David Diga Hernandez - How to Increase Your Faith: 7 Keys

So the first key to increasing your faith: number one, endure trials. James chapter 1, verses 2 through 4, says this: «Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.» First Peter chapter 1, verses 6 through 7, says, «In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.» When your faith is tested, it is refined. Trials produce faith; trials increase faith because when you are going through a trial, God is processing you and removing impurities. When a refiner is purifying gold with fire, that refiner knows that the gold has been purified when he can see his reflection in the gold. When you go through trials and when your faith is tested, God causes His reflection to be seen in you. As you face trouble, as you face difficulty, as you face circumstances that cause you to say, «Lord, I don’t know how you’re going to get me out of this,» it is then that your faith is truly put to the test. It is then that you are purified and refined; impurities are removed from you, and as those impurities are removed, your Christ-like character begins to manifest. Truly, trials will increase your faith.

Number two: receive the word. Romans 10:17 says, «So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.» Now in context, this scripture is talking about salvation. In fact, when people heard the message of salvation, their faith was stirred to receive the message of salvation. But this biblical principle can actually apply across the board. The word produces faith for what it promises. When you hear the words of salvation, it produces faith for salvation. When you hear words of healing, it produces faith for healing. When you hear words of deliverance, it produces faith for deliverance. The word produces faith for what it promises. Faith resides in your spirit, and your spirit is strengthened by the word. The word is the spiritual sustenance for your soul, and when you receive the word, you begin to think like God thinks. You begin to know what God desires; you begin to see what God likes and dislikes, and becoming familiar with His nature helps to manifest the union that you have in the spirit. By receiving the word, you grow your spirit, and by growing your spirit, you increase your faith. When you only put just the news, when you only listen to secular podcasts, when you only watch television programs, it affects your soul—most often in a negative way. But when you put the word of God in your mind, when you receive the word of God in your heart, faith is produced. If you want to increase your faith, begin to decrease the intake of the secular and increase the intake of the word.

Number three: pray in tongues. First Corinthians chapter 14, verse 4 says, «A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.» First Corinthians 14:4 tells us that the one who prays in tongues is strengthened in their spirit, strengthened personally. The gift of tongues strengthens the spirit man, and as you begin to make a practice of using that heavenly gift on a daily basis, you will begin to see results; you will begin to see transformation. When you pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit is praying for you and through you. When you pray in tongues, you are speaking aloud those prayers that the Holy Spirit groans in the realm of the spirit. When you pray in tongues, you are coming into agreement with God, and in coming into agreement with God, your faith is increased. I challenge you to pray in tongues if you don’t already, for at least 15 minutes a day. If you make a practice of this gift, if you begin to use it more often, you will begin to see a transformation in your nature. You will see that depression begins to turn to joy, that chaos inwardly begins to turn to peace, and that negativity begins to turn to faith. Practice praying in tongues on a daily basis, and you will see your faith increase.

Number four: this is an important one. Well, they’re all important, but this one seems to be lacking in our generation more so than the others. Number four: fellowship with the faith-filled. Jude chapter 1, verses 20-22 says, «But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith; pray in the power of the Holy Spirit and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love, and you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.» Now this is powerful because the scripture very clearly teaches that we must build each other up in the most holy faith. How can we build each other up in the most holy faith if we’re never connecting? When you fellowship with spirit-filled believers who themselves have a relationship with the Lord, who themselves walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, who themselves surrender to the commands of God, then you too will begin to see your faith increase. When you spend time with those who walk by faith, you are inspired to walk by faith; you hear conversations of God’s faithfulness…