Matthew 17:20
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Faith is a very powerful gift from God. Without faith, there is no God, or we will not believe in Him. Believing is an equally important aspect to faith. It is faith in action. Before I go on too much further, let me put it plainly... many will take the verse above and construe it to mean that if we have enough faith, we can do anything. It's almost like saying we can do anything with the right amount of faith. But if we let any doubt or unbelief creep in, then our faith is null and void and we cannot do things.
Some may say that we can cause things to be or exist by merely speaking out their faith in words. This is commonly referred as "word of faith" in charismatic circles. Some have prayed over my wife as she endures severe pain in her amputation. Those who pray will use words like, "I decree and declare healing" or "command healing in Jesus' name" or "I bind Satan in the name of Jesus", etc.
Sadly, when nothing happens, she has been accused of not having enough faith. I have prayed using words of faith like, "Lord, nothing is impossible for You. You could not only heal my wife, but You could make her leg grow by just saying a word. But Your will be done."
I don't know why God has not healed her or delivered her from her misery. I am not God. If He wills it to be or not, that's up to Him. It has nothing to do with faith or a lack of. I know deep down that God will deliver her, if not here, then in heaven, as we all who believe will also be delivered at that appointed time.
It is true that faith the size of a mustard seed can bring about great things. But this must be in the context in the object of our faith, and in complete trust and reliance on God to bring these things about. This kind of faith must also be aligned with the will of God. For He is the one in control - not us. You can have the faith of a ton of mustard seeds, but if that faith is not put in into God's hands, then it is just wishful thinking.
The Centurion Roman solider who went to Jesus, and asked Him to heal his servant who was dying, said to the Lord, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed." Matthew 8:8
This man was not a Christian. He was a pagan. But somehow he knew that Jesus was the only one who could "move this mountain." I believe at this moment, this Roman Centurion believed and was saved by his faith in Jesus, as in his own words proved so.
Jesus' response to the Centurion's words were quite remarkable
v10: When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"
v13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
We alone are not capable of moving mountains by our own volition or will, no matter how much faith we can muster up, or how many times we invoke the name of Jesus. Unless we fully, humbly and willfully direct our belief in the object of our true faith - that is Jesus Christ - those mountains will remain unmovable.
Blessings,
Pastor Tom
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