5. Again, God has established a direct proportion between a man's faith and a man's success: "according to your faith be it unto you." No; it is by various manifestations and — if you will allow the expression, I use it in an innocent way — various impulses of the Spirit of God on the mind, by which we are led to believe. With faith I can do all things, without faith I shall neither have the inclination nor the power to do anything in the service of God.7. But when a man has once come into it, his very first experience, usually, whether he be exactly conscious of it or not, is the thought that he is brought into the presence of a higher Being — a higher Spirit — than he has been wont to think was near him. Prayer. A man readily puts up with the inconvenience of the present, when he has great joys in store for the future.III. From the consolations which faith imparts. Be on your guard against everything that will deaden or damp the ardour of your faith. The This necessarily implies in all cases the absence of all indifference and hostility to the truth which is its object, and also a state of heart or moral sensibility which is adapted to receive its appropriate influence. 2. I think that the power of faith may exist, and yet not be exercised, or, if exercised at all, exercised very improperly; just as the power and volition of the limbs are distinct one from the other. Now, if the objects of faith are ever so clearly and ever so fully exhibited; if God, in the exercise of His grace and mercy — Christ, in His Divine and atoning character — and you do not receive these truths, it follows that you are destitute of faith; and, if you receive these truths but partially, you can have but a very partial and feeble faith. A man readily puts up with the inconvenience of the present, when he has great joys in store for the future.III. THE HEART'S DESIRE OF THE APOSTLES. In directing their prayer to Christ, they virtually acknowledge His Divinity.5. Preparation for the glory that shall hereafter be revealed must be begun in this world. It is a Divine gift, and its existence is attributed to the operation of God (Colossians 2:12). By assuring them that faith can do anything.2. We know, indeed, that everything which is of God has in it essential tendency, nay, an absolute necessity in itself to grow. WE PRAY FOR AN INCREASE OF FAITH ALSO THAT ITS OBJECT MAY BECOME MORE REAL. When a strong nature is snatched from worldliness, and begins to live a Christian life, what are the elements of his experience, reduced to some sort of philosophical expression? We hold spiritual things too loosely.II. On account of its influence in obtaining other spiritual blessings, for they are bestowed according to the measure of faith.2. It is through the imperfection of this principle that the character of man is formed so much by the influence of objects that here surround him. 17:7-9 (Rom. Their judgment approves it. (The Weekly Pulpit. Faith has respect to revealed truth as its immediate object; and in the New Testament it more especially relates to Christ as the substance of all the promises. The experience of the saints.III. To the eye of faith every event has a tendency and an aim. It confesses that while they had faith, they had not enough of it. Closely connected with this subject is the kindred one of keeping death and eternity continually in view. It is difficult, but not so difficult as you suppose. will grow when we trust the power of God in our lives, when However many faults you may have, that branch their roots out in every direction, and difficult as it is to transplant them by the ordinary instrumentalities; nevertheless, faith in the soul will give you power to pluck them up by the roots, and east them from you, or transplant them to better soil, where they will grow to a better purpose. They went to the right Person. I may not exercise the power I possess, or I may exercise it. Now, I say, the difficulty of maintaining a firm, unshaken trust in God, in the midst of this wreck, though necessary, is very difficult. Faith is the salvation-grace. Faith is the oil enabling the wheels of holy devotion and of earnest piety to move well, but without faith the wheels are taken from the chariot, and we drag along heavily. If the character be formed here by the exclusive influence of the objects of sense, if all the desires and affections be confined to these, there can be nothing in the world of spirits to meet and satisfy a single desire of the soul. From its effects. But you’re the one who increases it, not God. The admonitions of the Bible.4. But important as these things are, they are but auxiliaries. For, as faith is a religious principle, and a very high religious principle, of difficult exercise and difficult existence, it will follow, that it can only be exercised by the agency and the power of the Spirit of God resting upon the soul. This is the prayer of the text, that God would increase our faith; and if faith cometh by teaching — cometh from the promise of God — cometh from the spiritual influence, let us receive the teaching simply — let us receive the promise as it is exhibited in the Word — let us lay our hearts open to the influence of the Spirit of God; and that faith which appears a timid, feeble, cowardly thing, in our experience, will grow and increase till it comes to be mighty and powerful.2. (Theological Sketchbook. Baker. Another means of increasing faith is its repeated exercise, in retirement and meditation, as well as in the business of life.6. This prayer should also be used in order THAT OUR PERCEPTION OF SATAN'S TEMPTATIONS MAY BE CLEAR. THE HEART'S DESIRE OF THE APOSTLES. We are justified by faith — saved by faith-Christ dwells in our hearts by faith — we stand by faith — live by faith — Walk by faith — and have boldness of access to God by faith. Prayer directly leads to the mortifying of unbelief in its very root and element, by opening a direct intercourse with heaven.2. 2. (Luke 17:1-6) Yesterday, I shared 3 simple points during the sermon about increasing our faith. This will appear from —1. It is said of Midas, that he had the power to turn everything into gold by the touch of his hand; and it is true of faith — it can turn everything into gold, but destroy faith, we have lost our all; we are miserably poor because we can hold no fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.5. We hold spiritual things too loosely.II. — and we have such communion with things unseen, that death has no power.