1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:04,340 You’re listening to a sermon from 2 00:00:04,340 –> 00:00:06,220 pastor Colin Smith of Open The 3 00:00:06,220 –> 00:00:08,980 Bible. To contact us call 1-877- 4 00:00:08,980 –> 00:00:11,940 Open-365 5 00:00:11,940 –> 00:00:13,780 or visit our website 6 00:00:13,780 –> 00:00:17,040 OpenTheBible.org. Let’s get to the 7 00:00:17,040 –> 00:00:20,559 message. Here is pastor Colin. 8 00:00:20,559 –> 00:00:23,459 Please open your Bible at Luke and chapter 17 and 9 00:00:23,459 –> 00:00:25,879 verse 5 where we’re told that the 10 00:00:25,879 –> 00:00:28,480 disciples said to our Lord 11 00:00:29,260 –> 00:00:34,599 increase our faith. Now last week we 12 00:00:34,599 –> 00:00:37,000 looked at five occasions in Matthew’s 13 00:00:37,000 –> 00:00:40,119 Gospel where Jesus spoke about little 14 00:00:40,119 –> 00:00:43,119 faith and on each of the occasions Jesus 15 00:00:43,119 –> 00:00:45,400 was speaking to his own disciples. It’s 16 00:00:45,400 –> 00:00:48,799 almost as if he used little faith as if 17 00:00:48,799 –> 00:00:51,619 it was a kind of middle name or you of 18 00:00:51,619 –> 00:00:54,980 little faith. And from these five 19 00:00:55,099 –> 00:00:59,540 stories, we saw five reasons for growing 20 00:00:59,540 –> 00:01:02,299 in faith. First, because little faith is 21 00:01:02,299 –> 00:01:05,739 ineffective against anxiety. Second, 22 00:01:05,739 –> 00:01:08,339 because little faith underestimates the 23 00:01:08,339 –> 00:01:12,019 ability of Jesus. Third because little 24 00:01:12,019 –> 00:01:14,980 faith is easily distracted. Fourth, 25 00:01:14,980 –> 00:01:17,339 because little faith forgets what Jesus 26 00:01:17,339 –> 00:01:20,379 has done. And fifth, because little faith 27 00:01:21,019 –> 00:01:25,099 gives up too soon. Now we should never 28 00:01:25,099 –> 00:01:30,360 despise little faith. Any faith, however 29 00:01:30,360 –> 00:01:33,980 small, is a gift for which we should be 30 00:01:33,980 –> 00:01:37,260 thankful. And Jesus makes it very clear 31 00:01:37,260 –> 00:01:40,019 as we saw last time that even little 32 00:01:40,019 –> 00:01:43,620 faith can accomplish remarkable things. 33 00:01:43,620 –> 00:01:48,220 But no believer should ever be content 34 00:01:48,680 –> 00:01:52,940 with little faith. And we saw from the 35 00:01:52,940 –> 00:01:55,260 occasions that Jesus spoke about little 36 00:01:55,260 –> 00:01:59,099 faith, five strategies for us today to 37 00:01:59,099 –> 00:02:02,860 grow in our faith. We saw last time that 38 00:02:02,860 –> 00:02:05,419 faith grows as we seek God’s kingdom, 39 00:02:05,419 –> 00:02:08,220 that faith grows as we get to know Jesus, 40 00:02:08,220 –> 00:02:10,940 that faith grows as we worship, that 41 00:02:10,940 –> 00:02:13,539 faith grows as we are nourished by the 42 00:02:13,539 –> 00:02:16,899 word of God, and that faith grows as we 43 00:02:16,899 –> 00:02:19,220 persevere. 44 00:02:19,220 –> 00:02:21,699 Now someone might reasonably ask at this 45 00:02:21,699 –> 00:02:22,899 point, Now are you 46 00:02:22,899 –> 00:02:27,380 really saying that if I learn to worship 47 00:02:27,380 –> 00:02:29,699 and if I immerse myself in the word of 48 00:02:29,699 –> 00:02:30,899 God, 49 00:02:30,899 –> 00:02:34,100 and if I persevere in serving the Lord 50 00:02:34,100 –> 00:02:37,220 and walk with Jesus, that I will be less 51 00:02:37,220 –> 00:02:39,539 anxious? And the answer to that question 52 00:02:39,539 –> 00:02:40,339 is, yes, 53 00:02:40,339 –> 00:02:43,699 absolutely. You’ll not overcome 54 00:02:43,699 –> 00:02:46,820 anxiety completely. We live this 55 00:02:46,899 –> 00:02:48,339 life in the weakness 56 00:02:48,339 –> 00:02:50,899 of the flesh, and that means that we 57 00:02:50,899 –> 00:02:52,259 always battle against 58 00:02:52,259 –> 00:02:56,020 fears and against temptations, but the 59 00:02:56,020 –> 00:02:56,979 more you 60 00:02:56,979 –> 00:03:00,580 grow in faith, the more you will prevail 61 00:03:00,580 –> 00:03:04,899 over anxiety. Grow in faith and you 62 00:03:04,899 –> 00:03:08,500 will overcome stubborn sins. 63 00:03:08,500 –> 00:03:13,460 You will break through dark strongholds. 64 00:03:13,460 –> 00:03:15,699 Grow in faith and you will be more 65 00:03:15,699 –> 00:03:17,220 focused and you’ll be much less 66 00:03:17,220 –> 00:03:19,539 distracted. 67 00:03:19,539 –> 00:03:23,940 Grow in faith and you will persevere. 68 00:03:23,940 –> 00:03:25,380 Now that’s what we’ve learned as we 69 00:03:25,380 –> 00:03:28,179 started out on this four week journey 70 00:03:28,179 –> 00:03:31,460 of growing in faith. Today we’re turning 71 00:03:31,460 –> 00:03:33,380 to Luke and chapter 17 72 00:03:33,380 –> 00:03:35,539 where the disciples ask Jesus to 73 00:03:35,539 –> 00:03:37,139 increase their faith, 74 00:03:37,139 –> 00:03:39,539 and here then we come to a sixth 75 00:03:39,539 –> 00:03:40,740 strategy 76 00:03:40,740 –> 00:03:42,660 for growing in faith, and it’s very 77 00:03:42,660 –> 00:03:43,699 obvious that 78 00:03:43,699 –> 00:03:46,580 faith grows as we ask of Jesus. 79 00:03:46,580 –> 00:03:50,179 The apostles said to the Lord 80 00:03:50,179 –> 00:03:54,259 increase our faith. 81 00:03:54,259 –> 00:03:56,580 Now notice that Luke says that it was 82 00:03:56,580 –> 00:03:58,419 the apostles 83 00:03:58,419 –> 00:04:02,419 who asked this of the Lord Jesus Christ. 