Selah List for July 15 2010 - Mustard Seed faith
July 21st, 2010
SELAH LIST
In Mathew 17, we read that Jesus comes down off the mount of transfiguration with Peter, James and John, and was immediately involved in another scenario. There was a waiting multitude, and in particular a man, asking for help for his son, who was controlled by a demonic power. He had asked the disciples to heal him but they had been unable to. Jesus rebukes the demonic power, and the boy is immediately healed.
Privately, later, the disciples ask Jesus why they were unable to drive the demon out. Jesus in verse 20 says this “Because of the littleness of your faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith that is living, like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to yonder place and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” (AMP) In other versions the text might read faith the size of a mustard seed. The Amplified version however takes into account the Aramaic spoken language of the time, and the word living is more appropriate.
Let’s first look at what Jesus meant by “mountain”. This was in fact figurative speech. A mountain at the time of this culture meant either a person or thing which held authority. So in this case, the mountain would not be an actual mountain, but the demonic authority power structure, which held this boy captive.
Why the mustard seed example? The mustard seed was a weed, and was quite frustrating to the farmers at the time. The reason being, that this little seed had a tenacious component, able to grow in any soil. It would even grow in dry, rocky soil, and push stones out of its way to survive. Despite the sometimes harshness of its environment, this seed would persist in growing, and spreading.
Here is a huge lesson, and encouragement for us. As God’s chosen ones, we are sometimes called to have faith even in harsh and non friendly environments. That’s why our faith has to be living. In fact it has to be birthed in us revelationally. I must have faith that is mine, not my parents, or my husband’s. It has to be alive in me. We have to be consistently tenacious with this faith, and not give up when the going gets tough. There are mountains, of authority that must be addressed, and removed. Sometimes they can be humanistic authorities, which come against the word of God, or demonic authorities which keep people bound and in chains. As His representatives on earth, we have the privilege of addressing and bringing down other authorities which have not bowed down to the rule of Jesus. A tenacious stance is a required state of mind in the bringing down, and removal of earthly mountains.
I am so conscious in this season, that there are many stones to be literally kicked out of the way, so that the life of Christ can bloom and grow in us personally, and in the lives of those we find ourselves praying for in these days. May I encourage you to grow in faith, and in the understanding of it. You will move mountains of human and enemy obstacles. My prayer for you this week is that you will have the characteristic of a mustard seed, not only able to thrive in fertile soil, but actually be able to flourish even in harsh and unfertile ground. This mountain WILL be removed!! By His Spirit working in us, and through us.
Think on these things
Blessings on you and your household
Janet.
Entry Filed under: Pastor Janet's Selah List
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