(J. 2:12-13. 1. It is easy to see what the character must be, formed by the power of such a principle. Here is the Christian youth, living in the bosom of his family, cheered on in his piety by the advice, counsels, and prayers of his parents, all zealous to make him happy, to make him secure, to make him useful, to make him honourable: and the Christian youth goes out into the world, to meet its buffetings, its toils, its anxieties, its frowns. Have not we seen progress in the mind of the St. Peter in the Gospels and the St. Peter in the Epistles? In a white light it is to them. For instance, Abraham, the father of the faithful and the friend of God, dwelling in patriarchal simplicity in the bosom of a happy family — in sweet, hallowed, and sublime communion with God, having received the accomplishment of the covenant blessings promised to him at various times and in various circumstances; and Abraham, offering his son Isaac, appears in very different circumstances. Now I think this is often felt. "Increase my faith" in its extent.2. Free your faith. Have not we seen progress in the mind of the St. Peter in the Gospels and the St. Peter in the Epistles? Take gentleness. We ought, my friends, to be extremely careful of our faith — both of its rightness and of its strength, first of all — when we consider the position which faith occupies in salvation. There are avaricious men, I suppose, to whom, on hearing a discourse on benevolence in a church, it really shines, and who say, "Oh, this benevolence, though it is well-nigh impossible — how beautiful it is!" Spurgeon. Scripture: Luke 17:1-10 Text: Luke 17:5 “And the disciples aid unto the Lord, “Increase our faith”.” Introduction: These words of our Lord Jesus when rightly interpreted and applied, will open the door to greater Christian service, and to a closer walk with God. The first case to which I refer — I mean the first mode of instruction — is that which is communicated simply from the Bible; and the second case to which I refer is that of the ministry. That which God works in us must be desirable: as He is an infinitely good Being, His works must necessarily bear a resemblance to Himself.2. d.  Enlarging faith requires committing to the growth process. These are excellent qualities in their estimation. Our spiritual enjoyments, as they are derived wholly from the promises, are proportioned to the degree of faith.6. CONSIDER THE GENERAL IMPORT OF THE PRAYER: "LORD, INCREASE OUR FAITH."1. Faith is the salvation-grace. There is a great difference between that youth dwelling in the bosom of a happy family, and that man in the midst of the blighting crosses of the world. I cannot do it without." It is difficult, but not so difficult as you suppose. Hendriksen, The 12:28. The fulfilment of this prayer will bring this to pass; it is included in the gift of increased faith. Faith is the foot of the soul by which it can march along the road of the commandments. Faith has respect to revealed truth as its immediate object; and in the New Testament it more especially relates to Christ as the substance of all the promises.2. LET US CONSIDER THE PRAYER ITSELF. Carnal company, worldly cares, spiritual supineness, filthy and foolish conversation — all tend to sap the foundation of your faith, and destroy your dependence upon God.In conclusion, we address a word —1. The admonitions of the Bible.4. Prayer directly leads to the mortifying of unbelief in its very root and element, by opening a direct intercourse with heaven.2. We have to do this morning with another thought — that the growth and the "increase" of "faith," at every successive stage, is a distinct act of Almighty power. "Lord, increase our faith!" Others come into a religious life by the power of sympathy. 2 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 … We are justified by faith — saved by faith-Christ dwells in our hearts by faith — we stand by faith — live by faith — Walk by faith — and have boldness of access to God by faith. For if saving faith grows out of spiritual influence, it will follow that the presence of that spiritual influence is necessary, in order to the exercise of faith; and one of the great reasons why our faith is so feeble — why we are rather shut up in the darkness of unbelief so often — is, that we do not lay our hearts open to that spiritual influence which is promised and which is vouchsafed to us. It is easy to see what the character must be, formed by the power of such a principle. Take heed of your faith, because Christ thinks much of it. There is one view, indeed, in which the truth on which faith terminates, never can be supposed to be obscure, or little, or imperfect at all, but another in which it may. Spurgeon. There will be the acceptance of standards of morality which before we have not accepted. There are three reasons here why it is important to ask this petition. Do not think it to be so impossible that I must work a miracle for you before you can accomplish it." prejudices and prepossessions, and so have made way for the reception of his truth in its fulness and in its power; (2) would have evoked a profounder reverence and a more fervent affection, and thus have led to a nearer likeness to him in spirit and in character; (3) would have given them power over the forces of evil outside them, and made them equal to the emergencies to which they were unequal (see Matthew 17:19, 20), They did well, therefore, to make of their Lord the request they made, "Increase our faith,". The power to believe is communicated by spiritual agency and influence; the act of believing is the act of the person who receives that influence. WE PRAY FOR AN INCREASE OF FAITH ALSO THAT ITS OBJECT MAY BECOME MORE REAL. They agreed that what was wanted was an increase of faith. faith it is impossible to please Him (. God begins to mean something to him. 2. Those duties which I call duties of faith may vary; and, in passing from one class of duties to another, the Christian may feel that his faith and his grace, which were adequate and sufficient for the duties of one state, are found not to be adequate or sufficient for the duties of another state.