Mountains Move when you Grow your Faith

Mathew 11:19-20 KJV Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

When the illness came upon him, the boy was in constant danger, often falling into fire or water. His father would do anything to get help for him. When the disciples tried to cure his son, his hopes rose, then fell.

There was one last resort, perhaps Jesus himself could help? Desperate, the man took his son to the mountainside where Jesus was speaking. Throwing himself at Jesus’ feet, “Lord have mercy,” he cried. Jesus rebuked the devil, the sickness in the boy. Now the boy was well. Imagine his Father’s joy.

The disciples wondered. They healed others, but not this boy. Why? Hadn’t they done things the way Jesus taught them?

Jesus explained they lacked faith. This sickness needed to be approached with a time of prayer and fasting beforehand. Without that ingredient, they approached the situation with unbelief. They needed the mustard seed of faith to germinate first.

The disciple’s problem is one many Christians have. We know Jesus heals and want to do miracles in his name, but are not prepared to water the mustard seeds of faith. Full of zeal, we go out in our own strength and wonder why we fail.

The mountains we speak to remain unmoved because we don’t increase the muscle of faith, so it becomes an unconquerable weapon to throw at the enemy. Instead of growing faith, we try to work it up and because this is self-effort, we fail.

Why does Jesus talk of a mustard seed? Because a seed needs watering if to germinate and become a plant. To increase our faith is simple. We must use the recipe in Romans 10:17 KJV “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Where do we hear God best? In a time of prayer and fasting. As we read our Bible and pray, our mustard seed faith grows.

To operate like this means we don’t need to worry about fears or doubts. We know to ignore these and concentrate on growing faith. Faith isn’t something we need to work up, but a result of positive action. As we read, the Bible, fast and pray, we are watering the seed of faith to approach whatever stands before us with confidence, knowing as we speak to the situation it must change. We won’t worry if we cannot see the result yet, because we know, like the boy’s father, as we take the issue to Yeshua, all will be well. Our faith and trust will center in Him alone.