Luke 17:5-6 And the apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith.… I. THE NATURE OF FAITH. An influential belief in the testimony of God. This necessarily implies in all cases the absence of all indifference and hostility to the truth which is its object, and also a state of heart or moral sensibility which is adapted to receive its appropriate influence. It is easy to see what the character must be, formed by the power of such a principle. Holiness, perfect holiness in man, in all its peace and hopes and joys, is nothing more nor less than the truths of the gospel carried into effect by faith. Let there be the impress of the gospel on the heart and life, and what dignity and perfection of character — what noble superiority to the vanities of the world — what lofty conceptions of God and the things of a future world — what a resemblance to the Son of God would be furnished by such a man I Such is the nature of faith. II. THE MEANS OF ITS EXISTENCE. 1. Prayer. The suppliant at God's throne is surrounded by Divine realities. Nor is there a spot on earth where the tendencies of the heart to depart from God are more effectually counteracted, and where the soul comes in more direct contact with the objects of faith, than the closet. Prayer directly leads to the mortifying of unbelief in its very root and element, by opening a direct intercourse with heaven. 2. Our faith may be increased by examining the evidence of Divine truth. God always deals with us as intelligent beings. 3. To the same end we must cherish a deep and an abiding sense of the mean and degrading nature of earthly things. 4. Closely connected with this subject is the kindred one of keeping death and eternity continually in view. 5. Another means of increasing faith is its repeated exercise, in retirement and meditation, as well as in the business of life. 6. Important to the same end are just views of the truth and faithfulness of God. God has given to His people exceeding great and precious promises. The only ultimate foundation on which faith can rest in these promises is the unchangeable truth of God. III. CONSIDER THE DESIRABLENESS OF INCREASING OUR FAITH. This appears — 1. From the character it gives. All the defects and blemishes of Christian character may be traced to the want or the weakness of faith as their cause. It is through the imperfection of this principle that the character of man is formed so much by the influence of objects that here surround him. Every man is what his object is. 2. From the consolations which faith imparts. It is not only the prerogative of faith that it adds to our peace and our joys in the prosperous scenes of life. Its power is still more triumphant in scenes of affliction and trial. To the eye of faith every event has a tendency and an aim. 3. From the glory for which it prepares. Preparation for the glory that shall hereafter be revealed must be begun in this world. It must be begun in that character, which is the only true appropriate preparation for the services and joys of heaven. If the character be formed here by the exclusive influence of the objects of sense, if all the desires and affections be confined to these, there can be nothing in the world of spirits to meet and satisfy a single desire of the soul. The character, then, must be formed by other objects — the desires and affections of the soul must be fixed on things above — it must thus become capable of heavenly joys, or in vain were it admitted into heaven itself. But it is by faith, and by faith only, that the influence of these Divine and glorious realities can be felt in our present state. (N. W. Taylor, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. |
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