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I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move. Nothing would be impossible (Matthew 17:20, NLT).
Jesus found his disciples unable to cast out a demon from a young boy. Jesus rebuked the demon, and it left. Later his disciples asked why they couldn’t cast out the demon.
Answering this question, Jesus said that they didn’t have enough faith.
If you had faith as small as a mustard seed, you could move this mountain.
There’s been many sermons and discussions on mustard-seed faith and most conclude it’s minimal. It’s not our faith but what we place faith in!
How many of us believe we can move mountains with our faith? Mustard-seed faith continues to be taught but seldom lived. We don’t need Superman-sized muscles of faith, just a small amount of belief in an almighty God.
And realizing the mountain range of insurmountable problems in which we walk, how do we grow in this faith? Let’s consider three points that Jesus taught.
First, Jesus did only what He saw the Father doing!
Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does” (John 5:19).
Perhaps the greatest impediment to mustard-seed faith is “doing our thing” instead of doing the “Father’s thing!” Jesus perfectly knew what the Father was doing and always had His prayers answered.
The Apostles in the Book of Acts also developed “Father’s eyesight” as all their requests in Acts were answered. Yes, we’re not perfect like Jesus, but we can follow the example of irascible fishermen who learned from Jesus.
Second, walk the narrow path.
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many (Matthew 7:13, ESV).
God’s will is a narrow path. While walking on it, when a seemingly too deep chasm or insurmountable granite wall obscures our way—ask confidently. However, on the broad road of self, we can only jump or climb on our own strength.
The size of our faith is determined by our specific prayers.
Jesus prayed for sick people to be healed, loaves and fish to multiply, and Lazarus to arise. I admit to shaky faith in the shadow of these requests. Please, Jesus, increase my faith.
Third, submit to the rebuke of Jesus.
Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you?” (Matthew 17:17, NLT)
Was Jesus losing patience, or was He righteously speaking truth in love?
Our faith grows from one mustard-seed moment of faith to another mustard-seed moment. Jesus rebuked the disciples because, after seeing Him perform miracles, they still doubted.
Let’s allow Jesus to rebuke the ways, thoughts, attitudes, and actions of our disbelief.
That’s it: see what the Father is doing on His narrow path, receive His correction, and walk confidently in mustard-seed faith.