100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:12,740Luke records that the disciples on one occasion said to Jesus, Lord, increase our faith these200:00:12,740 –> 00:00:17,160men that disciples had faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.300:00:17,160 –> 00:00:22,540They were followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, but they came to a point in their lives where400:00:22,940 –> 00:00:27,139they knew that they had to grow in their faith.500:00:27,139 –> 00:00:29,260Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.600:00:29,260 –> 00:00:33,779I’m David Pick, glad you could join us today on the program and Colin, do you think that700:00:33,779 –> 00:00:38,099every follower of Jesus sooner or later comes to the point where they need to pray that800:00:38,099 –> 00:00:39,099prayer?900:00:39,099 –> 00:00:40,099Oh, absolutely.1000:00:40,099 –> 00:00:45,660I mean, what happens in life is that you are going along and it seems that things are OK,1100:00:45,660 –> 00:00:51,619and then suddenly you find yourself confronted by a situation that you had not known before.1200:00:51,619 –> 00:00:52,919It may be to do with health.1300:00:52,919 –> 00:00:54,919It may be a crisis in a relationship.1400:00:54,919 –> 00:00:55,919It may be a loss.1500:00:55,919 –> 00:00:58,459It may be something to do with employment.1600:00:58,459 –> 00:01:02,500And you find yourself saying, you know, I thought I was doing fine, but now I’m in a1700:01:02,500 –> 00:01:05,779position where I know I really need more help.1800:01:05,779 –> 00:01:07,580Lord, increase my faith.1900:01:07,580 –> 00:01:12,720And I’m sure that’s where the disciples were when they made that famous prayer.2000:01:12,720 –> 00:01:15,279It’s a wonderful, wonderful prayer.2100:01:15,279 –> 00:01:17,300And that’s what we’re looking at today.2200:01:17,300 –> 00:01:20,099The reality is that we do need to grow in faith.2300:01:20,239 –> 00:01:21,839The question is how.2400:01:21,839 –> 00:01:26,580And we’re going to continue to see some of the strategies by which we can grow in faith2500:01:26,580 –> 00:01:29,760as we confront some of the greatest challenges that we face in life.2600:01:29,760 –> 00:01:35,099So, join us today, if you can, in Matthew Chapter Six, as we continue the message, Little2700:01:35,099 –> 00:01:36,099Faith.2800:01:36,099 –> 00:01:37,900Here is Pastor Colin.2900:01:37,900 –> 00:01:48,320Faith grows as we get to know Jesus, walk with Him, learn of Him, look to Him.3000:01:48,419 –> 00:01:53,660And your faith will grow.3100:01:53,660 –> 00:02:04,120You know, Paul says that he is able to do far more abundantly above all that we ask3200:02:04,120 –> 00:02:08,320and even above all that we think.3300:02:08,320 –> 00:02:13,199Little faith believes enough to ask Jesus for help.3400:02:13,199 –> 00:02:15,860Little faith thinks that God can help.3500:02:15,860 –> 00:02:19,399That is why he or she asks.3600:02:19,399 –> 00:02:29,880But God is able to do far abundantly more than little faith asks or thinks.3700:02:29,880 –> 00:02:36,160He’s able to do far more than any of us here today even thinks.3800:02:36,160 –> 00:02:44,399Walk with him and you will find out what he can do.3900:02:44,399 –> 00:02:52,960Now the third time that Jesus refers to little faith is in Matthew chapter 144000:02:52,960 –> 00:02:56,240and you may like to turn over to that with me now.4100:02:56,240 –> 00:03:02,320This is the story of when Jesus came to his disciples walking on the water.4200:03:02,320 –> 00:03:09,039And from this story we learned that little faith is easily distracted.4300:03:09,039 –> 00:03:11,639Notice Matthew 14 in verse 31.4400:03:11,639 –> 00:03:16,759Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and