I have been studying in Luke for a while, now, and enjoying every bit of it. I've been reading and re-reading chapters 17 and the beginning of chapter 18 for several days now.

I was struck by the plainness of the disciples request in chapter 17, verse 5, "Lord Increase our faith."  How many times have I asked the very same question, expecting perhaps some spiritual experience, some nebulous holy feeling to come over me in response.

The Lord gave a response that remarked on how little faith was really needed to work wonders in verse 6. A little faith really does go a long way. But his answer on how to get have that  faith is what separates the people of God from the pew warmers.

And will not rather say unto him, "Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?"

Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commended you, say, "We are but unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."

To build faith, we must be aware of a few things.

1. Our posititon in relation to God--servant to Master

This isn't very popular today. It seems negative and almost a put-down to suggest that we are God's servants and He is the Master. We start of craving faith because we believe more faith is exalting--to us. True faith, Jesus teaches, is when we do our duty to the Lord.  By the way, to be His servant we must first be part of His household--and that can only be when we have salvation by grace through faith alone.

And our Master-servant relationship with God is not like those of the world. John 15: 15-17 makes that clear. It is one of love, of common purpose, of thankfulness to the Master for saving us and givin us such important work to do. The duties we have are really privileges.

    2.  Our willingness to serve Him--obedience

The disciples were very willing to have increased faith if Jesus did all the work himself. We are in the field--the world. We are either plowing--preparing the ground for recieving seed [see Matthew 13: 18-23] or we are feeding the cattle, discipling [see Matthew 28:19-20, "making disciples"]. If we aren't about the clear commands of God, then our faith will be weak.

We are also told to "gird ourselves" [verse 8].  Not with our own righteousness, for it is as filthy rags in his sight, but with His. Just a servant wouldn't want to stand before the Master at mealtime with nasty, dusty attire, niether should we want to continue in our filthiness, but be dressed to suit the Lord. [see Ephesians 6].

    3. The result of faith--the proper object of faith

It isn't self-exalting. This kind of faith that Jesus was teaching about was faith that has the proper object--Himself.  Notice how in verse 10 the servant says, "we are unprofitable srvants: we have done that which was our duty to do. "  Did you see the resemblance between this verse and Revelations 4: 10-11?

A servant is pleased to see his or her Master exalted. That explains the funny, happy feeling I get whenever I hear the words, "Saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God."  [Romans 14:11] or the song "We Shall See Jesus."

In studying this, I see how many times my requests for faith have not always been based on my willingness to serve Christ but my readiness for him to serve me. It's not a very flattering self-portrait that has been revealed to me by these studies in Luke. But it's been a very beneficial study so far.