Tag: God’s Power

Mountain-moving Faith

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HIGHLIGHT

Matthew 17:19–20 (ESV): 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 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.”

EXPLAIN

The disciples had seen Jesus perform many mighty miracles. The disciples themselves had performed many great miracles. But now, they could not cast a demon out of a boy.

The ESV notes that some of the ancient manuscripts insert a verse 21, that caveats such exorcist faith with prayer and fasting. Regardless of the arguments that may be made to keep or remove that verse, we should understand the necessity of prayer and fasting for such mountain-moving faith.

The reason why one can exercise such great faith largely depends on one’s vital communion with the Father.

APPLY

How many mountains do we allow to block our path because we simply don’t believe there is “a way”? How many miracles and blessings do we forfeit because we cannot see, we cannot believe, a better future?

It is truly intimidating to consider a life in which, “nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 5:20), but what if we began to live with that mentality?

Obviously, we must not set out on such a voyage of faith without the anchors of prayer and fasting – submission to the will of God.

But what if we truly believed nothing is impossible for the follower of Jesus?

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, give me a mountain-moving faith? Help me not to doubt, but to truly believe that everything, anything, you set before me is possible through the Spirit’s enabling power. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living with resurrection power

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Isaiah 22-24; John 10-11

HIGHLIGHT

John 11:25–26 (ESV): 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

EXPLAIN

This startling statement by Jesus came in the amazing, peculiar, troubling story of Lazarus’ death. When Lazarus got sick, his sisters sent Jesus word, but Jesus delayed going to him or speaking a word of healing.

Lazarus died and was four days in the tomb when Jesus finally showed up. Martha greeted him, lamenting that Jesus had not been there to heal her brother. Jesus responded, saying that Lazarus would live again. Martha reaffirmed her belief in the coming resurrection. But Jesus made it present tense: I AM the resurrection.

APPLY

This is the startling hope and reality Jesus offers all who put their faith in him. He gives us resurrection power today!

This is the power and life for which Paul counted everything as dross so that he might know Christ.

The question is: do we live in the reality of this resurrection power? Is his life-creating power creating new life in us, or are we still living in the death of our past sinful life? Is his power in us giving life to others, or are we barren fig trees, only full of leaves?

Do we truly believe Jesus to be the resurrection and the life?

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, thank you for your life-creating power in me. Make me ever new and full of life for you and may I give that life to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Missing the point of the miracle

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HIGHLIGHT

Mark 6:51–52 (ESV): 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

EXPLAIN

This chapter details an intense time of Jesus’ ministry. The chapter begins with Jesus being rejected by his hometown Nazareth and not able to do any mighty work there.

Next we find Jesus sending out the Twelve on a short-term mission trip. The story shifts from Jesus to tell of John the Baptist’s beheading by King Herod. Then we rejoin Jesus as the Twelve return from their mission trip.

Jesus desired to go away with them for debriefing and rest, but the crowds saw them and followed them. Jesus had compassion on the people and taught them.

When it grew late, the disciples tried to persuade Jesus to send the crowds away because they were hungry. But Jesus told the disciples to feed the people.

When the disciples despaired for what to do, Jesus performed a miracle, multiplying the loaves and fish of a small boy to feed the entire crowd, as well as leaving behind twelve baskets full of bread and fish.

The people wanted to crown Jesus king, but Jesus sent the disciples across the lake by boat. Jesus then dismissed the crowd and went into the mountain to pray.

In the middle of the night, while the disciples were slowly crossing the water, Jesus came walking by on the surface. They thought he was a ghost, but Jesus reassured them and got into the boat with them. Here we find our highlighted text.

APPLY

The painfully obvious question is, “What did the disciples not understand about the loaves and how did that connect with Jesus’ command of nature?”

The answer appears to be simply that the lesson of the loaves was that the Son of God has absolute power, therefore we need not fear for lack of food or when difficulties abound.

Obviously, that God has all power does not mean He will always choose to intervene in our problems and cause us to experience smooth sailing. But we need not fear, even when we are “making headway painfully” or think we see a “ghost” walking by. God is God, and God is in control.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, thank you for the assurance that you are in control and that you love me and will supply my needs according to your will and your riches in Christ Jesus. Increase my faith in you. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.