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Measure of our Faith God has a measure with which our individual faith is measured and sized. This system is unlike any other in that it is unique and simple. By this measure every Christian is expect to weigh up and to decide if their faith really stands to the required standard. Mathew 17:14-22 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him." 14

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"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. 17

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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."[a] 20

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Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting

When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life." And the disciples were filled with grief. 22

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We see here a scenario where Jesus’ disciples were faced with a new situation. Something they’d never faced before in their ministry; and something they never thought was possible; most importantly as they had Jesus in the flesh with them. The situation presented itself through a man and his epileptic son who: 1. Suffered great seizures 2. Falls into fire often 3. Falls into water often The father of the boy explained these dreadful demonic activities to Jesus’ disciples. Yes the disciples were all pumped and ready to pray until something unexpected happened. I can assure you that Jesus’ disciples have been praying and laying hands on others and they were all being healed instantaneously. But this case was about to open a totally different opportunity for them; the opportunity for them to prove the worth of their faith. But we know from verse 14, that they were unable to heal him, for this reason the boys father decided it was time to take his son to the master. The big question now is: Why could they not heal the boy of the epileptic seizures? I think we need to build up a scenario before attempting to answer the question. We do not know the age of the boy in question but from all indication this boy is definitely above 3 years of age and possibly a bit more than that. He had all the marks from previous attacks of the seizures. Fire marks, attempted drowning marks and possible other injuries.

These evidence were what the boys father showed Christ’ disciple and they were unbelievably fresh and gross. In life, how often do we meet situations we think we know how to deal with only to discover that the seemed situation is only a disguise for something that looks much bigger to us? Now we may have to cultivate a different level of understanding to be able to handle this new situation. Jesus disciple were about to face such, they have seen the evidence of the past seizures and they also know and have seen the evidence of their prayer. So they laid hands and started to pray for the boy but just in the middle of that prayer, the boy went into a terrible epileptic fit. This was the devils means of distraction and they fell for it as fear and confusion overtook them. Now fear is a devils means of keeping believers away from reaching their potentials. Without fear, we are able to takes risks which can then be rewarded by God. Jesus disciples were over taken by fear, though they prayed but nothing happened. I can just about imagine the reaction from the boy’s father. I think he must have been terribly upset and possibly angry with them. If we look again at the tone with which he presented his sons case to Jesus, we see that he was terribly unhappy with the performance of hi disciples. It is worth knowing also that this man had heard about the healings, he probably knew some people that had been healed. So this was unthinkable that his son wasn’t going to be healed. I bet he wondered for a minute how genuine these disciples were. In that annoyance, he took his son straight Jesus. He needed to sort things out at the highest level. Then there came another problem, there were multitudes about Jesus; that didn’t deter him, he had a mission and that mission had to be accomplished. In life, we must make a point of duty to focus on our targets; as we have read of the father in this passage. We would meet distractions, multitudes and many more but like we have seen, we must get to the level where our target is the most important. Not selfishness, no but allocating first class priority to our purpose. We see that the multitude didn’t matter to him, he just had to reach Jesus and that was what he did. We know he had to shove and push his way through the crowd, but he got there. Sometimes, we may have to do the same; push and shove our ways through the crowd till we reach our target. Jesus’ response: "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. 17

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Wow! What a way to respond to his chosen disciples? One can only assume that Jesus was terribly disappointed and angry with his disciples. This could only be if he has been teaching them how to handle such a situation as that. He had the right to be disappointed in them. It’s amazing amongst the 12 none knew how to handle such situation. He had expectations of them. Whatever we do, we must make sure that we are not just following the crowd. It is our duty to educate and to increase our knowledge base most importantly in the word of God but also in our jobs or whatever we find ourselves doing. Jesus disciples depended on what they had been taught. Yes, they were well taught but the teacher can only do so much. By the way

Jesus responded to the complaint of the man, we see that he had a definite expectation from them. That expectation was the same as the man had. It was that his son would be healed instantly. We must have expectation in other to be able to live victoriously. These expectations help us to push forward. They are like boosters pushing and making us result orientated. Once we focus on our expected result as assigned by scriptures, then we can do whatever it takes to achieve it. How can Jesus say his disciples lived in unbelief? One thing I’m sure about, he was terribly angry with their performance. He didn’t waste time to condemn their actions and their inability to cast out a simple demon as he had taught them. This was the least expectation he had from them but here they were seemingly unable to meet up. We must understand that the church or the word of God is not a place for playing. Church is a serious business and we must endeavour to treat it as so. Our duty is to keep making constant effort in our teachings to pass this message across and to impress upon the hearts of others this importance. God has expectations of us and he would not be happy if we failed to meet the least of his expectations; especially if we have been taught on how to meet these standards. Then again, we must take caution and correct ourselves or those who seem not to be meeting up with this standard God has set for us. Quick caution and correction bring about quick repentance. Jesus did not try to hide the gravity of their offence with some wisdom. Likewise, we have to make sure that we spell out through the scripture to those in error and the gravity of their mistakes. If I’m to say, I would equate unbelief to idolatry just to show the intensity Jesus felt towards such failure in standards. God’s standard is constant and continuous. Then Jesus went ahead to rebuke the devil who left the boy straight away and the boy was healed. Jesus had to fulfil the expectations he had of his disciples. I think Jesus raised his voice in anger at the situation and the demon left the boy. Now this is the proof that his disciples were taught properly. He had to do it to prove it. The only proof we have of our faith is our ability to show that it really works for us. Until people can see our faith work, they may not be able to believe we are capable of working signs with it. We must therefore, always prove our faith not by pride but by works. We now come to the actual measure of our faith in verses 19 – 21. 19

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."[a] 20

They ask why they couldn’t cast out the devil troubling the boy and Jesus began to explain. By calling them of little faith, he was actually saying that their faith was less than the required level. If their faith is little then there must be a minimum level of faith required of them. Further he explains; 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."[. From this we see the benchmark measurement for faith. That measurement is a mustard seed. But his disciple faiths were smaller than one mustard seed. When we understand the actual size of a mustard see then we would fully understand the intensity of what Jesus was saying.

