When faith grows roots.
What does it mean to have faith as a mustard seed?
Matthew 17:20 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.
I asked the Lord this question when I was faced with my most significant health challenge yet. Lord, don't I have a mustard seed faith? Because I thought I did. I have seen you do great things through and for me. Why haven't I seen a miracle in this situation? I am sure the disciples asked the same question I did. Up until that point, they were casting out demons. They were not new to this, after all, the Lord Jesus had trained them. They saw Jesus do this kind of miracle many times. Why didn't it work for them?
I needed to understand what makes the mustard seed noteworthy. The illustration Jesus used to describe the faith the disciples needed was not about the seed's size alone, but rather about what it grows into. Jesus needed to draw the disciples' attention to what the tiny seed produces. The mustard seed grows naturally in the native regions of the Middle East, Africa, and India. It thrives in harsh weather conditions and grows into a massive tree over 10 feet tall. As the tree grows, its roots go deeper into the soil, and it spreads far and wide, making it hard to uproot.
What kind of faith is required for greater works?
Faith in God has dimensions. We are all given a measure of faith. However, as we may know, we face experiences that stretch our capacity to carry the glory of God. Prayer alone is not enough. The disciples needed to add fasting to their regimen, as it is necessary for spiritual clarity, discernment, and authority. Fasting heightens our sensitivity—deepens, broadens, and strengthens our faith in God. Faith can be hindered when pride is active. It is God who gives us the ability to cast out devils to demonstrate His power through us. Faith keeps us humble. Faith is an extension of our belief in God's ability, not in human effort. The Spirit of God works miracles through us for His glory.
As I write, I am reminded of the words Jesus spoke: "Don’t call me good." Only the Father is good. In that statement, Jesus demonstrated humility. It is a character we need to continue to mature in faith. Jesus’ love, adoration, and trust in His Father were the forces behind everything He did. Another element of faith is compassion. To cast out devils, we need compassion like Jesus has. In fact, all the fruits of the Spirit work together for faith to work. May we come to a place where love for God and others moves us to operate in higher dimensions.
Faith is not passive. Faith in action grows.
Going back to the text, what made this incident any different? The disciples were unaware they needed greater spiritual fortitude to deal with this kind of demonic possession. The disciples were used to casting out demons. By using the illustration of the mustard seed, Jesus gave the disciples a principle that describes their relationship with God. In that moment, Jesus was teaching them that faith should not be passive. Their faith needed an upgrade. They required greater faith for the miracle-on-demand. The circumstances they would face required deeper roots. The disciples were not yet ready to handle such cases; they needed more spiritual preparation to deal with this kind of demon.
We are all given a measure of faith. It is exciting to use the measure we have been given and see results. Some troubles require greater faith. The disciples faced such a scenario. The demons they were up against were on another level. Like the disciples, we need spiritual preparation to combat bigger oppositions. It requires spiritual discipline by prayer and fasting. We need to develop stronger spiritual muscles, greater wisdom, and deeper dimensions to be trusted with more responsibility and greater works.
Friends, we are no different than the disciples. They lived with Jesus; we have the indwelling of the power of God. While many believe miracles, signs, and wonders are reserved only for apostles and prophets, God says these signs will follow all who believe in Him. The only requirement is faith. As your faith grows, the bigger the mountains you will move. Do not allow the false narrative in these religious streets to cause you to doubt the power of God within you.
Doubt cancels out faith.
Fear and faith can't co-exist. After carefully studying Matthew 17, I came to understand that Jesus never intended for us to be content with mustard-seed faith. Although small faith moves huge problems, faith in God must grow deeper roots. The deeper our faith is rooted, the harder it is for us to rely on our own abilities. Faith misplaced in the hand of the enemy. That was the point I was at when I faced my health issues in 2023. This was a bigger giant or mountain I had to face. It was an opportunity to mature in faith.
The process was not easy. Many people allow fear in their hearts when they hear the word cancer. They begin to think the worst instead of asking, 'How can I serve God through this journey?' God, give me clarity on how to navigate this. It is not a death sentence. Lead me and get the glory from this experience. On my journey, I learned that faith grows in unfamiliar experiences. My mustard seed had to grow deeper roots. I had to trust Go to take me through it. I had to cast down every thought that sought to exceed the knowledge of God. I was in a position to put faith to work.
People are limited. God is not. People will fail. God can not fail. People make promises, and things come up, or they change their minds. God never changes His mind. He is never too busy, and he does not break the covenant. God is dependable. When we trust Him, we know that He will come through for us every single time. We fall short. We abandon ship and slow down the process—faith in God's. I end with this: of desires that we have greater faith. As our faith grows, so does His trust in us to handle bigger assignments.
