Lord, Increase Our (Radical) Faith!

The 2019 film, Breakthrough, based on a true story of a 14-year old boy who fell through the ice while playing on a frozen lake is one which makes you want to pray, “Lord, increase my radical faith!” The boy was rescued but could not be resuscitated. His mother prayed (with radical, authentic faith) and he received a pulse to the astonishment of the medical staff.

One of our greatest needs today is to exercise radical (far reaching, extreme) faith in God. In Luke 17:5 the disciples requested for Jesus to increase their faith. The following five verses seemed puzzling. Jesus did not provide a clear, concise response directing them how to increase their faith whether by praying, fasting or Bible study. Instead he brought their attention to a parable (earthly story with a heavenly meaning). Jesus communicated if their faith was as small as a mustard seed (a very small seed), even a mulberry tree would obey if they told it to be uprooted and be planted in the sea (verse 6).

The parable continues with the servant who after working in the field returned to his master’s house. What message was Jesus trying to reveal when He asked whether the master should serve the servant or the servant, though exhausted from working, should serve his master? Upon prayerful study of the text, we realize that as unworthy servants of Christ, in order to increase our faith, we must submit completely to the Lord which is our duty.

As we learn to completely trust and surrender to the Lord, we become great examples of faith. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. By [radical] faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By [radical] faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death (verses 4a - 5a). By [radical] faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By [radical] faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going (verses 7a - 8). By [radical] faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter (verse 24). By [radical] faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days (verse 30) [and my prayer is that the Jericho walls in your life may come tumbling down as you put your radical faith in Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy (Jude verse 24)].

Great Bible stalwarts - Martin Luther, Jerome, Huss, and Wycliffe have demonstrated what radical faith in God is even unto their death. (Read more in the book ‘The Great Controversy’ by Ellen G. White which is my favorite book.) Take a look at the people in your church, community, workplace, or anyone you come in contact with who have powerful and inspiring testimonies of radical faith.

You may or may not have read Luke 17 or Hebrews 11 but probably wondering how you can develop or nurture this kind of radical faith or even thinking that you once had this kind of radical faith. Don’t despair, you can start by reading the word of God – our faith is increased as we listen to God’s Words (Romans 10:17). The book of John, with twenty-one chapters, is a good start. Spend quality time in prayer (If you don’t know how to pray, use this simple format: “ACTS” – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplications). Praying develops faith in God. Set aside time to do in-depth study of God’s word, even three hours a week on topics such as Daniel and Revelation. A good place to find studies on these topics is online at Amazing Facts by Doug Bachelor.

Let me share a personal example of radical faith. I remembered going to view this big apartment complex that had many buildings. I specifically prayed to have my home on a specific block and made some other specific requests regarding the new apartment. God granted it all! Every single specific request and more! Don’t let radical faith be an untapped power – when sickness and disease strike, when there’s death, when there are bills piling up, when that relationship crumbles, when your children are on drugs, when there’s trouble at work, when you feel all hope is gone - tap in today!

“When thick clouds of darkness seem to hover over the mind, then is the time to let [radical] faith pierce the darkness and scatter the clouds. I asked the angel why there was no more [radical] faith and power in Israel. He said, "Ye let go of the arm of the Lord too soon. Press your petitions to the throne, and hold on by [radical] faith. The promises are sure. Believe ye receive the things ye ask for, and ye shall have them.” Early Writings – E. G. White.