This week spoke about the Parable of the Mustard Seed. I am so encouraged to know that faith does not start with me. The Bible tells us in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Too many times we hear on the television or conferences that faith is something we conjure up.
The kingdom of God is expanding! First in the individual and then in the overall Body of Christ. This week we will learn about faith most of all, and that the seed of faith belongs to God alone. We do not have to manufacture the mustard seed of faith but it is rather a gift from our Father.
When we take the faith He started in us, and offer it completely to God He is faithful to make our faith grow. We will jump from the parable to another time when Jesus used the mustard seed as a small lesson in Matthew 17:19-21.
I. The Kingdom of Heaven in each of us starts small, and grows big!
- The Jews never understood the beginning of God’s kingdom this way so this illustration would have been shocking to it’s listeners
- Many comparisons could be made in this fashion
- Jesus, born in a manger, died on the cross, raised to heaven, coming back as King
- The Israelites, before Exodus 1, were small in number and eventually grew into a nation
- The nation of Israel today, born in 1948, is a tiny speck in the middle of hostile nations, will be the center of future worldwide events including the tribulation, the temple, the second coming of Christ, the new heavens and new earth.
- You decide as a child to put your trust in Jesus in CM one Sunday, you walk with God and are being taught, as a teenager you are on fire for God and shine the light of Jesus, as an adult you go into ministry and see thousands repent, then you die only to be with Jesus, people still read your books and hear your sermons.
- The mustard seed regarding the individual is God's planting of faith when you first believed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Allow God to nurture that seed and watch out… growth beyond comprehension!
- The mustard seed in the overall Body of Christ are the people God chose, the nurturing happens by way of God, and the tree represents the growth of not just one but also the growth of many.
- The birds resting in the trees, represent the wisdom, character, and security exemplified by a true believer of Christ. Many will come to you because they see the character of Jesus in you.
II. Your faith is only as large as your obedience to God.
- Read Matthew 17:19-21
- As believers, we should see our doubts as faith that is not submitted to God yet.
- When doubt first creeps in, we should submit it to prayer and if necessary fast.
- Doubt itself is not sin but it becomes sin when we attribute the doubt to the character of God.
- We sin when we transform the doubt to unbelief!
III. Nothing is impossible for God!
- Abraham’s Sacrifice | Joseph’s Imprisonment | Gideon’s Courage | Elijah’s Boldness | Stephen’s Sermon | Paul’s Steadfastness | The demoniac's Father's Unbelief
