Before reading this article, please feel free to check out Part 1 – “Five Foundational Lessons about Faith”. See the link to the article below:

The Faith Life (Part 1) – Five Foundational Lessons about Faith

Many of us tend to ask God to “increase our Faith”, which is indeed a scripturally sound prayer! The problem, though, is that there can be confusion as to how we should do that exactly. But no need to worry, scripture does show us how our Faith can increase, with absolute surety that it would, once certain principles are applied. Let’s therefore take a look at five (5) ways in which our Faith can increase according to scripture.

#1: Through reading, meditating on, and living the Word of God

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17 (KJV)

The in-dwelt Word of God in our lives, and the presence and work of the Holy Spirit, births within us Faith. Reading, studying, and applying the Word of God in our lives transforms our thinking and guides our actions and speech. This means that, as we study and absorb ourselves in the Word of God, every facet of our being and the means of our personal expression become subject to His authority and leading. The Word is able to bring transformation by, firstly, cleaning us, and then by directing our desires, our speech, and our minds. In the following passage, a question is asked and immediately a response is given which reveals all of this:

⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. ¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! ¹¹ I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. ¹² Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! ¹³ With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. ¹⁴ In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. ¹⁵ I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. ¹⁶ I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Psalm 119:9-16 (ESV)

The Word of God brings purity as we allow it to guard and direct our ways. This, along with actually reading the Word, involves meditating on the Word, listening to the Holy Spirit actively (who always directs us according to the Word of God), and developing the discipline to actively walk in purity and obedience. The grace of God ultimately keeps us, but we must remember that there is a responsibility aspect to our walk with God and spiritual health. Once the Word is guarding our ways, our whole heart becomes desirous to seek the LORD (verse 10) and it also becomes the habitation of His Word (verse 11). Our speech is also impacted where our our words become His Word (verse 13), our desire is pointed towards the LORD and not to carnality (verse 14), and our minds and eyes are consumed by and focused on Him (verse 15). All of this represents a total cleansing work that is brought about by the Word.

When this overall cleansing work occurs, we begin operating in a state called “Faith” – we truly begin pleasing God! Also, the more we read, meditate on, and apply the Word of God to our lives, the more we are cleansed and the more our Faith grows. The fertile soil that is needed for Faith to begin growing is the Word of God in us, meditated upon by us, and applied to us.

#2: Through a lifestyle of Prayer 

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV)

Faith is planted in us by the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Faith – and then begins growing by reading, meditating on, and living the Word of God. However, as with plants, different factors facilitate growth. If a plant, for example, has only water but no air, it cannot respire or photosynthesise properly. In the same way, although the Word of God causes the growth of Faith in us, such a growth also needs an additional factor – a lifestyle of Prayer. Prayer is the Holy Spirit mechanism that is designed to facilitate consistent communication between our spirit and the Spirit of God. This is exemplified in Jeremiah 33:3 where God tells the prophet, “call to me and I will answer you”, indicating the establishment of effective communication.

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Matthew 21:22 (ESV)

The above scripture, Matthew 21:22, shows us that there is an intricate relationship between Prayer and Faith. What you ask for in Prayer will be received if you have/possess Faith. This shows us that God’s ideal plan is that Prayer must work in unison with Faith. This is because when Prayer works with Faith it is working with the product of the work of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. So, in essence, to pray with faith is (1) to pray according to the Word of God, and (2) to pray according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who Himself always works in unity with the Word of God. This is where prayer would become effective and faith itself would grow, as shown in the latter part of James 5:16 which says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much“. Faith causes prayer to become effectual and fervent, while also acting as the definer of a man being considered “righteous”. Prayer with Faith then works with the Word and the Holy Spirit to, in turn, build that Faith, for, as we pray according to the Word and the Holy Spirit, God would answer us and therefore strengthen our Faith.

#3: Through sharing and supporting the Gospel

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Romans 1:16-17 (ESV)

The Holy Spirit produces Faith, and the Word of God and Prayer helps it to begin growing even to maturity. However, God desires that our Faith grow exponentially, which brings us to points number 3, 4 and 5. Beginning with point number 3, the increase/growth of our Faith is further facilitated by our sharing and support of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:16 defines the Gospel in theological depth, revealing it as “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”. In the previous article “The Faith Life Part 1“, we saw how the Holy Spirit works in us first, through revelation and conviction, and gives unto us Faith which leads us to believe. Everyone who believes on Jesus Christ could only do so by direct revelation and conviction from the Holy Spirit – not based on their own efforts. Romans 1:16 is therefore showing us here that the Gospel message is the reflection of the totality of the work of this power of God which leads to Salvation, Sanctification, and eventual Glorification.