84 00:04:02,419 –> 00:04:04,179 They had left everything to follow 85 00:04:04,179 –> 00:04:05,220 Jesus. 86 00:04:05,220 –> 00:04:07,460 They were in what we would call today 87 00:04:07,460 –> 00:04:09,699 vocational ministry. 88 00:04:09,699 –> 00:04:12,500 These are men who had been sent out on 89 00:04:12,500 –> 00:04:13,380 what we would call 90 00:04:13,380 –> 00:04:16,899 cross-cultural mission. They had preached 91 00:04:16,899 –> 00:04:18,420 the gospel. 92 00:04:18,420 –> 00:04:21,619 They had healed the sick. They had cast 93 00:04:21,619 –> 00:04:22,019 out 94 00:04:22,019 –> 00:04:25,459 demons and yet here these men are, the 95 00:04:25,459 –> 00:04:27,540 apostles, 96 00:04:27,540 –> 00:04:30,899 saying to the Lord increase our 97 00:04:30,899 –> 00:04:34,179 faith. Well if the apostles asked 98 00:04:34,179 –> 00:04:36,899 Jesus to increase their faith how much 99 00:04:36,899 –> 00:04:38,980 more should we be asking of the Lord 100 00:04:38,980 –> 00:04:39,700 Jesus 101 00:04:39,700 –> 00:04:43,140 that he would increase ours? Now here’s 102 00:04:43,140 –> 00:04:43,859 the question 103 00:04:43,859 –> 00:04:46,019 that gives us the trajectory for the 104 00:04:46,019 –> 00:04:48,179 message today. 105 00:04:48,179 –> 00:04:50,980 What was it that caused the disciples to 106 00:04:50,980 –> 00:04:52,420 ask Jesus 107 00:04:52,420 –> 00:04:55,299 to increase their faith? What was it that 108 00:04:55,299 –> 00:04:56,739 convinced them 109 00:04:56,739 –> 00:05:01,059 we really do need to grow in faith? 110 00:05:01,059 –> 00:05:03,859 What was it that led to them making this 111 00:05:03,859 –> 00:05:06,420 request of Jesus and what will lead to 112 00:05:06,420 –> 00:05:10,019 us making this request of Jesus 113 00:05:10,019 –> 00:05:13,859 too? Well, I want us to see four things 114 00:05:13,859 –> 00:05:15,540 from the context 115 00:05:15,540 –> 00:05:18,660 today and the first is that we should 116 00:05:18,660 –> 00:05:21,380 ask Jesus to increase our faith because 117 00:05:21,380 –> 00:05:21,940 we 118 00:05:21,940 –> 00:05:25,220 will be tempted. That’s a first thing. 119 00:05:25,220 –> 00:05:26,739 Look at verse 1 120 00:05:26,739 –> 00:05:29,459 that shows us what led to this request 121 00:05:29,459 –> 00:05:30,660 of the apostles 122 00:05:30,660 –> 00:05:33,540 being made to the Lord Jesus. Jesus said 123 00:05:33,540 –> 00:05:35,540 to his disciples, 124 00:05:35,540 –> 00:05:40,019 temptations to sin are sure to come 125 00:05:40,019 –> 00:05:43,140 but woe to the one through 126 00:05:43,140 –> 00:05:46,420 whom they come. Now 127 00:05:46,420 –> 00:05:49,059 the word that is translated temptations 128 00:05:49,059 –> 00:05:49,619 here 129 00:05:49,619 –> 00:05:52,739 is the word scandaler from which, of 130 00:05:52,739 –> 00:05:53,619 course, we get 131 00:05:53,619 –> 00:05:57,140 our word scandal. In other words, Jesus is 132 00:05:57,140 –> 00:05:59,220 saying here to his disciples, 133 00:05:59,220 –> 00:06:04,420 scandals are sure to come. 134 00:06:04,500 –> 00:06:06,500 Now a scandal, of course, is something 135 00:06:06,500 –> 00:06:07,299 that causes 136 00:06:07,299 –> 00:06:10,019 offence to another person, and causes 137 00:06:10,019 –> 00:06:12,100 that person to stumble, 138 00:06:12,100 –> 00:06:15,059 and Jesus warns the disciples very 139 00:06:15,059 –> 00:06:15,940 clearly 140 00:06:15,940 –> 00:06:18,899 that it is an inevitable and an 141 00:06:18,899 –> 00:06:21,940 unavoidable part of life in this fallen 142 00:06:21,940 –> 00:06:22,579 world 143 00:06:22,579 –> 00:06:24,980 that scandals will come. They’re sure to 144 00:06:24,980 –> 00:06:28,660 come. That’s what Jesus says. 145 00:06:28,899 –> 00:06:33,059 Now it may be that some scandal, 146 00:06:33,059 –> 00:06:35,700 a behaviour that has hurt and wounded 147 00:06:35,700 –> 00:06:36,260 you, 148 00:06:36,260 –> 00:06:38,899 has caused you to stumble, and has 149 00:06:38,899 –> 00:06:40,019 hindered you 150 00:06:40,019 –> 00:06:42,500 in your own walk of faith. That’s 151 00:06:42,500 –> 00:06:44,339 exactly what the Lord Jesus 152 00:06:44,339 –> 00:06:46,739 is talking about here. Perhaps someone 153 00:06:46,739 –> 00:06:48,980 who professed to be a believer, 154 00:06:48,980 –> 00:06:50,579 someone perhaps even who had been 155 00:06:50,579 –> 00:06:53,459 appointed to a position of leadership in 156 00:06:53,459 –> 00:06:54,739 a church, 157 00:06:54,739 –> 00:06:59,140 and then they behaved in a wretched way 158 00:06:59,140 –> 00:07:02,260 and it led you to say well 159 00:07:02,260 –> 00:07:05,380 i don’t think i can believe if 160 00:07:05,380 –> 00:07:09,940 this is what faith looks like. 161 00:07:10,339 –> 00:07:15,220 Now, Christians will always be grieved where 162 00:07:15,220 –> 00:07:17,459 there are scandals. 