There was a time when the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith so Jesus gave them some motivation for an increase of faith then pointed out to them that their faith would increase with their level of faithfulness.

Luke 17:5–10 (ESV) — 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ ”

Faith is not something stirred up by us, rather faith is a gift from God. Faith gives us assurance and operates under the inward conviction that God is Who He says He is and He says that He rewards those who seek Him.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) — 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) — 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) — 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

But how do we know that? His word is clear on the subject. Hence, when we take God’s statements or promises in His word by faith – believing that God has said it and He will surely carry out what He has said – then our faith is bolstered as it lays hold of God’s promises which are made by the One Who cannot lie, and backed up by the One Who is by the right hand of God to remind Him of those promises. God does not need to be reminded, but we certainly do.  Hebrews 6:18 says that by two unchangeable things we have a refuge of hope.

Hebrews 6:17–20 (ESV) — 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Consider then the many promises of God. We are told in 2 Peter they are precious and very great promises through which we partake of the divine nature. In 2 Corinthians we are told the promises of God find their yes and their amen in the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, because of the finished work of Christ we know that whatever God has promise is good and something upon which  you can count as sure.

2 Peter 1:3–4 (ESV) — 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

2 Corinthians 1:20–22 (ESV) — 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Not only is it well to study and cling to the promises of God, it’s very important to go back in the historical accounts of the Bible and see how God kept His promises so you can be encouraged to know that since God does not change you too can count on His promises. One such area is how God promised to give His people, Israel, a land and to be with them as they conquered the promised land. Before Joshua died, he reminded the people that “not one word has failed of all the good things the Lord promised.”

Romans 15:4 (ESV) — 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Joshua 23:14 (ESV) — 14 “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.

I have laid the groundwork for this very important principle that will increase your faith – tap into the vast reservoir of God’s promises. Let’s just take one promise:

Philippians 4:19 (ESV) — 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

What should you do to maximize faith building with this promise?

1. Memorize the promise. (Just try it. It’s an easy one to memorize.)
2. Meditate upon the promise. (Think of all the benefits that are yours in this promise and the vast storehouse of blessings.)
3. Use the promise in prayer and in words of encouragement. Using God’s promise in prayer is not a means of manipulation, rather it demonstrates a respect for God’s word, which He has “promised” is a sure way of having His attention. Using God’s promise as a means of encouraging another person is a means of encouraging yourself while you present something that is sure.

The bottom line is simple: know, memorize, meditate upon, and use the promises of God and find what a vast reservoir of blessing it is and means to increase your faith.

Godspeed,

Bob Brubaker