Mustard Seed Faith: Matthew 17
In Matthew 17 a man approaches Jesus asking for mercy on his lunatic son.
14 When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.”
17 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once.
At once Jesus healed and delivered the boy, but why couldn't the disciples have healed him?
If we read the next verse the disciples asked Jesus that exact question.
"Why could we not drive it out?" (V:19)
Not only does He tell the disciples, but He also told them in verse 17. You unbelieving. In verse 20 Jesus tells his disciples, And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
21 But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
They had the power to heal, but their doubt kept them from seeing revelation. The size of a mustard seed! If you have ever seen a mustard seed then you know it is not very big. Jesus is telling us that all it takes is to believe and have faith in Him, and that faith comes through Prayer and Fasting. Romans 10: 17 So faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. When we pray and fast we do what? We quiet ourselves, we listen, and we hear the Lord speak, and what? Our faith grows! I read that and I think of the actual size of a mustard seed and it blows me away, because it's not that big. Why is it so hard to believe sometimes? Why is that we question something after God has already revealed it to us? Why can't we just trust Him and believe that He is a good father, and He will do exactly what He says He'll do? In Romans 10:11 Paul quotes Isaiah by reminding us that "whoever believes in HIM will not be disappointed.
I fail at this so much. When God gives me a word I question, not if He spoke it, but I question if I heard Him right. Instead of questioning and doubting He just wants us to trust him.
I know for me this is not always easy because for me, and I think this is accurate for most people; I want to guard my heart from being hurt. Too many times in my life I have seen where I have trusted God and believed in faith in a promise that He said He would do, and I've seen Him fulfill it. This makes me wonder what am I missing when I doubt and try to run away afraid? This makes me think who could God have blessed by my obedience? It is so easy to forget this journey is not about Me! It's about His people. So what if you give a word and the person doesn't receive it? So what if you give and that person blows you off? So what if you misunderstand something? He'll reveal the truth. God is still God through it, and while our faith doubts at times, His never does. I want to challenge you with this! Whatever God has put on your heart to believe for and you're still questioning, trust Him with it! Surrender it back to Him, fall on your face and ask Him for direction, and if he's given you that direction STEP out and do it. Even if you're a little afraid! Your obedience is bigger then your sacrifice. God has something to teach you, and He wants to bless you, so why not walk out on the water and trust him with it?
14 When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.”
17 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once.
At once Jesus healed and delivered the boy, but why couldn't the disciples have healed him?
If we read the next verse the disciples asked Jesus that exact question.
"Why could we not drive it out?" (V:19)
Not only does He tell the disciples, but He also told them in verse 17. You unbelieving. In verse 20 Jesus tells his disciples, And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
21 But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
They had the power to heal, but their doubt kept them from seeing revelation. The size of a mustard seed! If you have ever seen a mustard seed then you know it is not very big. Jesus is telling us that all it takes is to believe and have faith in Him, and that faith comes through Prayer and Fasting. Romans 10: 17 So faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. When we pray and fast we do what? We quiet ourselves, we listen, and we hear the Lord speak, and what? Our faith grows! I read that and I think of the actual size of a mustard seed and it blows me away, because it's not that big. Why is it so hard to believe sometimes? Why is that we question something after God has already revealed it to us? Why can't we just trust Him and believe that He is a good father, and He will do exactly what He says He'll do? In Romans 10:11 Paul quotes Isaiah by reminding us that "whoever believes in HIM will not be disappointed.
I fail at this so much. When God gives me a word I question, not if He spoke it, but I question if I heard Him right. Instead of questioning and doubting He just wants us to trust him.
I know for me this is not always easy because for me, and I think this is accurate for most people; I want to guard my heart from being hurt. Too many times in my life I have seen where I have trusted God and believed in faith in a promise that He said He would do, and I've seen Him fulfill it. This makes me wonder what am I missing when I doubt and try to run away afraid? This makes me think who could God have blessed by my obedience? It is so easy to forget this journey is not about Me! It's about His people. So what if you give a word and the person doesn't receive it? So what if you give and that person blows you off? So what if you misunderstand something? He'll reveal the truth. God is still God through it, and while our faith doubts at times, His never does. I want to challenge you with this! Whatever God has put on your heart to believe for and you're still questioning, trust Him with it! Surrender it back to Him, fall on your face and ask Him for direction, and if he's given you that direction STEP out and do it. Even if you're a little afraid! Your obedience is bigger then your sacrifice. God has something to teach you, and He wants to bless you, so why not walk out on the water and trust him with it?
Comments
Post a Comment