What is faith as a grain of mustard seed?

“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Mt.17:20-1

“That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Mk.11:23

 Many people reading these passages without searching out the meanings and contexts, come away with a super spiritual assessment of themselves puffing themselves up beyond measure. They hold these verses and others as a justification of a sort of ‘Christian incantation’ to get whatever you want from God. They are usually already deceived by the ‘merchandisers of faith’ (2 Pt.2:3, 1 Tim.6:5-10) who profit exceedingly by appealing to the pride and lusts of the simple and unstable telling them that ‘you can have what you say’ without emphasis on the spiritual condition of their hearers (Prv.28:9). These deceivers use sleight and cunning craftiness to deceive the hearts of the simple wresting the scripture only to make shipwreck the faith of some, who change their faith from being directed at God (Mk.11:22) to being directed at their own wicked utterances and dreams. Maybe more on that later, as the Lord will.

 So, what is it about faith that should be like a mustard seed? It isn’t that we should have small faith, the disciples manifested that and solicited a rebuke from the Lord- “O ye of little faith” (Mt.6:30, 8:26, 14:31, 16:8, Lk.12:28). In contrast to this Paul states that faith to move mountains was great faith stating, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” (1 Cor.13:2) It is not the size of the mustard seed but the rate of growth. A mustard seed is the “least of all seeds” when it is sown but becomes the “greatest among herbs” when it is grown (Mt.13:31-2, Mk.4:31-2). The “apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” (Lk.17:5) To which Christ responded “If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.” (v6) A mustard seed “groweth exceedingly” as our faith should (2 Thes.1:3, 2 Cor.10:15, 8:7).

 Well, how does this happen? Jesus proceeded to tell about the “unprofitable servants” who simply do “that which was our duty to do.” (Lk.17:10) Faith is manifested in obedience or works as of a servant who is under authority. Paul spoke of “the obedience of faith” (Rom.16:26, 1:5) as James likewise spoke of “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone”. (Ja.2:17) Hebrews 11 is replete with a great cloud of witnesses speaking to the obedience of faith. If we are serving the Lord by his leading (faith cometh by hearing his word- Rom.10:17) then whatever hinders us but falling under our authority (2 Cor.12:7-10, Acts 19:13-17, 16:16-18; Mt.10:1) can be rebuked and expected to obey. Note the lesson from the centurion whose servant was sick, beseeching Christ for healing (Lk.7:2-10, Mt.8:8-10). “Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” (Lk.7:7-9) An example of these ideas could be Zerubbabel rebuilding the temple after the Babylonian captivity. "This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it." (Zech.4:6-7) No one could have rebuilt the temple that God razed through Nebuchadnezzar until the Lord decided. But when he chose Zerubbabel to rebuild it a mountain in his way would have become a plain.

  Great faith sprang from an understanding of obedience. When under authority to God as Jesus demonstrated to us by doing the work and speaking the words of the Father (Jn.5:17,36, 14:10-12) as a servant (Phil.2:7), then whatever interferes with this purpose of God can be removed and it should obey. Whether the sycamine tree (Lk.17:6) or unclean spirits (Mk.1:27), the winds and the sea (Mt.8:27, Lk.8:25), a fever (Lk.4:39) a mountain (Mt.21:21) or even the sun and moon (Josh.10:11-14), all things given unto your authority as you obey the leading of the Spirit of God (Rom.8:14, Col.4:12) must obey you as you obey God. With God all things are possible (Mt.19:26, Mk.10:27). The other aspect of a seed is that it is greater when grown than what was sown (1 Cor.15:36-8) although it had to be sown (except it die-Jn.12:24). Humbling ourselves unto obedience is death to the self-will. Not my will but thine be done (Lk.22:42), not as I will, but as thou wilt (Mt.26:39). Taking up the cross denying ourselves and following him (Mt.10:38, 16:24,Mk.8:34, Lk.14:27). Let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily (Lk.9:23). But he “that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Mt.23:12, Lk.14:11, 18:14); humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. (1 Pt.5:6) Christ Jesus “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” (Phil.2:5-10). Death precedes resurrection as sowing precedes growing.