163 00:07:17,459 –> 00:07:20,739 They will break our hearts 164 00:07:20,739 –> 00:07:24,260 but we should never be surprised 165 00:07:24,260 –> 00:07:27,540 because Jesus says scandals are sure to 166 00:07:27,540 –> 00:07:29,059 come. 167 00:07:29,059 –> 00:07:31,220 You are going to have to face this. There 168 00:07:31,220 –> 00:07:33,700 will be stumbling blocks that you need 169 00:07:33,700 –> 00:07:35,299 to get over. That’s what 170 00:07:35,299 –> 00:07:37,859 Jesus is telling the disciples here and 171 00:07:37,859 –> 00:07:39,459 of course throughout the history of the 172 00:07:39,459 –> 00:07:39,859 church 173 00:07:39,859 –> 00:07:43,459 this has proved to be true. 174 00:07:43,459 –> 00:07:45,299 Now does that mean then that we should 175 00:07:45,299 –> 00:07:47,700 simply shrug our shoulders and say 176 00:07:47,700 –> 00:07:51,380 well dreadful things happen 177 00:07:51,380 –> 00:07:54,100 and that’s just how it is? Well, not 178 00:07:54,100 –> 00:07:57,220 according to Jesus. Look at what he says. 179 00:07:57,220 –> 00:08:01,140 Temptations to sin are sure to come 180 00:08:01,380 –> 00:08:06,179 but woe, woe to the one 181 00:08:06,179 –> 00:08:09,700 through whom they come. 182 00:08:09,700 –> 00:08:11,940 Jesus says it would be better for him if 183 00:08:11,940 –> 00:08:14,500 a millstone were hung around his neck 184 00:08:14,500 –> 00:08:17,140 and he were cast into the sea than that 185 00:08:17,140 –> 00:08:18,260 he should cause 186 00:08:18,260 –> 00:08:22,980 one of these little ones to sin. 187 00:08:23,059 –> 00:08:25,140 Now you could hardly have more grave or 188 00:08:25,140 –> 00:08:28,899 serious words of warning than these. 189 00:08:29,540 –> 00:08:32,340 The natural meaning of little ones of 190 00:08:32,340 –> 00:08:33,299 course would be 191 00:08:33,299 –> 00:08:36,659 children and it is certainly true that 192 00:08:36,659 –> 00:08:37,380 those who 193 00:08:37,380 –> 00:08:42,179 abuse children, those who traffic 194 00:08:42,179 –> 00:08:46,820 children, face a fearsome judgment 195 00:08:46,820 –> 00:08:50,820 and an awful condemnation. 196 00:08:50,820 –> 00:08:54,500 But Jesus spoke about those who believe 197 00:08:54,500 –> 00:08:58,020 as being little ones and 198 00:08:58,020 –> 00:09:00,979 it seems likely that Jesus was referring 199 00:09:00,979 –> 00:09:01,940 here to the 200 00:09:01,940 –> 00:09:05,940 sin of causing someone to stumble 201 00:09:05,940 –> 00:09:09,859 in his or her faith. 202 00:09:09,859 –> 00:09:12,099 Matthew Henry in his helpful commentary 203 00:09:12,099 –> 00:09:14,500 identifies three kinds of people 204 00:09:14,500 –> 00:09:16,500 who fall under this terrible 205 00:09:16,500 –> 00:09:18,260 condemnation. 206 00:09:18,260 –> 00:09:22,099 First he says persecutors that is those 207 00:09:22,099 –> 00:09:22,820 who offer 208 00:09:22,820 –> 00:09:25,539 any injury to the least of Christ’s 209 00:09:25,539 –> 00:09:26,900 little ones, those who 210 00:09:26,900 –> 00:09:30,020 persecute believers in the Lord Jesus 211 00:09:30,020 –> 00:09:31,380 Christ. 212 00:09:31,380 –> 00:09:35,539 Then he says secondly seducers 213 00:09:35,539 –> 00:09:39,219 who corrupt the truths of Jesus Christ 214 00:09:39,219 –> 00:09:41,299 and so trouble the minds of disciples. 215 00:09:41,299 –> 00:09:42,179 In other words 216 00:09:42,179 –> 00:09:45,700 people who insidiously 217 00:09:45,700 –> 00:09:48,659 move those who believe away from the 218 00:09:48,659 –> 00:09:50,900 truth 219 00:09:51,059 –> 00:09:55,700 corrupt their minds and their hearts. 220 00:09:56,260 –> 00:09:59,700 Persecutors, seducers who take people 221 00:09:59,700 –> 00:10:01,380 away from the truth. 222 00:10:01,380 –> 00:10:03,460 And then thirdly he says and I quote 223 00:10:03,460 –> 00:10:04,340 those who 224 00:10:04,340 –> 00:10:08,340 under the profession of a Christian 225 00:10:08,340 –> 00:10:09,940 name 226 00:10:09,940 –> 00:10:14,340 live scandalously and thereby weaken the 227 00:10:14,340 –> 00:10:15,140 bands 228 00:10:15,140 –> 00:10:19,940 and sadden the hearts of God’s people. 229 00:10:19,940 –> 00:10:22,260 Weaken the band simply means cause 230 00:10:22,260 –> 00:10:24,260 disunity. 231 00:10:24,260 –> 00:10:27,059 Sadden the hearts bring grief to God’s 232 00:10:27,059 –> 00:10:28,900 people. 233 00:10:28,900 –> 00:10:32,179 Oh says Matthew Henry those who live 234 00:10:32,179 –> 00:10:34,739 under the profession of a Christian name 235 00:10:34,739 –> 00:10:35,380 but live 236 00:10:35,380 –> 00:10:39,299 scandalously, they bring 237 00:10:39,299 –> 00:10:42,739 division to the people of God and they 238 00:10:42,739 –> 00:10:43,140 bring 239 00:10:43,140 –> 00:10:46,900 grief and sorrow to their hearts. 240 00:10:46,900 –> 00:10:51,140 Woe to them, Jesus says. 241 00:10:51,140 –> 00:10:54,419 God will deal with all who 242 00:10:54,419 –> 00:10:58,179 harm his own children, those who lead 243 00:10:58,179 –> 00:11:00,580 them away from the truth, 244 00:11:00,580 –> 00:11:04,179 those who hurt them, those who cause his 245 00:11:04,179 –> 00:11:05,460 children 246 00:11:05,460 –> 00:11:09,299 to stumble. Scandals are sure to come 247 00:11:09,299 –> 00:11:10,659 says Jesus 248 00:11:10,659 –> 00:11:15,140 but woe to the one through whom 249 00:11:15,140 –> 00:11:19,380 they come. Now Jesus is clearly 250 00:11:19,380 –> 00:11:22,419 issuing a stern warning here 251 00:11:22,419 –> 00:11:26,580 and he gives this warning to who? To us. 252 00:11:26,580 –> 00:11:29,619 Pay attention to yourselves, he says in 253 00:11:29,619 –> 00:11:31,460 the very next verse. 254 00:11:31,460 –> 00:11:33,059 In other words don’t think that i’m 255 00:11:33,059 –> 00:11:35,140 talking about other people here 256 00:11:35,140 –> 00:11:38,739 i am giving a warning to you 257 00:11:38,739 –> 00:11:41,380 you are my disciples you are the ones 258 00:11:41,380 –> 00:11:42,739 who bear my name 259 00:11:43,700 –> 00:11:47,059 and with your calling there comes a great 260 00:11:47,059 –> 00:11:48,580 responsibility 261 00:11:48,580 –> 00:11:50,419 and when the disciples heard this what 262 00:11:50,419 –> 00:11:52,020 did they say? They said 263 00:11:52,020 –> 00:11:54,900 Lord increase our faith. 