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Luke 17:5, 6 - Lord, Show Us How To Increase Our Faith.

Luke 17:5, 6 - Lord, Show Us How To Increase Our Faith.

Luke 17:5-6 (NKJV) And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase 
our faith." 6 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 17:5-6 (NLT) The apostles said to the Lord, "Show us how to 
increase our faith." 6 The Lord answered, "If you had faith even as small 
as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'May you be 
uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it would obey you!  

Luke 17:5-6 (AMP) The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our 
faith (that trust and confidence that spring from our belief in God). 
6 And the Lord answered, If you had faith (trust and confidence in 
God) even [so small] like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to 
this mulberry tree, Be pulled up by the roots, and be planted in the 
sea, and it would obey you.  

Luke 17:5-6 (CWR) One of His disciples said, "Lord, please give 
us more faith!" 6 Jesus said, "Your faith might be as tiny as a 
mustard seed, but if you talk faith and live out your faith, God will 
make it grow. God can do anything. If you would say to this mulberry 
tree, `Pull yourself up by the roots and plant yourself in the sea'-if 
God wanted it to happen that way, it would. 

Luke 17:5-6 (TLB) One day the apostles said to the Lord, "We 
need more faith; tell us how to get it." 6 "If your faith were only 
the size of a mustard seed," Jesus answered, "it would be large 
enough to uproot that mulberry tree over there and send it hurtling 
into the sea! Your command would bring immediate results!  

CONTEXT

   Faith is like a seed: it seems small and weak, but it has 
life in it; and if it is cultivated, it will grow and release power. 
We need faith for many areas of life. 
   Faith to forgive (1-4). When people sin repeatedly, giving up 
on them is easy; but we must forgive them and trust God to work in 
their lives. We must be stepping stones and not stumbling blocks. 
   Faith to serve (5-10). It takes faith to do your duty, 
whether tending a field or a flock or preparing a meal. It takes faith 
to do the extraordinary, like moving a mountain. 
   Faith to pray (11-19). The ten men believed that Jesus could 
help them, and He did. The Samaritan not only brought joy to Christ's 
heart but received salvation from His hand: "Your faith has saved 
you?" When God answers your prayers, be sure to tell Him "thank You?" 
   Faith to be ready when He comes (20-37). The important thing 
is not to set dates but to be ready when He comes, for true faith 
leads to faithfulness. To look around at the increase in sin will 
discourage you, and to look back (as did Lot's wife) may destroy you, so 
look up and eagerly expect the Lord's return today? [Chapter by 
Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re Luke 17] 

COMMENTARY APPLICATION 

INCREASING FAITH

They [the apostles] felt incapable of measuring up to the 
standards set forth in vv. 1-4 [regarding forgivenss]. They wanted greater 
faith to lay hold of the power to live up to Jesus' standards. [NIV SB 
2008] 

The possession of faith, Jesus says, is not a matter of quantity 
but of quality. Either a person has faith or he does not have faith. 
The very smallest amount of faith is sufficient to accomplish 
seemingly impossible tasks. It is not so much the amount of faith, as the 
genuineness of it. [SDA Bible Commentary] 

Jesus' reply indicates that even a very small amount of faith, 
if it is genuine trust in God, can lead to remarkable results. The 
issue is not the size of faith, but its presence. [ESV SB 2008]  

We do not need more faith to comply with the Lord's 
instructions, but genuine faith. It's not the amount that matters, but its 
nature. [Life Principles SB By Charles Stanley] 

AS A MUSTARD SEED

Figuratively indicating that the power of faith is as unlimited 
as the power of God. [Believer's SB] 

Even a little faith is enough to do the impossible. [Andrews SB]

SUMMARY THOUGHTS

The disciples' request was genuine; they wanted the faith 
necessary for such radical forgiveness. But Jesus didn't directly answer 
their question because the amount of faith is not as important as its 
genuineness. What is faith? It is complete trust and loyalty to God that 
results in a willingness to do his will. Faith is not something we use 
to put on a show for others. It is complete and humble obedience to 
God's will, readiness to do whatever he calls us to do. The amount of 
faith isn't as important as the right kind of faith--faith in our 
all-powerful God.... A mustard seed is small, but it is alive and growing. 
Almost invisible at first, the seed will begin to spread, first under 
the ground and then visibly. Like a tiny seed, a small amount of 
genuine faith in God will take root and grow. Although each change will 
be gradual and imperceptible, soon this faith will have produced 
major results that will uproot and destroy competing loyalties. We 
don't need more faith; a tiny seed of faith is enough if it is alive 
and growing. [Life Application SB] 

You have to talk faith, you have to live faith, you have to act 
faith, that you may have an increase of faith; and thus exercising that 
living faith you will grow to strong men and women in Christ Jesus (MS 
1, 1889).  5BC1121, 2 

CROSS REFERENCES FOR FURTHER STUDY

Habakkuk 2:4 (NKJV) "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright 
in him; But the just shall live by his faith.  

John 15:7 (NKJV) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, 
you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  

Romans 10:17 (NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing 
by the word of God.  

Galatians 5:6 (NKJV) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision 
nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. 
 

Matthew 17:19-21 (NKJV) Then the disciples came to Jesus 
privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20 So Jesus said to 
them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you 
have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move 
from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible 
for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and 
fasting."  

Mark 9:28-29 (NKJV) And when He had come into the house, His 
disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29 So He 
said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and 
fasting."  

James 1:6-8 (NKJV) But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, 
for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the 
wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything 
from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 
 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:

A Better Way to Live: http://www.itiswritten.com/betterway/

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/

Grace Notes: http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php

Excellent Spiritual Resource Site: 
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/   

More Spiritual Resources: http://www.aBible.com