February 22, 2009

Matthew 17:20

Mustard Seed Faith

Matthew

"You didn't have enough faith." Jesus told them.  "I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move.  Nothing would be impossible." 

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Thoughts...

Faith...mustard seeds....what does one have to do with the other?  In this reference (Matthew 17:14-20), Jesus is talking to his disciples and is rather upset with them it appears.  He is upset with them because their belief in him, or his way of doing things, or themselves was not strong enough to believe...have faith...that they had power by the Holy Spirit to rebuke a demon out of an ill child creating wellness.

Many times in life we lack faith...belief...in ourselves...in our God...in others.  We don't trust that we can do something, or that our God will do for us, or that others will not fail.  Intrinsically I wonder what am I doing or not doing for God when something doesn't go 'my way'.  And then I realize he may not be doing for me because he may be showing me what me not doing for him causes him to feel.  I don't truly think God is a 'tit for tat' person.  But I do think he is a Father in the true sense of the word teaching us lessons daily.  In that, I believe he may just be showing me what my lack of faith causes and makes him feel like, so that I understand more of the lesson in not receiving him and in not upholding my belief in and faith in him. 

Jesus tells us we can move mountains!  There is a phrase that goes 'Jesus said it, I believe it, and that's that!"  That is how it should be.  That is perhaps a child like faith statement, but our spiritual side lives in our inner child and sometimes we have to go there...inside our vulnerable place within...to accept and believe and receive.  It's so simple...and yet so difficult some days.  We hear the Doctor's reports, we see our body and know what it is doing, the world at large seems to be falling apart economically and we are crashing in the midst of it, and others around us are suffering in a myriad of ways.  And still others just go along happy go lucky no matter what their state and we wonder how they can be so upbeat.  Are they financially sound, are they just delusional, or in denial?  Why are they so happy and we aren't?  Could it be their faith that sustains them?  Are they always that happy or just for the world to see?  Do they believe in the same God I do?  Does it really matter?  

It should matter.  And  how we respond to God, Jesus and Holy Spirit should matter.  It should not matter how other's respond except how if affects us directly.  Which is the world, is it not?  The whole world should be in his hands, as the song of old implies.  Like the stone thrown from the river bank and the ripple effects it causes, every breath we take affects the world, as does their breath...and their actions affect us.  I perhaps should have titled the 'affect vs effect'.  

So what is faith?  It is believing in God, Jesus, Holy Spirit...who can...and wants to....chooses embracingly to...love us, and give to us, and live in us for us.  And receive from us our belief that he lives, can live in us, and that he died for us, but lives on.  He also wants to receive our love, our trust in him...our faith that he will do what he says he will.  Whether we ask or not...he is there.  Faith is believing he IS there and will be there always.  Faith is believing that we can do all things through him....not by ourselves, but through him who lives in us.  

So, in our bodies which are sick, we can believe God who tells us we can rebuke Satan and obtain wellness.   We can make wiser choices for our bodies and our lives.  We can pray and believe that what we ask for, if it is in our best interest and his perfect will, we will receive by his grace.  Do we have to do anything to receive his grace....his gift.  Most fundamentalists would say no.  I say yes.  We have to, we must, we are called to believe...and love him.  And because we want to be children of his, we must obey what he calls us to do beyond loving him fully.  And in loving him fully and being grateful, don't we then want to show the enormity of our gratitude and do things for him?   Like tell others about him and the love he has for them, too?  Aren't we called to love others in his name?  Aren't we commanded, based on this scripture, to stand up to Satan and rebuke him in others, as we are our own life?  

We must be mountain movers.  We may not see the way, the truth, but we must search for the light...of Jesus and follow.   We must search for the way and the truth.  For in searching we will find.  In Luke 11:9-13 Jesus tells us "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for.  Keep on looking, and you will find.  Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.  For everyone who asks, receives.  Everyone who seeks, finds.  And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.  You fathers-if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead?  Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion?  Of course not!  If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"  Start by asking for faith, folks, if you don't believe.  And pray for others to have faith, if they don't believe.  Because once you have faith...in the Trinity...who is God, Jesus and Holy Spirit...you can move mountains.