264 00:11:55,140 –> 00:11:57,700 Give us in other words the strength that 265 00:11:57,700 –> 00:11:58,500 we need 266 00:11:58,500 –> 00:12:01,140 to stand against the temptations that we 267 00:12:01,140 –> 00:12:02,659 know we will face 268 00:12:02,659 –> 00:12:05,140 increase our faith so that we will not 269 00:12:05,140 –> 00:12:06,659 be the ones who cause 270 00:12:06,659 –> 00:12:10,340 others to stumble 271 00:12:10,340 –> 00:12:12,659 nowhere then is something that every 272 00:12:12,739 –> 00:12:14,179 christian leader 273 00:12:14,179 –> 00:12:16,659 needs to hear here is something that 274 00:12:16,659 –> 00:12:18,020 every believer 275 00:12:18,020 –> 00:12:20,340 needs to hear because we all bear the 276 00:12:20,340 –> 00:12:24,020 name of the lord Jesus Christ 277 00:12:24,020 –> 00:12:28,179 God cares about his children so pay 278 00:12:28,179 –> 00:12:31,460 attention to yourself and be 279 00:12:31,460 –> 00:12:35,219 very careful that you do not lead one 280 00:12:35,219 –> 00:12:38,900 of God’s little ones into 281 00:12:38,900 –> 00:12:39,219 sin 282 00:12:43,140 –> 00:12:47,539 ask the lord to increase your faith 283 00:12:47,539 –> 00:12:49,700 ask him because you yourself will be 284 00:12:49,700 –> 00:12:51,219 tempted 285 00:12:51,219 –> 00:12:53,219 and then here’s a second reason ask the 286 00:12:53,219 –> 00:12:55,380 lord to increase your faith 287 00:12:55,380 –> 00:12:58,659 because you are called to a 288 00:12:58,659 –> 00:13:02,099 holy life now i want you to notice what 289 00:13:02,099 –> 00:13:03,059 Jesus says 290 00:13:03,859 –> 00:13:06,659 about the life to which we are called as 291 00:13:06,659 –> 00:13:07,380 believers 292 00:13:08,500 –> 00:13:11,299 verse 3 if your brother sins 293 00:13:12,500 –> 00:13:13,219 rebuke him 294 00:13:14,340 –> 00:13:15,460 and if he repents 295 00:13:16,739 –> 00:13:17,460 forgive him 296 00:13:19,299 –> 00:13:21,219 if he sins against you 297 00:13:21,859 –> 00:13:24,340 seven times in a day and turns to you 298 00:13:24,340 –> 00:13:26,419 seven times saying i repent 299 00:13:27,140 –> 00:13:30,099 you must forgive him 300 00:13:30,099 –> 00:13:38,820 now notice that jesus challenges the disciples here with a double responsibility 301 00:13:39,940 –> 00:13:43,619 the first is if your brother sins rebuke him 302 00:13:45,059 –> 00:13:49,059 now these words of jesus are very similar to the words that he spoke recorded in 303 00:13:49,059 –> 00:13:57,619 Matthew Chapter 18 and verse 15 if your brother sins against you go and tell him his fault 304 00:13:58,260 –> 00:14:02,340 now does this mean that there is an obligation 305 00:14:02,979 –> 00:14:11,859 to confront every sin that you see in every other believer answer absolutely not 306 00:14:13,059 –> 00:14:18,979 there are other scriptures to consider and to weigh before you go 307 00:14:18,979 –> 00:14:24,900 charging off to rebuke your brother for some sin or other that you may have seen in his or her life 308 00:14:25,619 –> 00:14:38,099 For example, 1 Peter chapter 4 and verse 8, love covers a multitude of sins 309 00:14:39,780 –> 00:14:48,739 or Romans chapter 12 and verse 18, if possible as far as it depends on you live peaceably 310 00:14:49,700 –> 00:14:58,260 with all or Matthew chapter 7 verses 1 through 3 judge not that you be not judged 311 00:14:59,059 –> 00:15:04,739 for with the judgment you use you yourself will be judged and with the measure you use 312 00:15:04,739 –> 00:15:11,700 it will be measured to you why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye but do not 313 00:15:11,700 –> 00:15:20,900 see the log that is in your own eye but when all of this is said clearly this scripture is pointing 314 00:15:20,900 –> 00:15:29,059 us to the fact that there will be times when love requires you to confront a brother or a 315 00:15:29,059 –> 00:15:39,059 sister who has wronged you when should you consider doing that well several translations of 316 00:15:39,780 –> 00:15:48,340 these words include the words against you bible translations such as the niv translates this 317 00:15:48,340 –> 00:15:56,020 if your brother sins against you and that clearly is the meaning here and it’s stated clearly 318 00:15:56,020 –> 00:16:02,580 in matthew chapter 18 in verse 15 and it is stated clearly in verse 4 where Jesus says 319 00:16:02,580 –> 00:16:11,219 if he sins against you seven times in a day. So Jesus is not talking about sin in general 320 00:16:11,219 –> 00:16:17,059 he’s speaking specifically here about a wrong that has been done against you that 321 00:16:17,059 –> 00:16:23,140 has affected you that has hurt you directly and in a personal way. 322 00:16:24,820 –> 00:16:32,179 Again the context here is important. Jesus says pay attention to yourselves 323 00:16:33,539 –> 00:16:40,820 in other words when a brother or sister sins against you you need to be 324 00:16:40,820 –> 00:16:46,419 very very careful that you yourself are not drawn into sin. 325 00:16:48,260 –> 00:16:56,820 Now the principle here is especially clear in the Old Testament Leviticus and chapter 19 326 00:16:56,820 –> 00:17:00,419 and verse 17. Let me draw your attention to this important scripture. 