Tag: mustard seed
Understanding the kingdom of God
Scripture reading for February 13: Mark 4
“And He said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of that air can make nests in its shade.” With many such parables He spoke the Word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to His own disciples He explained everything.” Mark 4:30-34
Jesus used parables, stories or illustrations from everyday life, to help His disciples and seekers to understand the kingdom of heaven and God’s rule. The parables spoke of ordinary things like sowing seed, types of soil, weeds, hard soil, birds and growth. To His own disciples, He explained the deeper meaning of these ordinary things. As they opened their hearts, they began to understand unseen spiritual realities and grow in their world view from Jesus’ perspective. Those with hard hearts heard the stories but did not find truth or understanding.
The mustard seed in this parable represented the small and seemingly insignificant beginning of the understanding of God’s kingdom rule in Jesus. Jesus was the ‘Sower’ of Good News and a call to repent and believe. This seemed very insignificant to the world. Jesus explained that although small, the ‘seed’ would grow into a large and substantial tree with many branches. On the branches, the birds of the air would roost and make nests. Earlier, the birds of the air stole the seed that was sown. (Mark 4:4) They represented false teachers and Satan’s emissaries coming to oppose God’s kingdom and His people. Jesus explained the parable and its parts to help His disciples stand firm against spiritual conflict coming to the kingdom.
Have you studies Jesus’ parables and His explanation to better understand the kingdom of God? How does this parable of the mustard seed growing into a large tree with birds roosting help you navigate the church world today?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the parables of Jesus and how You always help Your people to grow in seeing the kingdom of God manifest in our world. Help me to discern the ‘birds of the air’ seeking to distort the simple truth of the Gospel. Deliver us from evil! Yours is the kingdom forever and ever! Amen.
Faith will move mountains
Scripture reading for April 28th: Matthew 17, Psalm 85, Proverbs 23
Matthew 17: 14-21 “And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to Him and kneeling before Him, said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing shall be impossible for you.”
A man with an epileptic son brought him to the disciples for prayer while Jesus was with Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration. They were unable to cast out the spirit. The man returned to find Jesus and again asked for mercy. Jesus was not happy with the disciples failure to have the faith necessary to complete the work. He rebuked the demon and the boy was instantly set free. The disciples came to Jesus afterwards for instruction. Jesus simply told them it was a lack of faith. Even a ‘mustard seed’ of faith has the power to move mountains. Jesus’ desire was that nothing would be impossible for those who believed His Word and walked in relationship with Him. He wanted them to show off God’s mercy that all might know His Father!
Psalm 85:6-7 “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your patience with me and others who follow You but walk in unbelief. I want to please You and walk in faith. Help me to grow in faith. I have only a ‘mustard seed’ of faith. Use it to move mountains and accomplish Your will to heal and deliver those needing freedom and salvation. I thank You and rejoice in You and Your great wisdom and words of knowledge and love.
Proverbs 23:12 “Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.”
Faith like a mustard seed!
Scripture reading for January 23rd: Matthew 17, Psalm 17, Prov. 17
Key Scriptures: Matthew 17:17-20 “And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Jesus’ disciples were not able to heal a boy who had epilepsy. He had demonstrated and taught the disciples how to act in faith. He had given them authority over demonic power and to heal the sick and they had done this on other occasions. But now they lacked faith. He rebuked them directly concerning their “little faith”. He encouraged them that a small amount of faith, like a mustard seed, was all that was needed to do what looked impossible.
Faith’s confession: Lord thank You for putting up with me and my lack of faith. Help me to grow the seed of faith in my heart and enable me to do the works You have prepared for me. I accept Your rebukes.
Proverbs 17:3, 10 “The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.” . . .”A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.”
Guard your heart!
Scripture reading for February 26th: Luke 17
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Luke 17:3-6 “So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea’ and it will obey you.”
Forgiveness is difficult for us. Pride often gets in the way and our desire to get even or to make the person who has wronged us feel our wrath. Jesus warned His disciples to watch themselves for this trap of offence. When He told them that they must forgive “seven times” in a single day if the offender repented, they shouted in exasperation: “Lord, increase our faith!” Jesus simple told them that they had sufficient faith to forgive and to move great mountains if they would only apply it! A very small amount of faith the size of a mustard seed could move a deeply rooted mulberry tree.
Observations for over-comers: As Christ has forgiven us great offence, we must forgive others quickly by faith. All vengeance belongs to God alone. “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
Mountain-moving faith!
Scripture reading for January 25th: Matthew 17
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Matthew 17:18-21 “Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Jesus demonstrated the power of faith to his unbelieving disciples when He cast out the demon from the boy with severe seizures. They had tried, but had failed and Jesus had severely rebuked them, calling them an ‘unbelieving and perverse generation’. When they questioned Him as to why, He clearly told them it was a lack of faith! Jesus was hard on them because He had given them authority to cast out demons when He called them to preach. (Mark 3:14-15) They had failed to use what was given to them to advance the kingdom of heaven and spoil Satan’s hold on the lost and hurting. This walk of faith is essential for over-comers in these last days.
Observation for over-comers: All it takes, according to our Lord Jesus, is faith the size of a mustard seed and we can move mountains! “You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. . .It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.” (Psalm 18:28-29,32)