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The Mustard Seed from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

Jesus told His disciples a parable about the kingdom of God using a tiny mustard seed. Though mustard was the smallest seed a Palestinian farmer would plant in his field, it would grow into the largest plant in his garden. 

(Matthew 13:31–32 NKJV)  Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."

Jesus is speaking of something that has a small beginning but yields great growth. The tiny mustard seed overcomes obstacles, and its roots push through the gravel and around rocks. Its core always grows toward the light. There is no instant explosion but a steady increase while using all its abilities and relying on what God supplies. When applied to our faith, it's a faith that doesn't give up because of difficult circumstances.

(Luke 17:5–6 NKJV)  And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

A small amount of faith can go a long way and accomplish great things. Too often, we get discouraged because we don't have something yet, or it's taking too long. Don't give up just because things get a little difficult; keep pressing on. Keep reaching towards the light, and grow in your faith. 

Faith is defined as "Complete trust or confidence in someone or something." It is believing that God will do what He told you enough that you are willing to take action on it. You walk across the floor because you have faith that it will support you (usually). That is how faith works.

God told Abram to leave his country and his father's house, which would have been his inheritance.

(Genesis 12:1 NKJV) "Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you."

In verse 4, it simply reads: "So Abram went." Abram heard from the Lord and started packing his bags without even knowing where he was going. Only that it was to "a land that I will show you." James later wrote: 

(James 2:23 NKJV) "And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God."

Abraham became God's friend because He believed what God had told him enough to take action on it. That faith was accounted to him for righteousness. 

The provision is in the vision: When Sylvia and I felt the Lord wanted us to start an online church, we sat down with an excel spreadsheet and calculated that if we used some leftover hardware we had around, we could get started with $2,500. That was more than we had at the time. 

We prayed about it and felt the Lord wanted us to do this. So I pulled an old Dell server we had out of the closet and began to format it on our kitchen table. Within thirty minutes, someone came in and donated exactly $2,500. 

We were shocked because we had never received a gift over $100 and had not told a single soul about our plan. The $2,500 was the exact dollar amount that we needed to do the task we had been given. 

- We felt that we heard a word from the Lord.

- We got our toolbox and began to work.

- God provided what we needed. 

It begins with a word from Him. Then it is seeing the invisible and trusting God to back you up. 

Faith is a major part of our armor that protects us from enemy attacks. The Apostle Paul wrote the Thessalonians: 

(1 Thessalonians 5:8 NKJV) "But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation."

When the enemy comes in and attacks your car, lawn mower, or washing machine, you think he is after your stuff, but he is after your faith. Attacking your stuff is just a way to dishearten you, to stop you from doing what the Lord told you. 

If your faith fails, then you have nothing left to stand on. The enemy attacks those things that you care about to destroy your faith, to make you bitter, to get you to give up, to get you to put your toolbox up and stop working for God. 

Hang onto that small mustard seed faith and let it grow one day at a time. Depend on the Lord to supply what you need daily. "Lord, give us today our daily bread." 

You can pray this with me if you like: 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you so much for all You do for me. Please give me a clear vision and help me get in tune with what You are doing on the Earth today. Help my faith grow. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!