took hold of him, that is Peter, seeing to4500:03:16,759 –> 00:03:23,240him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?4600:03:23,240 –> 00:03:28,520Now again, this is a story that some of us know well.4700:03:28,619 –> 00:03:32,800The disciples were in the boat at night.4800:03:32,800 –> 00:03:37,360And Jesus had gone up to a mountain on his own in order to pray.4900:03:37,360 –> 00:03:44,440But late in the night, Jesus came to the disciples walking on the water.5000:03:44,440 –> 00:03:51,139At first the disciples thought that they were seeing a ghost, but Jesus said, take heart,5100:03:51,139 –> 00:03:54,339it is I do not be afraid.5200:03:55,220 –> 00:04:00,220And Peter said, Lord if it’s you, command me to come to you on the water.5300:04:00,220 –> 00:04:03,500And Jesus said, come.5400:04:03,500 –> 00:04:10,160Peter got out of the boat and he walked on the water to Jesus.5500:04:11,539 –> 00:04:14,779Now, here we learned something else about faith.5600:04:14,779 –> 00:04:23,140Faith takes bold initiatives at the command of the Lord Jesus Christ.5700:04:23,220 –> 00:04:28,179When we look at this story, Peter getting out of the boat, our first thought is most5800:04:28,179 –> 00:04:33,700likely, well Peter must have had great faith to do that, I mean, I’m not sure I would have5900:04:33,700 –> 00:04:34,700done it.6000:04:34,700 –> 00:04:35,700Would I have got out of the boat?6100:04:35,700 –> 00:04:40,260Peter must have had great faith to get out of the boat and yet what Jesus says to him6200:04:40,260 –> 00:04:43,059here is, oh you have little faith.6300:04:43,880 –> 00:04:54,619Spurgeon suggests that Peter’s faith was little from the beginning because little faith is6400:04:54,619 –> 00:04:57,899always looking for a sign.6500:04:57,899 –> 00:05:06,600Listen to what he says, and I quote, little faith is far too eager for signs.6600:05:07,200 –> 00:05:14,779Spurgeon says, I do not think Peter’s faith suddenly became little, it was always little6700:05:14,779 –> 00:05:20,179and the sight of the wind made its littleness apparent.6800:05:20,179 –> 00:05:26,779He continues, strong faith is content without signs.6900:05:26,779 –> 00:05:35,140It believes God’s bare Word and asks for no confirming miracle.7000:05:36,839 –> 00:05:41,799Now, it’s clear from the story then, that little faith,7100:05:41,799 –> 00:05:46,299that’s the name by which Jesus addresses Peter here,7200:05:46,299 –> 00:05:49,519little faith can achieve great things.7300:05:49,519 –> 00:05:54,940But it’s also clear from the story that little faith gets easily distracted.7400:05:54,940 –> 00:05:59,519Here’s Peter taking what looks like this bold initiative of faith,7500:05:59,519 –> 00:06:03,540he is responding to the invitation of Jesus to come.7600:06:03,940 –> 00:06:06,760But Matthew tells us that when he walked on the water,7700:06:06,760 –> 00:06:12,399he saw the wind, verse 30, and he was afraid.7800:06:12,399 –> 00:06:13,920So picture this,7900:06:13,920 –> 00:06:18,420his eyes are on Jesus as he walks towards the master.8000:06:18,420 –> 00:06:22,920But, you see, the thing with little faith is, it’s easily distracted.8100:06:22,920 –> 00:06:28,839And when he saw the wind, oh well, then he was afraid, and he began to sink.8200:06:29,200 –> 00:06:32,839Now, this is one of the marks of little faith.8300:06:32,839 –> 00:06:38,540It looks to Jesus, and then it looks away to something else.8400:06:38,540 –> 00:06:41,700Now, we’re asking the practical question throughout this series,8500:06:41,700 –> 00:06:45,299how can my faith grow?8600:06:45,299 –> 00:06:49,100Well, again, from this story, we’ve got another very obvious answer.8700:06:49,100 –> 00:06:55,000And it’s this, that faith grows as we worship.8800:06:56,000 –> 00:06:58,899And that’s where the story ends here.8900:06:58,899 –> 00:07:00,559Verse 32.9000:07:15,160 –> 00:07:21,500Worship is the gaze of the soul upon the Lord Jesus Christ,9100:07:21,959 –> 00:07:26,959and your faith will grow as you worship.9200:07:30,359 –> 00:07:35,359Now, the fourth time that Jesus speaks about little faith9300:07:36,739 –> 00:07:39,380is in Matthew chapter 16.9400:07:39,380 –> 00:07:42,179And again, you might like to turn there,9500:07:42,179 –> 00:07:46,440and here we see that little faith9600:07:46,440 –> 00:07:50,260forgets what Jesus has done.9700:07:51,260 –> 00:07:52,760Matthew 16 and verse eight,9800:07:52,760 –> 00:07:54,640But Jesus, aware of this, said,9900:07:54,640 –> 00:07:57,059Oh, you of little faith,10000:07:58,079 –> 00:08:00,380why are you discussing among yourselves10100:08:00,380 –> 00:08:03,880the fact that you have no bread?10200:08:05,500 –> 00:08:07,619Now, the context of this here10300:08:07,619 –> 00:08:11,540is that Jesus had said to the disciples in verse six,10400:08:11,540 –> 00:08:14,679watch and beware of the leaven10500:08:14,679 –> 00:08:17,720of the Pharisees and Pisaduccies.10600:08:18,679 –> 00:08:21,720And Matthew tells us that on that particular day,10700:08:21,720 –> 00:08:24,880the disciples had forgotten to pack lunch.10800:08:24,880 –> 00:08:27,820They had forgotten to bring bread.10900:08:27,820 –> 00:08:30,700And so when Jesus referred to Leaven,11000:08:30,700 –> 00:08:34,659they thought that he was raising the subject of lunch.11100:08:34,659 –> 00:08:36,020Did he say leaven?11200:08:36,020 –> 00:08:37,979Oh no, we’ve forgotten the bread.11300:08:37,979 –> 00:08:41,219Oh, we should have brought some lunch.11400:08:41,219 –> 00:08:42,880Yes, says one of the disciples.11500:08:42,880 –> 00:08:47,239But why did he say, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees?11600:08:47,340 –> 00:08:48,179No, says another.11700:08:48,179 –> 00:08:50,900Well, maybe he’s saying that we shouldn’t be asking11800:08:50,900 –> 00:08:53,400the Pharisees to give us bread.11900:08:53,400 –> 00:08:55,340I mean, they did give alms,12000:08:55,340 –> 00:08:57,719they did give help to people who were in need.12100:08:57,719 –> 00:09:00,200Maybe Jesus is saying don’t ask them.12200:09:00,200 –> 00:09:01,739No, no, no, says someone else.12300:09:01,739 –> 00:09:05,200Maybe he’s saying that we shouldn’t eat with the Pharisees12400:09:05,200 –> 00:09:09,659because we are not walking in fellowship with them12500:09:09,659 –> 00:09:11,000and so forth.12600:09:12,000 –> 00:09:15,080Their conversation was all about food.12700:09:15,880 –> 00:09:18,539And Jesus says verse eight,12800:09:18,539 –> 00:09:22,500oh, you of little faith,12900:09:23,780 –> 00:09:26,200why are you discussing among yourselves13000:09:26,200 –> 00:09:29,479the fact that you have no bread?13100:09:30,580 –> 00:09:33,320And then he says, verse nine,13200:09:34,280 –> 00:09:38,500do you not remember?13300:09:39,799 –> 00:09:44,200And he reminds them of how he fed 5,000 people13400:09:44,260 –> 00:09:47,440with five loaves and two fish, multiplying them13500:09:47,440 –> 00:09:49,900so that all the people had plenty to eat13600:09:49,900 –> 00:09:51,539with 12 baskets left over.13700:09:51,539 –> 00:09:54,599And how on another occasion he did something very similar13800:09:54,599 –> 00:09:57,760with a crowd of about 4,000 people.13900:09:57,760 –> 00:10:01,320Verse nine, do you not remember?14000:10:02,960 –> 00:10:07,960Little faith forgets what Jesus has done.14100:10:10,000 –> 00:10:12,919And this points us surely to another way14200:10:12,919 –> 00:10:15,239in which faith grows.14300:10:16,280 –> 00:10:20,919Faith grows as we remember the words14400:10:20,919 –> 00:10:22,960and the works of Jesus.14500:10:22,960 –> 00:10:24,239And so, faith grows.14600:10:25,559 –> 00:10:30,559And this is why the Lord’s Supper is such a marvelous gift14700:10:31,140 –> 00:10:33,500for the strengthening of our faith.14800:10:33,500 –> 00:10:38,159Faith grows as we fix our minds and our hearts14900:10:38,159 –> 00:10:40,859on what Jesus has done.15000:10:41,840 –> 00:10:46,020And this is why a daily diet of the word of God15100:10:46,020 –> 00:10:49,059is so vital to a growing faith.15200:10:49,059 –> 00:10:52,859Little faith forgets what Jesus has done,15300:10:52,859 –> 00:10:55,460but faith grows15400:10:55,460 –> 00:10:59,400as it is nourished by the word of God.15500:10:59,400 –> 00:11:01,719You’re listening to Open The Bible15600:11:01,719 –> 00:11:03,000with Pastor Collin Smith15700:11:03,000 –> 00:11:05,340and a message called Little Faith,15800:11:05,340 –> 00:11:06,919looking at how faith grows.15900:11:06,919 –> 00:11:09,419And we’ll return to the message very shortly.16000:11:09,619 –> 00:11:11,500Don’t forget that if you ever tune in late16100:11:11,500 –> 00:11:12,460or miss a program,16200:11:12,460 –> 00:11:13,539you can easily catch up16300:11:13,539 –> 00:11:15,080or go back and listen again16400:11:15,080 –> 00:11:16,799online at our website,16500:11:16,799 –> 00:11:19,479openthebible.org.uk.16600:11:19,479 –> 00:11:21,739Also on your favourite podcast site16700:11:21,739 –> 00:11:22,940and those are available16800:11:22,940 –> 00:11:26,059by searching for Open The Bible UK.16900:11:26,059 –> 00:11:28,640Back to the message now we’re in Matthew chapter 6.17000:11:28,640 –> 00:11:30,799Here again, is Pastor Collin.17100:11:30,799 –> 00:11:33,739And then the fifth and the last time17200:11:33,739 –> 00:11:37,099that Jesus referred to little faith17300:11:37,099 –> 00:11:38,539is found in the next chapter,17400:11:38,539 –> 00:11:41,840in Matthew chapter 17.17500:11:41,840 –> 00:11:43,539And here we learn17600:11:43,539 –> 00:11:47,820that little faith gives up too soon.17700:11:48,979 –> 00:11:53,000Notice verse 19 and 20 of this passage.17800:11:53,000 –> 00:11:57,619The disciples came to Jesus privately and said,17900:11:57,619 –> 00:12:00,619why could we not cost it out?18000:12:00,619 –> 00:12:02,820And he said to them,18100:12:02,820 –> 00:12:07,820because of your little faith.18200:12:09,539 –> 00:12:12,260Now, the story here is that Jesus had gone18300:12:12,260 –> 00:12:14,940up on the mountain with Peter, James, and John18400:12:14,940 –> 00:12:19,940where his glory was revealed in the transfiguration.18500:12:20,979 –> 00:12:24,320The other nine disciples were left behind18600:12:24,320 –> 00:12:25,539at the bottom of the mountain.18700:12:25,539 –> 00:12:27,619And while Jesus was gone,18800:12:27,619 –> 00:12:32,539a man whose son was possessed by an evil spirit18900:12:32,539 –> 00:12:36,020came to the disciples and asked them for help.19000:12:36,919 –> 00:12:41,780Now, the disciples had been in situations like this before.19100:12:41,780 –> 00:12:44,419Much earlier, the Gospels tell us19200:12:44,419 –> 00:12:47,200that Jesus had sent them out.19300:12:47,200 –> 00:12:49,179In Mark in chapter six and verse seven,19400:12:49,179 –> 00:12:53,219we read these words, that Jesus gave them authority19500:12:53,219 –> 00:12:56,460over unclean spirits.19600:12:56,460 –> 00:13:00,859And Mark tells us that they cast out many demons19700:13:00,859 –> 00:13:05,000and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.19800:13:06,280 –> 00:13:10,539So these disciples had been successful many times19900:13:10,539 –> 00:13:12,840in bringing deliverance to people20000:13:12,840 –> 00:13:15,559who were oppressed by evil powers.20100:13:15,559 –> 00:13:20,559But on this occasion, they were unable to help.20200:13:21,200 –> 00:13:24,900And this man brought his afflicted son,20300:13:24,900 –> 00:13:28,219I expect that the disciples said and did20400:13:28,219 –> 00:13:30,919what they had said and done before.20500:13:30,919 –> 00:13:33,880But this time, nothing happened.20600:13:34,479 –> 00:13:38,640And they were perplexed, why is this?20700:13:39,940 –> 00:13:42,260And I expect they were embarrassed as well.20800:13:44,299 –> 00:13:46,460Jesus came down the mountain20900:13:46,460 –> 00:13:49,799and Jesus immediately delivered the boy21000:13:49,799 –> 00:13:53,059from the evil power that had afflicted him.21100:13:53,059 –> 00:13:56,260But I want you to notice what happened next21200:13:57,299 –> 00:14:02,299verse 19, then the disciples came to Jesus privately21300:14:02,880 –> 00:14:07,880and said, why could we not cast it out?21400:14:11,359 –> 00:14:12,659Well, that’s the question.21500:14:13,799 –> 00:14:15,179And of course, this is a problem21600:14:15,179 –> 00:14:17,179that all of us will recognize.21700:14:18,159 –> 00:14:19,700Here we find ourselves today.21800:14:19,700 –> 00:14:22,780We’re surrounded in so many ways by great evil21900:14:22,780 –> 00:14:26,799that manifests itself in all kinds of ways.22000:14:27,640 –> 00:14:32,640And the church seems powerless.22100:14:35,840 –> 00:14:39,400People say, why can’t the church do something about it?22200:14:41,039 –> 00:14:45,320Why could we not cast it out?22300:14:47,200 –> 00:14:48,239That’s the question.22400:14:49,799 –> 00:14:54,700And Jesus says, because of your little faith.22500:14:57,359 –> 00:14:59,059That’s the question.22600:15:00,760 –> 00:15:03,280Now you read that and you think,22700:15:03,280 –> 00:15:08,280ahh, what he’s saying is you need greater faith.22800:15:09,119 –> 00:15:11,440If only you had stronger faith.22900:15:11,440 –> 00:15:12,859If only you believed more23000:15:12,859 –> 00:15:15,640then you would have been successful23100:15:15,640 –> 00:15:17,239in dealing with this problem.23200:15:18,359 –> 00:15:20,880But I want you to notice that is not what Jesus is saying,23300:15:20,880 –> 00:15:24,460because in the very next verse, verse 20,23400:15:24,539 –> 00:15:26,320now let me say to you,23500:15:26,320 –> 00:15:29,140if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed,23600:15:29,140 –> 00:15:30,780that’s the smallest of all seeds.23700:15:31,719 –> 00:15:34,979If you have, in other words, even the littlest faith,23800:15:35,900 –> 00:15:38,859you will say to this mountain,23900:15:38,859 –> 00:15:42,659move from here to there and it will move24000:15:42,659 –> 00:15:47,340and nothing will be impossible for you.24100:15:49,119 –> 00:15:51,159Now you see very clearly what Jesus is saying24200:15:51,179 –> 00:15:54,380there in verse 20 is that even the smallest faith24300:15:55,979 –> 00:15:57,140can move mountains.24400:15:59,200 –> 00:16:03,659Even little faith can see great things happen.24500:16:04,580 –> 00:16:06,380And we saw that already in the story of Peter24600:16:06,380 –> 00:16:08,719who had little faith walking on the water.24700:16:11,099 –> 00:16:16,099So why were the disciples not able to deliver the boy24800:16:16,539 –> 00:16:19,200from the evil power that afflicted him?24900:16:20,200 –> 00:16:24,039Well, if you look at your Bible very closely25000:16:24,039 –> 00:16:27,119you will see that there is a footnote here25100:16:27,119 –> 00:16:32,080and the footnote reads some manuscripts insert verse 2125200:16:34,479 –> 00:16:39,479but this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting.25300:16:43,619 –> 00:16:46,679Now, whether or not that was originally25400:16:46,739 –> 00:16:49,179part of Matthew’s