How much faith is enough faith for a miracle?
What is this faith that moves mountains?
Do you have any mountains that you would like moved?
How much faith is enough faith to move mountains?
The father’s respectful approach (14)
“And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying,” Matthew 17:14, NKJV
Until you make your request to God in prayer, you are just part of the crowd that watches other people receive miracles.
Are you willing to step out of the crowd to ask for Jesus’ help?
The father’s suffering son (15)
“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.” Matthew 17:15, NKJV
The disciples’ failed attempt and the falter father’s faith (16)
“So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Matthew 17:16, NKJV
Are you willing to settle for nothing less than Jesus?
“And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.” Mark 6:7, NKJV
“And they cast out many demons, …” Mark 6:13, NKJV
“And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Mark 9:22, NKJV
“… ‘ If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’” Mark 9:23, NKJV
“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’” Mark 9:24, NKJV
“… God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Romans 12:3, NKJV
How do we grow from struggling faith to faith that God responds to?
“And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’” Luke 17:5, NKJV
We grow our faith by praying that God will increase our faith.
We grow our faith by studying God’s Word.
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17, NKJV
Rebuke for faithlessness
“… ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.’” Matthew 17:17, NKJV
“And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.” Matthew 17:18, NKJV
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7, NKJV
Solution for the mountain
“Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’” Matthew 17:19, NKJV
“He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith. …’” Matthew 17:20, NRSV
“So He said to them, ‘This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.’” Mark 9:29, NKJV
How is unbelief solved by fasting?
“As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said , …” Acts 13:2, NKJV
“2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, …” Daniel 10:2–3, NKJV
“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, …” John 16:8, NKJV
“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;” Psalm 66:18, NIV
“The Lord … hears the prayer of the righteous.” Proverbs 15:29, NKJV
1. We fast for clarity.
2. We have clarity to hear the Holy Spirit’s conviction.
3. We have conviction to be aware of cherished sins of which to repent.
4. Our repentance from cherished sin removes all barriers to answered prayer.
5. We are forgiven because of Christ’s righteousness.
6. Christ’s righteousness causes our prayer to be heard.
7. We believe that God hears our prayer and that He answers prayer according to His will.
“… for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20, NKJV
The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament σίναπι
A particularly big faith is not needed; the largest promise applies even to the smallest faith.
Do you believe in evangelistic series that has fruitful baptisms?
Do you believe that evangelism is dead, when we are commanded to ensure that the everlasting gospel must be preached to the whole world (Mat 24:14)?
Do you believe that some of the people you invited to the series will come?
Do you believe that advertising with giant postcards and social media is a complete waste of time?
Do you believe that the series attendance will surprise us?
This afternoon as we pray and fast by eating healthy food. Will you take this prayer card and pray for the names God puts on your heart? Will you pray for these names with a faith that moves mountains?