Bible Study Lessons:

They That Wait Upon The Lord
Faith #1 - Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf?
Faith #2 - Developing Great Faith
Faith #3 - Faith That Makes You Completely Whole
Faith #4 - The Heroes Of Faith, Yesterday And Today

Faith #2 – Developing Great Faith

by Rev. Warren C. Cook

10/09/2005

Text: Luke 17:5 - And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

2Thess 1:3,4 - We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is right, because your faith grows exceedingly.

Matt 15:28 – Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Introduction: Faith is a powerful thing, and a very personal thing between you and your God. God knows exactly how much faith you do or do not have. God knows whether your faith is weak or strong, stagnant or growing. And God is working within you to perfect your faith, adding His strength to your desire. As Jesus said, “it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) And in another place He said, “the kingdom of heaven is within you.” (Luke 17:21) God is working in you to  strengthen His kingdom in your heart, building your faith, helping you to know Him and helping you to believe in Him and in His Word.

1. Your Faith Is Alive And Growing

- Luke 17:5 – the apostles said, “Lord, __________ our faith.”

- Note: You can only increase what already exists.

- IOW, the very fact that you want your faith to grow proves that you have faith! Before I was saved, I never wanted my faith to grow. I had no faith in Christ. I didn’t believe in Him. But now I have a great desire to have greater faith. Constantly desire to have more faith in Him and in His word. That proves that I have faith. Lord, let it increase!

- would be silly for me to say, Lord, let my tusks grow longer. I don’t have tusks. A walrus has tusks. An elephant has tusks. It might make sense for an elephant to wish he had longer tusks, so he could fight and beat bigger elephants. But it makes no sense for me to say that! But I can say, “Lord, increase my faith, because I do have some faith.”

- Eph 2:8 – for by grace are ye _______ through faith

- Question: Are you saved? Then you have faith.

- Note: this Gospel, this Good News that you believe in is called “the faith”.

- Acts 6:7 – a great number of priests were obedient to ___________.

- Acts 13:8 – Elymas the sorcerer tried to turn them away from ___________.

- Acts 14:22 – they encouraged them to continue in ___________.

- IOW, the sum total of what you believe, and all you hold dear, is called “the faith”. If you didn’t have faith you could not have entered into this new spiritual life with Christ.

- Acts 15:9 – the Jews knew that God __________ the hearts of the Gentiles by faith.

- Acts 26:18 – Jesus told Paul that the Gentiles would be ____________ by faith in Him

- Summary: you are saved, purified and sanctified by faith in Christ. You Christians have a living, vital, life-changing faith.

2. God Himself Is The Giver and Helper Of Your Faith

- Luke 17:5 – the apostles said to _______, “Lord, increase our faith.”

- IOW, they could see the power of Jesus’ faith, and they could tell they didn’t have what He had, and they asked Him, please help us!

- Question: Who, but God, can change a man’s heart?

- Prov 20:9 – Who can say, “__ have made my heart clean?” Nobody!

- Prov 21:1 – the heart of the king is in the hand of the ______.

- Phil 2:13 – for it is _____ who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure

- Phil 1:6 – being confident of this very thing, He who _______ a good work in you … will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus (until Jesus returns)

- Question: If faith is good, and powerful, and you need it, won’t God give it to you?

- Rom 12:3 – God has given to ______ man the measure (met’-ron, portion) of faith.

- Jn 16:13 – when the ______________ comes, He will guide you into the truth.

3. Knowing God And Knowing His Word Helps Your Faith Grow

- Dan 11:32 – they that know their God shall be ________ and do exploits.

- Dr Adam Clarke – “genuine Christians shall be strengthened by His grace and by His Spirit”

- Prov 13:20 – he who ____________ wise men __________ wise.

- IOW, you become like the one you admire and focus upon. Including God!

- Jere 31:34 – they shall all ______ Me, saith the Lord.

- James 4:8 – draw ______ unto God, and He will draw ______ unto you.

- Question: When you draw near to God, and walk with Him and know Him, how do you suppose it will be with you?

- Psa 9:10 – they that know Thy ______ shall put their trust in ______.

- IOW, when you know His name you know His character. You know what He is like, and what He will do in certain situations. You understand Him and can anticipate His thoughts, His desires, and His actions.