Romans 1:17 then shows us, with greater depth, the relationship between the Gospel and Faith. I like how the Amplified Bible breaks it down, which goes like this:

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed in a way that awakens more faith]. As it is written and forever remains written, “The just and upright shall live by faith.”

Romans 1:17 (AMP)

The Gospel is revealed by the Holy Spirit and in the Word of God. Therefore, from it would spring Faith. However, it leads men not just to initial salvation but also to continued growth in Christ, with the ultimate aim of us becoming more like Christ (see 2 Corinthians 3:18). The Gospel therefore leads us to increased levels of Faith as it is designed, by Almighty to God, to awaken greater levels of Faith in us. Therefore, the more that we preach and teach the Gospel, and support the Gospel, the more we will grow in Faith. Supporting the Gospel also will see us grow in Faith, as the support of the Gospel is seen as “living by faith”. Such support could be in prayer, donations, or time spent in actually going. Now this does not mean that anyone who gives to a Gospel outreach initiative automatically is righteous or has faith. As stated earlier, such a designation of being righteous is only through accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and becoming a host of His Holy Spirit. A life lived surrounding the Gospel of the Kingdom is one that will begin experiencing exponential growth in Faith.

#4: Through requisite Obedience and Sacrifice

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Hebrews 11:4 (KJV)

The Spirit produces the faith, the Word and Prayer commences its growth, and the Gospel begins its exponential blossoming. Full bloom beyond limits of our levels of Faith then continues with requisite (or the required) Obedience and Sacrifice. Many would seek to establish regiments of prayer and studying the Bible, in an effort to please God and be drawn closer to Him. However, greater levels of Faith and deeper depths in God are achieved only by persons who are willing to go the extra distance to touch His very heart. We saw it in our first point, in Psalm 119:9-16 where the Word brings a cleansing and a change in our desires, turning them towards Christ. As your desire for Christ grows, your willingness to do anything for Him grows also, even to the point of inconveniencing yourself and your personal desires and ambitions.

A wonderful case in point is seen in Abel, as shown above in Hebrews 11:4. Abel’s sacrifice was seen as “more excellent” than His brother’s sacrifice, and this was enough to classify Abel as a righteous man. The more we grow in Faith, the more we please God (Hebrews 11:6), and the more we give up for God the more we also are drawn to Him and therefore please Him (Hebrews 11:4). It can therefore be seen that when we are willing to obey God and sacrifice for Him (it could be sacrificing our time, energy, and resources for Him), we please Him more and therefore are indeed growing exponentially in Faith. To obey and sacrifice to God is to say that our desires for Him significantly trumps our desires to do, say, and think about anything and anyone else. Obedience and Sacrifice facilitates the death of carnality and idolatry in our lives, thereby giving God total room and control to do His will. These two tools, obedience and sacrifice, are two spiritual tools that would open a wellspring of nutrients for our Faith (and therefore our pleasing of our God) to grow.

#5: Through loving one another increasingly

We ought always and indeed are morally obligated [as those in debt] to give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is fitting, because your faith is growing ever greater, and the [unselfish] love of each one of you toward one another is continually increasing.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 (AMP)

I will be honest with you, this spiritual mechanism of facilitating the growth of Faith is one that I recently understood. I know (and all of us as believers in Jesus Christ should know) that it is imperative that we love one another. However, the Apostle Paul introduces two very interesting concepts in the above scripture to the Church in Thessalonica:

• Faith can increase

• Faith’s increases works in tandem with an increase in our love for each other

The growth of Faith must always be accompanied by the growth of our love towards each other. Both are two intricate processes that need each other. We cannot truly love without Faith. That is because an essential component of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is Love (see Galatians 5:22-23), who is also the Spirit who produces Faith. The more that we surrender to the Holy Spirit the more that Love is developed in us, and the more that Faith would also increase in us. Because the Holy Spirit is the same Spirit who produces both Faith and Love, both processes are facilitated together. Such Love is facilitated by unity, where we look out for one another, teach one another the Word of God, show compassion, given necessary admonishment, and pray for and support one another in all righteousness.

Conclusion

If you therefore find yourself asking God for “greater faith” or “more faith” consider these as the requisite factors that you need to consider to make that desire a reality. If you forsake one, or all, you will not see your faith in Christ experience any growth or increase. But now that we have looked at the 5 Foundational Lessons about Faith, and the 5 Ways to Increase Faith, we will (in Part 3, which will be the final part) take a look at how Faith is applied. Stay tuned!

TO BE CONTINUED

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