327 00:17:00,419 –> 00:17:06,660 God says you shall not hate your brother in your heart, 328 00:17:08,660 –> 00:17:19,780 but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor lest you incur sin because of him. 329 00:17:20,979 –> 00:17:28,739 Now what is this saying? Well when a brother or a sister wrongs you, you will often find 330 00:17:28,739 –> 00:17:35,540 that you are simply able to pass over it and to move on, and if that is the case thank God for 331 00:17:35,540 –> 00:17:45,060 that. But sometimes if the wound is deep you may find in your own heart that you’re beginning to 332 00:17:45,060 –> 00:17:51,540 struggle with resentment towards the person who has hurt you. Now notice the logic of this verse 333 00:17:51,540 –> 00:18:00,339 that speaks to that situation. God says you shall not hate your brother in your heart. You must 334 00:18:00,339 –> 00:18:07,459 not allow your heart to go there. That’s not an option that is open for you as a believer. So 335 00:18:08,739 –> 00:18:13,699 if you find resentment towards a brother rising in your heart what should you do? 336 00:18:14,099 –> 00:18:22,099 You should go and you should reason with him or with her frankly. Why? Lest you 337 00:18:22,819 –> 00:18:31,939 incur sin because of him or her. In other words, lest the wrong that he or she has done 338 00:18:31,939 –> 00:18:41,939 leads you into the sin of hating them. when you’re to do this how are you to do this 339 00:18:41,939 –> 00:18:48,260 well notice what God says you shall reason frankly with your neighbor. Isn’t that a 340 00:18:48,260 –> 00:18:57,619 beautiful expression? Reason frankly with your neighbor. Dale Ralph Davis in his commentary 341 00:18:57,619 –> 00:19:04,500 on Luke’s gospel catches the spirit of this he says rebuke does not mean telling him off 342 00:19:05,060 –> 00:19:14,020 it does not mean reaming him out but simply disclosing the wrong that he has done. 343 00:19:15,619 –> 00:19:23,300 And of course reason frankly also means that you must hear the person who has offended you 344 00:19:23,300 –> 00:19:30,260 what does he or she have to say and you know when you hear them you might learn something 345 00:19:30,339 –> 00:19:34,739 that would give you a different perspective, a fuller picture of what has happened. 346 00:19:36,500 –> 00:19:42,420 Now the aim then of this honest conversation this confrontation that takes place here 347 00:19:43,380 –> 00:19:50,900 is that help will come both to the person who has caused the offence and to the person who has been 348 00:19:50,900 –> 00:19:57,619 offended. And again Dale Ralph Davis points out that the clear implication of this very 349 00:19:57,619 –> 00:20:07,619 striking verse in Leviticus chapter 19 and verse 17 is that expressing rebuke tends to dissipate 350 00:20:08,500 –> 00:20:14,979 inward resentment. And that surely is why Jesus tells us that this is something 351 00:20:14,979 –> 00:20:20,579 that in these circumstances we should do. If your brother sins 352 00:20:21,520 –> 00:20:39,239 to all who are his disciples and if he repents, forgive him. And then he says and if he sins 353 00:20:39,239 –> 00:20:48,239 against you seven times in a day, seven times in one day and then turns to you seven times in the 354 00:20:48,260 –> 00:20:56,619 same day and says, I repent. Well then, you must forgive him and when the disciples heard 355 00:20:56,619 –> 00:21:05,660 these words, they said Lord, increase our faith. You see the point? They’ve realised that the life 356 00:21:05,660 –> 00:21:11,140 to which the Lord Jesus Christ is calling them, is so far beyond them that they cannot do it in 357 00:21:11,140 –> 00:21:19,719 their own strength. They cannot do it in their own power. Lord, increase our faith. Lord, if this 358 00:21:19,719 –> 00:21:26,959 is what you are calling us to do, you are going to have to give us the strength to do it. 359 00:21:26,959 –> 00:21:33,359 Now, here’s the principle and it’s a very important one that we’re learning from the 360 00:21:33,359 –> 00:21:40,479 Bible here today. When you see the sheer difficulty of the life that the Lord Jesus 361 00:21:40,479 –> 00:21:46,420 Christ calls you to, then you will ask Him to increase your faith. That’s what we learn 362 00:21:46,420 –> 00:21:54,500 here. And I want you to think about this. What is the life to which we are called? 363 00:21:55,380 –> 00:22:03,380 Brother, sister, Christ calls you to love God with all your heart and soul and mind 364 00:22:03,380 –> 00:22:15,920 and strength. Christ calls you to love your neighbor as yourself. Christ calls you to 365 00:22:15,920 –> 00:22:28,020 be holy as God Himself is holy. Christ calls you not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil 366 00:22:28,020 –> 00:22:39,920 with good. Christ calls us to rejoice always and Christ says to his disciples, be perfect as 367 00:22:40,640 –> 00:22:49,760 your Father in Heaven is perfect. You read these words, you hear these words of Jesus, 368 00:22:49,760 –> 00:22:55,400 you really take in the holy life to which you’re called. Well then you’re gonna say, 369 00:22:55,400 –> 00:23:03,780 Lord, increase my faith because I’m not gonna be able even to pursue this kind of a life 370 00:23:03,780 –> 00:23:12,420 unless you give to me what I do not have. C.S. Lewis expresses this wonderfully well 371 00:23:12,420 –> 00:23:23,219 in his book Mere Christianity. He says there, no man knows how bad he is until he has tried 372 00:23:23,380 –> 00:23:34,020 very hard to be good. No one knows how bad he or she is until they have tried very hard 373 00:23:34,979 –> 00:23:39,699 