gospel,25500:16:49,179 –> 00:16:54,140for sure it is recorded in the Gospel of Mark,25600:16:54,140 –> 00:16:57,359Mark 9 and verse 29.25700:16:58,739 –> 00:17:03,679And fasting in its nature is something25800:17:03,679 –> 00:17:05,939that you do over a period of time.25900:17:07,300 –> 00:17:09,640You can’t fast for five or 10 minutes.26000:17:10,439 –> 00:17:13,979You do it over a period of time, that’s the point.26100:17:14,979 –> 00:17:17,420And it seems to me that when Jesus says26200:17:17,420 –> 00:17:20,540oh you of little faith here,26300:17:20,540 –> 00:17:24,479he’s saying you’ve given up too soon.26400:17:26,180 –> 00:17:28,660Even with a little faith,26500:17:28,660 –> 00:17:32,060even with faith is small as a grain of mustard seed,26600:17:32,060 –> 00:17:35,699you would have been successful if you had persevered,26700:17:35,699 –> 00:17:37,219but that’s what you didn’t do.26800:17:39,380 –> 00:17:42,199You know when there’s a difficult passage of scripture26900:17:42,239 –> 00:17:45,500to understand and this one isn’t easy to understand.27000:17:45,500 –> 00:17:48,680It’s helpful to be able to look at some commentaries.27100:17:48,680 –> 00:17:51,959What have people who are wiser than us27200:17:51,959 –> 00:17:54,280been able to see and discern?27300:17:54,280 –> 00:17:58,040And I find great help after meditating on this myself27400:17:58,040 –> 00:18:00,520just to check what John Calvin said27500:18:00,520 –> 00:18:03,119and to find that this is actually the point that he makes.27600:18:03,119 –> 00:18:04,260He says this,27700:18:05,439 –> 00:18:09,560when Satan has taken deep root27800:18:09,560 –> 00:18:11,640in anyone,27900:18:11,640 –> 00:18:16,219and has been confirmed by long possession,28000:18:17,060 –> 00:18:21,479the victory is difficult and painful28100:18:21,479 –> 00:18:25,939and therefore the contest must be maintained.28200:18:25,939 –> 00:18:27,300Maintained,28300:18:27,300 –> 00:18:29,000continued28400:18:29,000 –> 00:18:31,300with all of our might.28500:18:32,920 –> 00:18:37,199So I’m convinced that Jesus’ critique of the disciples here28600:18:37,239 –> 00:18:40,939is not that their faith was too small,28700:18:40,939 –> 00:18:41,780because He says,28800:18:41,780 –> 00:18:43,880even faith like a grain of mustard seed28900:18:43,880 –> 00:18:45,239would move mountains,29000:18:45,239 –> 00:18:49,219His critique is that they gave up too soon.29100:18:51,979 –> 00:18:54,880Now here’s the application for us and it’s very obvious.29200:18:56,260 –> 00:18:58,699When you are faced with great evil,29300:18:59,719 –> 00:19:03,339when you find yourself in a struggle with great darkness,29400:19:04,599 –> 00:19:05,800keep praying.29500:19:07,560 –> 00:19:09,020Keep fasting.29600:19:10,760 –> 00:19:14,660Keep seeking the face and the help of God.29700:19:16,339 –> 00:19:18,439If you have a loved one29800:19:18,439 –> 00:19:22,920who seems trapped by the power of the enemy,29900:19:23,900 –> 00:19:26,819and it’s been like this for a long time,30000:19:28,380 –> 00:19:29,839don’t give up hope.30100:19:30,880 –> 00:19:35,880Remember that Jesus said that we ought always to pray30200:19:35,920 –> 00:19:38,160and not to lose heart.30300:19:39,800 –> 00:19:41,699Someone here today has been fighting30400:19:41,699 –> 00:19:43,380a particular temptation,30500:19:43,380 –> 00:19:45,839and that battle for you has been hard,30600:19:45,839 –> 00:19:47,839and it’s been quite discouraging,30700:19:47,839 –> 00:19:50,000and now you’re tempted to say,30800:19:50,000 –> 00:19:53,500oh, it’s no use, I can’t overcome this.30900:19:55,160 –> 00:19:58,119I want you to hear the word of the Lord Jesus Christ to you.31000:19:58,119 –> 00:20:02,060Oh, you of little faith.31100:20:02,800 –> 