Matthew 17:19-20 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. Truly I tell you, 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 can only grow to the extent we are willing to stretch. Stretching it is not pleasant but is absolutely essential.
Spiritual stretching is also not warm and welcoming. It requires stepping out of our comfort-zone however, only in the stretching do we grow strong and brawly. A man brought his demon-possessed son to the healing line but the disciples failed terribly. Later, the disciplines approached Jesus privately to ask Him why they were not able to exercise their authority and heal the boy. Jesus gave them a succinct reply “Because you have so little faith”. They had not stretched, exercised or increased their faith.
To every man a measure of faith is given – probably in the size of the mustard faith. Stretching and exercising the mustard size of faith is like tilling the ground and sowing the seed. God’s Word, prayer and fasting waters the seed of faith and righteous living nurtures the seed. The seed of faith planted in good ground bears fruits and produces thousands of seeds. Similarly, stretching our faith to believe in the impossible and exercising our faith to be healed from dread, depression or disease grows the mustard size faith into great faith. Little faith can neither heal us nor others. Resistance to stretch shrinks faith and renders it ineffective.
Stretching nurtures faith:
- Water: Moisture softens the seed coat and germinates the embryo. Similarly, the Word of God is the water that softens the coat of doubt that shrouds the soul. The entrance of Your words gives light (Psalm 119:30).
- Warmth: Warmth speeds germination, likewise, the anointing is the warmth that nurtures the seed of faith to flourish.
- Wake: A seed is a dormant organism that wakes-up in conducive conditions. Similarly, the seed of faith is awakened when it is watered by the Word and is enlightened by the warmth of the Holy Spirit.
“Stretching nurtures the seed of faith to grow into great faith.”
Prayer: Dear Jesus, soften my soul with your Word, and enlighten my faith with the anointing. Amen.
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