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Increasing
Faith |
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"Lord
increase our faith." Luke 17:5 "When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"
Luke 18:8 "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?''
Matthew 8:26 "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, `Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart,
but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says."
Mark 11:23 "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith."
1 John 5:4 "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith"
Hebrews 12:2 |
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"Now may He who supplies seed to the
sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your
righteousness" 2 Cor 9:10
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A
Field of Seeds A
Field of Decrees |
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The
Mustard Tree
Don't
like its looks?
Try
to stop it from spreading.
By
the way, where is it growing?
Yes,
it grows like a weed, anywhere!
Matthew
13:31 Matthew 17:20
Mark
4:31 Luke 13:19 Luke 17:6 |
Follow the Steps of
Increasing Faith
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Know
your present level of faith in order to prove you are
increasing. (Heb 6:14; Luke 17:5; Matt 8:26)
Pride thinks itself to have more faith than is realistic. (Rom
12:3) Faith produces a prospering body, soul, and spirit. (3
John 1:2) Adding to faith ensures fruitfulness. (2 Pet 1:2-11)
Overcoming faith is not overpowered by darkness. (1 John 5:4) If the
letter 'Alpha' represents undeveloped faith, and 'Omega'
represents the completion of faith, then perhaps there are 20
levels of faith in-between. (Heb 12:2)
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Find the Scriptures
that authorize you to ask for what you desire. (Prov
2:1-17; Prov 25:2; Jer 29:11-13; John 5:39; Matt 5:6; John 6:35;
1 Cor 4:11; Rev 7:16; John 15:1-8). Why is it we want God to do
for us what we will not authorized Him to do? If you abide, co-habitat,
with someone, do you expect them to do for you while you ignore
them? Jesus said that abiding with Him and obeying Him releases
our requests.
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Continually be
seeking every promise God has written for you to find.
(Matt 7:7-8; Rom 15:8-9; 2 Cor 1:20; Gal 3:16; Heb 6:12; 2 Pet
1:4) There are too many to count (Ps 40:5) but there are about
6000 written in the Bible. So, if you don't look for them, how will you find them?
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Continually be asking
for things that you have not yet received. (Matt
7:7-8) Can real faith stop asking? (Heb 4:1-16) If faith is to
be increasing, doesn't the requests need to change too? (Rom
15:13; 2 Cor 8:7; 2 Cor 9:8; Phil 4:12; 1 Thess 4:1)
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Continually be
declaring what you have asked to receive.
(Matt 7:7-8) Knocking breaks down the will. Audible decrees
bring real answers. The judge is never swayed by silent
arguments; they must be forcefully authoritatively given. (Matt
8:9-10)
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Continually be
thankful for everything you have declared as though you have
received it. (1 Thess 5:15-18) Giving thanks is
never done without faith because gratitude assumes something is
good. Being thankful what is yet to come proves faith just
as Christ's soon return brings us comfort if we believe. (1
Thess 4:18)
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Root out doubt by
presenting Scriptural evidence (reprove) against its negativism.
(2 Tim 3:16) Head doubt will not defeat you
unless you let it into your heart. Heart doubt cannot receive
anything from the Lord. (Jam 1:6-8) Instead, "Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved and your
house." (Act 16:31)
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Resolve any conflict
your desire may have with God or with others.
(Jam 4:1-3) You cannot ask God for what He says is sinful. You
cannot ask God for what will bring others into subjection to
you. Wrong motives and conflicting desires alienate our purposes
from God. (1 John 5:14-15) Pride, as any sin, is covered
through love. Love, the love of the Cross, fulfills God's
law. (Rom 13:10; Gal 5:14; Jam 2:8) Pride in me and others is
destroyed as I die with Christ and bear the sin of their pride.
(2 Cor 5:21)
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Can
I have a good marriage the way I want my marriage to be?
Yes, but with a few restrictions. Are you willing to discover
them and follow them?
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Can
I ask for a better job or car? Perhaps, but can you accept a
'no' answer? Why do you want it?
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Can
I ask for physical and mental health? Yes.
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Can
I ask for wealth? Yes, if you have a giving calling.
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Can
I ask for authority? Yes, if you have a serving calling.
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Can
I ask for wisdom? Anytime you need it.
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Can
I ask for my daily bread? Yes, but don't stop there.
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Can
I ask for physical and emotional security and safety? Yes,
but its called peace.
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Can
I ask for my enemies to leave me alone? Of course. May they
flee in seven directions.
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Can
I ask for release from phobias? Ask for more love.
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Can
I ask to be reconciled with my children? Of course.
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Can
I ask to understand God's feelings? Yes.
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Why
can't we believe God for empty jails? Increase of faith
required.
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Why
can't we receive protection from accidents or even the results
of accidents? Perhaps we don't know what we can ask?
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Can
I command the weather? Sure, if you have a good reason.
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Can
I ask for recognition? Sure, if you deserve it.
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Can
I ask for a good savings account? Yes.
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Can
I ask to imitate Christ? Yes, Paul did.
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Can
I share in Christ's resurrection power? Yes, but get ready
for the suffering too.
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Can
I share in Christ's suffering? Yes, but don't glory in your
suffering, glory in your weaknesses that display God's
resurrection power in your life.
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Can
I ask for godliness or self-control? Yes, they come from the
Holy Spirit.
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What
shouldn't I ask for? Practically nothing at all.
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Examples of faith: Abraham left his homeland, Sarah has a child, Elijah
prays for rain, Moses parts the sea, Peter walks on water, Paul returns to
town, Paul and Silas quake out of jail, Peter and John heal lame man,
Hezekiah gets fifteen more years, David slews Goliath, Solomon prays for
wisdom, Daniel in the den, Fiery furnace
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Confessions of faith:
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Verses of faith:
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What does God say I can pray for? 6000 promises
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