to be good. Why does he underline this point about very hard? Well he says a little later, 374 00:23:39,699 –> 00:23:41,699 unless we really try, 375 00:23:44,500 –> 00:23:46,979 well it will always be in the back of our minds 376 00:23:47,459 –> 00:23:51,540 that if we tried harder next time we could really be completely good. 377 00:23:54,900 –> 00:23:57,939 Faith grows when you come to the place of seeing 378 00:23:59,619 –> 00:24:07,219 that a holy life is beyond the capacity of your flesh and of your nature and you come to the 379 00:24:07,219 –> 00:24:16,660 place of saying, Lord increase my faith, Lord give me what I do not have, because Lord this is 380 00:24:16,660 –> 00:24:28,099 beyond me and I can only do this if you give to me what it’s gonna take. And you know 381 00:24:28,099 –> 00:24:36,260 that really is at the very heart of what brings us to Christ. What causes us to trust Christ and 382 00:24:36,260 –> 00:24:43,540 depend on Christ and to look to Christ which is the very heart of the Christian life. 383 00:24:44,420 –> 00:24:50,900 So we’re looking at how faith grows and we’re looking at when we need 384 00:24:51,619 –> 00:24:59,140 to ask our Lord Jesus to increase our faith. We need to ask him for this because we ourselves 385 00:24:59,140 –> 00:25:08,180 are tempted. We need to ask him because we are called to a holy life and then thirdly 386 00:25:08,900 –> 00:25:17,300 and then thirdly ask the Lord to increase your faith because you will encounter great evil. 387 00:25:18,900 –> 00:25:26,420 Now I want you to notice here that in Luke 17 we have a record of the words of Jesus 388 00:25:27,459 –> 00:25:33,619 but Luke does not tell us here when and where these words were spoken. In fact if you look 389 00:25:33,619 –> 00:25:40,420 at this whole section of Luke’s Gospel you’ll see that these verses are part of a long section 390 00:25:40,420 –> 00:25:46,660 in which Luke has really gathered together teaching of Jesus that would have been given 391 00:25:46,660 –> 00:25:54,900 on several different occasions. Now of course God has given to us in the bible four gospels 392 00:25:54,900 –> 00:26:01,780 and sometimes when you put the different gospels side by side you can see some connections that 393 00:26:01,780 –> 00:26:10,500 at least suggest where and when the various words of Jesus were spoken. Now notice that Luke tells 394 00:26:10,500 –> 00:26:18,020 us that when the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith our Lord responded verse 6 by saying 395 00:26:18,819 –> 00:26:26,180 if you had faith as a grain of mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree be uprooted and 396 00:26:26,180 –> 00:26:38,020 planted in the sea and it would obey you. Now you may recognise that these words are almost identical 397 00:26:38,739 –> 00:26:43,459 to the words that the Lord Jesus spoke in the story we looked at last week. The story about 398 00:26:43,459 –> 00:26:50,739 the boy who was oppressed by an evil spirit and Jesus wonderfully wonderfully delivered him. 399 00:26:51,459 –> 00:26:56,260 Remember Jesus had gone up the mountain with Peter and James and John. The other disciples 400 00:26:56,260 –> 00:27:01,859 were at the bottom of the mountain. The father of the boy asked the disciples to help. They tried 401 00:27:03,300 –> 00:27:09,459 and they failed and then we read in Matthew’s Gospel that 402 00:27:09,459 –> 00:27:16,180 Jesus came down the mountain and he delivered the boy from the evil power that had afflicted him 403 00:27:16,180 –> 00:27:24,099 and then the disciples asked him privately, well why could we not cast it out? And then Jesus said, 404 00:27:24,099 –> 00:27:32,819 Oh you of little faith and then he said, For truly I say to you if you have faith like 405 00:27:32,819 –> 00:27:40,260 a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there and it will 406 00:27:40,260 –> 00:27:49,219 move and nothing will be impossible for you. So these words are so similar 407 00:27:50,099 –> 00:27:58,500 that it is very reasonable to think that the disciples would have responded to Jesus 408 00:27:58,500 –> 00:28:08,180 on this occasion by saying, Lord increase our faith, and because Jesus was the master teacher 409 00:28:08,180 –> 00:28:12,739 it would have been very natural for him at that point to then change the analogy 410 00:28:12,739 –> 00:28:17,219 and repeat the same point again and the words that we have in Luke and chapter 17. 411 00:28:17,219 –> 00:28:21,540 Having spoken about the mountain and then the disciples saying, Oh increase our faith 412 00:28:22,420 –> 00:28:27,459 it’s very reasonable to think that Jesus would then say if you had faith as a grain of mustard 413 00:28:27,459 –> 00:28:36,180 seed you could say to this mulberry tree, be uprooted and planted in the sea and it would obey 414 00:28:36,180 –> 00:28:44,819 you. Now it seems to me very likely then that the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith 415 00:28:45,380 –> 00:28:49,859 when they had been confronted by this great darkness at the bottom of the mountain 416 00:28:49,859 –> 00:28:57,699 and found themselves absolutely powerless to face it. And Jesus said to them you couldn’t 417 00:28:57,699 –> 00:29:08,099 cast it out because of your little faith. That’s a problem. And they feel their need to grow in faith. 