A mustard see could be a third of a grain of rice, about 3mm in diameter; hardly a noticeable measure. This brings up another important question; if Jesus mentioned that they did not have the required measure faith which according to him is the size of a mustard seed, what size of faith then did they have? We may not know the size of faith they had but we know that their faith wasn’t sizable enough to get the work done. Here we learn that the size of faith is, as small as a mustard seed. Not as big. This can only be because faith does not get any bigger than that. The small mustard seed size faith when applied to useful work would move a mountain according our command. This is the actual true measure of our faith. In other to understand fully how this applies, we’d have to explore this further.

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."[. With the faith of a mustard see, we can ask a mountain to move. It is not just enough to have the faith of a mustard seed. If we have it and failed to put it to useful work then it will turn out to be below the required standard or measure. This same faith size when applied correctly makes a mountain to move according to our commands. The surprise here’s that Jesus used a mountain as an example. What is a mountain? The Oxford English dictionary defines a mountain in 3 basic ways: 1. A mass of land rising abruptly and to a large height from the surrounding level 2. A large pile or quantity 3. A surplus stock of a commodity. By the above definitions, we see that mountains are the tallest pick on earth. A mountain is a mountain irrespective of the height, width or volume. Once it has reached the required height then it is a mountain. Jesus refers to what the faith small as a mustard seed can achieve. This faith is the faith that moves mountain. These mountains equate to any situations we might face. There is no situation that could be taller wider or more voluminous than a mountain. So, if we have a mountain of a situation, then the measure of faith to move it is as small as a mustard seed. I have heard so many people talk about mountain moving faith, all gearing towards some gigantic or some immeasurably huge amounts of faith. But from the scripture above, we see it all differently. The faith for moving mountain’s the size of a mustard seed. If mustard seed size faith move Mountain, then what size of faith move hills? There’s only on measure or size for our faith, that same size is what we need for every situation in our lives. Be it a seemed big situation or a small situation, it’s the same size of faith. This size of faith works for every situation. As controversial as this might sound, we must understand that there’s nothing like big or small faith as far as the bible is concerned. There is nothing like a mountain moving faith. We all have faith the size of a mustard seed. Once we believe and we have a relationship with Christ we have it. The only difference is our ability and boldness to put our mustard seed faith to useful work. In Christianity, there’s nothing like little or small faith, it’s either there or not. Any faith smaller than the size of a mustard seed is a not faith; it is not capable of moving mountains. So God measures our faith by the size of a mustard seed. This is to make it simple for us to acquire. One can only imagine if faith was any much bigger than a mustard seed what it’d take to grow such a faith. Jesus disciples had little faith, which, was no faith. I believe he used the term little faith only as a means to limit the damage to their morale. With faith the size of a mustard seed moving mountains, then nothing indeed can be impossible for that faith. Then Jesus continues with the final explanation in verse 21; 21

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting; having a mustard seed sized faith is not enough for the Christian who really want to get the mountains moving. In our lives we meet different situations daily, some familiar while others totally new to us. Jesus disciples met a new situation and the failed to deal with it effectively. God expect us to be able to deal with any situation no matter what they are. This is the same expectation he had of his disciples. It has never changed. Jesus disciple failed to cast the devil out because their faith failed them; it failed because they were dependent on the overflow of anointing from Jesus. This overflow unfortunately had a limitation. This limitation is what he talks about here. They all were not spending time in the presence of God to build themselves

up. I think we should bear in mind that Jesus defended his disciple for not fasting in Luke 5:33-35, but here he seem to accuse them of not fasting praying. Luke 5:33-35 33

And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? 34

And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 35

But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. Reading this seems to contradict Jesus explanation to his teachings; this not going out but by fasting and praying. Suggestively, he seems to be accusing them on the same thing he defended them boldly on. If this be the case, then there is a big confusion here. But if we take a look at Isaiah 58 then we would understand exactly what he was talking about. Isaiah 58:55

Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? 6

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward. Jesus was talking about fasting in terms of a way of life. Not the giving up of food or pleasure but the actual life we live as Christians. When we analyse Isaiah 58, we see this. God has designed that our lives be an example to others through his words. We are to live daily according to the word of God. The disciples of Jesus lived dependent on Jesus as babies but not according to his word. There were not living wild lives but they were not bettering themselves at the rate he was expecting them. The prayer and fasting he talks about here deals with our ability to better ourselves in the word of God; ability to study to show ourselves approved, and to receive revelation with insight into situation through his word. This was what the disciple of Jesus lacked; they lost focus and fear overcame them because of new situation. They were not well equipped with the revelation and insight to deal with what seems a new situation to them. The same goes for us, God’s expectation is that we’d continually grow by understanding of his word; receive revelation and insight as we study diligently his words. So, once we cultivate the required size of faith then we have a duty and an expectation from God to put that faith to useful work. We are also expected to constantly keep ourselves energized by the word; being ready at all times to deal with any given situation. Our faiths are not sized or measured by our size: they are not measure by our experience neither are they judged by our title. What matters most is that we have the mustard seed sized faith, and that we continue to grow through the word of God.

God Bless Yours in Christ

Pastor D. Jeffreys