Growing Faith

[HRea]

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

However, you can't show me anywhere in Scripture where someone exercised their faith... and it says their faith increased, multiplied, etc. Apples and oranges...

1. The Lord Himself gave us insight in His response to His disciples' request for increased faith...go beyond the commands. In His eyes, if you only do that which is commanded you to do (ie, the written Word) then you are unprofitable servants (and that is all any are if there is only obedience to commands), but if you go beyond (ie, led by the Spirit), then you are no longer servants, but sons - in particular, sons of God.

Luke 17:5-7
5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
7a But which of you...

Luke 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

2. The writer of Hebrews connects exercising what you learn with spiritual growth, being able to bear more of the mysteries and revelations of the principles of the kingdom of God. Stong meat belongs to those "who by reason of use"...

Hebrews 5:12-14
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

3. Peter continues this reasoning by exhorting us that we should diligently add to our faith - beginning at faith but increasing. He that has these things is mature and fruitful, he that lacks these things is blind.

2 Peter 1:5-10
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

4. You want to increase your faith - hear it and do it.

Romans 2:13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.