418 00:29:09,859 –> 00:29:14,579 When you encounter great evil when you find yourself facing great darkness 419 00:29:15,859 –> 00:29:26,099 ask the lord to increase your faith. The Apostle writes we do not wrestle against flesh and blood 420 00:29:27,060 –> 00:29:35,859 but against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole 421 00:29:35,859 –> 00:29:41,859 armor of god, which of course includes the shield of faith, that you may be able to withstand 422 00:29:42,979 –> 00:29:51,380 the evil day. When you face a struggle that seems beyond you, when you’re confronted 423 00:29:51,939 –> 00:29:58,900 by your own failure, when you find yourself surrounded by great darkness and evil, 424 00:29:58,900 –> 00:30:07,859 ask the lord to increase your faith. And that leads us to the last thing today, 425 00:30:07,859 –> 00:30:13,459 we ask the lord to increase our faith because we’re tempted, we ask him to increase our faith 426 00:30:13,459 –> 00:30:20,579 because we’re called to holy lives, we ask our lord to increase our faith because we do encounter 427 00:30:20,579 –> 00:30:28,420 great evil and we often fail, and we ask the lord to increase our faith fourthly because 428 00:30:29,300 –> 00:30:38,660 we all battle with unbelief. Now it’s Mark who tells us in his account of the same story 429 00:30:38,660 –> 00:30:44,260 of the father who brought the afflicted boy to Jesus that he said to the lord, 430 00:30:44,339 –> 00:30:54,739 if you can do anything have compassion on us and help us. The man had been disappointed by the 431 00:30:54,739 –> 00:31:00,579 disciples inability to help him, but notice this that though the man had been disappointed by the 432 00:31:00,579 –> 00:31:08,979 disciples he was still drawn to Jesus. If you can do anything have compassion on us and help us. 433 00:31:08,979 –> 00:31:18,680 Don’t let the failure of other Christians keep you from discovering what the Lord 434 00:31:18,680 –> 00:31:25,599 can do for you. That’s what we learned here from this man in this story. Don’t let the 435 00:31:25,599 –> 00:31:33,540 discouragement of what you may have been disappointed in in other Christians keep 436 00:31:33,540 –> 00:31:42,339 you from discovering what Jesus Christ is able to do for you. When this man came and 437 00:31:42,339 –> 00:31:48,239 asked Jesus directly for help, Jesus said to him, and this is Mark chapter 9 and verse 438 00:31:48,239 –> 00:31:55,920 23, all things are possible for one who believes and then this man said to Jesus some very 439 00:31:56,339 –> 00:32:04,819 famous words. I believe. Help my unbelief. And for two thousand years Christians have 440 00:32:04,839 –> 00:32:12,099 been deeply grateful to this man who spoke these words. We relate to them. Lord, I believe. 441 00:32:12,099 –> 00:32:21,760 Help me with my unbelief. Then we’re told that Jesus delivered the afflicted boy from 442 00:32:21,800 –> 00:32:30,359 the evil Spirit. The disciples saw Jesus do what they had been unable to do. And seeing 443 00:32:30,359 –> 00:32:38,479 the miracle, they say, increase our faith. Lord, we believe. But like the father of this 444 00:32:38,479 –> 00:32:46,260 boy, what he just said is also true of us. We also battle unbelief ourselves. Lord, increase 445 00:32:46,260 –> 00:32:50,079 our faith. 446 00:32:50,079 –> 00:33:00,000 Faith lives with unanswered questions. Faith is often afflicted by many doubts. No one 447 00:33:00,000 –> 00:33:07,540 has a perfect faith. However much we grow in the Christian life, we struggle with doubt 448 00:33:07,540 –> 00:33:11,900 and unbelief, and many fears remain. 449 00:33:12,000 –> 00:33:18,859 I’ve been greatly helped on this by some words from John Calvin that I want to quote to you. 450 00:33:18,880 –> 00:33:24,819 He says this, that Godly heart, and I want to underline that, the godly heart, the heart 451 00:33:24,819 –> 00:33:31,180 of a godly person, this is how he describes the godly heart. 452 00:33:31,180 –> 00:33:41,180 The Godly heart feels in itself a division, because it is partly imbued with sweetness 453 00:33:41,260 –> 00:33:43,500 from the recognition of the divine goodness. 454 00:33:43,500 –> 00:33:51,680 That is, it has a comfort of believing that God is good, and yet partly grieves in bitterness 455 00:33:51,680 –> 00:33:54,060 from its own calamity. 456 00:33:54,060 –> 00:33:59,459 The godly heart looks at itself, and says, Oh, there’s so much here that’s not as it 457 00:33:59,459 –> 00:34:01,640 needs to be. 458 00:34:01,640 –> 00:34:09,939 It partly rests on the promise of the gospel, partly trembles at the evidence of its own 459 00:34:09,939 –> 00:34:20,139 iniquity, partly rejoices in the expectation of life, and partly shutters at the thought 460 00:34:20,139 –> 00:34:22,679 of death. 461 00:34:22,679 –> 00:34:31,120 Now says Calvin, this variation arises from the imperfection of faith since in the course 462 00:34:31,120 –> 00:34:37,379 of this present life it never goes so well with us that we are wholly cured from the 463 00:34:37,479 –> 00:34:45,320 disease of unbelief and entirely filled and possessed by faith. 464 00:34:45,320 –> 00:34:53,040 Now you see that is why the scriptures repeatedly use language that calls us to grow in faith. 465 00:34:53,040 –> 00:34:56,080 We are always in need of our faith growing. 466 00:34:56,080 –> 00:35:01,320 We are always in the place of saying Lord, increase our faith. 467 00:35:01,439 –> 00:35:05,199 Listen to the language of scripture. 468 00:35:05,199 –> 00:35:07,600 We are to pursue faith. 