- Pr 18:10 – the name of the Lord is a ________ tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe

- Point: When you know and understand God you will begin to trust Him; faith grows!

- Ro 10:17 – so then faith _______ by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

- Mk 5:27 – when she _______, she came, and she touched, because she ______ in her heart ...

- 2 Thess 1:3,4 – Thank God, because your faith _______ exceedingly!

4. The Destructive Power Of Unbelief  

- Various states of faith:

Unbelief – Doubt – Little Faith – Weak Faith – Faith – Growing Faith – Great Faith

- Mk 6:5,6; Matt 13:58 – Jesus could not do __________ there because of their unbelief.

- Rom 14:23 – whatever is not of _______ is _____.

- Mk 16:16 – believe and be baptized and be saved. Believe not and be ________. (damned does not = cursed; = judged against, sentenced)

-- IOW, unbelief can stop your miracle, get you in sin, or even cause you to miss heaven!

- Three words translated doubt:

- I would say that unbelief should be avoided at all costs, as often as possible! It was unbelief that kicked Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, and unbelief that kept the Israelites from making it into the promised land, and it’s unbelief that keeps you from receiving many of the blessings God wants for your life!

- Matt 14:31 – O thou of little faith, why did you doubt? (dis-tad’-zo – to duplicate, to waver in opinion)      - emphasizes the idea that doubt consists of holding 2 opposing opinions at the same time; believing “yes” and “no” at the same time.

- Luke 12:29 - neither be ye of doubtful mind. (met-eh-o-rid’-zo, as in “meteor”, flying or floating in the air, to raise in mid-air, to suspend, fluctuate, or be anxious) - emphasizes the idea that doubt makes you unstable, unable to decide

- IOW, #1 is what doubt is and #2 is what doubt does to you. Two opinions, can’t decide.

- Doubt is having two concurrent, contradicting opinions. Doubt makes you stuck in the middle, unable to decide, straddling the fence, half of you hanging off each side.

- Matt 21:21 and Mk 11:23 – if you have faith and doubt not (dee-ak-ree’-no, to discriminate, decide, separate thoroughly, withdraw from) you can say to this mountain … and it will obey you. – doubt separates you from God

- Mt 16:3 – you can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

- Acts 11:2 – they that were of the circumcision contended with him.

- IOW, to mentally judge and decide that there is a difference and therefore to withdraw from. To think through, draw a conclusion, and act upon that conclusion, causing you to stand on one side and withdraw from the other side.

- IOW, #3 is how God views doubt, and where doubt puts you in relation to God on that issue. Separated from God. If you’re not for me, you’re against me. If you’re not with me, you’re against me. God says, if you continue to waver, unable to make up your mind, you’ve chosen the other side. If you don’t believe me, don’t agree with me, you’re agreeing against me, withdrawing from me, agreeing with the flesh, the devil and the world.

- Little faith: Matt 14:31 – O thou of little faith (ol-ig-op’-is-tos; puny - small and feeble -  faith), why did you doubt?

- Note: when you have little faith, puny, small, feeble faith – God rescues you, takes care of you, helps you

- Peter’s little faith almost sank him. But it was faith. Puny, small, feeble – but it was faith. It was enough faith to get him over the side of the boat and out there with Jesus, walking on the water! And when he tried and succeeded, and then a few moments later began to fail when doubt crept in, he lost the flow of the miracle power, but he didn’t lose his life. He lost the ability to walk on water, but Jesus showed him His love, Jesus reached out and took him by the hand, and saved his life. When you have little faith, even puny faith, weak faith, feeble faith you may not get every miracle you’re praying for, but God will take care of you and He’ll make sure you make it through the storm alive! He’ll make sure you live another day to grow in your faith, to fight new battles, to learn new lessons, and grow to new heights in faith!

5. What Will Faith Do, and How Much Faith Does It Take?  

- Matt 15:28 – great is thy faith; be it unto thee even _______________.

- Mk 9:23 – if you can believe, ____________ are possible to him who believes.

- Mt 17:20 – if you have faith like a grain of mustard ______; nothing will be impossible to you! 

·   Verse To Memorize: Matt 15:28 – Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.