INCREASE YOUR FAITH

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" Luke 17:5

I am beginning a new series on how to increase your faith. If understanding faith was simple we would all be like the Apostle Paul. If living by faith was simple we would already be like Daniel or Esther. So, let's make a study of faith, be inspired by truth, and obey the Holy Spirit into increased faith.

I like using the Amplified Version to compare scriptural meaning. The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith (that trust and confidence that spring from our belief in God). Luke 17:5 (AMP)

This helps us see that our faith flows like a spring or is produced like fruit from our beliefs. As you believe that Jesus Christ is the Truth then you will not put faith in other teachers and you will begin to discern false teaching even if it is subtly camoflauged.

Faith influences and is formed in your mind, emotions, will, conscience, relationships and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Through the series we will break down each of these areas:

INTELLECTUAL FAITH (Your Mind)

1. Encouraged by the reading, studying, meditating in God’s Word. (Psalm 1)

2. Receiving knowledge of the truth and revelation in the truth. (Eph. 1:17-18)

3. Reading and evaluating other resources that support Christian truth. (Phil 1:9-10)

4. Recognize that the soul needs more than intellectual propositions. (Romans 8:16)

5. Knowledge of Christ includes experiences in his presence. (Acts 4:31)

6. Avoid the temptation of over dependency of intellectual faith. (John 5:39)

7. Avoid the temptation of anti-intellectual faith. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; Romans 8:5-6 (NIV)