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, 그렇지 않나요?? You don’t have to do anything. You just let someone pray and lay hands on you, and voilà your faith is increased. 그러나 이것이 성경적인가?? 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 teaches us about faith. But let’s have a look at the fig tree that Jesus cursed. 가장 먼저, many Christians wonder why Jesus cursed the fig tree. 성경은 말한다, that it was not the time (season) to bear figs (표시 11:13). But Jesus did expect fruit, since the leaves were a sign that there should have been fruit. 그렇지만, 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. 그렇지만, 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, 말함으로써, 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.
그 순간, 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, 너는 제거되라, 바다에 던져지라; it shall be done”
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 (또한 읽어보세요: ‘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. 그렇지만, 마태복음에서 17:20, Jesus did talk about the size of faith. 예수께서는 다음과 같이 말씀하셨다.:
If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, 따라서 저쪽으로 제거하십시오.; 그리고 그것은 제거될 것이다; 그리고 너희가 못할 일은 아무것도 없을 것이다 (매튜 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
예수님이 말씀하셨습니다, 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.
그렇게, this is what Jesus said about faith:
- Doubt Not
- Have faith as a grain of mustard seed
Doubt must be cast out. 여러 번, 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. 그러므로, 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, 마치 그렇지 않은 것 (또한 읽어보세요: ‘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. 약속해요, that amazing things will happen in your life!
“세상의 소금이 되어라”
