Matthew 17:20

Matthew 17:20 - 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.”

We have all been given faith. Faith is what allows us to tap into the power of God. It is through faith that we believe and are saved and faith also brings all the promises of God to life for us.

In order for us to get the full benefits of faith we must understand what it is and how it works. Faith is belief. It is believing in something that cannot be seen at the moment. Hebrews 11:1 describes it like this: ‘Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.’

So even though we cannot see it, we still believe beyond a shadow of doubt that it is real and true. Take salvation for instance. We are saved because of what Christ did for us through His death and resurrection, but we weren't there when it happened. How do we know it happened? We believe.

Our faith takes us from being an ordinary person to being a child of the Most High God. It is an amazing thing. So if we can have faith for salvation why can’t we move ‘mountains’ in our lives?

Jesus gives an image of faith as a small seed. If you think about a seed you know that in order for it to be effective it has to grow. I believe it is the same with faith. Much of our life we have been conditioned and taught to only believe what we can see. We've all heard the expression, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”

Now we receive faith. It starts as a small seed and we have to make it grow. We have to use the faith we have been given and act on it. Then we can move the mountains. Faith in God makes the impossible a possibility.

Matthew 13:31-32

Matthew 13:31-32 - He told them another parable: “The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.”

This chapter has Jesus describing the kingdom of God in a variety of different ways. This particular example paints a picture of how easy it is to spread the kingdom. Jesus tells us that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that is planted in the ground.

A mustard seed is not much in itself. It is very small and only becomes useful when you plant it. What I believe Jesus is trying to say here is not that God’s kingdom is very small, but that it doesn't take much to spread it. All you need to do is plant a small seed.

This seed doesn't have to be much, maybe something you say, or possibly something you do. A small action and the seed is planted. Then God makes it grow.

In this picture we see that even though the smallest seed is planted, God grows it into a tree. That is what He will do for you as well. God won’t make something grow that is not there, but once we plant the seed He takes over. He has given us the responsibility to plant the seeds.

When Jesus taught us to pray He told us to pray that God’s ‘kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.’ Well this is how it comes. You are the key.

God wants to bring His kingdom to earth through you and it only takes a small seed at a time. So be an example, throw some seed and trust God to grow it in the lives of those around you.

Luke 13:18-19

Luke 13:18-19 - Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in His garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air came and perched in its branches.”

When we are saved we are taken out of the world and brought into the kingdom of God. It’s easy to say, but what does that mean? Every time someone comes to know Jesus the kingdom spreads a little more. Jesus came, not to conquer the world we live in, but to bring the kingdom of God into it. We see this desire also as He teaches us to pray: “Our Father in heaven, holy is your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” So we are taught to pray that God’s kingdom comes to earth.

Now, in this passage, Jesus is giving us a picture of what that kingdom looks like and how we are to bring it to earth. He says the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. Jesus takes the smallest of seeds as a starting place for the kingdom. He says it starts out small, just a little thought or a word planted in someone’s heart, but it grows into something large. We are instructed to bring His kingdom to earth, but we must understand it is not our job to make it grow. All we must do is throw the seed and then we can watch God work in people’s lives. That is the amazing part, but God cannot work until the seed is planted. He will work and grow the seed, but we must do our part by sharing the message of His grace in our lives..