Mustard Seed Faith
"And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you." Luke 17:6
That's a whole lot of faith...or is it? In fact, it's less about quantity than about quality. Mustard seed faith is pure faith; it is faith that isn't moved by feelings and circumstances. It's the kind of faith Jesus said we would need to forgive, and to ask for forgiveness. We tend to use this scripture for everything but it's godly intent. Faith has a purpose--an eternal one. Faith is about making us ready for eternity; it's the gift God plants in us for the treacherous journey. We don't drum it up, but He gives to "every man the measure of faith" [Romans 12:3] and then "faith worketh by love" [Galatians 5:6]. We have the faith that we need, because He gave it to us; we don't have to get it on our own--or drum it up. The only faith we will ever have in us, God gave us; and how it operates properly in our lives, is by the power of love.
While we tie faith to natural things, Jesus ties it or correlates it to eternal things. People, relationships, and strengthening spiritual character. Even when Jesus heals, it has eternal purpose--that men might see and "believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His Name". [John 20:31] Jesus didn't simply perform miracles to make people feel comfortable. Miracles were performed for those who did not know Him, that "wicked and adulterous generation" who are yet without that they may come to believe and ask "What must I do to be saved?" "Signs" (wonders; miracles) are not for people who are already redeemed (but for a wicked and adulterous generation)--yet, we chase them, with fervor. For those of us who have Christ, we should have grown beyond seeking the super-NATURAL to the spiritual that He reserves for His adopted children; spiritual is better. The world cannot handle the spiritual, only an elevation of the natural--the SUPERnatural. Don't settle for it. Our walk should be about meat, not milk.
Jesus is teaching the disciples about faith in response to their request: "Lord, increase our faith". Jesus had just finished the difficult lesson on forgiveness--from the points of view of both the offended and the offender. He left nothing out. He taught that both have responsibilities. This teaching is not for coward soldiers--not for the weak-kneed, but for the faithful. It takes faith to squelch pride and ask for forgiveness when we have offended others; and it also takes faith to push pride aside when we have been offended (and everything in us wants to hold a grudge or seek revenge) and release and restore fully those who offended us. We have to become even more reliant on that faith when offenders fail to assume responsibility and arrogantly behave as if they have done nothing--or worse as if we have offended them. Often, we have to lean heavily on the faith of God when we ask for forgiveness sincerely and graciously, but it is not received as it ought to be. We have no control over or responsibility for the other individual. We have only the responsibility to seek or extend forgiveness ourselves. We have to create the best atmosphere for it to be reciprocated and/or received by our attitude and countenance, but beyond that we must let God "give the increase" within their heart. Often, it takes time and patience, but it works, if ye have faith....
Jesus continued His teaching on forgiveness with an example of a man plowing in a field who has a servant. Jesus asks some questions: "When the man comes in from the field will he say to the servant come and take your place at my table" or will he instead say, "Get my supper ready and gird yourself and prepare to serve me while I eat and drink; then afterward you may eat and drink"? Is he grateful and does he praise the servant because he did what he was ordered to do? No. Luke 17:10 says, "So likewise you, when you shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." Servants, yes. Duties performed according to the letter, but that is all--that is not special to God. It is unprofitable. All of the things we value and do for the Kingdom will come to naught, if our relationships are not profitable. If their is unforgiveness standing in the way; if we do not have love one to another; if we have respect of persons none of it will matter. All of the great ministries, the awesome preaching, the prophecies--one day they will all cease, the teaching, the singing, the music ministry will end, and then the question will come: "Have you been profitable?" Not one of us wants to hear, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Allow your faith to work for you; let it do the things that God intended--it changes hearts; and, it "worketh by love".
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." [Romans 5:5]
That's a whole lot of faith...or is it? In fact, it's less about quantity than about quality. Mustard seed faith is pure faith; it is faith that isn't moved by feelings and circumstances. It's the kind of faith Jesus said we would need to forgive, and to ask for forgiveness. We tend to use this scripture for everything but it's godly intent. Faith has a purpose--an eternal one. Faith is about making us ready for eternity; it's the gift God plants in us for the treacherous journey. We don't drum it up, but He gives to "every man the measure of faith" [Romans 12:3] and then "faith worketh by love" [Galatians 5:6]. We have the faith that we need, because He gave it to us; we don't have to get it on our own--or drum it up. The only faith we will ever have in us, God gave us; and how it operates properly in our lives, is by the power of love.
While we tie faith to natural things, Jesus ties it or correlates it to eternal things. People, relationships, and strengthening spiritual character. Even when Jesus heals, it has eternal purpose--that men might see and "believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His Name". [John 20:31] Jesus didn't simply perform miracles to make people feel comfortable. Miracles were performed for those who did not know Him, that "wicked and adulterous generation" who are yet without that they may come to believe and ask "What must I do to be saved?" "Signs" (wonders; miracles) are not for people who are already redeemed (but for a wicked and adulterous generation)--yet, we chase them, with fervor. For those of us who have Christ, we should have grown beyond seeking the super-NATURAL to the spiritual that He reserves for His adopted children; spiritual is better. The world cannot handle the spiritual, only an elevation of the natural--the SUPERnatural. Don't settle for it. Our walk should be about meat, not milk.
Jesus is teaching the disciples about faith in response to their request: "Lord, increase our faith". Jesus had just finished the difficult lesson on forgiveness--from the points of view of both the offended and the offender. He left nothing out. He taught that both have responsibilities. This teaching is not for coward soldiers--not for the weak-kneed, but for the faithful. It takes faith to squelch pride and ask for forgiveness when we have offended others; and it also takes faith to push pride aside when we have been offended (and everything in us wants to hold a grudge or seek revenge) and release and restore fully those who offended us. We have to become even more reliant on that faith when offenders fail to assume responsibility and arrogantly behave as if they have done nothing--or worse as if we have offended them. Often, we have to lean heavily on the faith of God when we ask for forgiveness sincerely and graciously, but it is not received as it ought to be. We have no control over or responsibility for the other individual. We have only the responsibility to seek or extend forgiveness ourselves. We have to create the best atmosphere for it to be reciprocated and/or received by our attitude and countenance, but beyond that we must let God "give the increase" within their heart. Often, it takes time and patience, but it works, if ye have faith....
Jesus continued His teaching on forgiveness with an example of a man plowing in a field who has a servant. Jesus asks some questions: "When the man comes in from the field will he say to the servant come and take your place at my table" or will he instead say, "Get my supper ready and gird yourself and prepare to serve me while I eat and drink; then afterward you may eat and drink"? Is he grateful and does he praise the servant because he did what he was ordered to do? No. Luke 17:10 says, "So likewise you, when you shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." Servants, yes. Duties performed according to the letter, but that is all--that is not special to God. It is unprofitable. All of the things we value and do for the Kingdom will come to naught, if our relationships are not profitable. If their is unforgiveness standing in the way; if we do not have love one to another; if we have respect of persons none of it will matter. All of the great ministries, the awesome preaching, the prophecies--one day they will all cease, the teaching, the singing, the music ministry will end, and then the question will come: "Have you been profitable?" Not one of us wants to hear, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Allow your faith to work for you; let it do the things that God intended--it changes hearts; and, it "worketh by love".
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." [Romans 5:5]
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