Matthew 17:19-21 Ready

Matthew 17:19-21 Ready

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked,  “Why couldn’t we (The Greek “We” is emphatic. Assumes a self-dependance and self-autonomy) drive it out?” (Exorcism. i.e. Where did we go wrong? Was it our formula,, or technique, did we use the wrong words. Was it a lack of leadership since Peter, James, and John weren’t here-(New)  20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if (Conditional statement, if-then, assuming-then, provided-that. Jesus is not talking about the size of their faith, but the quality of of it. Think about it if Jesus is saying you have little faith, Why would He rebuke one moment for having little faith and then go to say if you have faith as small as a grains of a mustard seed. It doesn’t make sense. Therefore He’s talking about quality not quantity)  you have faith as small as a mustard seed, (Was the littlest seed known in that part of the world. The principal of the mustard seed is not that it’s little, but that it starts out little and grows very large-(New) you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. (Not that we can literally move a Mountain, but impossible situations we can’t get by God moves it for us)  Nothing will be impossible for you. 21″ However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. (Added at the end of the story by a scribe due to the fact that it is found in the same account in Luke’s Gospel.) (See Notes below) (For Complete Expository See Book)

Extended Sermons

“Teaches the wisest thing we can do is to take ownership of our failures and go to the Lord as to where we went wrong.” ⇒ The disciples may have failed to drive out the demon, but they did the right thing by coming to Jesus. When you fail in your Christian walk, come to Jesus. Talk it out with Him. Ask Him what’s wrong. Don’t be afraid. For many this can be very uncomfortable. Many don’t like to admit they may be wrong. The reason many keep on failing over and over again simply because they won’t admit where they keep going wrong. They’ll ignore it as best they can. A lot of times they won’t even own they’re failure. It’s always somebody else’s fault. Most people won’t do it because it can be painful to see where you’ve failed. But it’s an important step. Turning a blind eye to our weaknesses and failures is a surefire way to keep yourself from growing. If you want answers in life. If you want to know why you’re failing you have to take to Jesus. That takes a lot of courage and humility to do that, it may require confessing sin.  Go to the Lord, ask where you went wrong, and listen for His answer. Growth waits on the other side of honesty and humility.

“Encourages believers were not alone, even those closest to Jesus struggle in their faith and fail to understand” → When you stumble, when you don’t understand or find yourself failing yet again, remember: you are not alone. Even Jesus’ disciples—struggled to understand, faltered in their faith, and failed in their efforts. Yet, their setbacks were not the end of the story. They were moments of learning, opportunities to turn back to Jesus, to ask hard questions, and to receive gentle correction. Embrace your questions and your honest doubts. Let them draw you closer to the One who answers in ways that fit your deepest needs.

“Teaches it’s not the amount of faith, but the object of your faith. (It’s not how big our faith is but how big our God is)” ⇒ It is not the measure of your faith that matters most, but the steadfastness of the One in whom you place your faith in. Faith is not self-confidence in believing in oneself. Have you ever thought if I just pull up my bootstraps and have enough faith in myself I can get through this. How has that worked out for you? Not too many I bet. Faith is not positive thinking, or a positive attitude (though a positive attitude is better than a negative one). Faith is not wishful thinking or blind belief. Faith is not believing everything will work out in the end. Faith is not an intellectual agreement with religious doctrines. Faith is not a passive acceptance of facts. Faith is not just going along with the crowd. (You’ll never have conviction if you don’t come to your own conclusions.) Faith is not something you can drum up by mental gymnastics and force. Faith is not praying for something hard enough and it will com to pass. Faith is not a power that we tap into or something we harness. Faith is not a formula, just say the right words and God will answer our prayers. Faith is not a thing unto itself. Have you heard people say when going through a hard time ”Just have faith.” Nor do we have faith in faith itself. After all, how much faith is enough faith? How do you know the quality of degree or depth of your faith? Where can you look to find confidence? Not in your faith, but in the object of your faith. Biblical faith is always a Christ centered faith and a gift of God and worked through the Holy Spirit. Faith shouldn’t’ be focused on ourselves and our abilities. It should always be focused on God and His abilities. To paint a better picture imagine a frozen lake in front of you. And two people are going to go across that lake. One is in a big strong box of great faith. The other is in a tiny box of weak faith. Which one is going to make it across the lake and why. It doesn’t really matter because it’s not about size of their box’s, but the thickness of the ice. At the end of the day It’s what your faith is in and on that matters! Another way to think of it is. Imagine one person using Energizer batteries for their radio and another person using Ray-O-Vac batteries for their radio. It doesn’t matter which batteries are best or will last longer because both radios are plugged into a wall outlet anyway. True faith is AC not DC.