469 00:35:07,600 –> 00:35:11,199 That’s Second Timothy chapter two in verse 22. 470 00:35:11,199 –> 00:35:15,340 Scripture speaks about us being strengthened in faith. 471 00:35:15,340 –> 00:35:18,699 That’s Colossians chapter two in verse seven. 472 00:35:18,699 –> 00:35:23,360 It speaks about putting on faith as a breastplate. 473 00:35:23,360 –> 00:35:26,459 First Thessalonians chapter five and verse ten. 474 00:35:26,459 –> 00:35:29,800 It speaks about faith growing more and more. 475 00:35:29,820 –> 00:35:32,080 First Thessalonians chapter one and verse three. 476 00:35:32,080 –> 00:35:35,139 It speaks about being encouraged in faith. 477 00:35:35,139 –> 00:35:38,620 That’s First Thessalonians chapter three and verse two. 478 00:35:38,620 –> 00:35:40,280 And Paul speaks, on ne occasion, 479 00:35:40,280 –> 00:35:43,239 about supplying what is lacking in your faith. 480 00:35:43,239 –> 00:35:46,760 That is First Thessalonians chapter three and verse ten. 481 00:35:46,760 –> 00:35:51,639 So we have every reason to join unashamedly 482 00:35:51,639 –> 00:35:55,620 with the disciples in saying to our Lord, 483 00:35:55,620 –> 00:35:58,959 increase our faith. 484 00:36:00,719 –> 00:36:05,459 And faith grows as we ask of Jesus. 485 00:36:07,979 –> 00:36:13,020 So ask the Lord to increase your faith. 486 00:36:13,020 –> 00:36:15,739 Are you tempted? 487 00:36:15,739 –> 00:36:19,020 Do you feel the weakness and the vulnerability 488 00:36:19,020 –> 00:36:20,699 of your own flesh? 489 00:36:20,699 –> 00:36:26,580 Ask Jesus to increase your faith. 490 00:36:26,580 –> 00:36:30,340 Have you seen that the life to which you’re called, 491 00:36:30,340 –> 00:36:33,520 the holy life to which Jesus calls you, 492 00:36:33,520 –> 00:36:38,239 is beyond the range of what you can do? 493 00:36:38,239 –> 00:36:43,760 Ask Jesus to increase your faith. 494 00:36:43,760 –> 00:36:48,040 Do you find yourself surrounded by great darkness? 495 00:36:48,040 –> 00:36:52,300 Do you find yourself grieving over your own failure? 496 00:36:52,800 –> 00:36:56,800 Do you find yourself confronting some great evil? 497 00:36:56,800 –> 00:37:02,800 Ask the Lord Jesus Christ to increase your faith. 498 00:37:02,800 –> 00:37:07,300 Do you find yourself struggling with doubts, with fears? 499 00:37:07,300 –> 00:37:11,300 Do you find yourself in a battle sometimes with unbelief? 500 00:37:11,300 –> 00:37:17,300 Ask the Lord Jesus to increase your faith. 501 00:37:17,300 –> 00:37:21,479 And pursue all the things that we’ve seen in your days. 502 00:37:21,719 –> 00:37:24,479 Things that we’ve seen in the series already, 503 00:37:24,479 –> 00:37:27,479 that are the means by which faith grows, 504 00:37:27,479 –> 00:37:29,479 and we’ll be coming back to more, God willing, 505 00:37:29,479 –> 00:37:32,479 in the weeks that lie ahead. 506 00:37:32,479 –> 00:37:35,780 Listen to the promise of Jesus, 507 00:37:35,780 –> 00:37:42,479 All things are possible for one who believes. 508 00:37:42,479 –> 00:37:48,479 In Christ, you will have all that you need 509 00:37:48,479 –> 00:37:54,280 and all that you face in every circumstance of your life. 510 00:37:54,280 –> 00:37:57,479 Grow in faith and by God’s grace, 511 00:37:57,479 –> 00:37:59,479 you will be able to say with the Apostle Paul, 512 00:37:59,479 –> 00:38:05,479 I can do all things through Christ, 513 00:38:05,479 –> 00:38:08,479 who gives me strength. 514 00:38:08,479 –> 00:38:12,479 Let’s pray together. 515 00:38:12,479 –> 00:38:14,280 Our Father, we come to you today, 516 00:38:14,280 –> 00:38:17,280 aware of our own need 517 00:38:17,280 –> 00:38:21,919 and grateful that we can ask of you 518 00:38:21,919 –> 00:38:28,280 in and through the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 519 00:38:28,280 –> 00:38:33,280 We come to you today because we are often tempted 520 00:38:33,280 –> 00:38:37,679 and we know the weakness of our own flesh. 521 00:38:37,679 –> 00:38:41,639 We come to you today because the life to which you call us 522 00:38:41,760 –> 00:38:46,639 is only possible by your grace and by the strength that you alone can give. 523 00:38:48,639 –> 00:38:50,879 We come to you today because we live in a world 524 00:38:50,879 –> 00:38:55,520 where there is great darkness and great evil. 525 00:38:55,520 –> 00:38:58,679 We come to you today because though we believe in you 526 00:38:58,679 –> 00:39:00,679 our hearts are often divided 527 00:39:00,679 –> 00:39:05,080 and plagued with many doubts and fears. 528 00:39:05,840 –> 00:39:12,139 We ask of you, increase our faith. 529 00:39:15,139 –> 00:39:18,699 Make the desires of our faith stronger. 530 00:39:19,520 –> 00:39:22,939 Make the dependence of our faith firmer. 531 00:39:24,520 –> 00:39:27,459 Make the dedication of our faith fuller. 532 00:39:29,219 –> 00:39:34,540 And make the joy of our faith deeper. 533 00:39:34,600 –> 00:39:42,540 So equip us by your grace for all that we face in all of life 534 00:39:43,840 –> 00:39:47,080 until faith is turned to sight 535 00:39:48,120 –> 00:39:53,439 and we shall rejoice in your presence forever more. 536 00:39:54,379 –> 00:39:57,479 For these things we ask in Jesus’ name. 537 00:39:58,580 –> 00:39:59,580 Amen. 538 00:39:59,979 –> 00:40:04,040 You’ve been listening to a sermon with Pastor Colin Smith of Open The Bible. 539 00:40:04,040 –> 00:40:09,479 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN365 540 00:40:09,479 –> 00:40:13,520 or visit our website at www.openthebible.org