Many Christians pray for more faith. Whenever there is a call in church to get more faith, many Christians go immediately to the front of the church and let others pray and lay hands on them to get more faith. This is a very easy way to get faith, isn’t it? You don’t have to do anything. You just let someone pray and lay hands on you, and voilà your faith is increased. But is this Biblical? Did Jesus or His disciples increase the faith of others through prayer and the laying on of hands? What did Jesus say about faith? And what did Jesus mean by faith as a grain of mustard seed in Matthew 17:20? What does faith as a grain of mustard seed mean?
Jesus cursed the fig tree
There are a lot of examples in the Bible, that teach us about faith. But let’s have a look at the fig tree that Jesus cursed. First of all, many Christians wonder why Jesus cursed the fig tree. The Bible says, that it was not the time (season) to bear figs (Mark 11:13). But Jesus did expect fruit, since the leaves were a sign that there should have been fruit. However, Jesus found no fruit but only leaves.
The purpose of the fig tree was to bear fruit, that was God’s commandment for the fig tree. However, Jesus saw that the fig tree was disobedient to God’s commandment, because the fig tree had not produced the fruit, which the fig tree had to produce.
Therefore Jesus cursed the fig tree, by saying, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever.
Jesus spoke to the fig tree and His words came to pass, because the fig tree withered away.
The disciples were amazed that by the words Jesus spoke, the fig tree obeyed and died. They just could not believe it.
At that moment, Jesus said something very important, If you have faith, and doubt not, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if you shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done”
What is the secret to faith?
What is the secret to faith? The secret to faith is to doubt not. Just like we read in the story of Peter, when Peter stepped out of the boat and walked in faith upon the water. If we don’t doubt and speak according to the will of God, things will come to pass (Read also: ‘Step out of the boat and keep walking by faith!’)
How big must your faith be?
In the story of the fig tree, Jesus did not say anything about the size of faith. However, in Matthew 17:20, Jesus did talk about the size of faith. Jesus said the following:
If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you (Matthew 17:20)
In this verse, we read the same thing about moving mountains. Only this time, Jesus didn’t speak about doubt, which will destroy faith, but Jesus spoke about the size of faith, namely faith as a grain of mustard seed.
In this event, when Jesus healed a child, whom His disciples couldn’t heal, Jesus told his disciples that they only needed faith as a grain of mustard seed (which is a very small seed).
If they would have faith as a grain of mustard seed and they would say to the mountain to be removed hence to yonder place, then the mountain would obey and would go wherever they would tell it to go.
Doubt not and have faith as a grain of mustard seed
Jesus said, that if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, nothing shall be impossible for you! Isn’t that encouraging? Just the smallest bit of faith will do the job. You don’t need big faith, just small pure faith without any doubt.
So, this is what Jesus said about faith:
- Doubt Not
- Have faith as a grain of mustard seed
Doubt must be cast out. Many times, we reason too much. Why do we reason too much? Because we live more in the natural realm and walk by our senses after the flesh, than in the spiritual and walk after the Word and the Spirit. Therefore, we live by what we see (what our senses tell us), and believe the things we see, instead of living by the Word of God and calling those things, which are not as though they were (Read also: ‘First see, then believe or first believe and then see?‘)
Therefore stop reasoning and only believe!
Take that little bit of faith you have and begin to speak according to the will of God. I promise you, that amazing things will happen in your life!
“Be the salt of the earth”
