Today I want to spend a few moments considering the incredible power of faith. In Matthew 17:20 Jesus said “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” The disciples had unsuccessfully been trying to cast a demon out of a little boy. The father had come to them in desperation for help and they could do nothing. They came to Jesus wondering why they couldn’t help, everyone’s faith was low. Jesus took this opportunity to build their faith.
Faith is something that increases and decreases at different times. If we want to achieve anything for God we at least need some! Jesus saw their lack in that department and went on to say. “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21) As we spend time with God in prayer and fasting our faith rises. As we are soaked in God’s presence and power, we get to the place where just a word can see someone set free from demonic captivity.
The father of the boy had come to Jesus, explaining the demon had been trying to kill his precious son. There are times we can come to Jesus with our faith in tatters because of all the enemy has done to destroy all that is precious to us. It can feel overwhelming when the circumstances of life begin to pile up in a mountain of impossibility. But today I want to encourage you, that like this man, when you bring your situation to Jesus, nothing is impossible.
Now faith in anything or anyone else will not move that mountain. Only faith in Jesus. When Jesus was talking about a mustard seed of faith He was in effect saying, ‘all I need is just little bit of faith in me and my ability.’ This man came to Jesus with just a thread of faith, the tiniest amount, and that was all Jesus needed. Now the disciples weren’t able to get the job done, but when Jesus arrived on the scene, that mustard seed was all He needed to work with.
To us, mountains seem impossible. Mountains loom over us and taunt us, and seem to say ‘this situation will never change’ or ‘I am too big to move, too difficult for God.’ When the Angel of the Lord came Abraham and Sarah the Angel said to them “Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” They had waited so long for God’s promise to the point where Sarah laughed in unbelief. God challenged her faith like Jesus did with His disciples and said in effect, ‘Even if you have a mustard seed of faith, I can do this miracle.’
I want to encourage you even if your faith is in tatters and you feel like you don’t have much to give God, a mustard seed is all God needs! And Jesus said ‘if you say to this mountain.’ There is incredible power that is released when we begin to speak those things that are not as though they are. There is power in our words! In any normal situation a mustard seed is no match for a mountain, but when Jesus comes on the scene, watch out! Watch and see what He can do with your faith! Nothing will be impossible for you. No mountain you face is too great for God to move!
Our faith no matter how small it is, is powerful because it connects us to Jesus’ unlimited power! Our faith doesn’t have to be great, it just has to be pointed in the right direction! There may be times when we need to spend time in prayer and even fasting to get us to a place where we can connect our faith to Jesus to see results, but I want to encourage you today, God can and will the mountains in your life, your faith in Jesus is enough!
Then, there is the power of seed to consider. Our faith is like a seed that grows as we water and nurture it. Jesus was referring to the inherent power resident within the seed. All seed carries great potential for the future given the right conditions. Even the tiniest bit of faith carries tremendous potential because carried within it is the essence of God’s Word.
The Bible says that faith comes by hearing God’s Word. The Word of God is a seed and when it is sown it produces faith. That faith is a seed. Isaiah 55:11 says “So is my Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire, and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” When our faith is based on God’s Word, it is a wonderful seed of incredible potential. When we choose to believe and agree with God, He watches over that Word and that faith and He will move every mountain in the way of it’s fulfillment!
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