. With this question there were several things they were admitting.
First, they were admitting that they already had faith. You can’t have something increased that you don’t have. I believe that God has placed a portion of faith in every person. The reason I believe this is because you cannot get saved without faith. So, if it takes faith to get saved, and if anybody can get saved, then that means that everyone has some portion of faith in them. If you are saved, then you have already exercised the faith you have.
Second, they were admitting that they didn’t have enough faith. It was an admission to Jesus Christ to ask Him to increase their faith. They knew their faith was not what it should be or could be for God to use them. Likewise, you must come to the point in your Christian life when you admit that your faith is not what it should be. Too many times we get to the point in our Christian life when we think we have arrived. Yet, if you have arrived, then why aren’t mighty works of faith being shown through your life? God cannot increase your faith until you admit that you don’t have enough faith.
Third, they were admitting that it is possible to increase faith. It doesn’t matter how weak your faith is, God can increase it. Likewise, it doesn’t matter how great your faith is, there is still room for God to increase it. As great as you think your faith may be, there is still room for God to increase it. No matter which side of the spectrum you fall on, it is possible for your faith to increase.
Fourth, they were admitting that Jesus is the only One Who can increase faith. Faith is a spiritual grace, and only Jesus can increase it. You will fail if you try to increase your faith alone. You need to realize your helplessness, and rely upon Jesus to increase your faith.
Why do you need your faith increased? First, you need your faith increased so that God can do mighty works through you. Jesus showed in verse 6 that with their faith increased they could move mountains. Friend, there are mountains in your life and in the lives of others that God wants moved, but it will take your faith to increase for those mountains to be moved. You need your faith increased so that God can move mountains through you.
Second, you need your faith increased so that you will keep a right perspective of yourself. Verses 7-10 talk about the unprofitable servants who, after doing their duty said, “…we have done that which was our duty to do.” When God increases your faith, you will realize what He did through you had nothing to do with you, but it all had to do with Him. The greater the faith, the better perspective a person will have of themselves. The smaller the faith, the more a person will point to themselves. On the other hand, the greater the faith a person has the more they will point to Christ.
Christian, your daily prayer should be to ask God to increase your faith. The degree of faith you have will determine what God can do through you. Realize your lack of faith and ask God to increase it so that He can do greater works through you.