00:20:05,800You’re giving up too soon.31200:20:07,819 –> 00:20:12,359Understand that some victories are only won31300:20:12,359 –> 00:20:15,520after a long and hard struggle.31400:20:16,680 –> 00:20:21,680Stay in the battle and your faith will grow31500:20:22,479 –> 00:20:25,219as you persevere.31600:20:26,160 –> 00:20:28,979So here from the scriptures,31700:20:28,979 –> 00:20:33,979we have seen five reasons for growing in faith.31800:20:35,359 –> 00:20:38,219Why should we, individually and together31900:20:38,219 –> 00:20:41,280be praying and crying out to the Lord Jesus Christ,32000:20:41,280 –> 00:20:43,959Lord increase our faith?32100:20:43,959 –> 00:20:46,020Why should we own that?32200:20:46,020 –> 00:20:48,119Why should we pursue that together?32300:20:50,000 –> 00:20:51,500Well, we want to grow in faith32400:20:51,619 –> 00:20:56,060because little faith is ineffective against anxiety.32500:20:57,800 –> 00:21:02,020Little faith underestimates the ability of Jesus.32600:21:03,099 –> 00:21:06,500Little faith is just so easily distracted.32700:21:07,479 –> 00:21:10,900Little faith forgets what Jesus has done32800:21:10,900 –> 00:21:13,199and little faith gives up too soon32900:21:13,199 –> 00:21:18,000and none of us wants to be content to remain there.33000:21:18,839 –> 00:21:23,180And from these stories we’ve seen five strategies33100:21:24,339 –> 00:21:26,000for growing in faith.33200:21:26,880 –> 00:21:29,719Faith grows as we seek God’s kingdom.33300:21:30,839 –> 00:21:33,560Faith grows as we get to know Jesus.33400:21:34,719 –> 00:21:38,500Faith grows as we worship.33500:21:38,500 –> 00:21:42,520Faith grows as it is nourished by theword33600:21:43,800 –> 00:21:45,579and faith grows.33700:21:45,900 –> 00:21:49,099Faith grows as we persevere.33800:21:50,819 –> 00:21:54,800May God grant that we will grow in faith.33900:21:56,780 –> 00:21:59,339Pastor Colin Smith there wrapping up today’s message34000:21:59,339 –> 00:22:02,079and looking at how faith grows.34100:22:02,079 –> 00:22:04,800That’s something we can pray about at all times.34200:22:04,800 –> 00:22:07,260God, increase our faith.34300:22:07,260 –> 00:22:08,780You’ve been listening to Open The Bible34400:22:08,780 –> 00:22:12,459with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called Little Faith,34500:22:12,459 –> 00:22:14,979part of our series, Grow In Faith34600:22:15,020 –> 00:22:16,780and if you ever miss one of the series,34700:22:16,780 –> 00:22:19,839it’s very easy to catch up or go back and listen again34800:22:19,839 –> 00:22:21,699by coming to our website.34900:22:21,699 –> 00:22:24,680That’s at OpenTheBible.org.uk35000:22:24,680 –> 00:22:27,079and you can also find Pastor Colin’s messages35100:22:27,079 –> 00:22:30,020as a podcast on all the main podcast sites.35200:22:30,020 –> 00:22:31,979Search for Open The Bible UK35300:22:31,979 –> 00:22:34,699or follow the link from our website.35400:22:34,699 –> 00:22:35,839While you’re on our website,35500:22:35,839 –> 00:22:37,780check out all the other resources we have35600:22:37,780 –> 00:22:41,939for Christians as individuals in churches and home groups.35700:22:41,939 –> 00:22:44,660There’s just a mass of useful information there35800:22:45,380 –> 00:22:49,359so do check it out when you come to OpenTheBible.org.uk.35900:22:50,280 –> 00:22:52,819Open the Bible is supported by our listeners.36000:22:52,819 –> 00:22:55,699It’s people just like you who keep Open The Bible36100:22:55,699 –> 00:22:58,020on this station, on the internet36200:22:58,020 –> 00:23:00,199and on all the podcast sites.36300:23:00,199 –> 00:23:02,619So if you already give to support the work,36400:23:02,619 –> 00:23:04,640thank you so much.36500:23:04,640 –> 00:23:06,739If supporting Open The