We all have a measure of faith. We need faith just to believe in God and to have accepted Jesus as our Savior. But our faith must grow. How do we grow our faith? Many misunderstand and even incorrectly teach the parable of the mustard seed. Since the mustard seed is used as an example, we presume based on the size of the seed, if we have the faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move a mountain. However, Jesus rebukes little faith. In fact, little faith can almost equate to unbelieving and can be considered a perverse generation. Why a perverse generation? Little faith will not move mountains nor the mulberry tree to the sea. Not having enough faith will bring doubt, fear, strife, and straying.
But you say the bible says that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed we can move mountains.
Luke 17:6 The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you!
We have many translations and versions of the bible. Unless you spend the time in prayer, no one will receive the revelation to bring forth the mysteries of God's messages and Word. As baby Christians, we read the Word as it is written and from the surface. We have yet to go deep into the Word. It is like swimming. Many are learning to swim but they can only swim on the surface and cannot go deep to explore the beauty of what is beneath. When we read Luke 17:6 from the surface and physical realm, we see the word small and presume small must equate to little faith. But the revelation is not in the size nor the physical. The revelation is always spiritual. If we are only looking at the size, then we are looking at the outside. We are looking at the physical. We are not looking at the spiritual. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus said "like a grain of mustard seed."
Yes, Jesus is saying HE wants us to have faith like a mustard seed. But HE is not referring to the size. HE is referring to the characteristics of the mustard seed. Your little faith will not move mountains, nor conquer giants, nor go through storms. Many say they have faith but yet, many have yet to overcome many things.
Little faith is not enough to overcome fear, doubt, strife, and straying.
Matthew 8: 24-26 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.
Matthew 14:29-31 He said, Come! So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward Jesus. 30 But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me [from death]! 31 Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
Those on the boat had even a smaller faith than little. It was Peter who even had a little more faith to be asked out. He answered the Lord Jesus with his little faith but still ended in the flesh due to his little faith. Peter had doubted Jesus. The strong wind did frightened Peter but he sank because his fear brought doubt to Jesus.
Matthew 16:7 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. 8 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread?
Jeremiah 31:22 (NASB) “How long will you go here and there, O faithless daughter? For the Lord has created a new thing in the earth— A woman will encompass a man.”
What is faith like a grain of mustard seed? The mustard seed can grow in any season in any condition. It can survive diseases and droughts. It is very resilient, persistent, and consistent. Birds may eat it but it is hard to digest and it will come back out in the bird dropping to fall to the ground to grow. It is considered a troublesome seed or plant to farmers. It is a like a weed. It will not die. It will not stop. It continues to come. It continues to grow. It continues to go at it. This is the FAITH Jesus wants. It continues to persevere. It continues to be resilient. It continues to be persistent. It does not want to go away. It wants to plant itself and grow. It is DETERMINED to OBEY and do the Father's Will even obedience unto death if necessary. Jesus wants us to have the faith as resilient as the mustard seed. Such resilient faith will move a mountain to the sea. Little faith will be rebuked and may even betray our Lord.
How do we grow our faith?
Matthew 17:20-21 He said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith [that is, your lack of [h]firmly relying trust]. For truly I say to you, if you have faith [that is living] like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
21 But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.
Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith (that trust and confidence that spring from our belief in God).
How did Jesus answer?
6 And the Lord answered, If you had faith (trust and confidence in God) even [so small] like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, Be pulled up by the roots, and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you.
Answer:
7 Will any man of you who has a servant plowing or tending sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, Come at once and take your place at the table? 8 Will he not instead tell him, Get my supper ready and gird yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; then afterward you yourself shall eat and drink? 9 Is he grateful and does he praise the servant because he did what he was ordered to do? 10 Even so on your part, when you have done everything that was assigned and commanded you, say, We are unworthy servants [possessing no merit, for we have not gone beyond our obligation]; we have [merely] done what was our duty to do.
Jesus had answered through verses 7 to 10. What is the point of those verses? Our faith increases as we serve without expectation. We must serve our churches, our families, our work, our neighbors, our brethren, etc and work quietly and live in peace with humility. As our humility increases, our faith will increase.
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Fire of God Church
See the Youtube sermon on this subject
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXlFy0I-BAg&list=UU8jg8394-b_szvW4SqULp7w
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