“Teaches how we have everything we need io fulfill all that God requires of us no matter how hard it seems.” → Whatever things seem nearly impossible. Whether its loving and praying for our enemy, forgiving those who hurt us, serving others, loving Jesus above all else, taking up our cross, fighting demonic strongholds,  or any other way were called to live. Jesus will give us the power to do it!  !  Nothing that God calls us to do is beyond His capacity (Mat. 19:26, Philp. 4:13)

“Displays how it’s not a lack of God’s power or willingness, but rather about our small-mindedness and misgivings.” ⇒ Often we say we have faith, but the truth is, we just really, really hope that the problem will solve itself……..(To be Continued)

“Even today, when it comes to our own lives and spiritual battles. Are we living more by what God has said, what God has promised, what God has given. Or are we living more by our own resources. In other words are you fighting sin and resisting the devil by faith in Christ in all that He has done all and all that He has promised, or  are you fighting sin and the devil in your own strength?” → To put another way do you believe that Jesus is better than whatever sin and the devil are promising you right now? Is there a sin going on in your heart that you know you don’t need to give into it, but your thinking about it. If that’s you, do you believe that Jesus is better than whatever that sin, whatever the devil is promising you right now. Do you trust that Jesus is worth it in the end. That fighting that sin and resisting the devil today and again tomorrow will we wroth it in the end. That you’ll have a greater reward a greater joy by denying that and fighting that now. That honoring and glorifying Christ is better than that sin of what the devil is offering you.  (2-Corn. 10:13)

“Jesus is not saying that if you have enough faith you can literally move a mountain. Or we can pray for a million dollars and God will deliver  But rather only those things that are according to God’s will and what He wants it will be done.” ⇒ This is an important principle we need to learn. God doesn’t give us whatever we want just because we added enough faith to the equation. That’s what the “Faith Movement” does that is so damaging. It takes God out of a thinking, caring, and Sovereign being. And turns Him into genie in a bottle and vending machine. That if you simply put in enough faith and push the button out comes your prize. When Jesus talks about a mustard size faith that can move a mountain. He is not saying that if we believe just a little bit harder we can tell this Mountain to get out of the way. Have you ever tried that. Because if you had, you’d probably find out it just doesn’t work like that. That it’s why its not about building up all this faith by praying, reading the bible, and going to church. But rather acting on what God has already said. Faith that moves mountains is obeying faith in doing what God says!

More Notes & Applications

Teaches an important lesson that even through our failures the Lord still instructs and guides. If you truly want to learn Jesus will be there to help you.

Displays how we can accomplish great things in times past and yet fail to trust the Lord to do it again.

Calls for a faith that trust that God can do great things in us and through us. Even with limited faith, one can still achieve great things with God’s help.

Teaches how even with limited faith, one can still achieve great things with God’s help.

Teaches instead of looking at the circumstances, look at the greatness of God in the circumstances.

Teaches how faith should always flow out of Christ and what He has done on our behalf.

Teaches how God will take us where we’re at and grow us and strengthen us. If you will only start small God will to big things in your life

Teaches how every believer has potential to do great things for God. You don’t have to be some special person, God can use you just as you are and right where you are.

Calls for the type of faith that even when it meets with obstacles and resistance it keeps preserving in prayer and trusting God.

Note: If you ever get to a place that you think I don’t need to start my day off seeking the Lord in pray. If you ever think there’s a sermon I don’t need to pray about. A conversation I don’t need to pray about. Maybe that’s an indication that your just doing the work out of your flesh.

When Jesus said this “does not go out except by prayer and fasting”. Notice that Jesus didn’t pray or fast before casting out the demon. So He wasn’t referring to am immediate entering into an prayer & fasting. But rather Jesus was referring to a life of prayer and fasting. Where a person is spiritually prepared and ready for any battle that may come their way. It’s a life of prayer and seeking the Lord. That we are ready in season and out of season because we are drawing near to the Lord. Spiritual warfare is real and it’s by drawing near to the Lord and be strengthen in Him. To daily put on the full armor of God. The belt of Truth, the Helmet of Salvation, with the Feet  ready with the Gospel of peace, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Shield of Faith, and the Sword of the Spirit -(Eph. 6:10-18)

Note: Depending on the bible version you are using you may have noticed that verse 21 is omitted by some bible translations (e.g. NIV,  ESV ) While other translations (e.g. KJV, ASV) have verse 21 in brackets. The reason for this is that the earliest and best authentic Greek manuscripts do not have that verse in the book of Matthew. But because it is found in the book of Mark in the same story we know that the saying is authentic. It may have been an addition added later by some bible translations to clarify what Jesus is saying.

HOW TO HAVE THE FAITH OF A MUSTARD SEED

• Stay depending on God’s power & strength, not your own strength.

• Stay trusting & believing in the promises God.

• Stay rooted in the Word by reading & mediating on scripture

• Stay patient and persistent

• Stay growing & nurturing the little faith you have.

• Stay fixed & focused on Jesus

• Stay praying and depending on God for help

• Stay giving and generous