Bible financially36600:23:06,739 –> 00:23:09,099is something that you’d like to begin to do,36700:23:09,099 –> 00:23:11,060this month we’d love to say thank you36800:23:11,060 –> 00:23:13,420by sending you a free gift.36900:23:13,439 –> 00:23:15,739If you’re able to begin a new direct debit37000:23:15,739 –> 00:23:18,219of five pounds per month or more,37100:23:18,219 –> 00:23:21,160or a one-off gift of 60 pounds or more,37200:23:21,160 –> 00:23:24,939we’d love to send you a copy of Nancy Guthrie’s book,37300:23:24,939 –> 00:23:26,699I’m Praying for You.37400:23:26,699 –> 00:23:30,69940 days of praying the Bible for someone who is suffering.37500:23:30,699 –> 00:23:33,199Colin, who would you say this book is for?37600:23:33,199 –> 00:23:36,859Well, it’s for anyone who has ever said to someone,37700:23:36,859 –> 00:23:38,219I’m praying for you.37800:23:38,219 –> 00:23:40,839And that surely is every Christian.37900:23:40,839 –> 00:23:43,319We’ve all said to someone who’s in need38000:23:44,239 –> 00:23:45,459or perhaps a loved one in our family,38100:23:45,459 –> 00:23:46,660I’m praying for you,38200:23:46,660 –> 00:23:48,339but here’s the challenge.38300:23:48,339 –> 00:23:51,359How do you keep your prayers fresh38400:23:51,359 –> 00:23:53,579when you’ve been praying for someone for some time,38500:23:53,579 –> 00:23:55,680perhaps even for many years?38600:23:55,680 –> 00:23:56,520I mean, what are you going to do?38700:23:56,520 –> 00:23:59,140You just keep saying God bless them, God bless them,38800:23:59,140 –> 00:24:01,680how do you keep your prayers fresh?38900:24:01,680 –> 00:24:05,420And Nancy Guthrie has done a wonderful job39000:24:05,420 –> 00:24:06,900in putting together a book39100:24:06,900 –> 00:24:09,540that draws deeply from scripture39200:24:09,560 –> 00:24:13,859so that we are given 40 practical suggestions39300:24:13,859 –> 00:24:16,420as to how you can pray for a friend,39400:24:16,420 –> 00:24:17,339a loved one,39500:24:17,339 –> 00:24:20,260or someone who’s going through a really difficult time.39600:24:20,260 –> 00:24:22,339It’s a marvelous resource39700:24:22,339 –> 00:24:25,560and I think folks are going to find it very, very helpful.39800:24:25,560 –> 00:24:28,180Well, we’d love to send you a copy of Nancy Guthrie’s book,39900:24:28,180 –> 00:24:29,719I’m Praying for You,40000:24:29,719 –> 00:24:31,619when you begin a new direct debit40100:24:31,619 –> 00:24:33,000to the work of Open the Bible40200:24:33,000 –> 00:24:35,339of five pounds per month or more40300:24:35,339 –> 00:24:38,199or a one off gift of 60 pounds or more.40400:24:38,199 –> 00:24:40,099You’ll find full terms and conditions40500:24:40,099 –> 00:24:44,640online at our website openthebible.org.uk40600:24:44,640 –> 00:24:47,020And you can also give online.40700:24:47,020 –> 00:24:49,579If you want us to send you this free gift,40800:24:49,579 –> 00:24:51,619please don’t give anonymously40900:24:51,619 –> 00:24:54,199and don’t forget to leave your full name and address41000:24:54,199 –> 00:24:57,079so that we can send you your gift.41100:24:57,079 –> 00:24:59,540For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,41200:24:59,540 –> 00:25:00,699I’m David Pick.41300:25:00,699 –> 00:25:02,060Thanks for being with us today41400:25:02,060 –> 00:25:04,660and I hope you’ll join us again next time.41500:25:04,959 –> 00:25:10,780What does the Apostle say to Jesus?41600:25:11,339 –> 00:25:12,579The Apostle said to Jesus,41700:25:12,579 –> 00:25:14,880Increase our faith.41800:25:14,880 –> 00:25:16,500But if the apostles ask Jesus41900:25:16,500 –> 00:25:17,699to increase their faith42000:25:17,699 –> 00:25:20,380how much more should we do that?42100:25:20,380 –> 00:25:22,500Find out next time on Open the Bible.