1. How Faith Increases
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.
~ Matthew 13:31-32
Taken from Truth Magazine article, May 1, Page 24 (Donnie Rader)
Slides 1,16,19
First preached on February 5, 2006
Preached at West Side on October 19, 2008 PM

2. How Faith Increases
 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”  So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
~ Luke 17:5-6

3. How Faith Increases Turn to the right source (v. 5)
Ephesians 3:3-5; Romans 10:17

4. How Faith Increases
 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”  So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
~ Luke 17:5-6

5. Ephesians 3:3-5
…By revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.
The Lord speaks to us through revelation

6. Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Our Faith is increased as we look to the Revelation of Christ for direction.

7. How Faith Increases Turn to the right source (v. 5)
Ephesians 3:3-5; Romans 10:17
Recognize your own weakness (v. 5)
2 Corinthians 13:5

8. How Faith Increases
 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”  So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
~ Luke 17:5-6

9. 2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
Honesty and integrity demand we examine ourselves as we look to the Lord’s instructions.

10. How Faith Increases Turn to the right source (v. 5)
Ephesians 3:3-5; Romans 10:17
Recognize your own weakness (v. 5)
2 Corinthians 13:5
Realize what faith can do (v. 6)
James 5:16-18

11. How Faith Increases
 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”  So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
~ Luke 17:5-6

12. James 5:16-18
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

13. How Faith Increases Turn to the right source (v. 5)
Ephesians 3:3-5; Romans 10:17
Recognize your own weakness (v. 5)
2 Corinthians 13:5
Realize what faith can do (v. 6)
James 5:16-18
Use what faith you have (v. 6)
Hebrews 5:11-13

14. How Faith Increases
 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”  So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
~ Luke 17:5-6

15. Hebrews 5:11-13
…You have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

16. How Faith Increases Turn to the right source (v. 5)
Ephesians 3:3-5; Romans 10:17
Recognize your own weakness (v. 5)
2 Corinthians 13:5
Realize what faith can do (v. 6)
James 5:16-18
Use what faith you have (v. 6)
Hebrews 5:11-13
Just do the Lord commands (vs. 7-10)
Matthew 7:24-25

17. How Faith Increases
And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? 8 But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.' "
~ Luke 17:7-10

18. Matthew 7:24-25
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

19. Conclusion
May we all strive to be having a strong “faith and a good conscience” Lest we “shipwreck our faith”
“This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck.”
~ 1 Timothy 1:18-19