Young People's Group

INCREASE OUR FAITH

by Pastor Mitch
December 09, 2012

The Challenge To Have Great Faith

Many at the recently completed Youth Conference were challenged to have great faith. Pastor Charles taught from the gospels and we were inspired by the examples of great faith of the Centurion and the Gentile woman. They were outstanding in their deep humility and tenacity of spirit in seeking the Lord. They were commended by the Lord for their persevering faith. For many of us, it almost seems daunting to have such a faith. Our challenge is to respond by seeking the Lord and to ask Him to increase our faith.

A Request For The Lord To Increase Our Faith

“And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.'” 
Luke 17:5

The Lord Jesus taught His disciples that when a person sins against them seven times in a day and he returns each time to ask for forgiveness, they were meant to forgive him. To the disciples, this must have been a most difficult thing to do. And so the apostles of Jesus told Him to help them to increase their faith. The twelve disciples by this time were already called apostles and yet they felt that their faith was still not enough. They realised their faith could not match up to what the Lord had taught them to do. The apostles were humble enough to seek the Lord so that He could help them to follow His instructions. Young people, let’s, like the apostles, also seek the Lord and ask Him to increase our faith, especially when it comes to relating to people who annoy us. This should be our response as we go back after our Youth Conference. Let’s diligently ask the Lord to raise the level of our faith.

The Potential Of Having Great Faith

“So the Lord said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, “Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.'” 
Luke 17:6

This was not the first time that the Lord Jesus had highlighted to the disciples that their faith was very little. A mustard seed is a very small seed. Their tiny faith was not enough for them to love and forgive others as the Lord Jesus spoke of. This old problem of having little faith had remained. The Lord had already rebuked His disciples for not having faith when the boat they were on was caught in a storm (Luke 8:25). The challenge for the disciples was to see that even though their faith was little, they could still develop it to such an extent that the impossible is still possible. There was the potential of great faith that the disciples could have. They would be able to “say” to the mulberry tree with all its deep roots to be planted in the sea and it would still be done. Young people, let’s deal with our little faith that we may go towards having greater faith.

Having The Perspective Of An Unprofitable Slave

“So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'” 
Luke 17:10

Our perspective of self also affects our level of faith. If we truly see ourselves as only unprofitable slaves, we would still be able to do the things that the Lord has commanded us. The parable of the unprofitable servants speaks of how a slave could work out in the sun throughout the day and return home, only to find his master requesting that he cook supper first for him. The true slave will still do it without complaining as it is his duty. He sees himself as only an unworthy servant who has no right or wishes. He had decided a long time ago that he would just do what he is commanded to do. Let’s learn to have a perspective of an unprofitable servant. Let’s have faith to do that which is our duty.

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