Even mustard seed faith.  When I was a very little girl, my Great Aunt gave me a necklace with a mustard seed in it.  It was very tiny, but I knew nothing about the size of seeds.  She told me about having faith the size of this mustard seed.  All my life I clung to that faith.  Until it was stolen, I kept that necklace close.  I kept the thought closer.  I kept my Lord even closer.  I've been very grateful for the seeds of faith planted in my heart by my Great Aunt, my Godparents and my own Parents.  I've been grateful for the refreshment of water along the way in the words of the Bible, those given by heartfelt Ministers, Priests and Pastors, and those in their faith walk along the way.  I"ve been grateful most of all for my Lord and Savior being there for me and doing all he and God and Holy Spirit and Mary and all the rest of those who have prayed for me from heaven and on earth.  Yes, from heaven.  Some days it takes more than an act of Congress to see me through I think.  And I am grateful for the love of my pets that have kept me earthbound, for surely, without them to receive my love, I would have been lost.

Faith....I have a strong faith.  God has gotten me through a lot in life and I am here to tell you my Lord can do the same for you.  I hope you will realize you are not alone.  That there is someone very special wanting to take you by the hand and faith walk with you.  His name is Jesus, and, if you accept him, he will never leave you.  It will be his hope you will never leave him.  Ask him into your life today and you, too, will be able to move mountains.          

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Let Us Pray

God, Jesus, and Holy Spirt, please come into my life today, hold my hand and increase my faith.  These mountains are huge.  I am not secure that I can climb them...even looking up at them scares me.  I don't want to fear.  I want to trust in you.  I know that if you are in me, I can be stronger.  And I won't be alone.  Alone has been scary for me.  No one to rely on, turn to, or lean on.  But I can lean on, turn to and rely on you.  You can make all things okay for me and keep me safe.  You can help me rise from ashes like a Phoenix.  You can take me to new heights like the Eagle.  You will carry me, as I soar on the wings of the dove...Holy Spirit.  I believe you are all that I am learning you are as a Savior.  Save me now.  Give me a new life in you.  Heal me, Lord.  Let your waters of cleansing and your oils of healing flow over me.  Make me new from head to toe.  I want to live, but more importantly I want to live with you and have you fully in my life.  Be with me as I now say, "I rebuke you Satan and your assigns.  You cannot have me and you can no longer make me sick.  I am healed by the blood of the lamb and I am Jesus'.  Satan, you cannot have me or anything from me or about me that is mine.  You cannot hurt me or my family any more.  Begone.  In the name of Jesus I pray.  Amen.  Now, Lord, fill me to overflowing with your Holy Spirit.  Fill up all those areas left void by Satan's leaving so he can never enter me again.  Heal me in all the ways I need to be healed.  In Jesus name I pray, by and with the power of the Holy Spirit, dear Heavenly Father God.  Amen."  Thank you God for giving me faith as small as a mustard seed.  It is a mighty faith!  I believe!  I am healed!  I believe!  I have a wondrous future ahead of me!   I believe!  I believe!  I believe!  Amen!       

Scroll down to read 'Jesus' Prayer Of Thanksgiving'.

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Wise men...and women...still seek him.

  Give him your finest gift....your self.   

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"What can I give him, poor as I am?

If I were a Shepherd, I'd give him a lamb.

If I were a Wise Man, I'd do my part.

But what I can, I give...my heart."

Christina Rosetti   

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Give him your heart today.

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"Do you hear what I hear?

Said the king to the people everywhere,

"Listen to what I say!

Pray for peace, people, everywhere,

Listen to what I say!

The Child, the Child sleeping in the night

He will bring us goodness and light,

  He will bring us goodness and light." 

 

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation.  

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If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regulary to us or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:16 NLT

 to

"Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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We have a family in crisis who could desperately use your prayers and support.  The Mom, a good Christian woman, is young still...she just turned 50, and she has 3 young children under 15.  She has just been diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer.  Her husband died 3 years ago from Cancer, and her Mother, who has her own health issues, is trying to care for her and her children and help her along life's way.  They do not have enough money to meet their everyday expenses right now.  But I am confident that, with your help, we can find some balance for them.  If this touches your heart, we hope you will pray earnestly for her to be healed, and pray for her family.  And, if you would, please send any amount of money you can to help them.  Please note 'Elizabeth and kids' in your note line on your check and we will see that all funds go directly to them.  Please consider reaching out to help them.  I know they will be sincerely grateful for anything you can do to help.  

Please accept our sincerest thanks....and may God bless you.

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

"The Unforced Rythms of Grace"

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one know the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

  Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.

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Scriptures may be taken from the New Living Translations website. 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scriputre quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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